NATCHEZ, Miss. – Fiery words Monday between two Adams County supervisors prompted Sheriff Travis Patten to physically step in to quell their argument.
The dispute erupted between supervisors Kevin Wilson and Ricky Gray when Wilson criticized colleagues for the costs of traveling to Hawaii for a national conference of county officials.
While Wilson said such trips are a waste of county money, Gray said traveling to these conferences provides supervisors information and other benefits that help them do their jobs.
Their sharply worded exchanges reached the point where it appeared a physical altercation could be imminent – impelling Patten to scurry up to the board table to stand between Wilson and Gray.
Wilson – the five-member Adams County board’s only Republican – has been complaining in recent months about travel expenses and plans for the taxpayer-paid venture to Hawaii.
Noting he doesn’t take such trips, Wilson questioned whether the $8,000 budgeted for each supervisor that he doesn’t use is being reallocated to other supervisors.
“I disagree with that wholeheartedly…. It looks bad,” he said.
The expenses for airline, hotel and other travel costs total about $6,700 for the two supervisors attending the Hawaii conference, according to Adams County Administrator Mitzi Conn.
Gray defended the value of traveling to government-related conferences that help him perform his duties, and he shunned Wilson’s criticism.
“I work for the people of District 4. I don’t work for no supervisor,” Gray said. “I ain’t never done anything to harm the people of this county.”
Adams County board President Angela Hutchins also defended the trip, noting other county supervisors from Mississippi plan to attend.
The National Organization of Black County Officials is meeting in Hawaii next month for its annual economic development conference. The gathering at the Westin Maui Resort & Spa is scheduled for May 7-11. The National Association of Counties’ western region conference is also in Maui for May 5-8 at the Hyatt Regency Maui.
The NOBCO conference will focus on technology, wellness and equal opportunity, according to its website. The NAC conference will focus on issues mainly impacting western states, such as water shortages and wildfire recovery.
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