Outdoor burning in Warren County can begin again — within reason, county officials said Monday as a burn ban issued Thursday was lifted.

Warren County Fire Coordinator Jerry Briggs told county supervisors he had been assured by the state enough rain had fallen Monday to lift the ban.

“I spoke with the Forestry Commission this morning and they said they saw no problems and that it would be OK,” Briggs said when questioned by District 3 Supervisor Charles Selmon, adding the amount of rainfall late Monday and early Tuesday should have helped alleviate dry conditions. “We can always re-issue it without much problem.”

Hinds, Rankin, Adams and Lauderdale counties had issued burn bans since mid-January. They were to remain in effect until at least March 1.

Rainfall remains below average for the month and year in Vicksburg and Warren County. Totals for Monday showed 0.3 of an inch at the Vicksburg Water Plant, with 4.53 inches for the month so far. Normal rainfall for mid-February there is 7.54 inches. The National Weather Service gauge at Vicksburg-Tallulah Regional Airport showed 1.26 inches for Monday and 1.69 for the month. The 7.26 inches recorded there since Jan. 1 is off 0.83 inches from normal.

Southwesterly winds Tuesday night were shift out of the northwest by this afternoon. Gusts were expected to be 25 mph. Rain chances were predicted to increase to 50 percent Friday night and Saturday afternoon, with highs zooming back to the upper 60s. A limited fire threat issued last week for eastern Louisiana and western Mississippi had been lifted.

Only Bolivar and Washington counties remained listed as having abnormally dry conditions. Mid-winter burn bans in Mississippi are common, as Vicksburg and Warren County officials had halted outdoor burning last January amid dry, windy conditions. City officials didn’t issue a ban last week, unlike last winter’s dry spell.

Anyone with questions about the Warren County burn ban can call Elfer’s office at 601-636-1544 or fire coordinator Jerry Briggs at 601-634-8073.

On the agenda

Meeting Monday, The Warren County Board of Supervisors:

• Referred two proposals to perform work on a grant application to finance a new wheelchair ramp at Warren County Courthouse to a five-person committee.

An engineering proposal from Stantec and two to apply for and administer the grant, from The Ferguson Group and Semple, Hicks and Associates, will be considered next month as efforts continue to apply for up to $600,000 in block grant funds to upgrade handicap access at the 74-year-old courthouse.

• Tabled a request from the Warren County Sheriff’s Department to contract with Deputy Rick McDaniel to use his personal dog for K-9 services.

Supervisors agreed with the recommendation of board attorney Blake Teller to do so, citing concerns over liability.

• Approved sole-source purchases nearly $37,000 in equipment for the Warren County Sheriff’s Department.

• Approved appointments to commissions governing Warren County’s four volunteer fire protection taxing districts.

They were Henry Bordelon, Bovina; Chuck Tate and Lamar Frederick, Culkin; Lonnie Wooley and Bob Gunkel, Fisher Ferry; and Earl Wallace, Eagle Lake.

• Accepted for information a request from CAM2 International LLC for an equipment-related property tax exemption.

• Authorized a check for $875 to Clearwater Consultants Inc. for monthly monitoring services at a wastewater treatment facility in development at the planned TanTec plant at Ceres industrial park.

• Authorized any supervisor to attend the Mississippi Planning and Development Districts’ 2015 annual conference in Biloxi, set for April 21-24.