The Eupora Board of Aldermen has approved an updated Policy and Procedure Manual for Police Department personnel after having tabled it six times since May 1.
The motion to approve was made by Jerry Gary (at-large), seconded by Ricky Newton (Ward 3) and approved 4-1 during the Aug. 7 regular meeting. Billy Tabb (Ward 2) voted nay, stating he feared the new policy might include requirements for receiving federal funds that would prohibit officers from doing their job as needed.
Also, Robert Gibbs (Ward 4) asked City Attorney Joey Hood a number of questions about the new policy before the vote. Hood, who confirmed he had reviewed the updated policy, said it was based upon national police standards, includes language from the Starkville PD’s policy manual and was prepared in hopes of obtaining grants for Eupora PD.
Police Chief Lawrence Caradine also addressed the board about the policy. Janet Cook of Eupora Economic Development, which has obtained a number of grants for the city, helped prepare the updated policy, according to the discussion.
“I’m OK with the new one,” Gary said. “We can always adopt changes if we find something wrong with the new policy (or that’s) not working,”
Mayor Blake McMullan said the new policy would take effect in 30 days because the vote was not unanimous.
C&G Rail Trail
Grant Application
Additionally, the board discussed helping pay for a grant application related to the proposed C&G Rail Trail. That project, if eventually funded, would entail converting the historic C&G rail line from Greenwood to West Point into a multipurpose recreational trail.
Aldermen considered a resolution committing $2,500 toward a grant-writing fee for the federal Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Grant Program to be paid from the Special Economic Development Fund.
The competitive funding is available from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The program focuses on restoring community connectivity and eliminating barriers to mobility, access or economic development, according to railstotrails.org.
The meeting item was originally proposed as part of the consent agenda but was pulled after Tabb noted opposition to the rail trail project from some landowners during an Aug. 4 agenda work session. During the regular meeting, he also asked questions about the project and said the board had no guarantee it would even be funded in the end.
Public Works Director Odie Avery told the board the city of Greenwood was asking Eupora and West Point to contribute $2,500 each toward the $10,000 grant-writing fee. Eventually, Newton made a motion, seconded by Gary, to adopt the resolution The motion was approved 3-2, with Junior Shaw (Ward 1) and Gibbs voting nay.
“If we do nothing we get nothing,” Newton said.
Public Hearings
Two public hearings with consideration were part of the Aug. 7 meeting. Avery presented information during the hearings, with no one commenting or voicing opposition.
One hearing concerned a proposed ordinance for the management of municipal records and document filing fee as regulated by the state. The board voted to adopt the ordinance.
Next was the second hearing for amending the city’s floodplain ordinance; the first hearing was held July 17. The board voted to accept the amended ordinance to match language in the state’s ordinance.
Consent Agenda
The Board of Aldermen approved the official agenda including these consented items on Aug. 7:
• Approved minutes from the June 30 agenda work session, July 3 regular meeting, July 17 recessed meeting and July 25 special-called meeting.
Mayor’s Business: • Authorized the Eupora Football Booster Club to use the Community Center to feed the football team on Friday afternoons.
Board Business:• Authorized Eupora High School to host the 2023 Homecoming Parade in downtown Eupora on Sept 7.
• Authorized to advertise a public hearing for the FY 2024 budget and tax levy for the city. The hearing was to be held Sept. 5.
• Authorized the mayor to sign the required documents related to House Bill 603 for funding from the Mississippi Department of Finance for a police vehicle and for the city clerk to open a separate bank account for appropriated funds.
• Authorized the mayor to sign the required documents related to HB603 for funding from MDF for repaving and repair of city streets, and for the city clerk to open a separate bank account for appropriated funds.
• Authorized the mayor to sign the required documents for acceptance of the Mississippi Office of Highway Safety Occupant Protection Grant in the amount of $5,460.
• Adopted a resolution accepting the results of a special election of the city adopting a 2% special levy tax on hotels, motels, Airbnbs, restaurants and any establishment serving prepared food and beverages, and authorized the city clerk to sign any and all documents necessary to have the tax assessed.
The special election was held July 18 and the measure passed with a 63% majority.
• Approved a city of Eupora advertising sponsorship in the amount of $500 to be paid from Special Economic Development to the EHS Alumni Association for the Decade of the ’70s and ’80s Reunion concert to be held at Whites Creek Lake on Oct. 14.
Code Enforcement: Authorized the public works director/code enforcement officer to join the Mississippi Association of Code Enforcement Officers at an annual cost of $125 (membership fee).
• Authorized the public works director/code enforcement officer to attend the annual MACEO Conference Aug. 16-18 in Biloxi at a cost not to exceed $700.
Courts: Authorized accepting the resignation of Court Clerk Shay Holmes effective Aug. 18. Before adjourning Aug. 7, the board went into executive session with Holmes for the purpose of personnel; no action was taken afterwards.
• Authorized advertising a job opening for municipal court clerk; the newspaper advertisement for the vacancy ran Aug. 18 and 25. “Personnel — Court Clerk” was the lone agenda item of a special-called meeting at noon Aug. 30, when Gary, Newton and Shaw were present.
Meeting minutes show Gary offered a motion to hire Tina Mitchell as the municipal court clerk for the city at an hourly rate of $16.50 with full-time benefits and to authorize her to go to court clerk training Sept. 20-22. Newton seconded with all three aldermen voting aye. Mitchell was present, according to the minutes.
• Authorized appointing Deputy City Clerk Jenny Hatcher to the position of interim deputy municipal court clerk until further notice.
• Authorized City Clerk Newton to attend a municipal court clerk class Sept. 20-22.
Parks & Recreation: Approved accepting donations in the amount of $3,000 for the MLB Pro-Instruct Baseball Camp held Aug. 12 at Gary Park.
A related consent agenda item was approved for the city clerk to submit payment to the nonprofit MLB Pro-Instruct LLC in the amount of $5,000 as approved at the July 3 board meeting. The board voted that date to sponsor the baseball camp in the amount of $2,000 to be paid from Special Economic Development funds.
Police Department: approved a request to declare a 2010 Dodge Charger surplus property and sell to the highest bidder on govdeals.com.
Other Action
In other action Aug. 7, aldermen unanimously approved these motions under the respective departments/areas:
Board Business: The board held a bid opening and consideration for the use of office space at the Eupora Depot. Aldermen approved other motions regarding the Depot in May and June. On May 15, the board authorized the mayor to offer the Depot to rent at $350 a month and to pay half the utilities.
Approved June 5 was a motion authorizing the city attorney to update the language on the lease agreement between the city and Mendrop Engineering for use of office space at the Depot. The update was to include major repairs, liability insurance coverage amount, $350 monthly plus one-half Depot utilities, all the internet fees and to enter into the lease agreement with Mendrop upon completion.
The consent agenda approved June 19 included authorization to advertise a bid request for three weeks for the use of office space at the Depot.
On Aug. 7, the only bid received was from Mendrop Engineering with two options. Aldermen accepted the option for the firm to pay $350 monthly, split the utilities with Congressman Trent Kelly (who also leases space in the Depot) and to reimburse the city for internet service.
Mayor’s Business: The board authorized the hiring of Josh Whitlock as part-time contract staff to assist in organizing and digitizing city documents at a rate of $10 an hour not to exceed 20 hours a week.
Finance and Administration: Aldermen approved the claims docket.
Aldermen Gary, Tabb and Newton were present for the Aug. 4 midday agenda work session, which included a presentation from Jim Higgins of Southern Corrosion on water tank care. City Engineer Stanley Spradling, Avery and Water Superintendent Guy Barnett were also present.
