Eupora aldermen approved personnel changes in the Water Department during a special-called meeting Thursday, May 12.
The action came after the Board of Aldermen met about 40 minutes in executive to discuss Water Department personnel.
Clerk Gail Newton said Jerry Gary (at-large) made this motion after the board came back into open session: to remove Joel Williamson as water superintendent but keep him on with the Water Department at the same rate of pay. A second part of the motion was to promote Guy Barnett to interim water superintendent at $18.40 an hour.
Billy Tabb (Ward 2) seconded the motion, which was approved 4-0. Robert Gibbs (Ward 4) was absent.
Barnett is the city's certified water operator. In a personnel matter that also involves the Water Department, the city is accepting applications until noon today (May 18) for the position of public works director.
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Blight Hearing
The board set a blight public hearing regarding 17 S. Allen St. for 5:15 p.m. June 6. A previously scheduled rezoning hearing will follow at 5:30 p.m., both preceding that night’s regular monthly meeting.
On May 2, aldermen authorized the city attorney to start over with blight control proceedings against the owner of that property. However, the board did not set an actual hearing date.
After the first hearing in February, the board condemned the property and ordered that the house there be torn down. Owner Joyce Hendrix appealed and was given 30 days to make substantial progress on the property.
She and her tenant were at Thursday’s meeting, and made some comments and asked questions after the board set the new public hearing date. Mayor Blake McMullan told them they could present their comments at the public hearing.
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Hire Inspector
Additionally, the board voted to allow state-certified home inspector Bobby Sorrell of Oktibbeha County (Sorrell Home Inspection Services) to inspect the properties at 17 S. Allen and Pear Tree Corner. The motion also stipulated that the city try to come up with three more properties for inspection.
Hendrix also owns the latter property at West Roane and North Dunn. Some complaints have been voiced at previous board meetings regarding apartments located on the top floor there.
According to Sorrell’s letter agreeing to provide inspection services to the city, he is to report and document the condition of these properties for possible evidence, and be prepared to testify as an expert witness if necessary.
The price for a single report is $300, but Sorrell said he would be willing to charge $200 each if at three-five properties need documentation.
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Other Business
Additionally on Thursday, the board voted to:
• approve updated forms that include those for dog registration, beer permit, building permit, building inspection and privilege license application, and post them on the city website. The revised forms were presented by Janet Cook of Eupora Economic Development.
• post signs at Whites Creek Lake prohibiting swimming or fishing within 100 feet each of the boat ramp and boat dock.
• rebid for construction of another concession stand/restroom facility at Gary Park.
• approve a resolution appointing McMullan as voting delegate and Tabb as first delegate for the Mississippi Municipal League’s election to be held at the annual convention on June 28.
• authorize the mayor to sign a Statewide Mutual Aid Compact between the city and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. SMAC is a system for using all available resources during emergency.
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Festival of Trees
John Conn of Ackerman, president and founder of Rise Up Christian Counseling, addressed the board about its first Festival of Trees. It is being planned for the last week of November.
Conn requested use of the Eupora Civic Center for the event, which the non-profit organization’s board members hope will benefit the ministry as its yearly fundraiser and impact relationships with the community and businesses in the community, according to a handout Conn provided.
McMullan recommended that the non-profit organization be allowed to rent the center at a reduced rate for the fundraiser. However, the board took no action after some discussion.
According to its website, the mission of the ministry is to “connect people with the Truth of the Gospel and how to apply Biblical Standards to the struggles that real people face through counseling and education.”
