The Eupora Board of Aldermen, with only two affirmative votes, has approved a Package Store Ordinance.
The ordinance, which was passed Oct. 3, outlines the process, rules and regulations for permitting package (liquor) stores within the city limits of Eupora.
All who spoke at a public hearing beforehand did so in favor of the ordinance. They included James Townsend, Tim Robinson, Janet Cook of Eupora Economic Development and Ward 1 Alderman Junior Shaw.
Townsend said he’d like to see the city prosper and that more revenue is needed for such things as street repairs. For those opposed, he asked them to “look outside the box.”
Cook said allowing package stores here would bring more jobs and increase sales tax collections. Patel, who owns a convenience store in Mathiston, said he planned to open a package store here if the ordinance passed.
Alderman Shaw, who had pushed for the public hearing to be held, stated he was in favor of allowing package stores here. He said the revenue is needed and cited the large increase in sales tax collections already from beer and light wine sales.
After Mayor Blake McMullan closed the hearing and asked for a motion, only three aldermen were present: Shaw, Ricky Newton (Ward 3) and Jerry Gary (at-large) – a bare quorum. Robert Gibbs (Ward 4) was absent and Billy Tabb (Ward 2) was not present for the vote on this motion but did arrive later.
Shaw offered a motion to adopt the ordinance and publish notice of passage in the Progress-Times; Newton seconded. Both voted aye and Gary voted nay, and the motion passed with a majority vote of 2-1. A requisite majority vote is calculated based on the number of members present, not on the entire membership of aldermen, present or absent.
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Amended Historic Preservation Ordinance
Another public hearing was held regarding proposed amendments of the city’s Historic Preservation Ordinance. No one objected to the amendments but Townsend did make a comment concerning the Historic District.
Odie Avery, president of the Eupora Historic Preservation Committee, summarized the amendments, which include altering the number of commissioners, process for advertising vacancies, Board of Aldermen appeals process and clerical items to reflect state law. The latter includes changing the base penalty for violating ordinance requirements or prohibitions from $10 to $100.
Afterwards, the board voted to approve the amended ordinance and publish notice of passage in the Progress-Times.
The full text of both ordinances can be viewed at www.cityofeupora.com/ordinances, City Hall, Webster County Public Library or the Police Department.
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Other Business
In other business Oct. 3, the Board of Aldermen passed motions to:
• allow Shed Shaw to use the Community Center to feed the Eupora High School football team a pregame meal on Oct. 7.
• authorize Eupora Economic Development to proceed with conceptual designs for Spud Stennett Park to incorporate a walking-track/trail, disc golf course, community garden and orchard along with other community amenities.
• authorize Eupora Economic Development to apply for a Community Orchard/Fruit Tree Grant to provide fruit-bearing trees for Stennett Park.
• authorize the Fire Department to accept the lowest quote for the purchase of self-contained breathing apparatuses in the amount of $32,929.04 from Emergency Equipment Professionals.
• authorize the Fire Department to apply for a 100%-funded Assistance to Firefighters Grant for a double-sided LED sign to be placed between the fire station and City Hall.
Alderman Gary, whose son is the fire chief, exited the room during discussion of both Fire Department items and abstained from voting of them.
• adopt a resolution authorizing and approving the execution of an equipment-lease purchase agreement with BancorpSouth Equipment Finance for the purpose of the lease-purchase of a Komatsu mini-excavator from Lyle Machinery.
• accept the lower quote of $10,121 from Evergreen Ag for the purchase of a Bad Boy FX1000 61-inch zero-turn mower. This is at the state contract price and will come out of the Street Department’s surplus fund from selling used equipment.
• approve the claims docket; Alderman Gary abstained.
• authorize the city clerk to give 4% pay raises to city employees effective Oct. 1. The budget for fiscal year 2022-23 already provides the 4% raise for all city workers. However, when the board adopted the budget on Sept. 14, that motion did not specify that it include the raises.
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Consented Items
The official agenda was approved including these consented items:
• request approval of the annual Municipal Compliance Questionnaire for audit purposes.
• request authorization to proceed with potential well site appraisals following a floodplain report from Calvert-Spradling Engineers. This is under the city’s water system improvements project.
• request approval of final budget amendments for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2022.
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Executive session
The board met in executive session for personnel regarding Police Department matters. One was to consider a request from Police Chief Lawrence Caradine for authorization to hire a full-time police officer. The other concerned the police chief’s salary — an item placed on the agenda by Ward 1 Alderman Junior Shaw. This had been brought up Sept. 14 by Caradine before the board adopted the new budget.
City Clerk Gail Newton said the board voted afterwards in open session to hire Phillip Miller as a certified full-time police officer effective immediately at $18.20 per hour. The board tabled any action on the police chief’s salary until January.
Pending litigation was also announced as a reason for the executive session. According to Newton, the board voted afterwards to offer the Fasons and Robinsons the amounts contained within appraisal reports by Mike Brooks.
This is apparently in refence to appraisals he did to find the value of the road frontage for the planned industrial access road off U.S. 82 to Industrial Park.
Other action regarding pending litigation was reported in the Oct. 12 article “City seeks dismissal of demolition petition.”
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Additional Matters
Ryleigh McMullan opened the meeting with prayer and Kate Vowell led in the Pledge of Allegiance. The EHS students are members of the Mayor’s Youth Council.
Circuit Court judge candidate Doug Crosby of Kosciusko addressed the board.
Ashtyn Krusee addressed the board about the annual Halloween Extravaganza, which will be in the downtown area at 6 p.m. Oct. 31. The board voted to allow organizers to decorate the Depot Park and donate $300 out of the Special Economic Development Fund toward the event.
The board was to have a recessed meeting Monday night, Oct. 17.
