A Eupora alderman has proposed leasing the city-owned Garan property on Highway 9 South at Government Avenue.
The parking lot is now used in an unmanaged capacity by people who are mostly selling flea market/yard sale items, along with some mobile food units on a first-come, first-serve basis. The city does not manage use of the property nor receives any fee from those who set up there.
On March 7, Stephanie Logan of Schmidt’s and Jiggle’s presented a request to the Board of Aldermen to lease the parking lot for mobile food trucks. The board tabled her request after discussion.
Billy Tabb (Ward 2) brought the subject up again April 4, when he said the city needed to consider doing something with the site.
He made a motion to lease out the 10.91 acres referred to as the Garan property with the city having the right to accept or reject any bids. The motion was seconded by Jerry Gary (at-large) and approved 5-0, pending clarification from City Attorney Joey Hood, who was absent.
“The end goal would be to make some money off this property,” Tabb said.
Potential lessees should tell what they intend to do with the property, how their proposal would benefit the town and how it would look, Tabb said. He emphasized that the board would not necessarily be accepting the highest bid.
Tabb also said the agreement eventually approved could include a clause concerning the possible purchase of the property.
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Also last week, Lee Nabors and Earl Baker addressed the board concerning water backup in the bathrooms at Nabors Home Center after heavy rains. Nabors said this is an ongoing problem. Water Superintendent Joel Williamson offered the city’s help if needed in resolving the problem.
Claude Byrd and Carolyn White addressed the board with a request to place speed bumps on a section of Waterworks Road. No action was taken but the Police Department was asked to monitor the area in question.
Last month, the board voted to pay for stump and debris removal from the Toby Brantley property on Gifford Street out of the special economic development funds and to table the bid award until further research could be done to determine the correct number of acres. Four bids were received that ranged from $10,000 to nearly $20,000.
McMullan reported last week that the city will burn the three or four brush piles there and clear the land.
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Other Matters
Other matters handled by the board on April 4:
• Voted to pay invoices from Calvert-Spradling Engineers and 4-D Construction totaling $794,823.87 for water/sewer improvements at Industrial Park No. 2 when grant funds are received and to authorize the mayor to sign the request for cash.
• Approved a request for Civil Air Patrol cadets from the Golden Triangle Composite Squadron to launch model rockets at the city airport, pending proof of insurance if required. The request was presented by Margaret Middleton of Eupora
• Again tabled consideration of a package store ordinance because of Hood’s absence.
• Appointed Junior Shaw (Ward 1), Tabb and Ricky Newton (Ward 4) to a committee to review the Property Maintenance Committee’s proposed rental property ordinance and have a decision by the next regular meeting.
• Voted to appoint Odie Avery to a three-year term as president/chair of the Eupora Historic Preservation Commission.
• Voted to have Hood review the Police Department’s use of force policy in order for it to be certified by the state and be eligible for Justice Department grants.
• Authorized the mayor to send a letter to the relevant officials/agencies to apply for the city to be designated an Opportunity Zone.
Opportunity Zones are low-income census tracts certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury where tax incentives are available to groups or individuals who invest in an Opportunity Fund (that is., an investment vehicle for injecting money in an Opportunity Zone) and hold their capital gains in Opportunity Zone-related assets or property.
• Voted to allow Janet Cook of the mayor’s Economic Development Committee to apply for grants on behalf of the city that do not require a match.
Last month, the board authorized the mayor to apply for a $10,000 Rotary International grant for Police Department uniforms and a go bag (gloves, blanket, first aid supplies, etc.) with no matching funds. Cook reported last week that this grant will not be pursued because it actually does require a 50% match.
• Voted to purchase a Team Sideline account for $499 a year to automate all youth sports registrations. This is at a discounted rate based on population.
• Again tabled acceptance of ARPA funds designation in light of Hood’s absence.
• Voted to accept additional donations totaling $1,700 for Police Department tactical vests.
• Voted to allow Double L. Equipment to erect a business sign at Adams avenue and Industrial Park Road.
• Voted to instruct the Water Department to mark remaining water meters with their GPS locations.
Following an executive session to discuss personnel, the board voted to hire Beau Powell as a part-time police officer. Tabb abstained because he is Powell’s cousin.
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Engineering
Proposals
The board had a special-called meeting March 28 with a bare quorum present: Jerry Gary (at-large), Shaw and Newton.
The first agenda item was engineering services selection for a proposed infrastructure improvement project. The work will be constructed with funding through the Community Development Block Grant program as administered by the Mississippi Development Authority.
CDBG engineering proposals were opened the morning of March 24, when McMullan, Ricky Newton (Ward 3), City Clerk Gail Newton and Planner George Crawford of the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District were present.
Proposals were submitted by Calvert-Spradling Engineers, Mendrop Engineering Resources and Cornerstone Engineering, which were taken under advisement.
On March 28, the three proposals were rated on experience with CDBG programs, knowledge of federal and state laws concerning bid procedures and contracts, general experience and technical expertise in the profession, and experience in performing the required services in a timely manner. A maximum of 25 points could be given per category.
After consideration, the board voted 3-0 to accept the proposal from Calvert-Spradling, which received the highest point rating of 298. Mendrop received the second-highest rating of 278 and Cornerstone received the lowest rating of 263.
The board then set the public hearing for the CDBG application on May 2 at 5:45 p.m.
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Court Clerk
Resignation, Hire
Also on March 28, the board voted to accept the resignation from Court Clerk Milinda Norwood, and to advertise for the position and that of administrative assistant in the Progress-Times.
Norwood is retiring April 24 after nearly 24 years as a city employee. She began working for the city in the Water Department in June 1998. She then transferred to the Police Department as administrative assistant to the police chief. Along the way, she became the court clerk in addition to her other duties, her retirement letter notes.
During the board’s regular monthly meeting on April 4, Police Chief Lawrence Caradine said two applications had been received for a full-time administrative assistant/court clerk.
The board then went into executive session to discuss personnel. After coming back into open session, the board voted 5-0 to hire Shay Holmes for the position at $17 an hour. The motion to do so was made by Shaw and seconded by Robert Gibbs (Ward 4).
Holmes, of Eupora, is currently a deputy clerk with Oktibbeha County Justice Court. She previously worked with the Sheriff’s Department and Justice Court Office in Webster County.
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March 7, 10
In previously unreported business from the March 7 meeting, the board voted that night to limit presentation and input time to two minutes per agenda item.
The board was scheduled to have a special-called meeting the evening of March 10 to view an E-Force software demonstration for the Police Department.
In addition to the mayor, the only aldermen present were Gary and Shaw. The meeting could not be held because not enough aldermen were present for a quorum.
