The Eupora Board of Aldermen has approved a new contract and billing rate for garbage collection in the city.
Leading up to the action, the board voted March 20 to proceed with drafting a request for garbage/waste services for the city as part of the consent agenda. In August, the city published three newspaper notices requesting proposals for residential solid waste collection services.
Meeting minutes show the board discussed and considered solid waste proposals during a recessed meeting Aug. 21. One proposal was submitted, which was from the current provider, Golden Triangle Waste Services.
After discussion, Jerry Gary (at-large) offered this motion: to approve Option 1 for twice-a-week pickup with can provided as set forth in the service agreement to begin Sept. 1 and end Aug. 31, 2029, and to authorize the mayor to sign the agreement. This will increase customer garbage bills to $25 a month.
James Shaw (Ward 1) seconded with all three aldermen voting aye; Ward 4’s Robert Gibbs was present by phone.
Other Business
During public appearances, minutes state Mike Slaughter of Slaughter & Associates urban planning firm of Oxford presented information to the mayor and board on the annexation process.
In other business, the board considered a request from Police Chief Lawrence Caradine to sell previously surplused firearms to a local buyer.
At the recommendation of City Attorney Joey Hood, the board approved a motion to have a public sale according to state statute, posting in three places in the municipality with one being at City Hall.
Aldermen also considered a contract for an annual water tank maintenance program as proposed by Southern Corrosion LLC.
After discussion, the board voted to table until the Sept. 5 meeting to allow the city attorney to do some research. During a work session on Aug. 4, Jim Higgins of Southern Corrosion addressed the board with the results of his findings about the city’s water wells and the cleaning and upkeep needed to maintain them, and presented a proposal.
Consented Items
The board approved the official agenda and these consented items:
• accepted a proposal from the Stennis Institute of Government to provide a salary comparison study, evaluations for job description updates and updated organization charts for the public works department and city clerk’s office at a cost of $800.
• approved an application for a retail package store permit and license for Eupora Wine & Spirits located at 1826 Veterans Memorial Blvd. Owners/partners are Krunal V. Patal and Vijaykumar Patel.
• accepted the lowest and best quote for the installation of HVAC units at the Civic Center from Wayne Baker at a cost of $33,999.60 to be paid from Special Economic Development funds.
• authorized hiring W.D. Payton as a part-time maintenance technician in the Street Department at $10 an hour.
Aldermen met in executive session for the purpose of “property acquisition.” No board action was taken afterwards, according to the minutes.
The board held an agenda work session at noon Aug. 18 to discuss and finalize the Aug. 21 agenda. All aldermen were present except Gibbs.
Corrections: Alderman Junior Shaw (Ward 1) was among aldermen present for the Aug. 4 work session. His name was omitted from those listed as being present in a Sept. 8 article (“Aldermen approve updated police policy manual”).
Also, Shaw voted aye on an Aug. 7 motion to approve 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, and authorizing the mayor to sign the documents The same Sept. 8 article incorrectly stated he voted nay; the motion passed 4-1 and not 3-2 as the article said.
