The Eupora Board of Aldermen took action on another blighted property last week.
This followed a blight hearing in the Community Center before the board’s March 2 meeting. The property in question is a vacant house at 1295 Adams Ave. owned by Brad Smith, who was not present.
City Attorney Jacqueline Meek reported last month she had sent a certified blight notification letter to Smith at the Adams Avenue address giving him notice to appear before the board at the hearing to give an update. Meek said during last week’s meeting that the letter had been returned, that she had no other address for Smith and that he had not returned any of her calls.
During the hearing, Jerry Gary (at-large) shared photos that he said shows the house and lot have fallen into “a bad state of repairs.” These included both doors standing open, roof issues, overgrown grass and trash in the back yard.
During the meeting that followed, the board approved a motion stating it wishes to have the property cleaned up and secured, with the cost assessed to Smith’s property taxes. Howard Rumore (Ward 2) made the motion and Robert Gibbs (Ward 4) seconded. Aldermen noted this was being done in hopes that someone would restore the property.
Other Properties
During the regular meeting, Steve McLemore asked for an update on the Jake’s Recycling lot on East Roane, which the board declared a public health menace in June but has still not been completely cleared.
In February, the board authorized Meek to send owner Jake Rich a certified letter to finish cleaning up the property by the end of the month or the city would clean it up and assess the cost to his taxes. Meek said last week another letter had to be sent to him because of address issues and that she had to extend his cleanup deadline until March 6.
Teresa Ozborn expressed concerns about the appearance of the Ford’s Body Shop and Shaw’s Towing Service properties, both of which are on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
Referring to the multiple vehicles, car parts and tires around the body shop, Ozborn said, “Someone needs to say something to him (owner Mike Ford).” Mayor Lamar Dumas said he would address the issue with Ford.
Shaw’s Towing Service is operated by Ward 1 Aldermen Junior Shaw and his son, Shedrick, who were both present. When Ozborn first mentioned that property at the June 3 board meeting, Junior Shaw said all of the old vehicles there would either be crushed or hauled away.
Last week, the Shaws said they plan to move the vehicles to property behind the salvage yard where timber will be cut, but that bad weather had delayed the process. They asked Ozborn to be patient until they can get the property cleared. Shedrick Shaw also said he had already taken off many vehicles and, referring to his full-time job, declared, “I work every day.”
Ozborn said no one had previously told her about the reason for the delay. Dumas concluded the discussion by stating, “Progress is in the process of being made.”
Committee Updates
Additionally, the board voted to appoint Donald “Duck” Newton of the Water Department as city code director/inspector.
Sam Krusee, addressing aldermen on behalf of Eupora Cleanup Committee, thanked them for the progress being made and for Newton’s appointment. Krusee requested a meeting with him regarding possible updates to the city’s litter and blight prevention ordinances “to make sure we’re on the same page.”
Kristian Berryhill and Ashtyn Krusee of the Eupora Marketing Committee updated the board about a website being developed for the city.
Cathy Embry, chair of the Eupora Beautification Committee, reported that Lyn Blaylock is working on an application for a “Healthy Hometown” grant from the Blue Cross-Blue Shield Foundation of Mississippi. This is in conjunction with the smoke-free air/tobacco-free ordinance the board adopted last month. The board agreed to have Newton deliver letters to businesses regarding requirements of the ordinance, which is now in effect.
Additionally, Embry recommended that the city host travel ball tournaments, including softball tournaments at Spud Stennett Park.
“It’s a big money-maker,” she said. “We’re missing out as a community (regarding potential revenue).”
The board set a special meeting for Monday to discuss the issue.
Industrial Park
Lara Bowman of The Enterprise gave an update on issues related to planned Industrial Park improvements, including a preliminary concept plan
Planner George Crawford of the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District gave an update on the environmental review process for proposed wastewater system improvements in the Eupora-West Industrial Park.
He also presented information on the city’s HOME Grant project. Last month, he said the city had received an amended environmental review clearance that keeps all original eight homes in the plan, if possible. The HOME program was originally set up to do rehabilitation to homes but homes will be reconstructed if enough funds are available after rehabilitation, according to Crawford.
Police, Fire Depts.
During department head reports, the board approved a request from Police Chief Gregg Hunter for the Police Department to use MSWIN (Mississippi Wireless Information Network) portable radios that the Webster County Emergency Management Agency obtained through a grant from the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security. The radios, which provide statewide coverage, will be used in addition to radios already in place.
Hunter also reported that full-time Officer Brandon Chaille had submitted his resignation effective March 15. The board accepted his resignation and authorized the Police Department to advertise for that open position to fill the vacancy. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. March 25.
Hunter also reiterated that officers are on duty 24 hours a day to provide house checks. Anyone wanting a house check may contact the Police Department at 258-4121.
Upon the request of Fire Chief Tyler Bierdeman and vote of the Fire Department, the board voted to add Ian Garrard of Walthall to the volunteer firefighter roster. He is a full-time certified firefighter with the Grenada Fire Department.
Aldermen also authorized Bierdeman to purchase a 1-ton Dodge Ram 3500 pickup (brush truck) from Kirk Auto World for $29,315 and a skid unit (self-contained apparatus with water and foam capabilities for fire suppression) to go on the truck from Emergency Equipment Professionals not to exceed $15,000. Both are on state contract price and will be purchased from the fire rebate fund.
Other Action
Also on March 2, the board:
• voted to accept a quote from C Spire for phone rental (Voice over Internet Protocol) and direct internet service at City Hall and the police and water departments for $1,140.29 a month. Aldermen Shaw and Gibbs voted nay.
This will be month to month, no contract, and at state contract price except internet. Josh Emmons of C Spire, who presented preliminary information to the board in December, said he expects the pricing will decrease but did not have a final price as of last week.
• accepted a $49,780 bid from EDC Doss Electric of Maben to furnish and install a 105-kilowatt generator system for Well No. 2 at Tomnolen.
• voted to set aside the tax sale for 2017 and 2018 on a city parcel. Because of a clerical error in the county tax assessor’s office, the parcel was assessed incorrectly in the wrong name and erroneously went through the tax sale for both years. The property was bought in by Larry Atkins both years and the amount he actually paid will be refunded to him.
• heard a presentation from the state representative for Trimble regarding GPS and software to monitor water meters.
