Eupora aldermen have approved pay raises for various city officials and all remaining city workers.
The Oct. 1 agenda of the Board of Aldermen was first amended to address employee pay adjustments. Afterwards, Jerry Gary (at-large) offered a motion to approve pay increases he presented to the board. Howard Rumore (Ward 2) seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously.
The motion comprised these pay adjustments, which were made effective immediately:
• an increase in City Clerk Gail Newton’s hourly rate of pay to $18 an hour because of 17 years’ service and to be competitive with surrounding cities close to Eupora’s size.
• an increase in City Attorney Jacqueline Meek’s salary to $400 a month.
• an increase in Milinda Norwood’s hourly rate of pay to $16 an hour because of increased workload related to Municipal and Youth Court, and her 20 years of service to the city. She serves as Police Department administrative assistant and court clerk.
• a 2 percent increase for all remaining city workers except Officer David Fonseca, who is still in his probationary period. Police Chief Gregg Hunter said his salary was negotiated when hired in August and Fonseca will be up for a raise after a year’s service.
Last month, the city board voted to go through the proper procedures to adopt an ordinance increasing the aldermen’s pay from $300 to $400 a month and that for the alderman at-large from $400 to $500, also effective Oct. 1.
Industrial Park
Lara Bowman of The Enterprise gave the board an update on the proposal to extend utilities at West Industrial Park. This concerns, in part, a $500,000 allocation from the Appalachian Regional Commission that would be used for water, wastewater, gas and electrical extension and related capacity there. The grant requires a 30 percent match.
Bowman said she and George Crawford of the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District talked with ARC officials about the project at the agency’s annual conference last month in Tupelo.
She said plans are to tie the project in with proposed city water system improvements, for which the city is seeking a low-interest loan. The latter project’s inclusion of a new water line from Tomnolen will be allowed to count as a match, according to Bowman.
The city intends to file an application for funding through the Local Governments and Rural Water Systems Improvements Board to improve its water system. A public hearing on the proposed project is set for 10 a.m. Nov. 6 at City Hall.
Last month, Bowman told the board she was working with the county and other partners as well to come up with creative ways to obtain the matching funds needed for the ARC grant. Afterwards, aldermen authorized the GTPDD to advertise for related engineering services.
At this month’s meeting, Bowman also informed the board about the upcoming Enterprise Area Job Fair, which is set for Oct. 25 at the Choctaw County Community Center in Ackerman.
Other Action
Other action taken by the board on Oct. 1:
• Voted to enter Norwood’s certificate of attendance for mandatory training into the minutes and approve the fine list she submitted.
• Authorized the placement of a street light on an existing pole at 7 S. Dunn St.
• Voted to accept a quote of $3,300 from James Rico to install a 5-ton condensing unit and new coil at City Hall because of air-conditioning problems.
• Voted to change the city’s mats and paper service from Ameripride to Superior Towels & Mats of Kosciusko, which will result in an approximate saving of $27 every two weeks.
• Voted to hire Wayne Baker to repair an electrical outlet at the Whites Creek Lake RV campsite for an estimated cost of $600-$700.
• Approved the annual Municipal Compliance Questionnaire, and authorized the mayor and clerk to sign and submit it.
• Agreed to give Jake Rich a 30-day extension to clean up the abandoned Jake’s Recycling lot on East Roane Avenue. Public Works Director Mike McCain also said he had given the owner of a vacant lot at 473 S. Dunn two weeks to clean up that property.
• Approved the year-end payroll claims docket.
• Declared an emergency situation and accepted a single-source quote of $21,000 from Southern Corrosion to put a new top on the LaGrange pumping station and repair the top on the Walthall water tank as soon as possible.
During department head reports. Park Director Rusty Bowen said 82 people had signed up for soccer.
Water bill issue
Aldermen also discussed a water bill complaint concerning rental property at 18 McCulloch Road. Newton told them the city has cut the water off there for non payment and that $86 is owed on the account, including all fees. She related that property owner Peggy Clanton said she never received the original water bill and forgot to pay it. Clanton was not at the meeting as scheduled and the board voted to table the matter.
Additionally, Betty Lewis of 140 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive addressed the board about a sewage/water issue on a neighboring lot that she said was affecting her property. Lewis said roaches were coming into her house and that it smelled. Water Superintendent Joel Williamson told her if the property owner did not correct the issue within two weeks, the city would terminate their water service.
Special Meeting
The board had a special-called meeting Sept. 25 at which Chelsea and Audrea Powell asked for permission to hold a walk for cancer and balloon release at the Garan parking lot with the route to go behind the hospital, by Sonic and back to the parking lot. The board approved the cancer walk route and activities to take place Oct. 27.
Bowen presented two quotes to the board for Gary Park sidewalks and handicap parking.
The minutes reflect that, after much discussion and to become compliant with the handicap regulations there, aldermen voted to accept a low bid on the sidewalk and handicap parking installation from Zack Allred for $11,900. This includes three handicap parking places and sidewalk. The funds will be taken from sign sponsorships and donated funds from the county, and will be expensed to materials and supplies.
Additionally, the board approved the year-end accounts payable claims docket and year-end budget adjustments as presented for General City and water and sewer funds.
