Another large group of concerned citizens returned to the monthly city board meeting to hear an update on improvements and cleanup of the city.
At least two-dozen people filled the Community Center/municipal courtroom on July 1 for the second blight public hearing in two months and meeting that followed of the Eupora Board of Aldermen. Townspeople at last month’s board meeting discussed improvements and cleanup of the city, and concerns about properties inside the city limits.
City attorney Jacqueline Meek said then she would be able to send letters to the property owners, with the first being a courtesy letter to let them know their property needs attention and request that they attend the next meeting to let the board know what the plans are to clean up. The second letter is notification to attend a public hearing based upon the progress made.
Two properties on East Roane Avenue were discussed last month. The board directed Meek to send letters to the property owners allowing one 30 days to relocate an 18-wheeler to another property and the other 30 days to clean up.
Aldermen, after much discussion, also set a public hearing for several property owners to attend on July 1. Although none were present, Meek said those notified don’t actually have to appear before the board until Aug. 5 and other letters had not yet been mailed.
The burned-out buildings on the southeast corner of Main Street (North Dunn) were among blighted properties mentioned at last month’s meeting. Meek reported July 1 that the property has been sold and another blight notification letter would have to be sent to the new owner. Dontreze Young is the new owner, according to Webster County Chancery Court records. Mayor Lamar Dumas said he plans to restore the property as soon as possible.
Questions also arose about other properties. Meek said volunteers could form a committee to work with her by doing background work on blighted properties.
Litter ordinance
In related business, the board adopted a litter control ordinance for the city. Its purpose is to establish and maintain a system of the disposal of refuse, garbage and derelict property.
Howard Rumore (Ward 2) who prepared the ordinance based on the city of Houston’s, made the motion to implement it. When asked by an audience member what it involved, he replied, “All the litter things that aren’t quite blight.” The ordinance was published in its entirety as a legal notice in the July 10 issue of the Progress-Times. It takes effect 30 days from date of passage.
Corrective written notices may be issued to violators to correct an offense in lieu of citation or arrest. Failure to comply can result in a written citation plus a $200 fine. Further violation will lead to fine, community service or jail sentence with a fine of $200-$500.
In situations where residential or business owners deliberately litter or refuse to clean up their property, fines will be assessed to include cost for cleanup or restoration of property.
Rumore first presented the ordinance to the board for review on June 3, when it was initially approved and a public hearing set. That hearing was held before the July 1 meeting.
During the hearing, Cathy Embry asked if city residents could get wheeled garbage bins like those provided county residents. Embry said she thought it would look more uniform. Jerry Gary (at-large) noted the bins are provided to county residents through the county’s contract with Golden Triangle Waste Services for once-a-week garbage pickup, whereas the city has twice-a-week pickup. Gary agreed to check into the matter.
Industrial Park
Access Road
Lara Bowman of The Enterprise and George Crawford of the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District
addressed the board separately about leveraging funds for the planned access road at the Eupora-West Industrial Park.
The city has been appropriated $100,000 in legislative bond funds for a basic roadway that will lead to a 20-acre “Ready Site” off U.S. 82. The city board approved a resolution in May to declare the necessity for the issuance of state general obligation bonds for installation of the access road and to commit $15,000 to the project with funds taken from the designated Economic Development Special Fund.
The board authorized Bowman on July 1 to submit an application for a site development grant through the Mississippi Development Authority.
This grant would added to the local match for the access road project for a total of $30,000, according to Bowman. The Ready Site program requires a 100 percent direct local match, a minimum of 20 acres, and the site must be work-ready within six months and must be capable of having utilities on site within 12 months. Ready Sites are eligible to receive up to $50,000 in funding. The grant deadline is Aug. 1.
Upon Crawford’s recommendation, the board authorized his agency to apply for an MDA Small Municipalities Grant on behalf of the city. The grant of up to $150,000 would be used to construct industrial access road improvements and requires a 10% percent match.
Other Action
Other action taken by the board on July 1:
• Voted to rehire all city employees at their current salary. This followed a 25-minute executive session to discuss personnel.
• Authorized Police Chief Gregg Hunter to hire Tanner Pritchard as a full-time officer at the rate of $16 an hour.
• Authorized a raise for Water Department worker Donald Newton of 50 cents an hour.
• Authorized an increase in pay for Street Department worker Tyler Huffman to $12 an hour.
• Opened three bank depository bids for the holding of the city funds for the next two years. After review and discussion, the board voted to keep the city’s checking account with the Bank of Kilmichael, whose interest rate of 1.25% was at least 1% higher than the other two bids received. The board also elected to keep all other accounts in place at CB&S Bank.
• Approved a motion amendment from Feb. 6, 2017, for audit purposes. On that date, the board authorized Park Director Rusty Bowen to begin installation of lights at Gary Park not to exceed $20,000 to be taken out of general city reserves. The motion was amended to indicate that NESCO Rentals was a sole-source provider on installation of the lights.
• Approved mid-year budget adjustments totaling $19,350.
• Authorized Dumas to attend the summer conference of the Mississippi Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials from July 17-21 in Biloxi.
• Voted to advertise with Map Solutions for $995 to be taken out of the Economic Development line expense line item for at least 150 city/county maps.
Eddie Allen requested the city place speed bumps on Hill Street because, he said, many people speed up and down it. He indicated that his neighbors supported his proposal. The board directed Hunter to monitor traffic on the street and report back. Billy Tabb addressed the board to request changes in the lease for Industrial Park agricultural land.
