The rehiring of city employees was among items handled at the Eupora Board of Aldermen’s regular July meeting.
When the board reached that July 2 agenda item, Robert Gibbs (Ward 4) made motions to consider going into and to enter into executive session for personnel discussion, which were approved.
After aldermen came back into open session 25 minutes later, Howard Rumore (Ward 2) made a motion to rehire all city employees. Jerry Gary (at-large) seconded his motion, with all voting aye except Gibbs. No further discussion of the matter followed.
Grant ideas,
Industrial Park
George Crawford of the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District, said he had received a letter from the project engineer requesting permission to close out the lagoon stabilization project via the mayor’s signature, which the board authorized.
Crawford also said applications for a Small Municipalities and Limited Population Counties Grant are due Aug. 31. He said the city needed to decide on a project, and that helping a company to expand has the highest priority. The item was tabled to a future meeting.
Lara Bowman, director of The Enterprise representing Choctaw and Webster counties, appeared before the board regarding Eupora Industrial Park issues.
She informed the board last month that $500,000 has been allocated to the city through the Appalachian Regional Commission with the intent that the funds be used to extend utilities in Industrial Park.
Bowman said July 2 that she wanted to make sure the city took advantage of the available funds, which require a 30 percent match and application within nine months. Bowman said she planned to talk with the county about how to work together on the project.
Police car
Police Chief Gregg Hunter informed the board that another of his patrol cars was down and unrepairable. Including a donated car that has also broken down, this makes two. He said the police car fleet is aging, with only one vehicle having less than 100,000 miles.
“I’m at the point where I don’t have backups,” said Hunter, who proposed buying a police-package SUV at the state contract price of $27,600 and financing it with a local bank. The cost to equip it will be around $3,000.
The board, declaring it an emergency purchase and authorized Hunter to proceed as needed to buy the vehicle for the Police Department. The motion also authorized him to apply for related USDA Rural Development grant.
Backup judge
The board voted to add Rebecca Ellison as a backup judge to Municipal Judge Buchanan Meek when he is not available to handle initial appearances for city prisoners who are in jail.
Ellison will not be paid when she fills in because she is already salaried with the county as a Justice Court judge. Hunter said she has already done so a few times.
Hunter requested the action because of a requirement in the Mississippi Rules of Criminal Procedure that a person who is in custody following a warrantless arrest, whether for a misdemeanor or a felony, is entitled to an initial appearance before a judge no later than 48 hours after arrest.
Mayor’s report
Mayor Lamar Dumas discussed with the board the possible need of a vehicle to use in city business but did not request any action at this point. He said such a vehicle could be used to pick up officials who are flying in regarding economic development projects or for city officials to use traveling to meetings.
He also discussed meetings he has had in Memphis with Federal Express officials and the mayor’s office, which he said may “adopt us to help us.” Dumas said a grant writer with the mayor’s office in Memphis planned to come down and see what he can do.
Other business
Aldermen gave board attorney Jacqueline Meek the locations of properties in apparent violation of the city’s blight prevention ordinance.
Properties named included that at the corner of Ruth and Dunlap streets, and the abandoned Jake’s Recycling lot on East Roane Avenue. Meek said she would like to focus on one property at a time.
The board approved a final resolution granting a 10-year industrial ad valorem tax exemption to Plymouth Tube for new personal property. This followed approval by the Mississippi Department of Revenue.
Ray Beeson of East Walnut Avenue appeared before the board about the speed bump in front of his house on Walnut Avenue. He said it is badly worn and that many drivers avoid it or speed over it. Beeson requested that it be replaced with a wider speed table or two speed bumps further east.
Hunter recommended leaving the existing speed bump and putting a three-way stop at Walnut and Waterworks Road because it is a high-traffic area.
“I believe a three-way stop there would be more effective than anything,” he said.
The board tabled the matter until next month and asked Hunter to research the situation in the meantime.
At the request of Fire Chief Mitch Jackson, the board voted to add Chandler Huffman Blalock to the Fire Department roster (see related article). The board was scheduled to meet in budget work sessions on July 9 and 10.
