City of Louisville has been “Business and Busyness as Usual.”
January and February 2018 have been busy months for the city hall staff, including tax collection and paying bills and keeping up with so many great capital improvement projects. The City Clerk’s office is responsible for a multitude of duties that keeps the city running properly and the needs of the citizens are dealt with. Property tax collections have been steady and the City Clerk Babs Fulton said that if you have not paid 2017 taxes yet, you must add penalties which amount to 1% per month until the August tax sale. She encourages those paying late to set a goal to pay as soon as possible to avoid additional penalties and having your name printed in the newspaper in July and August. Tax sales and Tourism tax collection are steady, with an average monthly sales tax collection in 2017 and $157,845.00 and an average if $3,320.00 from Tourism Tax for recreation and promotional marketing uses.
Along with a slew of other improvement projects, Mayor Will Hill recently acknowledged the receipt of a small Municipals and Limited Population Grant which will assist in preliminary work of rebuilding an industrial road connection for industrial design of the roadway.
The board of Alderman has approved a new Standard Operating Policy manual and a reconstructing of the Fire Department presented by Chief Johnny Roy Haynes, which includes naming Robert Hutto as Deputy Fire Chief and giving firemen a raise. The Louisville Fire Department has eleven full time and part time employees along with several volunteer firemen that respond to fire situations. A new four door pumper fire truck has been ordered and should be in operation by summer, which will be paid for through the federal, state, and local funds. The Fire Department has applied for a $100,000.00 Assistance to Firefighter’s grant, which requires a 5% match of city funds and will help meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of the fire department like equipment and protective gear.
The Municipal Court Clerk, Kayla Rogers, received some much needed help in her office by the hiring of LaTonya Glass as Deputy Court Clerk in February. These ladies, along with Leslie Loving, receipt police fines and collect assessments, and take depositions for new court cases which are held before Judge David Wilson with Taylor Tucker as the city prosecutor.
Police Chief L. M. Claiborne is smiling these days with the arrival of five new Doge Charger police cars. The cars are part of a purchase made with the federal funds received through the Alternate Projects grants.
In recent board action, Karl Black was promoted to Captain, and Donnie Graham was hired as a part time police officer. Black who was promoted effectively February 15 to the rank of Captain noted he the job has been a challenge but he has enjoyed it for 23 years. He added that the promotion brought a new level of responsibility.
New officers were also hired at the first meeting in March. Dalton Gregory Daniel and Joshua Jolly are the newest officers, bringing a total of twenty-four policemen to serve the community.
DARE Officer Tonya McWhirter has scheduled DARE Graduation for April See page 2A of today's edition for the full story.
Jody Fulton, Code Enforcement Officer, continues to contact owners of unclean properties, requesting that the property be cleaned and made presentable and safe for the community. Piles of rubbish and junk vehicles make property unsafe, and unkept grass and shrubs make the property and neighborhood look bad. Mayor Hill recently kicked off the Community Wide Cleanup Month inspiring citizens to clean their own property, pick up roadside litter, and getting and keeping an attitude of pride in the community.
Robert Eaves wears many hats as a Public Works Director, Street Superintendent, and Landfill Manager. The newest Landfill cell was completed at the end of the year and will serve as the county and surrounding counties for many years to come. The dollar project was constructed by the Century Construction of Tupelo.
Todd McCullough, Director of Parks and Recreation, applied for a Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for a funding grant which requires a 20 percent match for the city and will be used for a walking track to be built around the new Ivy Park land.
Newest Department Head, Chris Young manages the Department of Public Safety which includes acting as building inspector and fire safety inspector. A new ordinance was recently approved which adopted the various International Codes relating to inspection activities of the City of Louisville and enforcement of building provisions.
Community Wide Cleanup Month March 6—April 3, 2018
Whereas, the city of Louisville desires to lead, support, and inspire a community wide cleanup effort throughout the City of Louisville over the next month; and, whereas, the community Wide Cleanup Campaign is in junction with the GAC: a program the City of Louisville participates annually; and whereas, the streets and walkways of Louisville have become victim of careless throughout the community, littler is everywhere, and it will take everyone working together to rid the ugly and bring back the beauty with Spring; and whereas, the citizen of Louisville can help by cleaning their own property, inspiring neighbors to work together in picking up roadside litter in your own neighborhoods, volunteering, educating all citizen on the negative impact of littering, eliminating loose trash from open truck beds, and planning community service cleanup days for schools, civic clubs, volunteer groups, and churches.
Now therefore, be it resolved that the Mayor of the City of Louisville, Mississippi, proclaims March 6 through April 3, 2018, as Community Wide Cleanup Month in Louisville, Mississippi; and be it further resolved that the citizens of Louisville enthusiastically participate in the cleanup efforts of the community.
