Street paving was among issues discussed at the Nov. 4 meeting of the Eupora Board of Aldermen.
Mayor Lamar Dumas asked the board about spending a mill to repave streets, saying the worst he’s seen are Allen Street and Pear Tree Lane (the alley on the east side of First Baptist). Hugh Gibson (Ward 3) also mentioned Mitchell Avenue.
“I’d like to, if the board sees fits, to donate one mill for street paving,” Dumas said.
Ward 2’s Howard Rumore said, “There’s no question we have a lot of streets that need work, but where are we going to find that mill? …. I just don't know how we’re going to pay for it.”
Rumore indicated that the board had trouble as it was funding the current budget without requiring a property tax increase. Jerry Gary (at large) said the board could look at a millage increase next year and noted that a 1-mill increase would probably only be enough to repave one street. According to the discussion, 1 city mill is valued at about $15,000. Eupora is just one month into its new budget year. Aldermen adopted the 2019-20 budget and tax levy of 24 mills, which is the same as the previous year, on Sept. 11.
Planner George Crawford of the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District was asked if any type of federal funds were available for street paving. Although streets are a problem in every town and county, Crawford said they are not a high priority when it comes to Community Development Block Grants from the Mississippi Development Authority. Water and sewer projects have higher priority, he said.
Crawford said if the board decides to file a CDBG application for a paving project, it needs to select a potential street so that a cost estimate and income survey can be prepared. At least 51% of the residents on the street selected must be low to moderate income in order to be eligible. Dumas said he also planned to look into possible federal grants for street paving.
Other Action
Other action taken by the board on Nov. 4:
• Accepted a proposal from Calvert-Spradling Engineers of West Point to survey properties in connection with the 2016 HOME Grant, which involves four dilapidated or deteriorated houses in the city.
Aldermen did so after rating proposals from Calvert-Spradling and Cook-Allen Engineers & Surveyors of Eupora according to qualifications, experience with similar projects and capacity to do the work in a timely manner. Calvert-Spradling received 450 points and Cook-Allen 449 points.
• Voted to donate $500 to the Eupora Rotary Club for the Christmas Parade for advertisement to be taken out of the Economic Development Fund. The parade will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 7.
• Authorized City Clerk Gail Newton to renew health insurance for city employees through Blue Cross Blue Shield effective Jan. 1. She said the deductible would be $1,000 vs. the current $2,500.
• Voted to again table the Toby Brantley Park timber bid opening because no bids have been received and to place a free ad for this in Tradewinds magazine.
• Accepted the highest bid for three surplus police vehicles, and if the high bidder does not agree to it, to accept the second-highest bid instead. Proceeds will be placed in the Police Department’s vehicle expense fund.
• Accepted a $679 reimbursement check from the state for Eupora Police Department officer training. The reimbursement will be placed in the EPD’s vehicle expense fund.
• Accepted a $1,321 donation from the Police Department’s calendar project (from local business ads). The proceeds will be placed in the police personnel budget for overtime.
• Voted to add Samuel Warren and David Fonseca to the volunteer fire roster.
• Accepted a quote from Kenneth Cooper for labor on water line repairs in Bellefontaine. His quote of $1,915 was the lowest of three received.
Lara Bowman of The Enterprise addressed the board about the West Industrial Park access road project. According to Bowman, MDA has approved a Small Municipalities Grant for the project.
The board approved a resolution in July authorizing the GTPDD to apply for the $150,000 grant. The city has committed local funds of 10% of the grant funds to the cost of the total project from the Special Economic Development Fund. The city has also been appropriated $100,000 in legislative bond funds for the project.
Gretchen Purtee of Sky Family Dental asked if the business, which is located at 200 Meadowlane, could place a sign in the old Garan parking lot giving its address because customers are having trouble finding the practice.
She said Sky Dental was willing to pay rent to place a sign in the city-owned lot on Highway 9 South. After some discussion, the board voted to allow the business to place a sign there for up to one year.
