REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY, JANUARY 05, 2010 AT 9:00 A.M.

 

Meeting called to order by Council President Smith.

 

Present:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

 

Absent:  None.

 

 

            The meeting was opened with prayer by Councilwoman Mary Perry and followed by the Pledge to the Flag.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the agenda for this meeting with an amendment to add as R-7 a resolution affirming demolition of condemned buildings.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Perry duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the minutes dated December 15, 2009.

 

 

            Councilwoman Perry offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Resolution:

 

RESO. #5633                        RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN,

                                    MISSISSIPPI, GRANTING TAX EXEMPTION FROM AD VALOREM

                                    TAXES TO ST. PETER AME ZION CHURCH AS AUTHORIZED BY

                                    SECTIONS 27-31-1(D) AND 79-11-33 OF THE MISSISSIPPI CODE

                                    OF 1972, AS AMENDED

 

And, Councilman Palmer seconded the motion, whereupon said Resolution was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilwoman Perry offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14714       ORDER REMOVING FROM LIST OF SURPLUS ITEMS A 2001

                                    AUDI AA4, SERIAL NO. WAUAC68D91A132995, CONTROL

                                    NO. 152-40 AND PLACE BACK IN INVENTORY

 

 

And, Councilman Palmer seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilman Palmer offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Ordinance:

 

ORDIN. #4364         ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 3963 CONCERNING

                                    FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION AND CONTROL

 

And, Councilman Thomas seconded the motion, whereupon said Ordinance was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilman Thomas offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Resolution:

 

RESO. #5634                        RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF CONTRACTUAL

                                    AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CLAY FIRM (BETH C. CLAY) AND

                                    THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

 

And, Councilwoman Henson seconded the motion, whereupon said Resolution was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilwoman Perry offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14715       ORDER APPROVING AND ADOPTING VERGIE VILLAGE ESTATES

                                    SUBDIVISION, A RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION OF THE CITY OF

                                    MERIDIAN

 

And, Councilwoman Henson seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilwoman Henson offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14716       ORDER ACCEPTING THE BID OF BILLY SHUMATE CONSTRUCTION

                                    COMPANY, MERIDIAN, MS, FOR ASBESTOS ABATEMENT OF THIRTY

                                    (30) STRUCTURES IN THE AMOUNT OF $34,948.00

 

And, Councilman Palmer seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilwoman Henson offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14717       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF CHANGE ORDER NO. 2

                                    BETWEEN KEY, LLC, THOMPSON ENGINEERING AND THE CITY

                                    OF MERIDIAN (22ND AVENUE BRIDGE)

 

And, Councilman Palmer seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Perry duly seconded by Councilwoman Henson and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the claims docket dated December 30, 2009 in the amount of $2,725,198.33.

 

 

            Councilman Thomas offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Resolution:

 

RESO. #5635                        RESOLUTION AFFIRMING DEMOLITION OF CONDEMNED BUILDINGS

 

And, Councilwoman Perry seconded the motion, whereupon said Resolution was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            President Smith advised of the notification of legal advertisement for pipes, valves and fittings.

 

            Next on the agenda was the Mayor’s report.  Mayor Barry stated the city was in every tough economic times.  There will probably have to be a 5% cut across the board in the departments.  She plans to continue working throughout the community to build trust and unity throughout the city.  She looks forward to working with the City Council to make Meridian the “Queen City” she can be.

 

 

            President Smith asked about the progress on the Bonita Lakes dam.  Public works director Monty Jackson stated that the new box culvert is being built and the contractor is removing the old culvert.  The new culvert will be extended a few more feet.  The engineers are looking at changes to save money to convert water from the big lake to the small lake.  The weather plays a pit part in the progress of removing trees.  City Clerk Ed Skipper gave an update report on progress at City Hall.  The contractor has finished the exterior work.  They are working on the inside now and on the mechanical building next to temporary city hall.  The cold weather affects the laying of the concrete blocks for the building.  The contractor is working on the mechanical, plumbing and conduit aspects in the interior of City Hall.  They are getting surfaces ready for refinishing.  President Smith thanked Al Willis for all he has done to get the 9th graders in the new building at Meridian High School. 

 

 

            President Smith called for citizen comments.  1) Bill March, 3428 34th Avenue, appeared and welcomed everyone back for the new year.  He thinks 2010 is going to be a good year.  2) Superintendent Kent of the Meridian Public Schools appeared stated they have started the new year with students at the 9th grade building and they are off to a good start.  They are three weeks behind everyone else because of delays but they will get caught up.  He stated he would like to come back at a later time and talk to the City Council about SROs at the public schools.

 

 

            President Smith called for Council comments.  Various comments were made.

 

 

There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, the meeting was adjourned.  Sine die.

 

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,  

 

 

                                                                        Pam McInnis, Clerk of Council