REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY, JULY 01, 2008 AT 9:00 A.M.

 

Meeting called to order by Council President Perry.

 

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

 

Absent:  None.

 

            The meeting was opened with prayer by Parks & Recreation Director Mark Naylor and followed by the Pledge to the Flag.

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Harris and unanimously passed by the Council to confirm the agenda order for this meeting.

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Thomas and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the minutes dated June 17, 2008.

 

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

 

ORDER #14352       ORDER CONFIRMING THE RE-APPOINTMENT BY THE MAYOR

                                    OF H. C. PARTRIDGE, JR. TO THE MERIDIAN AIRPORT AUTHORITY

 

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

 

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

Nay:  None.

 

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

 

ORDER #14353       ORDER APPROVING AND ADOPTING FINAL PLAT OF THE

                                    DAMON’S RESUBDIVISION OF BARACHEL PLACE, UNIT NO.

                                    1, A RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

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

 

ORDER #14354       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND SUBMISSION OF

                                    COMMERCIAL EQUIPMENT DIRECT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

                                    (CEDAP) GRANT APPLICATION

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

 

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

Nay:  None.

 

            Councilman Harris offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14355       ORDER AUTHORIZING EXECUTION AND SUBMISSION OF

                                    APPLICATION FOR THE 2008 MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL DRUG

                                    ENFORCEMENT GRANT WITH THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI,

                                    DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND AUTHORIZING

                                    ACCEPTANCE OF AWARD OF SAID GRANT

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

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

 

ORDER #14356       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND SUBMISSION OF

                                    E-VERIFY PROGRAM MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

                                    BETWEEN THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, THE

                                    DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the claims docket dated June 26, 2008 in the amount of $1,424,662.74.

 

            President Perry called for the Mayor’s report.  CAO Ken Storms reported that Mayor Smith was on his way to Jackson to meet with President Bush.

 

            President Perry called for citizen comments.  1) Bill Marcy, 3428 17th Avenue, appeared and stated he was appreciative of the crime reports that are now available on internet.  He is concerned about the crime in Meridian.  There have been several burglaries close to his home.  2) Randall Jennings, 6201 Oakland Heights Street, NAACP education chairman, appeared and said he appreciated the Mall official for contacting the NAACP regarding the youth hanging out at the Mall.  He wants everyone to consider from a proactive standpoint to sit down together and come up with ideas that will be beneficial to our teens.  3) Rev. Milton Johnson, 2038 State Boulevard, NAACP youth chairman, appeared and stated when he grew up there were different activities for the youth during the summer.  There is only one baseball field on the east side of town.  Most youth do not have the means of getting to the new ball fields.  He wants to do something about the youth hanging out at the Mall.  There are no academic programs or athletic activities in the neighborhoods.

 

            President Perry called for council comments.  Councilman Harris asked Police Chief Benny Dubose to explain the feature of the new web site on crime statistics.  The web site is www.crimereports.com.  You can type in an address and find out the criminal activity in the area.  This way, citizens will be more aware of what is going on in their neighborhood and become more proactive in preventing crimes.  Hopefully this will help establish more neighborhood watch programs.  Councilman Harris feels everyone can get together to make things happen for the youth.  He said he would like more inner-city parks.  He congratulated the following city retirees: Wallace Heggie, Buck Thomas and Betty Evans.  He said he appreciated everything the city did during the State Games.  Councilman Palmer said people throw garbage and trash and everyone needs to clean up the neighborhoods.  Many churches have family life centers and activities for the youth.  Chaney Park has two fields that are not being used.  Councilwoman Henson said she does not see churches going out and getting undesirables in.  When the churches open their doors you will see a change.  When the people in the churches open their hearts, they will open their buildings.  Councilman Thomas stated that State Games brought 5,000 participants.  It was a big success that has spread further than Meridian.  There are many events that are open to the public and you have to decide if you are going or not.  There are baseball fields in the eastern part of town that are not being used.  Volunteers and parents keep activities for the youth going.  Parents are responsible for their children and children should be responsible to their parents.  Councilwoman Perry congratulated the retired city workers and Mrs. Autry on her retirement.  She commended EMBDC for paying for youth to attend the symphony Friday night.  She would like to see programs brought back to the housing units and have the teens form teams as was done in the past.  The absence of a father figure is detrimental to the young.  Fathers need to guide the young people, especially the males.  A lot of people are afraid to interact with the young.  Positive comments need to be made to the young to encourage them to do better.  The Fourth of July festivities will be held Friday night at Bonita Lakes with the fireworks to begin at 9:00 p.m.  CAO Ken Storms stated the Mall officials contacted him about the situation with the youth hanging out there.  He was informed about a system they will be putting in place.  He said he encouraged them to contact the NAACP  and discuss this situation with them.

 

            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