REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY, JANUARY 02, 2008 AT 9:00 A.M.

 

Meeting called to order by Council President Henson.

 

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 Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to confirm the agenda order for this meeting.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the minutes dated December 18, 2007.

 

 

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

 

RESO. #5489                        RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES

                                    FOR A VOLUNTEER SERVING AS CHAIRPERSON OF THE CITY’S

                                    KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION WHO REPRESENTS

                                    THE CITY OF MERIDIAN AT THE MISSISSIPPI/ALABAMA

                                    CONFERENCE IN BILOXI, MS, JANUARY 24-25, 2008          

 

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

 

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

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #14225       ORDER DECLARING K-9 “JOSIE” SURPLUS AND AUTHORIZED TO BE

                                    SOLD TO THE JONES COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT FOR $5,000

 

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.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #14226       ORDER DECLARING K-9 “LEO” SURPLUS AND AUTHORIZED TO BE

                                    SOLD TO THE SMITH COUNTY TEXAS SHERIFF DEPARTMENT FOR $5,000

 

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 #14227       ORDER ACCEPTING THE BID OF PHILLIPS DESIGN GROUP,

                                    STARKVILLE, MS, FOR SUPPLY & INSTALLATION OF TREES

                                    ALONG PORTIONS OF POPLAR SPRINGS DRIVE & 23RD AVENUE

                                    IN THE AMOUNT OF $18,208.00 AND AUTHORIZING PURCHASE

                                    OF ADDITIONAL PLANT MATERIAL AT THE UNIT PRICES BID,

                                    UP TO $20,000.00, AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF CONTRACT

                                    FOR SAID WORK

 

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

 

ORDER #14228       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF LEASE AGREEMENT

                                    BETWEEN CHUNKY RIVER HARLEY-DAVIDSON, MERIDIAN, MS

                                    AND THE CITY OF MERIDIAN (FOUR NEW 2008 MOTORCYCLES)

 

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 Resolution:

 

RESO. #5490                        RESOLUTION APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE AMENDED

                                    BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF MERIDIAN FOR THE FISCAL YEAR

                                    ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 AND DIRECTING THE CITY

                                    CLERK IN REFERENCE THERETO

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Perry duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the claims docket dated December 27, 2007 in the amount of $1,538,019.76.

 

 

            President Henson advised of the notification of legal advertisement for the following: a) asbestos abatement of 14 structures.

 

 

            President Henson called for the Mayor’s report.  CAO Ken Storms stated there would not be one.

 

 

            President Henson called for citizen comments.  No one appeared.

 

 

            President Henson called for Council comments.  Councilman Harris wished everyone Happy New Year.  Councilman Palmer thanked the parents for taking care of their young people.  The youth still needs to cut down on the noise – radios are turned up loud.  He wished everyone a Happy New Year.  Councilwoman Perry wished everyone a Happy New Year.  She said she is thankful for being here.  She expressed sympathy for those who had tragedies this past Christmas season.  She said she appreciates al the employees have done and appreciates the City Council.  She congratulated those elected to County positions.  Councilman Thomas stated that Senator Roger Wicker would be making his first official stop in Meridian today at 9:00 a.m.  He said that in Kansas if a city officer hears music within 100 feet of a vehicle they confiscate the vehicle.  Council President Henson wished everyone a Blessed New Year.  She thanked everyone for their support and thanked the City Council.  Councilman Palmer stated a former principal of Middleton, Mr. Posey, turned 93.  Councilwoman Perry stated that Mrs. Ella Payton recently had her 106th birthday celebration.  Councilman Thomas asked about city hall renovations.  City Clerk Ed Skipper stated that prepara-tions for the exterior work will be starting this week.  They will be moving stuff in and setting up.  Scaffolding will be going up.  The plans and specs are being finalized for the interior work.  The city should be going out for bids in about 3 months.  Some of the internal work will be going on with the external work such as the elevators and stairs.  This was included in the external bid.  Councilman Thomas asked about the new fire station.  Fire Chief Jeff Homan stated the contractor is working on the engine room and everything is on schedule.  It should be ready in June or July.  Parks & Recreation Director Mark Naylor stated that things are going well at the Meridian Activity Center. 

 

 

            The hour of 9:15 a.m. having arrived, the hearing as called for in Resolution #5479 regarding unclean property was opened with motion by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council.  John Smith appeared regarding the property known as the vacant lot north of 1105 35th Avenue.  He wanted to know what was wrong with the property.  He said he has someone who cuts it and has a signed statement that the person cut it.  Building Official Mary Ruth Sharp showed pictures of the property taken last Friday and said when she went by that morning the property still was not cut.  Mr. Smith stated the man who cuts this property is supposed to be going out there either that day or the next to cut it.  He asked to be given until that time before the city cleans it.  Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilman Harris and unanimously passed by the Council to close the hearing.  Motion was made by Councilwoman Perry to give Mr. Smith 30 days to have this property cut.  There was no second to the motion.  Councilman Thomas stated he would support giving him until this Saturday to have the property cut.  Councilwoman Perry withdrew her motion.

 

 

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

 

RESO. #5491                        RESOLUTION ADJUDICATING PARCEL OF LAND TO BE A MENACE

                                    TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY AND

                                    GRANTING PROPERTY OWNER UNTIL SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 2008

                                    AS THE DEADLINE TO CLEAN PROPERTY (BALL SURVEY BLOCK 55

                                    SOUTH ½ LOTS 1 & 2)

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

RESO. #5492                        RESOLUTION ADJUDICATING PARCEL OF LAND TO BE A MENACE

                                    TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY

                                    (RAGSDALE SUR BLOCK 230 38’ N&S X 135’ E&W BEG 150’N SEC)

 

and, Councilman Harris seconded the motion, whereupon said Resolution 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 Resolution:

 

RESO. #5493                        RESOLUTION ADJUDICATING PARCEL OF LAND TO BE A MENACE

                                    TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY

                                    (ETHRIDGE & THREEFOOT’S SUB DEARMAN SURVEY BLOCK 22

                                    LOT 13 & PT LOTS 9, 10, & 14 DESC DB 1094 P. 173)

 

and, Councilman Harris seconded the motion, whereupon said Resolution 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 Resolution:

 

RESO. #5495                        RESOLUTION ADJUDICATING PARCEL OF LAND TO BE A MENACE

                                    TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY

                                    (RAGSDALE SUR BLOCK 152 47’ N&S X 140’ E&W BEG 144’N SEC)

 

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

 

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

Nay:  None. 

                 

 

            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