REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2006 AT 5:30 P.M.

Meeting called to= order by Council President Palmer.

Present: Thomas, Henson, Palmer, Harris.

Absent: Perry.

The meeting was opened with prayer by Bro. Donald Gentry of 8^th Avenue Baptist Churc= h and followed by the Pledge to the Flag.

Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilman Harris and unanimously passed by the Council to confirm the agenda order for this meet= ing with an amendment to add an executive session regarding a personnel matter = and possible litigation.

President Palmer advised of the notification of legal advertisement for the following= : a) supply and installation of trees to be planted at Airport Interchange.=

Mayor Smith said he had three reappointment to boards and commissions – Joe Norwood, Gil Carmichael and Deborah Andrews to the Main Street Meridian Boa= rd.

President Palmer called on Mayor Smith for his report. Patricia Smith, Interim Director o= f the Meridian Transit System, appeared before the Council to go over the week of activities planned for Meridian Transit Week which is January 23-27, 2006.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Monday is coffee, donuts & pra= yer day. Tuesday is a publicity b= litz with public service announcements and commercials. Wednesday is free trolley service = for a night. Thursday is two for one rides on the bus. Friday is w= ear jeans, eat chili and saluting of some special people.

Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilman Harris and unanimously passed by the council to approve the minutes dated January 03, 2006.

Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilman Harris and unanimously passed by the council to approve the following proclamation to = be issued by the Mayor:

= &nb= sp; Janu= ary 23-27, 2006 – “Meridian Transit Week”

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

ORDER #13675 ORDER CONFIRMING THE RE-APPOINTMENT BY THE

= &nb= sp; MAYOR OF JOE NORWOOD TO THE MAIN STREET

= &nb= sp; MERI= DIAN BOARD

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

Yea: Thomas, Henson, Palmer, Harris.

Nay: None.

Absent: Perry.

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

ORDER #13676 ORDER CONFIRMING THE RE-APPOINTMENT BY THE

= &nb= sp; MAYOR OF GIL CARMICHAEL TO THE M= AIN STREET

= &nb= sp; MERI= DIAN BOARD

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

Yea: Thomas, Henson, Palmer, Harris.

Nay: None.

Absent: Perry.

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

ORDER #13677 ORDER CONFIRMING THE RE-APPOINTMENT BY THE

= &nb= sp; MAYOR OF DEBORAH ANDREWS TO THE = MAIN STREET

= &nb= sp; MERI= DIAN BOARD

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

Yea: Thomas, Henson, Palmer, Harris.

Nay: None.

Absent: Perry.

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

ORDER #13678 ORDER DECLARING EQUIPMENT SURPLUS AND NO

= &nb= sp; LONG= ER NEEDED BY THE CITY OF MERIDIAN= AND

= &nb= sp; AUTH= ORIZING THE SALE OF SAID SURPLUS EQUIPMENT

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

Yea: Thomas, Henson, Palmer, Harris.

Nay: None.

Absent: Perry.

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

ORDER #13679 ORDER APPROVING WAIVER OF WATER BILLING

= &nb= sp; CHAR= GES FOR THE FEMA DISASTER RECOVERY

= &nb= sp; CENT= ER ESTABLISHED TO ASSIST VICTIMS OF

= &nb= sp; HURR= ICANE KATRINA

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

Yea: Thomas, Henson, Palmer, Harris.

Nay: None.

Absent: Perry.

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

ORDER #13680 ORDER AUTHORIZING PURCHASE OF LOW BOY

= &nb= sp; TRAI= LER FROM GLOBE TRAILER, BRADENTON<= /st1:City>, FL

= &nb= sp; IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,000.00

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

Yea: Thomas, Henson, Palmer, Harris.

Nay: None.

Absent: Perry.

Next on the agenda was an order declaring property surplus and donating to the Mississippi Highway Patrol. M= otion was made by Councilman Harris duly seconded by Councilwoman Henson to appro= ve this order. Discussion was he= ld in regard to the amount of property to be declared surplus. About two of the acres in question= will be needed to build a new fire station on.&= nbsp; It was recommended that no action be taken at this time. Councilman Harris withdrew his mot= ion and Councilwoman Henson withdrew her second.

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

ORDER #13681 ORDER AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF SURPLUS PROPERTY

= &nb= sp; LOCA= TED AT “B” STREET AND 18^TH AVENUE AND<= /p>

= &nb= sp; AUTH= ORIZING EXECUTION OF QUITCLAIM DEED

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

Yea: Thomas, Henson, Palmer, Harris.

Nay: None.

Absent: Perry.

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

ORDER #13682 ORDER AUTHORIZING THE LEASE OF SURPLUS PROPERTY

= &nb= sp; LOCA= TED AT “B” STREET AND 18^TH AVENUE TO MAGNOLIA=

= &nb= sp; STEEL COMPANY, INC.

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

Yea: Thomas, Henson, Palmer, Harris.

Nay: None.

Absent: Perry.

Councilman Thomas offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Resoluti= on:

RESO. #5308 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT BETWEEN

= &nb= sp; THE CITY OF MERIDIAN AND KABANA PRODUCTIONS

= &nb= sp; FOR SOUND AND LIGHTING AT THE DOWNTOWN

= &nb= sp; MARDI GRAS BLOCK PARTY ON FEBRUARY 24, 2006.

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

Yea: Thomas, Henson, Palmer, Harris.

Nay: None.

Absent: Perry.

Councilwoman Henson offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Resoluti= on:

RESO. #5309 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

= &nb= sp; TO ENACT LEGISLATION TO ALLOW THE CITY TO DELAY

= &nb= sp; ASSE= SSMENT OF PROPERTY TAXES ON NEW SINGLE-FAMILY

= &nb= sp; RESI= DENTIAL SUBDIVISIONS

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

Yea: Thomas, Henson, Palmer, Harris.

Nay: None.

Absent: Perry.

Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Harris and unanimously passed by the council to approve the claims docket dated January 12, 2006 in the amount of $2,599,084.61.

President Palmer called for citizen comments. No one appeared.

President Palmer called for council comments. Councilwoman Henson expressed her condolences to Chief Benny Dubose = and Councilwoman Perry on the loss of their loved ones. National Wear Red Day will be on February 03, 2006. She thanked public works for putting the “Complete” marker back up. Councilman Thomas stated that ther= e was a big day at the Senior Citizens Center’s open house held recently. There was not enough parking space= for everyone. He suggested that t= he name of the center be changed to community center instead of senior citizen center. Council President Pal= mer expressed his condolences to Chief Dubose and Councilwoman Perry on the los= s of their loved ones. He congratu= lated the Martin Luther King celebration committee for the great job they did.

An executive session was requested regarding a personnel matter and potential = litigation. Motion was made by Councilman Thom= as duly seconded by Councilwoman Henson and unanimously passed by the Council = to close the meeting to determine whether to declare an executive session. Motion was made by Councilwoman He= nson duly seconded by Councilman Harris and unanimously passed by the Council to declare an executive session in order to discuss a personnel matter and potential litigation. The Cou= ncil then went into executive session. Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilman Har= ris and unanimously passed by the Council to go out of executive session.<= /o:p>

President Palmer called the meeting back to order.&n= bsp; Councilman Thomas offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

ORDER #13683 ORDER= TO INCREASE PETTY CASH FUND FOR

= &nb= sp; MERI= DIAN POLICE NARCOTICS PETTY CASH FUND

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

Yea: Thomas, Henson, Palmer, Harris.

Nay: None.

Absent: Perry.

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

= &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; &= nbsp; Respectfully submitted,

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Pam McInnis, Clerk of Council

= &nb= sp; = &nb= sp;