REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2002 AT 9:00 A

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2005 AT 9:00 A.M.

Meeting called to= order by Council President Palmer.

Present: Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Har= ris.

Absent: None.

The meeting was opened with prayer by Rev. W. C. Brown of 5^th Street Baptist Churc= h 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 meet= ing with an amendment to: add as R-11 an order directing the municipal clerk to keep on file for public review the Telepak Networks Inc. franchise agreemen= t; remove from C-6 the property located at the vacant lot east of 2813 9^t=
h Street; add as R-1A First Union Missionary Baptist Church.

President Palmer advised of the notification of legal advertisement for the following= : a) city hall roof.

Next was a presentation on the economic impact study by <= st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Mississippi State University concerni= ng the Retiree Recruitment Program. Rebecca Gentry introduced Dr. Charles Campbell with MSU. He went over highlights of the stu= dy covering such aspects as: types of migrant retirees, decision to migrate to= Mississippi comm= unities, migration data, impacts of retirees on a community, etc. Don Farrar introduced Dianne O’Toole, State Director of Mississippi Hometown Retirement.

President Palmer called for the mayor’s report. CAO Ken Storms advised that the Ma= yor was in Albuquerque= with the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Connie Royal, Jerome Kittrell and Debbie Martin appeared and gave an update on the mural project. = They advised the Council that they are working with Robert Dafford from Los Angeles as th= e mural artist. A calendar and post c= ards depicting some of his murals were passed around. Mr. Dafford has reached the point = in his career where he can pick his jobs and he was very impressed with Meridian. They will keep the Council updated= as this project proceeds. CAO St= orms advised that the city’s regional response team was on the coast assis= ting with cadaver recovery. Eight = of the 12 member team are from Meridi= an. CAO Storms stated that the original estimated amount of debris from Hurricane Katrina was 18,000 tons. He has seen neighbors help neighbo= rs and numbers of volunteers from outside Mississippi coming to assist. He thanked everyone for their assistance. Odell Hopkins advised the Greenworks is working hard. The volume is much higher than estimated. They are 18 days i= nto the 60-day contract with started September 12^th. To date there have been 7,559 tons picked up. FEMA is allowing d= ebris up to fifteen feet from the property line to be picked up. FEMA will not pay for healthy tree removal – only those trees damaged by the storm.

Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilwoman Henson and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the minutes dated September 13= and September 20, 2005.

Appearing before the Council at this time were Mrs. Melba Clark and members of the Fi= rst Union Missionary Baptist Church Property Committee. First Union= only owns the land on which its foundation sits. They do not own the parking lot be= hind the church nor the driveway leads to the parking lot. There is no room for the church to grown. Last year they learned= that the Housing Authority is planning to rebuild the Davis Courts projects. The Housing Authority had orange r= ibbons put in place to mark off the land they own. Their committee was appointed to m= eet with the Housing Authority and express their desire to purchase the land surrounding the church. They = met with representatives of the Meridian Housing Authority and Board of Directors. The Housing Author= ity has proposed to sell or lease to First Union the property directly behind t= he church to 36^th = Avenue. This amount of property is insuffi= cient to meet their needs for expansion of the church. This would only allow additional parking. They need to relocate their kitchen and have plans to develop a family life center. They asked the City Council to ass= ist them with the Housing Authority. President Palmer appointed Councilwoman Perry and Councilwoman Henso= n to work with First Union Missionary Baptist Church in meeting with and talking to the Meridian Housing Authority. <= /span>

Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilwoman Henson and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the following proclamations to= be issued by the Mayor:

= &nb= sp; Octo= ber, 2005 – “National Arts & Humanities Month”<= /span>

= &nb= sp; Octo= ber, 2005 – “Domestic Violence Awareness Month”

= &nb= sp; Octo= ber 20, 2005 – “Lights On Afterschool! Day”=

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

ORDER #13588 ORDER ACKNOWLEDGING AND PLACING ON MINUTES

= &nb= sp; THE EMERGENCY SERVICE REPAIR AND INSTALLATION

= &nb= sp; OF DAMAGED TRAFFIC SIGNAL LIGHT SYSTEMS IN

= &nb= sp; ACCO= RDANE WITH SECTION 31-7-13(K), MISS= ISSIPPI

= &nb= sp; CODE ANNOTATED

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, Har= ris.

Nay: None.

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

ORDER #13589 ORDER ACKNOWLEDGING AND PLACING ON MINUTES

= &nb= sp; THE EMERGENCY PURCHASE OF TRAFFIC SIGNAL LIGHT

= &nb= sp; ITEMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 31-7-13(K),

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; MISSISSIPPI CODE ANNOTATED

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, Har= ris.

Nay: None.

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

ORDER #13590 ORDER AUTHORIZING THE SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE OF

= &nb= sp; HOLIDAY DECORATIONS ON A NON-COMPETITIVE BASIS=

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, Har= ris.

Nay: None.

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

RESO. #5281 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; RESOLUTION CALLING HEARING TO DETERMINE WHETHER

= &nb= sp; OR NOT CERTAIN PARCELS OF LAND ARE IN SUCH A STATE

= &nb= sp; OF UNCLEANLINESS AS TO BE A MENACE TO THE PUBLIC

= &nb= sp; HEAL= TH AND SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY (NOVEMBER 01,

= &nb= sp; 2005 AT 9:30 A.M.)

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, Har= ris.

Nay: None.

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

ORDER #13591 ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUITON OF CONTRACT

= &nb= sp; BETW= EEN THE MERIDIAN UMPIRE ASSOCIATION AND=

= &nb= sp; 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, Har= ris.

Nay: None.

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

ORDER #13592 ORDER RECORDING INTO THE MINUTES OF THE MERIDIAN

= &nb= sp; CITY COUNCIL THE “CERTIFICATION TO MUNICIPAL

= &nb= sp; COMP= LIANCE QUESTIONNAIRE”

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, Har= ris.

Nay: None.

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

RESO. #5282 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION AND

= &nb= sp; EXEC= UTION OF GRANT APPLICATION BY THE CITY

= &nb= sp; OF MERIDIAN TO THE MERIDIAN/LAUDERDALE COUNTY

= &nb= sp; TOUR= ISM BUREAU FOR PROMOTION OF MA= IN STREET

= &nb= sp; EVEN= TS AND PROJECTS

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, Har= ris.

Nay: None.

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

ORDER #13593 ORDER APPROVING AND ADOPTING FINAL PLAT OF

= &nb= sp; PLUM POINTE SUBDIVISION UNIT NO. 3, A RESIDENTIAL

= &nb= sp; SUBD= IVISION OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

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

Yea: Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Har= ris.

Nay: None.

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

ORDER #13594 ORDER ACKNOWLEDGING AND PLACING ON MINUTES

= <= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &= nbsp; THE PURCHASE OF TWENTY-FIVE NEW POLICE VEHICLES

= &nb= sp; FROM WATSON QUALITY FORD VIA STATE CONTRACT PRICING

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

Yea: Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Har= ris.

Nay: None.

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

ORDER #13595 ORDER AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR THE

= &nb= sp; INNO= VATIONS IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AWARD

= &nb= sp; (HOM= ELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT)

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

Yea: Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Har= ris.

Nay: None.

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

ORDER #13596 ORDER AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR THE MITRETEK

= &nb= sp; INNO= VATIONS AWARD THROUGH THE JOHN F KENNEDY

= &nb= sp; SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT= AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY

= &nb= sp; (HOM= ELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT)

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, Har= ris.

Nay: None.

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

ORDER #13597 ORDER AUTHORIZIGN TRANSFER OF $10,000 TO THE

= &nb= sp; MERI= DIAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVE-

= &nb= sp; MENT CORPORATION (MCDIC) FOR THE PURPOSE OF

= &nb= sp; MAKI= NG NEW MARKET TAX CREDIT APPLICATION

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

Yea: Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Har= ris.

Nay: None.

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

ORDER #13598 ORDER AUTHORIZING A $500.00 OR 2 ½ % RAISE

= &nb= sp; (WHI= CHEVER IS GREATER) FOR FULL-TIME CITY

= &nb= sp; EMPL= OYEES

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, Har= ris.

Nay: None.

Councilwoman Perry offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Ordinance= :

ORDIN. #4275 = ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE A REVENUE AND LEVY A TAX

= &nb= sp; FOR THE MERIDIAN SEPARATE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR

= &nb= sp; THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2006 =

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

Yea: Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Har= ris.

Nay: None.

Councilwoman Henson offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Ordinanc= e:

ORDIN. #4276 = ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE A REVENUE FOR THE CITY

= &nb= sp; OF MERIDIAN FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING

= &nb= sp; SEPT= EMBER 30, 2006 = ;

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

Yea: Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Har= ris.

Nay: None.

Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilwoman Perry and pas= sed by a majority vote of the Council to approve the claims docket dated Septem= ber 29, 2005 in the amount of $1,485,107.95.&n= bsp; Voting Yea: Perry, Henson, Palmer, Harris. Voting Nay: None. Not voting or discussing: Thomas.<= o:p>

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

ORDER #13599 ORDER DIRECTING MUNICIPAL CLERK TO KEEP ON

= &nb= sp; FILE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW THE TELEPAK NETWORKS

= &nb= sp; INC., FRANCHISE AGREEMENT

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, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Har= ris.

Nay: None.

President Palmer called for citizen comments. No one appeared.

President Palmer called for council comments. Councilman Harris thanked the city council of = Indianapolis, Indiana for bring relief supplies down t= o Meridian. While at a conference in San Antonio, whic= h he enjoyed, Mayor Gonzales talked the good job Mayor Smith has done. Council-man Harris said the city n= eeds to be kid friendly. He will be getting with the administration on this.&n= bsp; Councilwoman Henson said she and her husband were in Nashville last week celebrating their 5= 4^th anniversary. Nashville has a 12 ½ % sales tax= . Councilwoman Perry stated she atte= nded the MML conference in Tunica. She said Councilman Thomas received a plaque for 20 years of service. MML is promoting Steven Covey̵= 7;s Habits. She thanked volunteer= s for going to senior citizens homes and help them. There will be a Ward 2 meeting at = Velma Young that night from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on October 11^th from 10:00 a.m. until noon. Councilman Thomas stated there were a lot of things to do in Meridian such as t= he Meridian Little Theater opening, the arts program Saturday, the fair is in = town and softball games are going on. He thanked the local schools for taking in the evacuees. He said he would like the city to = be able to collect taxes on all the gambling going on inside the city. This would add a lot to the city coffers. President Palmer sta= ted he attended the conference in San= Antonio and said it was well worth the time and effort. There was a quote he heard at the conference: “A city that does not take care of it’s youth is doomed.”

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,

= &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = Pam McInnis, Clerk of Council

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