REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2006 AT 9:00 A.M.

 

Meeting called to order by Council President Thomas.

 

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

 

Absent:  None.

 

 

            The meeting was opened with prayer by Rev. Sephus Garrett of Christian Fellowship Church and followed by the Pledge to the Flag.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to confirm the agenda order for this meeting with an amendment to:  add an executive session regarding possible litigation; remove from C-11 the vacant lot west of 5306 1st Street.

 

 

            President Thomas advised of the notification of legal advertisement for the following: a) video equipment for city council room/police courtroom; b) metal roof repair of Fire Station #1.

 

 

            President Thomas called on Mayor Smith for his report.  He reminded everyone that today is the day to vote and encouraged everyone to do so.  The council will be taking up a TIF resolution for the new retail development – Meridian Crossroads.  The resolution is for an amount of up $4,500,000 for the total project.  TIF notes will be issued up to $3,500,000 for Phase I. 

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the minutes dated October 17, 2006.

 

 

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

 

                        November 12-18, 2006 – “Community Foundation Week”

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13914       ORDER AUTHORIZING EXECUTION AND SUBMISSION OF

                                    APPLICATION FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE GRANT TO

                                    WAL-MART (MERIDIAN POLICE DEPARTMENT)

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 #13915       ORDER AUTHORIZING EXECUTION AND SUBMISSION OF

                                    APPLICATION FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE GRANT TO

                                    SAM’S CLUB (MERIDIAN POLICE DEPARTMENT)

 

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 #13916       ORDER AUTHORIZING EXECUTION AND SUBMISSION OF

                                    APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDING TO WAL-MART

                                    FOUNDATION (MERIDIAN FIRE DEPARTMENT)

 

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 #13917       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF GRANT

                                    APPLICATION TO THE RILEY FOUNDATION (BUILDINGS

                                    AT MERIDIAN PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING FACILITY)

 

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 #13918       ORDER ACCEPTING DONATION FROM LOCKHEED MARTIN

                                    AERONAUTICS COMPANY (PURCHASE SAFETY EQUIPMENT

                                    FOR MERIDIAN FIRE DEPARTMENT)

 

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 #13919       ORDER ACCEPTING DONATION FROM MAJURE OFFICE &

                                    TRUCKING D/B/A FRED’S OF MERIDIAN, INC. (PURCHASE

                                    SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR MERIDIAN FIRE DEPARTMENT)

 

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 Resolution:

 

RESO. #5383                        RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF

                                    MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI, GRANTING TAX EXEMPTION

                                    FROM AD VALOREM TAXES TO TABERNACLE CHRISTIAN

                                    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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

 

ORDER #13920       ORDER DECLARING EQUIPMENT SURPLUS AND NO LONGER

                                    NEEDED BY THE CITY OF MERIDIAN AND AUTHORIZING

                                    THE SALE OF SAID SURPLUS EQUIPMENT

 

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 Resolution:

 

RESO. #5384                        RESOLUTION CALLING HEARING TO DETERMINE WHETHER

                                    OR NOT CERTAIN PARCELS OF LAND ARE IN SUCH A STATE

                                    OF UNCLEANLINESS AS TO BE A MENACE TO THE PUBLIC

                                    HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY (9:30 A.M. ON

                                    DECEMBER 5, 2006)

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

RESO. #5385                        RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE

                                    CITY OF MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI, DETERMINING THE

                                    NECESSITY FOR AND INVOKING THE AUTHORITY GRANTED

                                    TO MUNICIPALITIES BY THE LEGISLATURE WITH RESPECT

                                    TO TAX INCREMENT FINANCING AS SET FORTH IN CHAPTER

                                    45 OF TITLE 21, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, AS AMENDED;

                                    DETERMINING THAT THE TAX INCREMENT FINANCING PLAN

                                    OF 2006, MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI (MERIDIAN CROSSROADS

                                    PROJECT) PROPOSES A PROJECT THAT IS A PROJECT ELIGIBLE

                                    FOR TAX INCREMENT FINANCING UNDER THE LAWS OF THE

                                    STATE; THAT A PUBLIC HEARING BE CONDUCTED IN

                                    CONNECTION WITH THE TAX INCREMENT FINANCING PLAN

                                    OF 2006, MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI (MERIDIAN CROSSROADS

                                    PROJECT); AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES

 

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None. 

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13921       ORDER ALLOWING THE MERIDIAN HOUSING AUTHORITY

                                    TO CONSTRUCT FIVE PARKING SPACES ON ST. LUKE

                                    STREET BETWEEN DONALD AVENUE AND RUBUSH AVENUE

                                    AND ACCEPTANCE OF HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT

 

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 #13922       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF LAND PATENT

                                    AND DECLARING SURPLUS AND DONATING TO LAUDERDALE

                                    COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PROPERTY IN THE NEW

                                    PROJECT PRIDE AREA

 

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 #13923       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF LAND PATENT

                                    AND DECLARING SURPLUS AND DONATING TO THE MERIDIAN

                                    HOUSING AUTHORITY CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY

 

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.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13924       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF PERMIT TO

                                    CELLULAR SOUTH TO PLACE A 160’ MONOPOLE

                                    TELECOMMUNICATIONS TOWER ON PROPERTY

                                    LOCATED AT 2016 48TH AVENUE

 

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.

 

 

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

 

ORDIN. #4296         ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY’S ZONING ORDINANCE

                                    NO. 3966 SO AS TO RECLASSIFY CERTAIN LANDS IN THE

                                    CITY OF MERIDIAN FROM DISTRICTS R-1A & R-1B TO

                                    CONDITIONAL DISTRICT B-1 AND FROM DISTRICT R-1A TO

                                    CONDITIONAL DISTRICT R-1C (VICINITY OF KING ROAD

                                    AND NORTH HILLS STREET) INCLUDING AMENDING THE

                                    OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

 

and, Councilman Harris seconded the motion, whereupon said Ordinance 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 #13925       ORDER AUTHORIZING PURCHASE OF RAE EQUIPMENT

                                    FROM CARE SAFETY LLC, RIDGELAND, MS, IN THE

                                    AMOUNT OF $23,421.36

 

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 #13926       ORDER AUTHORIZING PURCHASE OF RAE MONITORING

                                    EQUIPMENT FROM RAE SYSTEMS, INC., ST. LOUIS, MO

                                    IN THE AMOUNT OF $84,634.00

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13927       ORDER ACCEPTING THE BID OF ONYX, INC., BESSEMER,

                                    AL, FOR SWEETGUM BOTTOM ROAD SEWER SYSTEM AND

                                    AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF CONTRACT FOR SAID WORK

 

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 #13928       ORDER APPROVING REQUEST FROM THE MERIDIAN

                                    PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ONE-WAY 11TH AVENUE

                                    BETWEEN 15TH AND 16TH STREETS, MONDAY THRU

                                    FRIDAY FROM 7:00 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M.

 

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 #13929       ORDER ALLOCATING FY 2007 BUDGET SUBSIDIES,

                                    GRANTS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS EXPENDITURES

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Next on the agenda was the Mayor’s veto of Order No. 13910.  No action was taken to over-ride the veto.

 

VETO PACKET NO. 98

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Harris and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the claims docket dated November 2, 2006 in the amount of $2,402,062.18.

 

 

            President Thomas called for Council comments.  Councilman Harris stated that the city should support the Transit System and help them out.  Councilman Palmer mentioned the funeral services for former coach J.C. Taylor, Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.  He encouraged parents to listen to their children.  Councilwoman Henson congratulated Tiffany Roberts for being named outstanding teacher by Phi Delta Kappa.  Councilwoman Perry said she was real proud of Captain Don. P. Hearsey, commander of Alpha Company in Iraq.  She encouraged everyone to vote.  Councilman Thomas asked CAO Ken Storms to let people know about the Veteran’s Day activities.  Mr. Storms stated that ceremonies will begin around 10:00 or 10:30 a.m. at the Doughboy Monument with the parade beginning at 3:00 p.m.  He encouraged everyone to come out and support the Veterans.  Councilman Thomas stated that everyone was concerned about the airline program in Meridian – especially with ASA/Delta.  Mayor Smith stated that delegates are working on this situation.  He will be going to Washington and will be meeting with the delegation.  Councilman Thomas stated there is a lot happening in Meridian – Christmas open houses, ball teams, Art Museum’s auction and many others.  There is plenty to do in Meridian.

 

 

            An executive session was requested regarding possible litigation.  Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilwoman Perry and unanimously passed by the Council to close the meeting to determine whether to declare an executive session.  Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to declare an executive session in order to discuss possible litigation.  The Council then went into executive session.  Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to go out of executive session.

            President Thomas called the regular meeting back to order.  No action was taken regarding the executive session.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilman Harris duly seconded by Councilwoman Henson and unanimously passed by the Council to amend the agenda to add the immediate payment to the Meridian Transit System in the amount $18,000.00.

 

 

There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, the meeting was recessed until 3:28 p.m. to discuss the request from the Meridian Transit System for immediate payment of $18,000.00 to cover their insurance costs.

 

 

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,  

 

                                                                        Pam McInnis, Clerk of Council