REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2008 AT 5:00 P.M.

 

Meeting called to order by Council President Henson.

 

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

 

Absent:  None.

 

 

            The meeting was opened with prayer by Pastor John Willis of Agape Storehouse Apostolic Church 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 with an amendment to: add an executive session regarding economic development and possible litigation.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilman Harris and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the minutes dated February 05, 2008.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #14243       ORDER CONFIRMING THE RE-APPOINTMENT BY THE MAYOR OF

                                    BETTY LOU JONES TO THE KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION

 

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

 

ORDER #14244       ORDER CONFIRMING THE RE-APPOINTMENT BY THE MAYOR OF

                                    HELEN GOUGH TO THE KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION

 

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

 

ORDER #14245       ORDER AUTHORIZING TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO WESLEY HOUSE

                                    CONCERNING PERSONNEL AND OPERATION COSTS ALLOWABLE

                                    THROUGH VICTIM/WITNESS GRANT #06NW2223

 

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

 

ORDER #14246       ORDER DECLARING EQUIPMENT SURPLUS AND NO LONGER NEEDED

                                    BY THE CITY OF MERIDIAN AND AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF SAID

                                    SURPLUS EQUIPMENT

 

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

 

ORDER #14247       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF VENUE USE AGREEMENT

                                    BETWEEN THE CITY OF MERIDIAN AND THE STATE GAMES OF

                                    MISSISSIPPI, INC. (USE OF BONITA LAKES FACILITIES)

 

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

 

ORDER #14248       ORDER AUTHORIZING EXECUTION AND SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION

                                    FOR THE 2007 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 Resolution:

 

RESO. #5502                        RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE INTENTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF

                                    THE CITY OF MERIDIAN TO CALL A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PURPOSE

                                    OF CONSIDERING CERTAIN AMENDMENTS TO ORDINANCE NO. 3966

                                    ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON JANUARY 1, 1994, SO AS TO

                                    RECLASSIFY CERTAIN LANDS IN THE CITY OF MERIDIAN FROM DISTRICT

                                    R-1A TO DISTRICT B-4 (MARCH 18, 2008 @ 5:15 P.M.)

 

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.

 

 

            Appearing before the Council at this time were Ashley Robinson (Ardmark Builders) and Greg Creel (Creel Development).  They are purchasing surplus property to building low to moderate income houses on.  Councilman Thomas offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14249       ORDER ACCEPTING BID OF CREEL DEVELOPMENT, INC. FOR PURCHASE

                                    OF SURPLUS PROPERTY AT THE NW CORNER OF DAVIS STREET @ 29TH

                                    AVENUE AND AUTHORIZING ISSUANCE OF QUITCLAIM DEED

 

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.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #14250       ORDER DECLARING PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF 14TH

                                    AVENUE, SOUTH OF 14TH STREET SURPLUS AND AUTHORIZING SAID

                                    SURPLUS PROPERTY TO BE SOLD AT A COST DETERMINED BY AVERAGE

                                                OF THREE PROFESSIONAL APPRAISALS

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.

 

 

            Discussion was held regarding the appraisals of the property located on the west side of 14th Avenue, south of 14th Street.  Councilman Thomas stated that he did not like the way the calculations were done.  The whole piece of property was appraised, however, the city is only selling part of the property that was appraised.  Public Works Director Monty Jackson stated that they used the average of the price per square foot to determine the cost of the property being sold.  Councilman Thomas asked why only the part being sold was not appraised instead of the entire piece of surplus property.  Mr. Jackson stated that all of the surplus property was not needed by the buyer, therefore, they only used the appraised value for the property the buyer needed.  After discussion,   Councilman Thomas offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14251       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF SURPLUS PROPERTY LOCATED ON

                                    THE WEST SIDE OF 14TH AVENUE, SOUTH OF 14TH STREET TO FIFTEENTH

                                    AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF QUITCLAIM

                                    DEED

 

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

 

Yea:  Perry, Henson, Palmer, Harris.

Nay:  Thomas.

 

 

            Captain Russell Knight of NAS Meridian appeared before the Council at this time regarding the Wings over Meridian air show to be held at NAS Meridian.  He went over the statistics of the benefits the Navy Base provides to the city.  He made a power point presentation on the upcoming air show.  They are soliciting sponsorships to cover the costs of this air show.  Councilman Thomas stated that in addition to the benefits Captain Knight mentioned, the naval personnel also contributed their time and efforts for projects that help the city.  Councilman Thomas offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14252       ORDER AUTHORIZING SPONSORSHIP IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,000 FOR

                                    WINGS OVER MERIDIAN AIR SHOW TO BE HELD IN MARCH 2008 AT

                                    NAS 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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #14253       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND SUBMISSION OF MEMA

                                    HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT APPLICATION TO PURCHASE GENERATORS

                                    FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

 

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

 

ORDER #14254       ORDER ACCEPTING RENEWAL QUOTE FROM WEED PRO, LLC, SWARTZ,

                                    LA, FOR HERBICIDE PROGRAM (2008 GROWING SEASON – SOWASHEE

                                    CREEK) IN THE AMOUNT OF $7,472.00

 

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.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilman Palmer duly seconded by Councilwoman Perry and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the claims docket dated February 14, 2008 in the amount of $1,770,018.05.

 

 

            President Henson advised of the notification of legal advertisement for the following: a) request for proposals from qualified consultants for municipal engineering services.

 

            President Henson called on Mayor Smith for his report.  He commended Buck Thomas, Risk Manager, for is efforts to control insurance costs and liabilities for the city.  He commended Bryan Thompson, mechanic, for turning in a small amount of drugs and $9,800 in cash that he discovered while making repairs to a drug seized van.  Mayor Smith stated he held a press conference at 1:00 p.m. that day at Dumont Plaza to announce an environmental initiative.  The city has already taken steps to reduce energy costs.  Meridian will be the first city in Mississippi to become a “green” city.  He said the city will continue to do what has been done but will look for other ways to be green.

            President Henson called for citizen comments.  Dr. S. L. Thompson with the Concerned Citizens of Meridian group appeared before the Council.  He and their group are concerned about the appointments of members of the Meridian Public School Board of trustees and the Meridian Community College Board of Trustees.  He asked the Council members not confirm any recommended members of these boards until the public has ample time to evaluate the recommended candidates.  He asked that a work session be held to discuss strategies and tactics regarding the selection process of replacements for these positions.  Ms. Kelly Cross, 3201 46th Street, appeared regarding the parking of tractor trailers inside the city limits.  She feels that she was discriminated against when she had to move her tractor trailer off her property.  She has provided a list of places where these are parked throughout the city and wanted to know if something would be done to make the owners move them.  Police Chief Benny Dubose stated that they have a program set up in the police department to address these.   

 

 

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

 

 

            President Henson called the regular meeting back to order.  Councilman Thomas offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14255       ORDER AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING COMMENCEMENT OF

                                    PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO MISSISSIPPI CODE ANNOTATED

                                    § 11-17-8 (C) TO CONDEMN THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN

                                    ATTACHED PLAT

 

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.                        

 

 

            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