REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY, MARCH 06, 2007 AT 9:00 A.M.

 

Meeting called to order by Council President Thomas.

 

Present:  Thomas, Henson, Palmer, Harris.

 

Absent:  Perry.

 

 

            The meeting was opened with prayer by Rev. John C. Harris and followed by the Pledge to the Flag.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilman Palmer duly seconded by Councilwoman Henson and unanimously passed by the Council to confirm the agenda order for this meeting with an amendment to:  add as R-8 adoption of final plat for The Meridian Crossroads Subdivision; add an executive session regarding personnel matters, economic development and litigation.

 

 

            President Thomas advised of the notification of legal advertisement for the following: a) police vehicles from state contract.

 

 

            President Thomas called on Mayor Smith for his report.  He stated he did not have a report.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the minutes dated February 20, 2007.

 

 

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

 

RESO. #5417                        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 (APRIL 03, 2007

                                    AT 9:15 A.M.)

 

and, Councilman Palmer 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 Order:

 

ORDER #13998       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, Henson, Palmer, Harris.

Nay:  None.

Absent:  Perry.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13999       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF SERVICE

                                    AGREEMENT BETWEEN WASTE MANAGEMENT AND

                                    THE CITY OF MERIDIAN (MERIDIAN HOUSEHOLD

                                    HAZARDOUS WASTE AMNESTY DAY)  

 

and, Councilman Palmer 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 #14000       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF CHANGE ORDER

                                    NO. 1 BETWEEN PANOLA CONSTRUCTION COMPANY AND

                                    THE CITY OF MERIDIAN (SELECTIVE DEMOLITION – MERIDIAN

                                    CITY HALL)

 

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

ORDER #14001       ORDER ACCEPTING PROPOSAL FROM GEORGE T. FORE &

                                    ASSOCIATES FOR SERVICES RELATED TO RESTORATION

                                    AND REPAIR OF EXTERIOR CONSTRUCTION OF CITY HALL)

 

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

 

RESO. #5418                        RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE ISSUANCE OF

                                    GENERAL OBLIGATION WATER AND SEWER BONDS, SERIES 2007,

                                    OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI, IN THE PRINCIPAL

                                    AMOUNT OF THREE MILLION SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS

                                    ($3,600,000) TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING

                                    FOR ERECTING MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS, AND PURCHASING

                                    BUILDINGS OR LAND THEREFOR, AND FOR REPAIRING, IMPROVING,

                                    ADORNING AND EQUIPPING THE SAME; PURCHASING OR CONSTRUCTING

                                    REPAIRING, IMPROVING AND EQUIPPING BUILDINGS FOR PUBLIC

                                    LIBRARIES AND FOR PURCHASING LAND, EQUIPMENT AND BOOKS

                                    THEREFOR; ERECTING OR PURCHASING WATERWORKS AND OTHER

                                    PUBLIC UTILITY PLANTS OR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS, AND REPAIRING,

                                    IMPROVING AND EXTENDING THE SAME; ESTABLISHING SANITARY,

                                    STORM, DRAINAGE OR SEWERAGE SYSTEMS, AND REPAIRING,

                                    IMPROVING AND EXTENDING THE SAME; PROTECTING MUNICIPAL

            `                       STREETS AND SIDEWALKS FROM OVERFLOW, CAVING BANKS AND

                                    OTHER LIKE DANGERS; CONSTRUCTING, IMPROVING OR PAVING

                                    STREETS, SIDEWALKS, DRIVEWAYS, PARKWAYS, WALKWAYS OR PUBLIC

                                    PARKING FACILITIES, AND PURCHASING LAND THEREFOR; PURCHASING

                                    LAND FOR PARKS, AND PUBLIC PLAYGROUNDS, AND IMPROVING,

                                    EQUIPPING AND ADORNING THE SAME, INCLUDING THE CONSTRUCTING,

                                    REPAIRING AND EQUIPPING OF SWIMMING POOLS AND OTHER

                                    RECREATIONAL FACILITIES; CONSTRUCTING BRIDGES AND CULVERTS;

                                    ALTERING OR CHANGING THE CHANNELS OF STREAMS AND WATER

                                    COURSES TO CONTROL, DEFLECT OR GUIDE THE CURRENT THEREOF;

                                    PURCHASING FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT AND APPARATUS, AND

                                    PROVIDING HOUSING FOR SAME, AND PURCHASING LAND THEREFOR;

                                    PURCHASING MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT WHICH HAVE AN

                                    EXPECTED USEFUL LIFE IN EXCESS OF TEN (10) YEARS AND NOT

                                    INCLUDING ANY MOTOR VEHICLE WEIGHING LESS THAN TWELVE

                                    THOUSAND (12,000) POUNDS

and, Councilman Palmer 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.

 

 

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

 

RESO. #5419                        RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AND RATIFYING THE SIGNING AND

                                    DISTRIBUTION OF A PRELIMINARY OFFICIAL STATEMENT FOR

                                    THE SALE OF THE THREE MILLION SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND

                                    DOLLARS ($3,600,000) GENERAL OBLIGATION WATER AND

                                    SEWER BONDS, SERIES 2007, OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN, MS

 

and, Councilwoman Henson 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.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #14002       ORDER AUTHORIZING PURCHASE OF WORK UNIFORMS FROM

                                    ARAMARK UNIFORM SERVICES, MERIDIAN, MS, FOR 12-MONTH

                                    SOURCE OF SUPPLY (MARCH 1, 2007 THRU FEBRUARY 29, 2008)

 

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

 

ORDER #14003       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF PROJECT ACTIVATION

                                    REQUEST BETWEEN THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPOR-

                                    TATION AND THE CITY OF MERIDIAN (REPLACE/REPAIR TRAFFIC

                                    SIGNALS DAMAGED BY HURRICANE KATRINA IN AUGUST OF 2005)

 

and, Councilman Harris 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.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the claims docket dated March 01, 2007 in the amount of $1,794,441.86.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #14004       ORDER APPROVING AND ADOPTING FINAL PLAT OF THE

                                    MERIDIAN CROSSROADS SUBDIVISION, A COMMERCIAL

                                    SUBDIVISION OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

 

and, Councilman Harris 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.

 

 

            President Thomas called for citizen comments.  No one appeared.

 

 

            President Thomas called for Council comments.  Councilman Harris stated he was elected by the citizens of Ward 5 and contrary to what people may say, he is the same Ward 5 City Councilman and will continue to be so.  The City Council works hard to work together.  They don’t always agree but they make sure the work gets done.  He said he is not there to compete against the Mayor and City Council.  He has a Supervisor and he wants him to do what is best for the citizens of Meridian.  He would like his Supervisor to step up to the plate and do what is right for the city.  He reminded everyone of the upcoming 5th Annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast.  Councilman Palmer stated that Councilwoman Perry’s grandson was injured in an accident.  He has been moved to a room and is recovering.  There were 20 houses between February 20th and March 2nd demolished in Ward 4.  He hopes these properties can be donated to Habitat for new homes.  Councilwoman Henson passed out a picture showing a swimming pool that is behind a burned house with no fence.  A dog fell in this pool.  This is dangerous and she wanted to remind the public that this is a hazard.  President Thomas stated that 16 houses have been taken down.  This is another example of the City and County working together.

 

            An executive session was requested regarding personnel matters, economic development and litigation.  Motion was made by Councilman Harris 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 Henson duly seconded by Councilman Harris and unanimously passed by the Council to declare an executive session in order to discuss personnel matters, economic development and litigation.  The Council then went into executive session.  Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Harris and unanimously passed by the Council to go out of executive session.  There was no action taken on the executive session.

 

           

            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