REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2006 AT 5:00 P.M.

 

Meeting called to order by Council President Palmer.

 

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

 

Absent:  None.

 

 

            The meeting was opened with prayer by Dr. Raymon Leake of First Baptist Church and followed by the Pledge to the Flag.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilwoman Henson and unanimously passed by the Council to confirm the agenda order for this meeting with an amendment to: remove R-4; add as R-1a First Tee Golf Facility Use Agreement; add as C-6 local & private legislation to add Homeland Security Director as member of E-911 Commission; move citizens comments to before executive session.

 

 

            Fred Wile, member of the Meridian Public School District board appeared to give an update on the Meridian Public Schools.  He said they are in phase two of their project.  Phase two is the “Road Map to Change” which is the redesign of the high school.  There are various steering committees set up with citizens/teachers from the city.

 

 

            President Palmer called on Mayor Smith for his report.  He turned his time over to the group with the First Tee program.  Robert Ward, Acting President of the First Tee program, and Tourism Director Cecelia Derrington made a presentation on the First Tee program.  There is a golf facility use agreement on the routine agenda that they requested the City Council to approve.  They are interested in using the area across the road from the municipal golf course to build a three-hole course.  Ms. Derrington showed a film on her laptop regarding the First Tee program.  There are a couple of other cities in Mississippi trying to be the first city in Mississippi to have a First Tee program.  With the approval of the agreement, Meridian should be the first city in Mississippi to have a First Tee program.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilwoman Perry and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the minutes dated March 07, 2006.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilwoman Perry and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the following proclamation:

 

                        April 9-15, 2006 – “Small Business Week”

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

 

ORDER #13720       ORDER AUTHORIZING TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO WESLEY

                                    HOUSE CONCERNING PERSONNEL AND OPERATION COSTS

                                    ALLOWABLE THROUGH VICTIM/WITNESS GRANT #05NW2222  

 

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

 

ORDER #13721       ORDER AUTHORIZING INSTALLATION OF A STREET

                                    LIGHT AT M STREET NORTH OF 62ND AVENUE

 

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

 

ORDER #13722       ORDER APPROVING TAXI PERMIT FOR: JERRY D. BROOKS

 

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

 

ORDER #13723       ORDER APPROVING TAXI PERMIT FOR: WILLIAM R. COLLIER JR.

 

 

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

 

RESO. #5331                        RESOLUTION APPROVING FILING OF LOCAL AND PRIVATE

                                    LEGISLATION IN THE 2006 REGULAR SESSION OF THE

                                    MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE TO ADD THE DIRECTOR OF HOME-

                                    LAND SECURITY AS A MEMBER OF E-911 COMMISSION

 

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.

 

 

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

 

ORDIN. #4281         ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY’S ZONING ORDINANCE

                                    NO. 3966 SO AS TO RECLASSIFY CERTAIN LANDS IN THE

                                    CITY OF MERIDIAN FROM DISTRICT R-1B TO DISTRICT R-1C

                                    (VICINITY OF 49TH AVENUE NORTH OF 26TH 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.

 

 

            Discussion was held at this time regarding the golf facility use agreement.  City Attorney Steve Kohnke stated that the first paragraph on the second page of the agreement needed to be removed as this section is not allowed according to the Attorney General’s office.  After these changes, Councilman Harris offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

 

ORDER #13724       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF GOLF FACILITY

                                    USE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF MERIDIAN AND

                                    THE MERIDIAN JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION, INC. FOR USE

                                    OF THE LAKEVIEW MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE TO FACILITATE

                                    CHAPTER REQUIREMENT FOR THE FIRST TEE OF MERIDIAN

                                    PROGRAM

 

and, Councilman Thomas 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 #13725       ORDER ACCEPTING THE LOW BID OF WEED PRO, LLC,

                                    SWARTZ, LA, FOR HERBICIDE PROGRAM (TWO APPLICATIONS)

                                    IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,472.00

 

and, Councilman Thomas 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. #5332                        RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION AND EXECUTION

                                    OF AN APPLICATION FOR A NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION GRANT

                                    (REPAIR DAMAGE CAUSED BY HURRICANE KATRINA TO FIRING

                                    RANGE OF MERIDIAN PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING FACILITY)

 

and, Councilman Harris 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.

 

 

            Discussion was held regarding the proposed agreement with Neel-Schaffer, Inc. on M Street improvements.  City Attorney Steve Kohnke advised that there were several sections that needed to be removed from the agreement as these were not allowed according to the Attorney General’s office.  Those sections removed were the third paragraph in item #14, item #21, the second sentence of item #22 and in item #23 change the number of days from 30 to 45.  After these changes, Councilwoman Henson offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #13726       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF LETTER

                                    AGREEMENT BETWEEN NEEL-SCHAFFER, INC., THE

                                    MERIDIAN REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND

                                    THE CITY OF MERIDIAN (“M” STREET IMPROVEMENTS)

 

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 Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilwoman Perry and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the claims docket dated March 16, 2006 in the amount of $1,980,059.61.

           

 

            President Palmer called for citizen comments.  No one appeared.

 

 

            President Palmer called for council comments.  Councilwoman Henson stated the grass on the banks of Sowashee Creek looks good.  There was a tree down on State Boulevard and it was cut within 30 minutes after it fell.  She expressed her appreciation for this.  Councilwoman Perry stated that she did not even have to call about trees that feel on 10th Avenue.  They were taken care of.  She stated that 10th Avenue between 14th & 18th Streets is looking real well.  The residents are delighted.  The Jackson State Choir performed at St. Joseph this past Sunday.  She said they did a great job.  The President and former President of Jackson State University will be in Meridian on April 7th.  Councilman Thomas stated he attended the Timtek announcement.  There were a lot of people involved and working together in this announcement.  The work on Sowashee Creek and drainage ditches has helped keep the flooding down in Meridian.  Councilman Palmer thanked public works for getting the fence done at Harris.  He also thanked them for striping the “S” curve on 5th Street.  This has helped a lot.

 

 

            An executive session was requested regarding personnel matters and possible litigation.  Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilwoman Perry and unanimously passed by the Council 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 personnel matters and possible litigation.  The Council then went into executive session.  Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilwoman Perry and unanimously passed by the Council to go out of executive session.

 

 

            President Palmer called the regular meeting back to order.  No action was taken regarding 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