REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY, MAY 20, 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 Dr. Rhett Payne of First Presbyterian Church 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 as R-5 a contract for architectural conservator for city hall interior repairs; add as R-6 discussion and possible action in regard to Transit Authority’s request for an additional $30,000 contribution.

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

ORDER #14317       ORDER CONFIRMING THE APPOINTMENT BY THE MAYOR OF

                                    JOHN JOHNSON TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE MERIDIAN

                                    COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT

 

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 #14318       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 Resolution:

 

RESO. #5515                        RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN,

                                    MISSISSIPPI, GRANTING TAX EXEMPTION FROM AD VALOREM TAXES

                                    TO MERIDIAN FIRST SEVENTY-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH AS AUTHORIZED

                                    BY SECTIONS 27-31-1(D) AND 79-11-33 OF THE MISSISSIPPI CODE OF

                                    1972, AS AMENDED

 

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.

 

 

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

 

RESO. #5516                        RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF

                                    MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI, GRANTING EXEMPTION FROM AD VALOREM

                                    TAXES FOR A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD TO MAGNOLIA STEEL COMPANY,

                                    INC. AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 27-31-101 ET. SEQ., OF THE

                                    MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, AS AMENDED

 

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.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #14319       ORDER ACCEPTING THE BID OF DIXIE ELEVATOR CO., INC.,

                                    JACKSON, MS, FOR HYDRAULIC ELEVATOR (PUBLIC WORKS

                                    COMPLEX) IN THE AMOUNT OF $71,500.00 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.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #14320       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF CONTRACT BETWEEN

                                    THE MERIDIAN UMPIRE ASSOCIATION AND THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

 

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.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Perry duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the claims docket dated May 15, 2008 in the amount of $2,817,531.63.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #14321       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF CONTRACT FOR

                                    ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATOR (CITY HALL INTERIOR

                                    REPAIRS) BETWEEN GEORGE FORE AND 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, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Discussion was held at this time regarding the request from the Meridian Transportation Commission for an additional contribution in the amount of $30,000.  Councilman Palmer stated that the Transit Authority is having problems carrying on their functions and $30,000 for expenses.  If the city will grant these additional funds, they can request matching money from MDOT and then have the money to pay the city whatever is owed.  Councilman Thomas stated that the city allocated $116,000 this year to them.  As of May they have a balance of $31,000 owed to the city and they are asking for $30,000 more.  He said he doesn’t mind paying them the last three payments which would be almost $30,000.  At that point they can either raise funds, access more tax money or they will have to reallocate their money.  Councilwoman Perry said the money they owe is as far back as 1995.  She knows of no transit system that can sustain itself.  Councilman Palmer said they need this money in order to meet payroll obligations.  Councilwoman Henson said she would go along with giving them the other three payments immediately.  Councilman Palmer said this would not help because they would run out of funds to carry on if they get all their allocation at one time.  Councilman Harris said that he feels they need to be able to work within their budget like not only the city departments but individuals.  When you take budgeted funds from city departments then you take away money for their programs.  After discussion, Councilman Palmer offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14322       ORDER AUTHORIZING ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE

                                    MERIDIAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION IN THE AMOUNT

                                    OF $30,000

 

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

 

Yea:  Perry, Palmer, Harris.

Nay:  Thomas, Henson.

 

 

            At this time Captain Russell Knight of NAS Meridian presented a Blue Angels lithograph and an autographed flyer of the Wings Over Meridian event to Council President Henson.  He thanked the city for their support for this event.  He said they underestimated the number of people who would attend this event.  It turned out that around 100,000 people attended the event and they in turn spent tax dollars in the city.  He said they will be having another air show in 2011 which will be in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of NAS Meridian.

 

 

            President Henson called for the Mayor’s report.  CAO Ken Storms stated he would handle this.  City Planner Don Jemison appeared and advised that the city is retaining a Class A rating through the community rating system.  Public Works Director Monty Jackson stated there would be a public hearing for the North Hills Street project on June 16th at EMEPA between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. to receive comments on the project.  He met with representatives of PolyCon regarding their polymer paving process (E-Krete) which shows promise of being a good product.  It has been costly in the past, however, as asphalt costs go up this becomes a very competitive alternative.  They guarantee this to stay 10 years and usually stay 20 to 25 years.  There is going to be a demonstration of this product on 8th Street between 24th & 25th Avenues on May 30th.  He reported that the preliminary report from the Health Department shows that Meridian retains its rating of 5 on operations, keeping records, production of water and keeping our plants running.  CAO Ken Storms discussed the Run for the Wall event.  He thanked citizens from not only Meridian and Lauderdale County but from other cities/counties who turned out to support this.  He presented plaques to the Sonny Montgomery Institute, Bill Smith of WMOX, Jeremy Campbell of the Tourism Bureau, Cheri Barry with Red Cross and Omar Bhatti of Imperial Cleaners.  There were various sponsors thanked for their assistance in making this event a success. 

 

 

 

            President Henson called for citizen comments.  Destiny Williams, 2224 13th Avenue, appeared regarding the ditch behind her house.  It is grown up, filled with debris and snakes, rats, mosquitoes, etc. come from it.  Also, she requested a street light at the corner of 23rd Street and 13th Avenue.  Pastor and Mrs. Harry James, 3004 7th Street, appeared and thanked Mary Ruth Sharp, the inspectors and public works for working with them.  They have made Meridian their home.

 

 

            President Henson called for council comments.  Councilman Thomas asked Police Chief Dubose if a person suspects illegal drug activity in their neighborhood what are they supposed to do.  Chief Dubose said they need to call either the police department or the drug task force.  Councilman Thomas said people don’t perceive anything being done about it.  Chief Dubose said when they make a bust and get all their information/evidence they don’t immediately do anything.  They work the case and go after the dealer.  Sometimes the reason it takes so long is because these cases go before the grand jury first.  Councilman Thomas stated that evidently Waste Management has stopped pick up of trash in his neighborhood.  He has had three piles out in his yard over a month.  Councilman Harris said he talked to Odell Hopkins and was told that he is talking to Waste Management.  Councilman Harris said he is having the same problems in his ward.  Mr. Hopkins told him that something is being done to handle this situation.  Councilman Thomas said he did not like paying someone to do something and it is not done.  He does not mind paying someone to do something if they do it.  Public Works Director Monty Jackson said he is not happy with the service Waste Management is giving to the city.  Since Monday and Tuesday are heavy garbage days, Waste Management will pick up trash with the garbage on Thursdays and Fridays as well as on Wednesdays when the regular trash pick up is scheduled.  Councilwoman Perry said the city needs to enforce making people pay fines for littering.  May is senior citizen month and she appreciates the things being done to honor them.  She said Meridian is a unique city where the citizens as hospitable to those who visit.  She congratulated high school graduates.  She urged students to learn a second language.  Councilman Palmer said he has not had any trouble with Waste Management picking up trash in his ward.  He asked Councilwoman Henson and Councilman Thomas to re-think their vote on the contribution to the Transit Authority.  He said he has confidence they will return the money after they get it back from the state.  Councilman Harris asked Bunky Partridge to give an update on Code Red.  Mr. Partridge said that the Code Red Weather Warning system will piggy back on the Code Red system.  This has been tested in the last few days.  They are looking at purchasing this program through Homeland Security grants.  They will only give weather warnings in the polygon that the bad weather is expected in.  Councilwoman Henson said she knows a lot of people who take their garbage and trash and put it across the street on a vacant lot.  She told them that Waste Management will not pick it up unless the property where it is has a water bill.  She expressed her sympathy to Greer Goldman on the loss of his father, Asa.

           

 

            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