REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 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 Father Francis Cosgrove of St. Patrick & St. Joseph Catholic Churches 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: add as R-6 SAFER grant for Fire Department.

 

 

            President Palmer advised of the notification of legal advertisement for the following: a) asbestos abatement of houses; b) removal of hazardous trees from municipal property; c) post notification of disposition of lost, stolen, abandoned or misplaced personal property received or recovered in accordance with Miss. Code 21-39-21.

 

 

            President Palmer called on Mayor Smith for his report.  He asked Connie Royal to come forward and make a presentation on the 4th of July celebration.  Connie stated that the 4th of July celebration will include the following: Cellular South Pops Concert at Bonita Lakes featuring the Meridian Symphony Orchestra, a gigantic fireworks show, NAS fly-over and the 41st Army Band will present a jazz concert.  There will be at least three shuttles to transport people from the mall to Bonita Lakes for this event.  She encouraged everyone to attend.  Mayor Smith stated that effective with the June 21st mayor’s press conference, that they will be held at 1:00 p.m. instead of 10:00 a.m.  He and his staff met Monday and they are fully prepared to implement the annexation plan when the final order is in place.  The city will have 10 days after this order is set to provide basic services such as police and fire protection, garbage collection, etc.  Real property taxes for this newly annexed area will start accruing in January 2007 and will be due in January 2008.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Thomas and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the minutes dated June 06, 2006.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13787       ORDER AUTHORIZING TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO WESLEY HOUSE

                                    CONCERNING PERSONNEL AND OPERATION COSTS ALLOWABLE

                                    THROUGH VICTIM/WITNESS GRANT #05NW2222

 

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 #13788       ORDER DECLARING VEHICLE AND EQUPMENT SURPLUS AND

                                    NO LONGER NEEDED BY THE CITY OF MERIDIAN AND

                                    AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF SAID SURPLUS VEHICLE AND

                                    EQUIPMENT

 

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 #13789       IN THE MATTER OF:  THE APPOINTMENT BY THE CITY COUNCIL

                                    OF SCOTT GRAY TO THE LAUDERDALE COUNTY TOURISM

                                    COMMISSION

 

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 Order:

 

ORDER #13790       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE ON BEHALF

                                    OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN A “COPS” GRANT TO PROVIDE

                                    TWO SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS FOR THE MERIDIAN

                                    PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

 

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 #13791       ORDER ACCEPTING LOW BID FOR SOURCE OF SUPPLY FOR

                                    THE PERIOD OF JUNE 26, 2006 THRU JUNE 25, 2007 AND

                                    AUTHORIZING SAID BID PRICE TO BE EXTENDED FOR AN

                                    ADDITIONAL TWO (2) TWELVE MONTH PERIODS BY MUTUAL

                                    CONSENT FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT UNIFORMS FROM

                                    MID SOUTH UNIFORM & SUPPLY, JACKSON, MS AT THE    

                                    ESTIMATED YEARLY COST OF $12,063.20

 

and, Councilwoman Henson 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 #13792       ORDER ACCEPTING THE LOW BID OF J & J CONTRACTORS,

                                    INC. FOR RILEY CENTER R.O.W. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE

                                    AMOUNT OF $197,324.00 AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION

                                    OF CONTRACT

 

and, Councilwoman Henson 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 #13793       ORDER APPOINTING GEORGE M THOMAS AS PRESIDENT

                                    OF THE MERIDIAN CITY COUNCIL

 

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 #13794       ORDER APPOINTING BARBARA HENSON AS VICE-PRESIDENT

                                    OF THE MERIDIAN CITY COUNCIL

 

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.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Perry duly seconded by Councilwoman Henson and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the claims docket dated June 15, 2006 in the amount of $3,950,956.94.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13795       ORDER AUTHORIZING EXECUTION AND SUBMISSION OF

                                    APPLICATION FOR STAFFING FOR 2006 ADEQUATE FIRE

                                    AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE (SAFER) GRANT THROUGH

                                    THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND

                                    SECURITY (MERIDIAN FIRE 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.

 

 

            President Palmer called for citizen comments.  Rev. Paul Clayton with Independent Baptist Church was on the citizens hearing agenda, however, he was not at the meeting at this time.  Gregory Neal, 3604 16th Street, appeared regarding his gas bill.  He was advised that the city nor the city council had any control over the way the gas company ran their business.  He was advised that if he had problems with the gas company that he should contact Neilson Cochran with the Public Service Commission in Jackson.  Mayor Smith stated that if he would contact his office they would be glad to give him the phone number. 

 

 

            President Palmer called for citizen comments.  Councilman Harris invited everyone to the Ward 5 scholarship luncheon at Union Station this coming Friday from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  They are going to try to give $1,000 scholarships to worthy students.  Councilman Thomas thanked everyone with the State Games, especially the volunteers who make these games happen as well as city crews and county crews.  The Library has over 500 children signed up for their reading program this summer.  They will be sponsoring a free magic show at the Temple Theater on Friday of this week.  Those interested can call the Library to learn more about this.  President Palmer thanked Main Street and the Juneteenth Committee for the program this past weekend.  He said the entertainment was great and there were a lot of people who attended.

 

 

            Rev. Paul Clayton with Independent Baptist Church appeared before the Council at this time.  He said with the new apartment complex being built near his church that there is a lot of traffic.  Their street is not paved and they are fighting the dust.  He wants 7th Avenue paved immediately.  Council-woman Perry stated that she had this street on her next paving list but did not know when it would be done.  The money from the paving project that was just done is gone.  Councilman Palmer asked him to meet with him after the meeting and they will discuss getting with the Supervisors to see if they would pave this street.    

 

             

            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