REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2005 AT 5:30 P.M.

 

Meeting called to order by Council President Smith.

 

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

 

Absent:  None.

 

 

            The meeting was opened with prayer by Dr. Ralph Henson of Church of the Way and followed by the Pledge to the Flag.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to confirm the agenda for this meeting with an amendment to: remove R-8; add as C-6 placement of culverts in open ditch on city right-of-way on 1st Street between Martin Luther King Memorial Drive and 32nd Avenue.

 

 

            President Smith called on Mayor Smith for his report.  Fire Chief Tim Miller and Battalion Chief Tracy Tucker appeared.  Chief Miller stated that Chief Tucker and his fire fighters assisted Southern Pipe’s home office on Highway 39 North after heavy storm water pooled on the roof.  Chief Tucker stated the fire fighters on Engines 5 and 7 siphoned most of the water off the roof and then found a pump to remove the rest.  This kept the roof from caving in.  He thanked them for their work.  CAO Ken Storms read portions of a letter from Janice Galatas, wife of Norris Galatas from Meridian who was seriously injured in the war in Iraq.  She asked for assistance in repairing and putting up fencing on their land where they keep their horses.  Mr. Storms appealed to the citizens in Lauderdale County for their help to the Galatas family.  Mrs. Galatas thanked everyone in her letter for the prayers and concern the citizens of Lauderdale County have shone to their family.  Mayor Smith stated that the inauguration ceremonies will be held Friday, July 1 at 6:00 p.m. with a reception following until 8:00 p.m.  Public Works Director Monty Jackson appeared regarding the water quality report.  The city’s drinking water meets or exceeds all federal and state requirements. 

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilwoman Perry and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the minutes dated June 7, 2005.

 

 

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

 

RESO. #5260                        RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

                                    TO APPLY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006 VICTIM/WITNESS

                                    GRANT FUNDS FROM THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI AND,

                                    WHEN APPROVED, TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT

                                    AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI DEPART-

                                    MENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND WESLEY HOSUE

                                    COMMUNITY CENTER FOR VICTIM/WITNESS GRANT

 

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, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13506       ORDER AUTHORIZING TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO

                                    WESLEY HOUSE CONCERING PERSONNEL AND

                                    OPERATION COSTS ALLOWABLE THROUGH

                                    VICTIM/WITNESS GRANT #3NW2222

 

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, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13507       ORDER DETERMINING THAT CERTAIN POLICE VEHICLES

                                    ARE USED FOR CRIME DETECTION AND UNDERCOVER

                                    WORK AND SHOULD NOT BE MARKED SO AS TO BE

                                    IDENTIFIABLE AS CITY VEHICLES

 

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, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

RESO. #5261                        RESOLUTION DECLARING CERTAIN MUNICIPALLY OWNED

                                    REAL PROPERTY TO BE SURPLUS AND NOT NEEDED FOR

                                    MUNICIPAL PURPOSES AND AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING

                                    DONATION OF REAL PROPERTY TO LAUDERDALE COUNTY

                                    HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, INC.

 

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, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13508       ORDER DIRECTING THAT CULVERT PURCHASED BY

                                    PROPERTY OWNERS BE PLACED BY THE PUBLIC

                                    WORKS DEPARTMENT IN THE OPEN DITCH ON CITY

                                    OF MERIDIAN RIGHT-OF-WAY LOCATED ON 1ST STREET

                                    BETWEEN MARTIN LUTHER KING MEMORIAL DRIVE

                                    AND 32ND 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, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13509       ORDER ACCEPTING AND RECORDING INTO THE

                                    OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE MERIDIAN CITY COUNCIL

                                    THE OFFICIAL RECAPITULATION OF THE RESULTS

                                    OF THE MERIDIAN MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION

                                    HELD ON JUNE 7, 2005

 

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, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13510       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF CHANGE

                                    ORDER NO. 1 BETWEEN LANDMARK STRUCTURES I,

                                    L.P. AND THE CITY OF MERIDIAN (WATER TANK AT

                                    INDUSTRIAL PARK)

 

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, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13511       ORDER ACCEPTING QUITCLAIM DEED FROM

                                    MERIDIAN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION

                                    (UNION STATION)

 

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, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13512       ORDER ACCEPTING QUITCLAIM DEED FROM

                                    MERIDIAN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION

                                    (DUMONT PLAZA)

 

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, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

RESO. #5262                        RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION

                                    FOR ALCOHOL COUNTER MEASURES WITH THE MISSISSIPPI

                                    OFFICE OF HIGHWAY SAFETY

 

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, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13513       ORDER AUTHORIZING EXECUITON AND SUBMISSION OF

                                    APPLICATION FOR STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND

                                    EMERGENCY RESPONSE (SAFER) GRANT THROUGH THE

                                    UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

                                    (FOR THE MERIDIAN FIRE DEPARTMENT)

 

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, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDIN. #4271         ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY’S ZONING ORDINANCE

                                    NO. 3966 SO AS TO RECLASSIFY CERTAIN LANDS IN THE

                                    CITY OF MERIDIAN FROM DISTRICT R-2 TO DISTRICT B-2

                                    (VICINITY OF 35TH AVENUE AND 2ND STREET) INCLUDING

                                    AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF

                                    MERIDIAN

 

and, Councilwoman Perry seconded the motion, whereupon said Ordinance was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the claims docket dated June 16, 2005 in the amount of $4,301,221.39.

 

 

            President Smith called for citizen comments.  No one appeared.

 

 

            President Smith called for council comments.  President Smith first thanked his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for getting him through the hard times he has recently gone through.  He said he was proud that all the people who did get out and vote did so during the election.  He thinks it was a good election even though he lost.  He wants the Council to be as nice to Mr. Harris as they have been to him and get things done.  He told Councilman Thomas that he would miss his little speeches but he will watch him on TV some.  He told Councilwoman Perry for her quotes from the Bible.  He said he used to wonder why Councilwoman Henson wanted to pray about everything and now he knows.  He told Councilman Palmer that when everyone has had trouble with figures that he has come through.  He told the Clerk of Council that he knew he has given her a lot of things to do but he appreciated her and all she did.  He told City Attorney Bill Hammack that even though he did not get to see him that much that he enjoyed seeing him while he was there.  He thanked CAO Ken Storms for all he has done.  He thanked all the department heads and those who work under them for what they have done.  They have done a wonderful job.  He told Homeland Security Director Bunky Partridge that he would really miss him.  He said he had a good time doing all the different stuff they did together and told Bunky that he appreciated everything he did.  He told Mayor Smith that they could not have run the city without him and he appreciated what the Mayor has done.  He said the Mayor has done a lot for the city, Lauderdale County and everyone.  He said it would have been a total loss if they had lost him as Mayor.  He thanked the Mayor for all the work he has done.  Councilman Thomas said he has been on the Council for the longest and he does not think that anyone on the Council has put as much time and energy into work on the Council as Bobby has.  They did not always agree on everything but they are not supposed to.  He said sometimes people only see the meetings and think that is the only thing they do.  He said Bobby has spent a lot of days, hours and weeks doing work that the people never see.  He thanked the State Games people for the great opening ceremonies and the well-run, well-organized event.  He commented on his favorite topic – government bureaucracy.  He brought of the situation involving the need for an inter-local agreement between the city and Lauderdale County to demolish abandoned houses in the city limits even though they are also in Lauderdale County.  The inter-local agreement and any amendments to tear down these houses have to be approved by the Attorney General, the State Auditor, the Secretary of State and the Chancery Clerk.  There are entirely too many governmental entities involved in a process that should be simple.  There is a lot of time, energy and money spent doing things that don’t need to be done.  Councilwoman Perry thanked Bobby for all his help.  Because of him the city has a truck to pick up trash and they have badges because of him along with a lot of other things.  She read and presented a verse entitled “Today” to Bobby.  Councilwoman Henson said she first met Bobby in the early 1970’s when he and his wife brought their son to her daycare.  Through the years she has found him to be one of the most generous, friendly men she has ever known.  He has a lot of close friends and that says something about him.  He has enjoyed being a Councilman as much as anybody she has ever met.  She said they are going to miss him but the thing that pleases her more than that is his spiritual turn that has taken place in the last few months.  She told him she was very blessed in calling him brother in her spiritual life.  Councilman Palmer thanked the voters of Ward 4 for their support and belief in him and allowing him to come back in his position.  He said he feels like a part of the Council’s body has been amputated with Bobby leaving but they will have to grow another part.  He told Bobby that he has always appreciated his cooperation.  He has been able to call Bobby at any time to talk to him.  He thanked Bobby for setting them in the right direction on some needed projects.  Clerk of Council Pam McInnis presented a plaque to President Smith from the members of the City Council and her in appreciation for his service and leadership from 1997 to 2005.  Mayor Smith told Bobby that he was very gracious in the comments he made.  The efforts of the Mayor’s office have been team efforts of the city staff working together, and it has been a team on the Council’s side with five council members with different backgrounds and representing different wards.  They have come together to do the city’s business.  He told Bobby that he has been an integral and important part of that team.  He thanked Bobby on behalf of the citizens of Meridian for his service on the Council.  Many people don’t know the hours it takes to serve as well as the hours at home and those away from your family.  He said he looks forward to Bobby’s continued involvement in the city.  He said he has called Bobby councilmember and Bobby has called him mayor and they have called each other different names.  But, at the end of the day they have always called each other friend.  He told Bobby he considered him a friend and thanked him for his service to the home town in which he lives.  Mayor Smith stated that Planner Don Jemison’s father passed away with visitation that night at Barham Funeral Home until 8:00 p.m.            

    

 

            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