REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY, JULY 18, 2006 AT 5:00 P.M.

 

Meeting called to order by Council President Thomas.

 

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

 

Absent:  None.

 

 

            The meeting was opened with prayer by Parks & Recreation Director Mark Naylor and followed by the Pledge to the Flag.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilwoman Perry and unanimously passed by the Council to confirm the agenda order for this meeting with an amendment to: add an executive session regarding economic development.

 

 

            President Thomas advised of the notification of legal advertisement for the following: a) security system for Union Station.

 

 

            Mr. John Cutwright with Corollo Engineers appeared to give an update on the I & I study.  He made a power point presentation regarding this study.  They have come up with temporary flow monitoring results, made a ranking of sewer collection basins for test and have made an industrial area field evaluation.  They play to inspect four basins, perform gas testing of sewer lines, identify thin/ faulty sewer lines, propose two lift stations, set up a numbering system, make a hydraulic model and monitor the South Industrial Park. 

 

 

            Mrs. Sylvia Autry, Superintendent of Meridian Public Schools, and Mr. Fred Wile, President of the Board of Trustees, appeared to make a presentation on the FY 2007 budget for the Meridian Public Schools.  Mr. Wile stated that the school’s budget process has been finished and the property papers have been delivered to the City Clerk’s office.  Their ad valorem request for operations is the same amount as this current fiscal year which may lead to a reduction of milage because of re-appraisals.  The debt service amount will be less this coming year than the current year which could result in a reduction in milage.  They are anticipating a two mil reduction in the ad valorem taxes required for the Meridian Public schools.  They are still in the process of developing a high school re-design project.  The steering committee has been meeting and they have set up five task forces to make recommendations for the school system.  These task forces will submit their recommendation to the steering committee which in turn will combine these recommendations into one recommendation to present to the school board.  Mrs. Autry discussed various programs they want to implement such as small learning communities.  This is a process where the communities/businesses will provide internships for students to study and work in their chosen career field.

 

 

            President Thomas called on Mayor Smith for his report.  He reported that there are about 1,000 trees that need to be taken care of in the storm related hazardous tree removal project.  These trees must be on city right of way or so close to the right of way that they will pose a danger to the general public.  He went over the procedure for payment of water bills during the move from City Hall.  He read a letter that was sent to CAO Ken Storms regarding the assistance four police officers provided to a family traveling through Meridian.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the council to approve the minutes dated July 5, 2006.

 

 

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

 

ORDIN. #4285         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-BO (VICINITY

                                    OF 23RD AVENUE AND 24TH 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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13807       ORDER ACCEPTING THE BID OF DELTA TREE SERVICE,

                                    CLINTON, MS FOR HAZARDOUS TREE REMOVAL IN THE

                                    AMOUNT OF $21,025.00  

 

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

 

ORDER #13808       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF PROFESSIONAL

                                    SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN ENGINEERING PLUS AND

                                    THE CITY OF MERIDIAN (DAM INSPECTION FOR LONG CREEK

                                    RESERVOIR AND BONITA LAKES)

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13809       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF CHANGE ORDER

                                    NO. 2 BETWEEN GREENWORKS RECYCLING AND THE CITY

                                    OF MERIDIAN (HURRICANE KATRINA STORM DEBRIS REMOVAL)

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            President Thomas asked the council member if it would be okay with them to move the citizens hearing up to this point and council members agreed to this.  Appearing before the council was Pastor Lamorris Richardson.  He made comments regarding his church’s application for a rezoning on 20th Street, ad valorem tax exemption requests and building permits.

 

 

            An executive session was requested regarding economic development and pending litigation.  Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilwoman Perry 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 economic development and pending 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 Thomas called the regular meeting back to order.  No action was taken regarding the executive session.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilwoman Perry and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the claims docket dated July 13, 2006 in the amount of $2,127,425.09 with an amendment to add Purchase Order No. 607302 in the amount of $16,500.00 and Purchase Order No. 607303 in the amount of $376,400.00

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13810       ORDER AUTHORIZING CONTRIBUTION IN AN AMOUNT

                                    UP TO $5,000.00 TO THE MERIDIAN COMMUNITY

                                    DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT CORPORATION (MCDIC)

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

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

 

ORDER #13811       ORDER ADDING AS AN OVERLAY THE NAME “NELL GRISSOM

                                    DRIVE” TO 8TH AVENUE FROM 14TH STREET TO OLD MARION ROAD

 

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.

 

            President Thomas called for citizen comments.  No one appeared.

 

            President Thomas called for council comments.  Councilman Palmer stated that the city council has a procedure to follow and they do not know everything that is going on.  Councilwoman Henson stated that the council members were invited to attend a supper sponsored by the Home Builders Association on Highway 45 South that night after the meeting.  Councilwoman Perry congratulated the 10 year olds and 14 year olds for winning their state tournaments.  Councilman Thomas stated that five groups of ball teams had called him about donations.  He advised him that the council did not have any money allocated for ball teams.  he congratulated Mac Barnes on being inducted into the Coaches Hall of Fame.

 

            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