REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2005 AT 5:30 P.M.

 

Meeting called to order by Council President Palmer.

 

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

 

Absent:  None.

 

 

            The meeting was opened with prayer by Rev. John Newbaker, Chaplain at Wackenhut and followed by the Pledge to the Flag.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Thomas and unanimously passed by the Council to confirm the agenda for this meeting with an amendment to: add as R-13 an ordinance closing a portion of Vally Street for Meridian Housing Authority; add as R-14 execution and submission of Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Grant; add an executive session regarding economic development.  City Attorney Bill Hammack stated he would have to recuse himself from discussion regarding items R-5 and R-10 due to a conflict of interest.

 

 

            President Palmer advised of the notification of legal advertisement for the following: a) statements of Q&E for an infiltration and inflow study; b) statements of Q&E for auditor.

 

 

            President Palmer called on Mayor Smith for his report.  He stated that this Friday, July 22nd in New Orleans, the “A” Team will make its presentation to the BRAC commission representatives concerning the possible re-alignment of the 186th Air Refueling Wing.  He said they have a dynamite presentation to be lead by Langford Knight.  Mayor Smith introduced newly elected Mayor of Marion, Elvis Hudson.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilwoman Perry and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the minutes dated July 05, 2005.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13527       ORDER DECLARING EQUIPMENT SURPLUS AND NO

                                    LONGER NEEDED BY THE CITY OF MERIDIAN AND

                                    AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF SAID SURPLUS EQUIPMENT

 

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.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13528       ORDER AUTHORIZING TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO

                                    WESLEY HOSUE CONCERNING 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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

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

 

ORDER #13529       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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

RESO. #5265                        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 MID SOUTH LUMBER, 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.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13530       ORDER AUTHORIZING CONTRIBUTION OF $50,000

                                    AS REQUESTED BY THE MISSISSIPPI ARTS AND

                                    ENTERTAINMENT CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

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.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13531       ORDER AUTHORIZING PAYMENT TO THE MERIDIAN

                                    COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT

                                    CORPORATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,500 TO

                                    PROVIDE APPROPRIATE ISNURANCE FOR THE BOARD

 

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 #13532       ORDER ADOPTING ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE FOR MOTOR

                                    VEHICLES AS PREPARED AND ADOPTED BY THE STATE

                                    TAX COMMISSION

 

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

 

Yea:  Perry, Henson, Palmer, Harris.

Nay:  Thomas.

 

 

            Next on the agenda was a proposed order authorizing execution of an agreement for a street and traffic study in conjunction with the proposed Meridian Medical District Plan.  This is one of the items on the agenda that City Attorney Bill Hammack stated earlier he would have to recuse himself from.  Motion was made by Councilwoman Perry duly seconded by Councilman Thomas to approve this order.  Discussion was then held.  Appearing before the City Council were Community Development Director Don Farrar and Planner Don Jemison.  They showed a map of the proposed medical district.  Also appearing before the Council was Attorney Jim Cox with Cox Law Group, Jackson, MS.  He is representing the Regional Medical Support Center, Inc.  He stated that the Support Center is funding the project, however, they want the city to over-see the study.  Councilman Thomas stated he did not think it was a good policy for the city to take over this if the city did not select the engineering firm.  Since City Attorney Bill Hammack had recused himself from this discussion, Mayor Smith suggested that this item be tabled until the city could obtain a legal opinion on this matter.  Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilwoman Perry and unanimously passed by the Council to table this matter.

 

 

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

 

RESO. #5266                        RESOLUTION APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE AMENDED

                                    BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF MERIDIAN FOR THE FISCAL

                                    YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2005, AND DIRECTING THE

                                    CITY CLERK IN REFERENCE THERETO

 

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

 

ORDER #13533       ORDER REMOVING THREE (3) 2004 HARLEY DAVIDSON

                                    MOTORCYCLES FROM SERVICE AND RETURNING TO

                                    CHUNKY RIVER HARLEY DAVIDSON

 

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 #13534       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND SUBMISSION

                                    OF FY 2006 UNDERAGE ALCOHOL GRANT APPLICATION

                                    WITH THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC

                                    SAFETY, DIVISION OF PUBLIC SAFETY PLANNING

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.

 

 

            Discussion was held regarding the request from the E-911 Commission for funds from the City of Meridian to help with their FY 2005 budget shortfalls.  Council was advised that the E-911 board has adopted an unbalanced FY 2006 budget and have therefore requested funding from the City of Meridian during FY 2006.  After discussion, Councilwoman Perry offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #13535       ORDER AUTHORIZING PAYMENTS TO E-911 

 

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

 

ORDER #13536       ORDER APPROVING AND ADOPTING FINAL PLAT

                                    OF RIVER BIRCH CENTER, A COMMERCIAL

                                    SUBDIVISION OF 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.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13537       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND SUBMISSION

                                    OF LETTER REQUESTING AUTHORITY TO RECEIVE

                                    MATCHING FUNDS FOR EXPENDITURES RELATED TO

                                    STUDIES AND INVESTIGATIONS TO RETAIN THE 186TH

                                    AIR REFUELING WING OF THE MISSISSIPPI AIR NATIONAL

                                    GUARD BASE IN 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.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilwoman Perry and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the claims docket dated July 14, 2005 in the amount of $1,997,446.60.

 

 

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

 

ORDIN. #4272         ORDINANCE CLOSING, VACATING AND ABANDONING

                                    IN THE CITY OF MERIDIAN, LAUDERDALE COUNTY,

                                    MISSISSIPPI, A PORTION OF VALLY STREET

and, Councilwoman Henson 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 #13538       ORDER AUTHORIZING EXECUTION AND SUBMISSION

                                    OF APPLICATION FOR THE MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL

                                    DRUG ENFORCEMENT GRANT WITH THE STATE OF

                                    MISSISSIPPI, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

 

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.

 

 

            President Palmer called for citizen comments.  He recognized Barbara Anthony who is a newly-elected Alderperson from Marion.

 

 

            President Palmer called for council comments.  Councilman Harris thanked the constituents of Ward 5 who attended his meeting the night before at EMEPA.  He thanked Councilman Palmer for stopping by at the meeting.  His next meeting will be held August 18th.  Councilwoman Henson stated she is going to start inviting Ward 3 constituents to meet with her at the Senior Citizens Center starting in August.  Councilwoman Perry stated she is planning a meeting for certain people on a list she has.  She thanked Public Works who did a good job during Hurricane Dennis – Greer Goldman and his crew and Odell Hopkins.  Councilman Thomas thanked Public Works employees for their good job during the last week or so by cleaning up.  He thanked The Meridian Star for once again having local editorials.  Councilman Harris thanked the Clerk of Council for working with the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) the during Hurricane Dennis situation.  President Palmer congratulated Councilman Harris on the positive direction he is going with his meetings and plans.  He is looking at setting up meetings like Councilman Harris has done.  He reminded everyone of the Wechsler Community Arts Center open air festival to be held this coming Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  He thanked Don Farrar for the job he did regarding his talk about demolitions in the city on television.  Mayor Smith thanked the staff of the City for the fine job they did during the threat of Hurricane Dennis.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Perry duly seconded by Councilwoman Henson and unanimously passed by the Council to 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 economic development.  The Council then went into executive session.  Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilwoman Perry and unanimously passed by the Council to go out of executive session.  The meeting was called 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