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The Magee Board of Aldermen met on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, for its regularly scheduled meeting. Mayor Dale Berry called the meeting to order, and Alderman Mark Grubbs opened the meeting with prayer.
The mayor reported that he has spoken to the railroad about the crossing on 2nd Avenue near First Baptist Church and has been assured its repair is in the budget for this year.
“It needs fixing,” Berry said. “It is terrible.”
Berry also said construction on the new playground at the city park will begin in July and told the board he has spoken with Entergy.
“Once we get it installed, we’re going to light it up like a Christmas tree,” he said.
Berry reminded the public that there is a playground at the Sportsplex, though he mentioned there are no shade trees near it.
The mayor told the board he had been contacted by a representative from Zeta Phi Beta sorority about the possibility of holding a fundraiser during the month of September. The organization will submit an application for a special events permit, and the board will consider it at the next meeting.
The Sophisticated Pearls of Simpson County asked the board for permission to plant eight trees at Marvin Jackson Park, which the board approved. The Mayor’s Youth Council will help with the planting of the trees.
The board voted to add Good Friday as a holiday for city employees.
There will be no garbage collection on Friday, April 18, 2025.
The board approved the minutes of its previous meeting, as well as the claims docket.
Miss Madison County’s Teen Avery McNair appeared before the board, making a presentation about tornado preparedness. McNair will compete in the Miss Mississippi’s Teen competition April 26-27, 2025, in Vicksburg.
Alderman Lawana Thompson asked if the city has an ordinance concerning cats in the city.
“We need a rule in the worst way,” she said.
Alderman Sue Honea expressed concern about the city barn.
“It really needs cleaning up,” she said.
Police Chief Denis Borges informed the board that three young individuals had been identified in the case of vandalism at the city park and tennis courts. He recommended that no criminal charges be brought and said the parents of the juveniles will pay for the damages. He also said if there is another offense by the young people in question, they will be charged.
Mike Berry said he has put a timer on the lights and that the tennis coaches at Magee High School and Simpson Academy have been locking the bathrooms.
Borges asked for an executive session so the board could discuss the issue with the parents of the young people responsible for the vandalism.
Fire Chief David Craft expressed his gratitude for the radios the department has received. He also informed the board of his concerns about the old Avery building on 5th Avenue. He said there are squatters in the building, and there has been illegal burning.
“It’s a health risk for the community,” Craft said. “It could be a biohazard for the city.”
When the question of the building’s ownership arose, City Attorney Wesla Sullivan said, “I would rather talk about that in executive session.”
Craft reminded the public that it is illegal to paint fire hydrants. He explained that hydrants have color-coded caps that indicate the flow and pressure.
“That means something to us,” Craft said. “Let us paint the hydrants.”
Zoning Administrator Penny Aguirre asked the board to approve the publication of a notice of safety order for the Avery building, which it approved. The notice says the building will be secured against unauthorized entry. The notice will be published for two weeks, and the property will be posted.
“It’s dangerous on several levels,” Aguirre said. “It’s concerning that there’s so much burning going on in there.”
She said there are numerous entries and exits, so “it’s going to be problematic.”
Aguirre apprised the board of a recent town hall meeting and explained that, while there was much public input, at this time, the zoning board does not have a recommendation concerning a permit for conditional use for a RV park.
The zoning board recommended that Dr. Pruitt’s property be rezoned from C2 to R2, which the board approved.
The zoning board also recommended that another of Pruitt’s properties be rezoned from C1 to R2, which the board approved.
Aguirre told the board that the zoning board recommends that the rezoning of Morgan Lewis’s property be revoked and the property be immediately cleaned up because the rezoning included the condition that a visibility buffer be installed.
Thompson expressed concerns about a water leak on the property in question. Berry and Aguirre explained that no one has been able to locate the leak. Lewis said the leak has been there for about a year.
“We need to figure that out,” she said. “It needs to be a priority.”
Thompson also asked if it would be possible to close the road beside the property and put a visibility buffer at the tennis courts.
In regard to the visibility buffer, Grubbs said, “I’m getting two or three different stories here.”
Lewis said the fence he has built “looks hideous ’cause it’s 24 inches off the ground.”
Thompson asked why there is black mesh on two sides of the tennis courts, and Jimmy Zila explained that spectators watch matches from both sides of the tennis courts.
“We’re going to have to figure out what’s more important,” Thompson said. “Cover up what they’re looking at or let the people sit on the other side with everybody else.”
“It’s just hard for a person to sit on the other side when their kid’s playing on the third court,” Zila said. “That’s why the two sides were left open.”
Zoning Board Chairman Jim Ball explained that the city’s ordinance calls for a visibility barrier between incompatible properties.
“Morgan’s property and the city tennis courts are about as incompatible as you can be,” Ball said. “If you can see either one, you have not created what the ordinance calls for: a visibility barrier.”
Ball said, “This affects people around him in this city.”
“If the city takes it on themselves to provide the buffer, the visibility barrier, just remember this: you’re setting a precedent,” Ball continued. “The next time somebody comes and wants to rezone and requires a buffer, are you going to step in and take care of that?”
“He is the property owner. He requested the rezoning,” Ball said. “It is incumbent on him to provide the visibility barrier.”
“It’s time to settle it,” Grubbs said. “It’s time to get something done.”
The board approved a special event permit for the Magee Chamber of Commerce to hold its annual carnival May 8-10, 2025.
The board approved a special event request for a field day at Marvin Jackson Park on July 26. Setup for the event will be at 7:00 a.m. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The board approved an Emergency Operations Plan for the city, which Aguirred explained is especially considering the number of weather events the city has faced in 2025 so far.
Aguirre said, “Mississippi is now the epicenter in North America. 92 is a lot, and they are increasing in frequency and intensity.”
The board approved amendments to the zoning ordinance, which will be available for public review for two weeks before final approval.
The building inspector reported the following:
- 2 residential electrical permits
- 1 residential fence permit
- 3 residential inspections
- 2 remodel permits
- 1 plumbing permit.
Jimmy Zila presented two bid for the carpet for batting cages at the Sportsplex but told the board he will be getting bids for installation as well.
He updated the board on the status of the splashpad.
Zila asked the board to consider a new ultimate frisbee program developed by Jordan Sullivan, an Ole Miss student. The program will be held on Tuesday and Thursday nights at no charge to participants. The board will discuss the program further at its next meeting.
Zila also told the board that there have been three fights at the sportsplex recently, explaining that numerous teenagers are being dropped off each night.
First Baptist Church will hold its annual Community Easter Egg Hunt at the Magee Sportsplex on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
Mike Berry informed the board that the airport passed its insurance inspection and has sold 1500 gallons of fuel this year.
The board approved the smoke-free ordinance, which will now be published for two weeks before final adoption.
The board accepted the resignation of Judge Blackledge.
The board entered executive session.
