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The Magee Board of Aldermen met on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 for a regularly scheduled meeting. The meeting was opened with prayer, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Dale Berry announced that the city employees’ Christmas party will be held on Thursday, December 21, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. in the Civic Center. City offices will be closed December 25-26. Garbage collection for Monday, December 25 will be picked up on Wednesday, December 27, and garbage collection for Tuesday, December 26 will be picked up on Thursday, December 28. Collection for Monday, January 1 will be picked up on Tuesday January 2.
The new committee for airport affairs will be formed by the 2nd board meeting in January and will hold a workshop before that meeting.
The board approved the agenda, the minutes, and the claims docket.
There was a plumbing leak at the senior citizens’ building, and plumbing needs to be rerouted using pex because it is in the slab, according to Berry. “It was a pretty bad leak,” he said. Bids are also being received for the roof of the building.
Martin Rankin appeared before the board about the water bill for his property on Choctaw Drive.
“I feel like the meter hasn’t been read like it’s supposed to be,” he said. “There’s no leaks.”
Mayor Berry said, “We sent two guys out there yesterday.”
Rankin replied, “They didn’t know where the meter was at.”
A second citizen, Robert Carter, appeared before the board about his water bill as well. Berry informed the board that they city had already put in a new meter for the property in question.
“The meter’s not there,” said Carter, who also asserted that there is no leak at the property.
Berry responded, “They were given verbal orders to put in a new meter.”
“It’s not there,” said Carter.
Carter went on to say, “I need my water, but I can’t pay these bills.”
Like Rankin, he maintained that there was no leak at the property, and about the new meter, Berry assured Carter he would double-check to be sure it was installed.
Brett Duncan of Prince CPA gave the overtime report, saying “We were actually down about 40 hours in your P.D. for the month and about 20 hours in your water department.”
He explained that, at this point in the budget year, the city is at “2% less than what we projected,” but month comparisons will be available at the January board meeting after the end of the first quarter.
He advised the board to begin planning the paving project because the use tax will be received in January and July.
Alderman Sammy Tebo said, “The Bicentennial is in April. I’d like to see some paving before that.”
“You’re not gonna get much paving done in February,” Duncan replied. “Go ahead now and start thinking about what you’re gonna do so you’ll be ready to go.”
He reminded the board “everybody got these funds, not just Magee.”
Alderman Mark Grubbs said, “You’re gonna be hard-pressed to find somebody.”
“The price will be high,” Duncan replied. “Be prepared for that.”
Berry gave a report from Tim Bray, who was addressing a leak at the time, on several water leaks in the city. He said the culvert on Kennedy Drive is about 50% complete, and they are almost through with the sewer on 1st Street and 8th Avenue. There is also a leak on 6th Avenue.
Zoning Administrator Penny Aguirre asked the board to consider what should be done to the building right behind the Community House that was formerly used as a food pantry by the Methodist Church. It has been vacated and has been empty for some time.
Aguirre said the building was newer than the Community House, but the board agreed it was older than she believed and should be considered historic, as it was once part of the city pool. It was decided that the board and the Magee Preservation Commission would hold a joint workshop in January to discuss and plan for the renovation project at the Community House so they would be able to work together to accomplish shared goals.
Aguirre told the board that the shrubs uprooting the monument at the Community House have been removed and the roof is complete. Siding has been ordered.
There will be two zoning hearings in January, including one for conditional use for Kingsley College and a rezoning hearing as well.
She asked the board to revisit the issue the city is having with garbage at local apartment complexes.
“We have garbage everywhere,” she said. “It’s not just ugly. It’s unsafe.”
Aguirre told the board, “We could spend 24/7 just doing apartment complexes. It’s just a problem we don’t have a handle on.”
Police Chief Shane Little said he would work with the city to determine where they could add more cameras so they could see who is dumping the garbage.
The fine system was discussed, and Shane Steele explained that after the process begins, there are guidelines for how many days are given and that if progress stops, the city has to start the process all over again.
“Our fine system ain’t working,” he said.
Tim Bray, who had returned from working a large water leak, explained to the board that the city has sewer issues.
“Most of these pipes are 50-70 years old and brittle,” he said. “If I ain’t dug your street up, it’s coming.”
He told the board that the leak they were fixing was “two feet from where we fixed it last time.”
“All that pipes corroded,” he said. “It really needs to be replumbed.”
Police Chief Shane Little reported that two officers are graduating from the full-time academy. He also announced that Deaundrea Williams has been named Officer of the Year 2023 and Kandice McGill is Dispatcher of the Year 2023.
In addition, he reported that he has been working with Wal-Mart and various anonymous donors to plan “Shop with a Cop” for 12 foster children. $1200 has been received to provide Christmas for each of the kids.
The board approved moving Katrina Taylor from part-time dispatcher to full-time.
Jimmy Zila reported that siding has fallen off one of the concession stands, and it looks like the whole side will need to be replaced because it is rotten from the window down. He assured the board other windows will be assessed for rot as well.
Zila said registration for baseball and softball will begin February 9 and requested the ability to mail out flyers because Magee schools will not pass them out to students.
He announced that Austin Bray had given his two weeks’ notice and said, “I’m down a man again.”
In addition, he told the board, “Both of our roll-up doors are in really bad shape, and they need to be replaced.” He is waiting for a written bid, but Zila said he had been told the cost for both doors will be $4800.
Animal Control Officer Benny Blair informed the board that new equipment has come in and that his national certification class is “gonna take a while.” He is now ASPCA certified, he said.
He reported the following:
- A blue heeler was picked up at Piggly Wiggly and ruled a stray.
- Three puppies were picked up on Old Highway 49 and were adopted 24 hours later.
- A black and white mixed breed was impounded.
- A pit bull was impounded.
- Three papers were served.
- One ticket was issued.
- Four puppies had been surrendered and were to be picked up by a vet from Hattiesburg.
He recommended the board change its policy on surrendered animals and charge a fee when adopted animals are returned. The board decided to table the matter and take it up at a workshop in January.
“I’m still after that dog in Eastside,” Blair said. “When he sees or hears that van, he hits the back 40.”
Mayor Berry said, “We went undercover in my truck Saturday.”
Airport Manager Ashley Steele was not present to give a report.
Building Inspector Kara Lucas reported that Star Foodmart is open but waiting on health department and fuel inspections so there is “no fried chicken yet.”
Lucas said the sporting goods store at the old Co-Op building hopes to open in mid-January.
Walmart has submitted a revised set of construction plans, she said.
She and Fire Marshal Charlie Valadie presented a preliminary report of issues found at the Magee Airport and the Civic Center.
“Both of them needs some major repairs,” Valadie told the board.
He said Hanger A needs major renovation and new electricity and that each hanger needs to have a main cutoff for electricity.
“We need upgraded fire alarms,” Valadie said. “There’s no way to contact anyone.”
Numerous minor problems were found at the Civic Center, he said, including ceiling tiles, leaks, and a kitchen faucet that “looks like a sprinkler,” as well as a couple of water heaters that need to be replaced.
Again, he recommended an updated fire alarm system for the building.
“There’s nobody there 24 hours a day,” he said. “The library, Civic Center, and Chamber Office – they’re all connected.”
Valadie stated there are also storage issues, especially for data and electrical equipment.
“That’s a no-no,” he said.
He reported the back door, which is the fire escape, is antiquated.
“We’d like to update it,” Valadie said. “It’s the only way in for ADA so the back parking lot needs to be reserved.”
He reminded the board they were being given a preliminary report and said, “We’d like to give you a more in-depth report later.”
As far as the fire inspection of the airport was concerned, Valadie noted two problems in particular: extension cords and combustible and flammable materials.
He also reported that the ceiling tiles at the administration building are “out of square.”
“I think the framing is the problem,” he said.
Water pressure at the airport is also an issue, the board was told. It was described as a “hard trickle,” and hot water was not available.
“The hot water heater has not been inspected in several years,” Lucas said.
Doors also need weatherproofing.
Valadie said complaints had been received about birds’ nests, and after looking into the matter, he found the birds in question are federally protected barn swallows.
“There are times you can tear their nests down,” he said. “This ain’t it.”
On the bright side, he said, they do catch mosquitoes.
Alderman Mark Grubbs suggested hiring a city maintenance person.
“We would be money ahead to hire somebody,” he said.
Fire Chief Buck Craft said one fireworks sale has been permitted and two are pending. He asked the board to provide a social media policy for city employees.
Shane Steele reported that the property across the street from City Hall and the one on 5th are up for demolition and a hearing is upcoming.
He said he is dealing with owners about to structures on 11th and will be requesting a hearing.
“There’s no easy way to go about it,” Steele said.
He told the board that 12 properties had been cleaned up in his time working for the city. Before that it had been four properties in six years, he said.
“We’ve still got a lot of work to do,” Grubbs said.
The board scheduled a workshop for January 4 at 4:30 and will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, January 2 at 6:00 p.m.
City Attorney Mark McMillan advised the board that he had made two changes to the bid for resurfacing of the tennis courts, and the board approved the contract, pending approval of the changes by the contractor.
The mayor and board wished everyone a merry Christmas, and the meeting was adjourned.
