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The Magee Board of Aldermen met for a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. Alderwoman Lawana Thompson was not present due to illness.
The meeting began with a prayer, which was led by Tommy Meador, and the Pledge of Allegiance. Afterward, the board approved the agenda.
Mayor Dale Berry expressed hope that a new committee for the airport would begin meeting at the start of the new year.
Berry asked the board to consider extending the Christmas holiday for city employees to include the Friday before Christmas. The board members present said they will think about it and discuss it further at the next meeting.
The mayor brought a request from a citizen who had offered to take down a metal shed at the old YMCA property if he is allowed to keep it after removing it. Attorney Mark McMillan advised the board that the shed in question would need to be declared surplus property before the board could authorize its release to the citizen. The board chose to take the request under advisement until its next meeting.
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved, as was the claims docket after some discussion about city street lights.
Next, the board voted to rescind the CDBG grant for the city’s lagoon and apply for a new grant in January that they hope will cover the higher cost of the project.
Berry explained the engineer said bids came in higher than anticipated. “I thought he would give us a good estimate,” he said, “but he missed it bad.”
Christian Carrico appeared before the board to give an update on the status of the city park project, as well as to request the landscaping by McDonald’s and Piggly Wiggly be replaced. The quote for pulling up the existing plants and replacing them is $1600. The board approved the request, which Carrico said could be funded through the $13,000 the city received through a railroad grant.
Next, he requested the board approve the resurfacing of three of the city’s tennis courts. The low bid for the work is $24,750, which the board approved. They also approved $3000 to clean up the other courts. Work on the tennis courts will begin in mid-January, weather permitting, so that the courts will be ready in time for high school tennis season, which kicks off February 1.
Fundraising for the city park project is underway, and the goal is $800,000. At this point, a little more than $600,000 has been raised.
“We’re going to hit it hard the next 90 days,” said Carrico.
He explained that planning for a poured-rubber surface nearly doubled the cost of the project, but he believes the upfront cost will me worth the lower cost of upkeep through the years.
The question of ownership of the land behind the tennis courts was raised, and McMillan told the board he would research the property.
Jean Allen gave a report of the city’s plans for the Bicentennial, which will be celebrated throughout Simpson County in 2024. The celebration will kick off on January 27 at the Simpson County Courthouse and will culminate with a grand finale at the courthouse on July 4 when the Sesquicentennial Time Capsule from 1974 will be opened.
Each town in the county has been assigned two weeks, as well as a historical period upon which to focus, and Magee’s emphasis will take place April 13-27, 2024.
The city of Magee will be focusing on the time of the Choctaw Indians through early settlement, so the kick-off event will feature the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians who will lead a parade on Choctaw Street on Saturday, April 13. The board approved the special event request for the parade.
Allen also requested that the grand finale include a fly-in at the Magee Airport on April 27, which the board approved.
Tim Bray apprised the board of a sewer project on the street behind Entergy that will result in a road closure that will last about a week. The street in question is behind Hillside Apartments.
Bray said the work on Colonial Drive is being allowed to settle and pack for 30 days and getting ready for asphalt. When asked if the work could be done in-house, Bray responded, “I ain’t got the equipment.”
Alderman Mark Grubbs informed Bray of a stop sign that is down near the Methodist Church.
Police Chief Shane Little was not present at the meeting as he and his staff were working the Mingle on Main event held by the Chamber of Commerce at the time.
Zoning Administrator Penny Aguirre requested that the board approve publication notices of hearings to be held on January 9, 2024, concerning the property that was previously Bridgepoint Church, as well as a property located on 5th Avenue. The board approved.
Jimmy Zila of Parks and Recreation was on vacation, but the board discussed Marvin Jackson Park, which is still waiting on a sign.
Alderman Sammy Tebo said, “We need a fence around it like all the other city parks. To me,” he continued, “it would make it look better.”
“The first step,” said Alderman Patrick Brown, “would be to get it surveyed.” He told the board the park is about seven acres in total.
“We’ll take a look at it,” Brown said.
Animal Control Officer Benny Blair reported on the struggles he is facing in the Eastside community. On November 27, 2023, he had five complaints and said of several women in the community, “A month ago, they felt safe to walk the streets in Eastside; now, they don’t.”
One dog in the neighborhood tried to bite a child, and five dogs had been picked up. He also dealt with two boxer bulldogs at Millcreek and answered a call in Spring Lake but did not find the dog. When he answered a call on Dolly Lane, the dog in question returned to its yard, so he served the owner.
Building Inspector Kara Lucas informed the board that a permit was obtained for work being done on the exterior of the apartments across from Entergy on 1st Street NE.
“They do have a permit,” she said. Later, “they will come back and pull another permit for the interior.”
When it came time to discuss airport matters, the board noted that Ashley Steele had not been present for “four or five meetings.” Shane Steele, who was reporting in her place, updated the board on the status of the airport’s fuel filters, fire extinguishers, yearly hanger inspections, and ceiling tiles. When asked about the runway lights, he said, “They were on this morning.”
Steele then requested that the board approve a hearing for the properties located at 227 5th Avenue SE, as well as the property on Main Street across from City Hall, in accordance with public health and safety guidelines. According to Steele, the property on 5th Avenue has a tree on the property, and barriers have been placed around the back of the property on Main Street, as well as signs on the front and back. Both have been vacant and abandoned. The hearing will be held January 16, 2024, which will allow for the required 30 days notice.
Aguirre told the board that regarding the hearing about the property on 2nd Avenue, the owner requested a trial, which will be held in two weeks.
Fire Marshal Charlie Valadie reported that the fire department had answered 23 calls in November and had assisted with a house fire in Smith County which resulted in a total loss. He also informed the board that the fire alarm system at city hall is compromised and will be assessed to determine what is “needed to get things back up to date.”
The board approved the request to raise the pay of David Clark by $0.50/hour after completion of his probationary period.
The board entered an executive session to discuss personnel matters.