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The Magee Board of Aldermen met on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, for a regularly scheduled meeting. Ryan Wade, pastor of First Baptist Church of Magee, opened the meeting with prayer.
The agenda was approved.
Mayor Mark Grubbs told the board, “It’s been a busy week.”
He said that regular department staff meetings had begun and were going well and that the cleanup of the city is ongoing.
In addition, he informed the board that Boswell Regional Center is donating used playground equipment to the city. The equipment is in “really good condition,” Grubbs said, and will be used at Marvin Jackson Park.
Grubbs said he will try to get more inmate help for the city and asked Magee’s residents “to be patient with us.”
The mayor said he met with Clearpoint Engineers on July 8 for a long-term planning meeting about water and sewer replacement. They will meet again on July 29.
Site work on the city park playground is nearing completion.
The board approved the minutes of its last meeting.
In old business, the board approved the following nominations to the zoning and airport boards:
Zoning:
- Jim Ball and Bill Caughman, nominated by Mayor Grubbs
- Nathan Crace, nominated by Alderman Alison Berch
- Cara Lucas, nominated by Alderman Lawana Thompson
- Jamal Banks, nominated by Alderman Suzie Bourn
- Arthur Milton, nominated by Alderman Julian Harper
- Diane McPhail, nominated by Alderman Sue Honea
Airport:
- Joey McNulty and Cannon Stubbs, nominated by Mayor Grubbs
- Chris Craft, nominated by Alderman Alison Berch
- Pat Brown, nominated by Alderman Lawana Thompson
- Dr. Anika Floyd, nominated by Alderman Suzie Bourn
- Skip Russell, nominated by Alderman Julian Harper
- Larry Partridge, nominated by Alderman Sue Honea.
The board will nominate members of the election commission at its next meeting and may move forward on a parks and recreation commission at that time, too.
Mayor Grubbs asked the board to consider a contract to work with CMPDD on the city’s comprehensive plan, which has not been updated since 2017. Bourn asked to table the issue because of concerns about the method of data collection outlined in the contract.
Thompson inquired about two items on the claims docket, which pertained to tree cutting.
“The stumps haven’t been ground up,” she said. “I don’t think it should be paid until that’s done.”
Bourn agreed, saying “If the job isn’t complete, I don’t think we should pay it.”
Honea asked if grinding the stumps was in the original scope of work.
Brett Duncan suggested the board grant Grubbs the authority to meet with the contractor to be sure the scope of work was met.
The board voted to amend the claims docket to remove the two items in question, then approved the amended docket.
Berch recused herself during discussion of and voting on the claims docket.
Steven Hand of Cannon Auto appeared before the board and said he has 2024 Chevrolet Tahoes, approved for police use, on the ground and available at a reduced price.
“I have 24 I have to get rid of,” Hand said. “2025 Tahoes cost $25,000 more.”
The vehicles in question are not state contract, but the city can do a lease-purchase to procure them.
“There’s a misconception about the term ‘lease,'” said Duncan. “You call it a ‘lease-purchase.’ It’s not an operating lease.”
Public Works Superintendent Tim Bray requested an executive session to discuss personnel.
The board approved the standard operating procedures for the police department.
The board approved a special event application for the Cruising Country Car Show and Cookoff to be held at Marvin Jackson Park on September 27, 2025.
The board also approved publication of a rezoning hearing to be held on August 12.
The building inspector reported the following:
- 1 generator permit, electrical permit, and gas permit were issued. Work had been done before permits were issued. Permit fees were doubled.
- 1 electrical permit was issued.
- 1 commercial HVAC permit was issued.
- 4 city licenses were renewed.
- 3 residential electric permits were inspected.
- 1 remodel permit was issued.
- 1 HVAC permit was issued.
- 1 storefront upgrade permit was issued.
- 3 demolition projects were completed, including: behind 600 9th Avenue NW and 839 A & B 1st Street NW. All three were mobile homes.
The board approved the low bid for carpet for the batting cages at the Jimmy Clyde Sportsplex. The low bidder was Richardson Athletics with a bid of $41,232.20.
The board also approved the low bid for turf installation in the batting cages at the Sportsplex. The low bid was from Cowan Tile and Floor in the amount of $10,200.
Airport Board President Joey McNulty joined Mike Berry to report on the airport’s ability to process credit cards.
Berry told the board, “We need to decide what we’re going to do with that house.”
City Attorney Wesla Sullivan asked that the airport board make a recommendation to the board.
Forrest Dungan of Clearpoint Engineers reported:
- Contracts 1 and 2 of the MCWI (ARPA) Projects have been completed and closed out.
- Contract 3, the Water Meter Replacement Project, is complete, and GPS coordinates have been confirmed. The board approved a Summary Change Order and Final Pay Application for $1,954.91.
- Construction is nearing completion on Contract 4, the Lamar Road Sewer Extension, and the project should come in approximately $25,000 under contract cost.
- The paving project is complete, but there are punch list items remaining. The total project cost is expected to be approximately $65,000 under budget.
- Sitework at the City Park Playground should be complete this week and is being done by Champion Contractors, LLC. The playground equipment is scheduled to arrive on July 21.
The board approved a resolution naming Mayor Mark Grubbs as the authorized representative to sign for MWCI projects.
Brett Duncan of Prince CPA said the city budget has $730,000 left to fund through September 30.
Budget requests have gone out and must be back by July 31. September 15 is the day the tax levy must be set and the budget approved.
The board entered executive session.
