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A regular meeting of the Magee Board of Aldermen was held on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. The meeting began with a public hearing to determine whether the property located at 926 4th Street SE is in such a state of uncleanliness as to be a menace to the public health, safety, and welfare of the community under Miss. Code Ann. Section 21-19-11.
The property in question is owned by Gumercindo and Brandy Santos. The current tenant appeared before the board and was given 30 days to complete repairs and cleanup, as well as invite the fire marshal and building inspector to evaluate the property before the Board’s regularly scheduled meeting on June 18.
A second property, owned by Mary Ann Hudson and located at 807 5th Avenue SE was also reviewed, and Hudson was also given 30 days to complete cleanup. The house on the property burned in 2023, and according to Aguirre, “It appears someone is living in the rubble.” Animals living at the property were also a concern, as well as a tree that is “being held up by a rope.” The board will consider the property again on June 18.
Mayor Dale Berry called the meeting to order, and Alderman Patrick Brown opened with prayer, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Berry reminded everyone of upcoming holidays, including Monday, May 27 (Memorial Day); Wednesday, June 19 (Juneteenth); and Thursday, July 4.
Garbage pickup for Memorial Day will be as follows:
Monday pickup will be done on Tuesday. Tuesday pickup will be done on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday collection will be normal.
Garbage collection for the 4th of July will be done on Wednesday, July 3.
The board approved the agenda.
The board approved waiving permit fees for AT&T for boring fiber optic lines.
City Attorney Wesla Sullivan advised the board to table the issue of bids for a grapple truck because both bids were above the budgeted $200,000. She advised they go back to the companies to see if the price could come closer to the budgeted amount. The board agreed.
Forrest Dungan of Clearpoint Engineers appeared before the board with project updates. About the MCWI (ARPA) Projects, he said:
- The equipment for improvements at water treatment plant #1 has been ordered, and some has been received. The remainder is being waited upon but is expected in the next couple of weeks.
- He expects the Water Meter Replacement Project to begin in the next month or so.
He has provided the board with a preliminary plan and estimated costs for lagoon improvements, but further investigation is needed.
The board has also been given estimates for the upcoming pavement project. Dungan will meet with the board in a workshop on May 29, 2024, to further define streets to be included in the project.
Previously, Brown had requested the contracts for the paving project to be amended to include quality assurance. Dungan recommended his company visit the plant four times to provide quality assurance, which will incur an additional $8,000. The board approved.
The claims docket was approved.
Lateral Spurlock appeared before the board asking for reimbursement for her insurance deductible of $1,000 after the limb of a tree which was on city property fell on her house. The board approved pending her provision of proof of the deductible.
Public Works Superintendent Tim Bray advised the board that a sewage/plumbing issue for some homes under construction in the city was not caused by the city and is not its responsibility.
“It’s not a city problem,” he said. “The plumber did that. We didn’t.”
Jimmy Zila informed the board that the control pad for the splash pad is not working and will cost more than $8,000 to replace and reprogram, with no guarantee the splash pad will work after the repairs.
The board asked for a cost estimate of what the city has spent on the splash pad in the past.
He reminded everyone the fireworks show at the Sportsplex will begin at 9 p.m. on July 4.
Police Chief Shane Little asked the board for leniency with overtime over the holiday weekend.
Fire Marshal David Craft informed the board that the new fire truck should be ready for final inspection the first week of June and asked the board to approve the hiring of two new firemen Chad Ponder and Aaron Lindsey, giving them the “duty to act.” The board said they needed to see the applications and qualifications.
Craft then asked the board to consider a proposal he had given them about employees at the fire department as Charlie Valadie is retiring soon.
Alderman Mark Grubbs suggested the matter be tabled until Brett Duncan is present.
“We can’t table this,” said Alderman Sammy Tebo. “Come June 1, you’re looking at the only person who’s down there. If they walk in with a surprise inspection, we could lose some fire ratings.”
Craft expressed concern about being prepared for inspection and said, “We don’t know when they’re gonna show up, I don’t want to be caught with my pants down.”
Alderman Patrick Brown insisted the board needs to follow proper procedures for hiring employees.
“There’s a legal aspect to what we’re doing when we hire somebody,” Brown said.
Tebo argued that the issue had been tabled at the last meeting, reiterating the fact that as of June 1, Craft will be “the only one we’ve got down there.”
“We still have to go by the law, Sammy,” interjected Alderman Lawana Thompson.
“The process is there,” Brown said. “We’re just not following the procedures.”
The board decided to review the applications at their workshop on May 29.
The board approved the publication of the Magee Preservation Ordinance and will vote on the ordinance in two weeks.
It also approved applying for network level membership with Mississippi Main Street, which will cost $1500 and require at least one event per month.
Airport matters were discussed, and Mike Berry asked board members to be present for a walk-thru of the house on the airport property to discuss its future. He believes the city should consider renovating it for use by helicopter pilots.
“We need to utilize our location,” Berry said, noting that from the Magee airport, helicopters can fly to Jackson, Hattiesburg, and Meridian.
Alderman Sue Honea gave the board two proposals to consider. First, she recommended reconfiguring the offices in city hall. Second, she suggested the board create a Parks and Recreation Commission. The board is considering the recommendations.
The board entered an executive session to discuss personnel issues.
