REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 02, 2010 AT 9:00 A.M.

 

Meeting called to order by Council President Smith.

 

Present:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

 

Absent:  None.

 

 

            The meeting was opened with prayer by Parks & Recreation Director Mark Naylor and followed by the Pledge to the Flag.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilwoman Henson and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the agenda for this meeting.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the minutes dated January 19, 2010.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the following proclamations to be issued by the Mayor:

                        February 12, 2010 – “Arbor Day”

                        February 28, 2010 – “African American Read-In”

                        February 1-5, 2010 – “National School Counselors Week”

                        March 1 – May 31, 2010 – “Great American Clean-up Campaign”

 

 

            Councilman Thomas offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14723       ORDER DECLARING EQUIPMENT SURPLUS AND NO LONGER

                                    NEEDED BY THE CITY OF MERIDIAN AND AUTHORIZING THE

                                    SALE OF SAID SURPLUS EQUIPMENT

 

And, Councilman Palmer seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilman Thomas offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14724       ORDER DECLARING EQUIPMENT SURPLUS AND NO LONGER

                                    NEEDED BY THE CITY OF MERIDIAN AND AUTHORIZING SAID

                                    SURPLUS EQUIPMENT TO BE DISCARDED

 

And, Councilman Palmer seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilman Thomas offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14725       ORDER ACCEPTING GRANT AWARD FROM WAL-MART FOUNDATION

                                    TO PURCHASE PROTECTIVE HOODS AND GLOVES FOR THE MERIDIAN

                                    FIRE DEPARTMENT

 

And, Councilman Palmer seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilman Palmer offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14726       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF MERIDIAN TO RENEW ITS

                                    CURRENT CONTRACT WITH HARDY LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT,

                                    INC. FOR SOWASHEE CREEK HERBICIDE PROGRAM THROUGH

                                    THE 2010 GROWING SEASON FOR THE AMOUNT OF $5,590.10

 

And, Councilwoman Henson seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilwoman Perry offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14727       ORDER ACCEPTING GRANT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,000.00

                                    FROM THE CITIZENS GROUP FOR THE PURPOSE OF PURCHASING

                                    PAMPHLETS, BOOKLETS AND GIVE AWAY ITEMS FOR NEIGHBORHOOD

                                    WATCH PROGRAMS

 

And, Councilman Palmer seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilwoman Henson offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14728       ORDER CONFIRMING THE APPOINTMENT BY THE MAYOR OF

                                    TENA HARDY TO THE KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION

 

And, Councilman Thomas seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilman Palmer offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Resolution:

 

RESO. #5638                        RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY

                                    OF MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI GRANTING EXEMPTION FROM AD

                                    VALOREM TAXES FOR A NINE-YEAR PERIOD TO VAN ZYVERDEN,

                                    INC. AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 27-31-101 ET SEQ., OF THE

                                    MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, AS AMENDED

 

And, Councilwoman Henson seconded the motion, whereupon said Resolution was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilwoman Perry offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Resolution:

 

RESO. #5639                        RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE SALE AND AWARD OF A TAXABLE

                                    NEGOTIABLE NOTE, SERIES 2010, OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN,

                                    MISSISSIPPI, TO BE DATED THE DATE OF DELIVERY THEREOF, IN

                                    THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF ONE MILLION ONE HUNDRED

                                    THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,100,000)

 

And, Councilwoman Henson seconded the motion, whereupon said Resolution was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Perry duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the claims docket dated January 28, 2010 in the amount of $1,555,641.30.

 

            President Smith called for the Mayor’s report.  Mayor Barry presented two proclamations at this time.  Also, a presentation was made to Joe and Sylvia Mercado who have contributed to the city in various ways.  They are moving to Texas and Mayor Barry told them they would be missed.  She reported that she went to Washington to meet with Senators and Representatives and to attend the U. S. Conference of Mayors.  Council President Smith asked about hiring police officers and stated the city needed more officers working interdiction on the interstate.  Chief Shelbourn stated that the department has had a few officers to leave and there is only one person on interstate interdiction.  They are in the process of background checks on those who applied for a position as a police officer.  There are currently 89 sworn officers on payroll at this time.  Councilman Thomas asked about the 22nd Avenue bridge project.  CAO Mark McDonald advised the bridge would be opened on Wednesday morning.  Councilman Thomas asked about the Bonita Dam project.  Public Works Director Monty Jackson advised that the trees have not been cut off the dam because of the weather.  Councilman Thomas asked about city hall.  City Clerk Ed Skipper advised that the contractor is within the time frame in the contract schedule.  Completion is anticipated in February 2011 but the contractor would like to be finished before that time.  There has been a lot of progress on the mechanical work.  They are currently reconstructing the two-story marble staircase that was removed.

 

            President Smith called for citizen comments.  Pastor Wade Demers and his wife, Patty, appeared and thanked Councilman Palmer.

 

            An executive session was requested regarding pending litigation and a personnel matter.  Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilwoman Perry and unanimously passed by the Council to close the meeting to determine whether to declare an executive session.  Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilwoman Perry and unanimously passed by the Council to declare an executive session in order to discuss pending litigation and a personnel matter.  The Council then went into executive session.  Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilwoman Perry and unanimously passed to go out of executive session.

 

            President Smith called the regular meeting back to order.  No action was taken regarding the executive session.

 

There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, the meeting was adjourned.  Sine die.

 

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,  

                                                                        Pam McInnis, Clerk of Council