REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2007 AT 5:00 P.M.

 

Meeting called to order by Council President Thomas.

 

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

 

Absent:  None.

 

 

            The meeting was opened with prayer by Rev. Eddie Cryer of New Prospect Baptist Church and followed by the Pledge to the Flag.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Harris and unanimously passed by the Council to confirm the agenda order for this meeting with an amendment to:  add as R-13 order declaring vehicle surplus and donating to Meridian Community College; add as R-14 amended agreement with Boys & Girls Club and Lauderdale County.

 

 

            President Thomas advised of the notification of legal advertisement for the following: a) chlorine system; b) wheel loader; c) request for qualifications for engineering services.

 

 

            Buford Clark with Waste Management introduced Steve Porter who will be the new manager with Waste Management in Meridian.

 

 

            Jo Ann Crudup, Facility Manager with Ability Works, Inc. of Meridian, appeared and made a presentation on their program.  A video was shown and she went over their program.

 

 

            Appearing before the Council at this time was Sonny Toms, 2716 25th Street, a member of the Grassrootz group (a concerned citizens organization for a cleaner and safer Meridian).  He was concerned about the demolition of condemned homes in the city.  There are 19 more in the process of condemnation.  There is currently a list of 42 houses on the list waiting for demolition.  These homes have an affect on the homes close to them by bringing down the assessed value and the quality of life.  These abandoned homes are potential sites for criminal activities and the land surround the homes are usually in bad condition.  They are concerned about the timeliness in the demolition of these homes.  There is a house at the corner of 26th Street and Highland Avenue that is falling down and the grass has not been cut.  This property has been like that for a couple of years.  There is another house located 2410 Poplar Springs Drive.  It was damaged during the hurricane.  He understands there is going to be a hearing on this house but it has been 18 months since the hurricane.  This home is not even on the list.  The removal of the homes on the list are not going to clean up the city as there are more that need to be on the list.  He said he has studied the agreement with the County.  There is a provision that says the city shall be free to go out for bids on the demolition of the buildings.  The County does not have a priority to take these homes down.  They have spoken to a couple of the Supervisors and do not understand why this is not a priority.  He said they have three questions as citizens: (1) why has such a small number been torn down in the last year that we now have this huge back log; (2) when can the citizens of Meridian expect these 42 homes that are already approved to be torn down; (3) what changes are going to be made so we don’t get this back log again.  They are proud of the city and want to be a part of it.  President Thomas stated he would give three quick answers.  There are about 50 more houses that need to be torn down.  This is the short list.  When are they going to be torn down – they are asking the wrong people.  As a Lauderdale County resident he thinks the Supervisors need to act on their agreement.  He pays Lauderdale County tax payer and he assumes they would act on their agreement since he pays county taxes and everybody in the city pays county taxes.  What changes can they expect – the planning department and inspection department are working trying to get these identified and the asbestos out of them.  He said he would assume the county would do what they said they were going to do.  Councilwoman Perry said the list got longer because after so many years the city has to get the approval of the Attorney General for the county to come in and do this for Meridian.  The approval was obtained but more houses were added to the list.  About 2 weeks ago Supervisor Smith and she drove around and all but two of the houses they identified have already been turned in by her.  She said they are doing a lot but not as fast as none of them would like but they are addressing the problem.  Councilman Palmer said in a lot of the cases the people are elderly and the property is left to heirs who live all over.  As a result, a house will remain unoccupied.  The city has accepted some property and donated it to Habitat.  They need to keep this process going.  Councilman Harris said he was familiar with the house that is not on the list.  He believes that when the city and county governments work together then something will happen.  They need to go to the Supervisors and tell them the same thing.  Councilwoman Henson said the first one on the list is gone.  They are going to have a party when the second one is gone.  She has asked Mr. Carson about these several times.  She has asked the city attorney to work on something that has more “teeth” in it.  At the same time, you have to have heart when dealing with the elderly.  Councilman Harris said he got with Supervisor Norwood and tackled a lot of homes and got them removed.  It is going to take more cooperation to get this done.  It takes the whole Board of Supervisors to get this done.  Councilwoman Perry said citizens can do a lot to stop some of these problems.  If someone’s parents pass away and leave them their homes, she asked them to not hold on to the home but to sell it unless they are going to put someone in it.       

 

 

            President Thomas called on Mayor Smith for his report.  He said the City of Meridian is the only city in Mississippi who has an interlocal agreement like this.  The city puts money on the table - $100,000 a year to identify and abate asbestos in these homes so they can be torn down.  The city has tried to encourage the county to use their crews during those months when they are not used for right-of-way work in order to get these houses torn down.  There have been 84 homes taken down since this agreement was entered into.  It takes three years of non-payment of taxes before the city can take ownership of the property.  Some of the property that the city has received from the state due to non-payment of property taxes have been donated to Habitat and the Housing Authority.  He urged them to go to the county government as county taxpayers and ask them to abide by the agreement.  The city has a process that has to be followed in order to condemn houses/buildings or have property cleaned.  This process is set up by state statute and it can be a lengthy process.  The inspection department does a fine job in identifying property that is unclean and houses that need to be demolished.  They immediately start the lengthy process to get something done.  He encouraged the council members to go through city hall before everything is completely covered up. 

 

 

            President Thomas recognized someone in the audience who is a member of Grassrootz who wanted to speak earlier.  Randy Hammon, 2516 28th Avenue, appeared and stated that these homes do not have people living there.  They have information that of the $350,000 budgeted in the last five years and only $136,000 has been spent.  They are trying to understand but from his standpoint the population in the city has already dropped from 49,000 to 39,000.  Those of them who still live here are concerned about these abandoned houses, litter and unclean property.   The city’s ordinance is very clear where it says that persons owning or occupying property shall keep the right of way and their property clear of litter.  There is a problem with cars parked in front of houses and litter in the streets.  They have talked to the county and it goes back and forth with one saying to ask the other.  As Mr. Toms stated, the city has another route to go through to get rid of these condemned houses.  The job is not getting done now.    

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilwoman Perry and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the minutes dated February 06, 2007.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13985       ORDER AUTHORIZING TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO WESLEY HOUSE

                                    CONCERNING PERSONNEL AND OPERATION COSTS ALLOWABLE

                                    THROUGH VICTIM/WITNESS GRANT #05NW2223

 

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

 

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

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDIN. #4311         ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE 2006 ICC MECHANICAL,

                                    PLUMBING AND GAS CODES

 

and, Councilwoman Perry seconded the motion, whereupon said Ordinance was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

 

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

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13986       ORDER AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AMENDMENT NO. 1

                                    TO GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATURAL RESOURCES

                                    CONSERVATION SERVICE, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF

                                    AGRICULTURE AND THE CITY OF MERIDIAN (DRAINAGE

                                    IMPROVEMENTS – AGREEMENT NO. 69-4423-6-1602)

 

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

 

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

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13987       ORDER ACCEPTING LOW BID FOR SOURCE OF SUPPLY FOR

                                    THE PERIOD OF MARCH 1, 2007 THRU FEBRUARY 29, 2008 FOR

                                    FIRE DEPARTMENT UNIFORMS FROM MID SOUTH UNIFORM

                                    & SUPPLY, JACKSON, MS

 

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

 

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

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13988       ORDER AUTHORIZING PURCHASE OF TWO INFLATABLE

                                    BOATS FROM OZARK RESCUE SUPPLIERS, INC., ROGERS,

                                    AR, IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,069.58    

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

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

 

ORDER #13989       ORDER AUTHORIZING PURCHASE OF TWO 16’ TRAILERS

                                    FROM TROJAN TRUCK SALES, COLUMBUS, MS, IN THE

                                    AMOUNT OF $15,989.00

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13990       ORDER AUTHORIZING PURCHASE OF RESCUE ROPE

                                    FROM SPEC RESCUE INTERNATIONAL, INC., VIRGINIA

                                    BEACH, VA, IN THE AMOUNT OF $12,529.81

 

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

 

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

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13991       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF PROJECT APPLICATION

                                    AND EXECUTION OF CONTRACT WITH THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT

                                    OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY FOR THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2007

                                    CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT GRANT-IN-AID FUNDS

 

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

 

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

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER  #13992      ORDER AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF LAND PATENTS

                                    AND PAYMENT OF BACK TAXES AND DECLARING SURPLUS

 

                                    AND AUTHORIZING SALE OF PROPERTY IN CONNECTION

                                    WITH THE CITY’S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDIN. #4312         ORDINANCE CLOSING, VACATING AND ABANDONING IN

                                    THE CITY OF MERIDIAN, LAUDERDALE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI

                                    “J” STREET WEST OF 18TH AVENUE, SOUTH OF SOWASHEE

                                    CREEK

 

and, Councilman Harris seconded the motion, whereupon said Ordinance was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

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

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

RESO. #5416                        RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FORM OF AND EXECUTION OF

                                    THE DEVELOPMENT AND REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT (THE

                                    “DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT”), BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY

                                    OF MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI (THE “CITY”) AND MERIDIAN

                                    CROSSROADS, LLC, A MISSISSIPPI LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY          

                                    (THE “DEVELOPER”); AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13993       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE RELEASE OF RETAINAGE IN THE

                                    AMOUNT OF $4,849.00 TO WEBSTER ELECTRIC (TRAFFIC

                                    SIGNAL – HIGHWAY 39/33RD STREET)

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13994       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE RELEASE OF RETAINAGE IN THE

                                    AMOUNT OF $8,633.03 TO WEBSTER ELECTRIC (TRAFFIC

                                    SIGNAL – HIGHWAY 19 SOUTH AND LAKE DRIVE)

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13995       ORDER AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL

                                    AGREEMENT NO. 1 WITH HEMPHILL CONSTRUCTION

                                    (6TH STREET DRAINAGE PROJECT)

 

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

 

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

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Next on the agenda was the proposed order revoking tax exemption granted to Greater Meridian Baptist Church, 3312 State Boulevard.  Rev. Randell Hisaw appeared and went over the history of their ownership of this property.  He said they were holding services on Friday nights at the church.  President Thomas asked the Council if they wanted to take any action.  There was no action taken.

 

 

            On the agenda next was the proposed order revoking tax exemption granted to Christ’s Church in Action, 518 41st Avenue.  President Thomas asked the Council if they wanted to take any action.  There was no action taken.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the claims docket dated February 15, 2007 in the amount of $1,985,147.19.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13996       ORDER DECLARING MOTOR VEHICLE SURPLUS AND

                                    TRANSFERRING OWNERSHIP TO MERIDIAN COMMUNITY

                                    COLLEGE

 

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

 

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

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #13997       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AMENDED AGREEMENT

                                    TO DEVELOP AND ADMINISTER RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS AND

                                    SERVICES BETWEEN LAUDERDALE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, THE CITY

                                    OF MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI, AND THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF

                                    EAST MISSISSIPPI, INC.

 

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

 

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

Nay:  None.

 

 

            President Thomas called for citizens comments.  Mr. Bob McGlothin was signed up to speak.  He appeared and stated he agreement with the people who spoke at the beginning of the meeting regarding condemned houses and unclean property.  Mr. Alan Sands, 2108 24th Avenue, appeared to speak.  He said he is a member of Grassrootz.  They meet at least once a month, have ten active members and up to 15 guest at each of their meetings.  He said they would like to address the county along with the city.  They know what the problems are but they need to get to the base of them.  He wanted to know what he could do to assist.  He volunteered his time to helping with these situations.  He asked for guidelines on how to research on the internet to help find solutions.  In some of the cases of the abandoned houses there is a health risk and a hazard to children.  They would like to see a pro-active approach to getting these things taken care of and not sitting back and doing nothing or just talking about it.  He said he was willing to do whatever he can to help with these matters.

 

 

            President Thomas called for comments from the City Council.  Councilman Harris stated he went to the Meridian Activities Center and there was a lot going on.  He commended them for the job they are doing.  He complemented the Downtown Association for the Little Mardi Gras celebration.  He complemented Billy Beal and the Redevelopment Authority for making something happen with the Black historic district downtown.  On Thursday night at 6:00 p.m. at Union Station Ward 5 will have a town hall meeting.  He asked everybody to come out and listen to the presentation by the School Board regarding the school bond issue.  Councilman Palmer thanked the leaders of the city for taking a pro-active approach on the school bond issue.  Councilwoman Henson stated that Carman would be in concert at Church of the Way that night.  Councilwoman Henson commended the young lady who won the spelling bee.  The Boys & Girls Club was gracious in allowing a program to be held there.  There are some young people in Meridian who have scored perfect on tests.  They need to be commended.  President Thomas said there is a lot of stuff going on in the city – concerts, ball games, etc.  Everyone needs to take advantage of the activities going on.  He told the Grassrootz group for coming to the meeting.

 

 

            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