REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2008 AT 9:00 A.M.

 

Meeting called to order by Council President Perry.

 

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

 

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 confirm the agenda for this meeting with an amendment to remove P-2.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the minutes dated August 19, 2008.

 

 

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

 

                        September 7-13, 2008 – “National Assisted Living Week”

                        September 2008 – “Cigarette Litter Prevention Month”

 

 

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

 

ORDER #14377       ORDER RE-ESTABLISHING PETTY CASH FUNDS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009           

 

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

 

 

 

ORDER #14378       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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #14379       ORDER GRANTING EXEMPTION FROM MUNICIPAL AD VALOREM TAXES

                                    (EXCEPT SCHOOL DISTRICT TAXES) FOR SEVEN YEARS TO HOTEL &

                                    RESTAURANT SUPPLY, INC. ON IMPROVEMENTS TO PROPERTY LOCATED

                                    AT 5020 ARUNDEL ROAD

 

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

 

ORDER #14380       ORDER ADOPTING ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES AS

                                    PREPARED AND ADOPTED BY THE STATE TAX COMMISSION

 

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

 

Yea:  Perry, Henson, Palmer, Harris.

Nay:  Thomas.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #14381       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT FOR

                                    ENGINEERING SERVICES BETWEEN THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

                                    AND NEEL-SCHAFFER, INC.

 

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 #14382       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN

                                    THE CITY OF MERIDIAN AND THOMPSON ENGINEERING, INC.

                                    (ENGINEERING SERVICES)

 

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 #14383       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF SERVICE AGREEMENT

                                    BETWEEN WASTE MANAGEMENT AND THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

                                    (MERIDIAN HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY)

 

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 Henson offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Resolution:

 

RESO. #5534                        RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN QUITCLAIM DEEDS

                                    IN RELATION TO CLOSED AND VACATED “J” STREET WEST OF 18TH

                                    AVENUE, SOUTH OF SOWASHEE CREEK

 

and, Councilman Palmer 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.

 

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the claims docket dated August 28, 2008 in the amount of $1,210,404.13.

 

 

            President Perry advised of the notification of legal advertisement for the following: a) 32 knife valves for primary clarifiers; b) hydrated lime; c) hydrofluosilicic acid; d) liquid alum; e) liquid chlorine; f) polymer; g) sodium silicofluoride; h) sulfur dioxide.

 

 

            President Perry called for the Mayor’s report.  He said the city was blessed that the storm passed by us.  The command center was opened on Friday night and continues to be open to keep everyone posted.  He thanked Central United Methodist Church for serving as a shelter for 150 evacuees.  There were 500 evacuees at the Frank Cochran Center.  Even though the hotels were full, they opened their lobbies for travelers.  The larger retailers allowed their parking lots to be used for campers and autos.  He visited the shelters.  Red Cross took care of those in the shelters.  The city probably had in excess of 1500 evacuees.  Governor Barber has the Task Force Team 2 on standby to possibly provide relief and their expertise to Louisiana and other areas affected by Hurricane Gustov.  Other hurricanes are developing with Hannah heading towards the east coast.  The city will be on standby to assist if needed.  An individual came down 24th Avenue, jumped the curb, crashed through the wooden barrier and chain link fence and hit city hall on the NE corner then it turned parallel to city hall and took down part of the scaffolding.  Friday before last was the cut-off date to receive proposals for the Threefoot project.  HRI submitted their proposal and the Meridian Redevelopment Authority accepted it.  MRA will recommend the HRI proposal to the City Council and the City Council will then review, accept and approve the agreement with HRI.  He left the meeting to go to the command center.  The U.S. Conference of Mayors will be holding a conference call to see what needs those areas hit have.  Councilman Thomas asked if the city had an ordinance regulating the placement of green boxes in the city limits.  The city does not have such an ordinance, therefore, City Attorney Bill Hammack was asked to work on this.

 

 

            President Perry called for citizen comments.  No one appeared.

 

 

            President Perry called for Council comments.  Councilman Harris said he spoke with several people at the Frank Cochran Center.  They were encouraged and seemed to like Meridian.  This is a sad situation but is glad everything went well out there.  There were trucks, tree cutters, workers, etc. at the old mall that Mississippi Power Company brought in.  He commented on Mr. Newell’s fine  and stated it was a sad day when you tried to get something done and get hammered for it.  They will be cleaning up the cemetery another time.  Councilman Palmer said it was good to see people heed the warnings about the hurricane.  One person did not heed the warnings and a tree fell on his house.  There are two more hurricanes working in the Atlantic.  He congratulated the classes who would have graduated from Middleton.  They got together and provided scholarships.  The Meridian Picnic will be held here in June 2009 and they always give out scholarships.  Councilwoman Henson mentioned some trouble with dogs in her neighborhood and asked Chief Dubose who to call about them.  He advised her to call 911 and ask that the on-call officer be notified.  Councilman Thomas thanked the volunteers who helped at the shelters.  He said everyone is concerned about the presidential election but encouraged them to also be concerned about the congressional elections.  He encouraged everyone to go to the high school football games and to encourage the youngsters and give them support.  Council President Perry commended the people at the services stations and other places.  The people of Meridian should be commended for the way they treated those who came to the city.  There were a number of residents in Meridian who had family in their homes.  She thanked the volunteers.  Biloxi got the worse weather in Mississippi.  She encouraged everyone to support the young people.  They need support at their out-of-town games.     

 

 

            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