REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2008 AT 5:00 P.M.

 

Meeting called to order by Council President Perry.

 

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

 

Absent:  None.

 

 

            The meeting was opened with prayer by Bro. Gary Bickford of Four Square Gospel Agape Fellowship and followed by the Pledge to the Flag.

 

           

            Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to confirm the agenda for this meeting with an amendment to: remove R-1; add as R-17 acceptance of bid for roof & window repairs to Kress Building; add an executive session regarding possible litigation; move the Mayor’s report to R-1.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the minutes dated September 02, 2008.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #14384       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.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #14385       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE OF SENSUS

                                    TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY SR METERS ON A NON-COMPETITIVE

                                    BASIS

 

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

 

ORDER #14386       ORDER CONFIRMING THE RE-APPOINTMENT BY THE MAYOR OF

                                    CHRISTINE RILEY TO THE MERIDIAN PLANNING COMMISSION

 

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 #14387       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT TO FURNISH

                                    DELINQUENT DEBT COLLECTION SERVICE BETWEEN SPECIALIZED

                                    MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC. AND THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

 

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 Resolution:

 

RESO. #5535                        RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION AND FILING OF GRANT

                                    APPLICATIONS FOR THE FY 2009 HOMETOWN MISSISSIPPI

                                    RETIREMENT MARKETING MATCH GRANTS PROGRAM AND

                                    AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT AGREEMENT

                                    WITH THE MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY UPON APPROVAL

                                    OF GRANT APPLICATIONS

 

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.

 

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

 

ORDIN. #4338         ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY’S ZONING ORDINANCE NO. 3966

                                    SO AS TO RECLASSIFY CERTAIN LANDS IN THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

                                    FROM R-3 MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT TO B-2 NEIGHBORHOOD

                                    BUSINESS DISTRICT (VICINITY OF WEST SIDE OF HWY 39 N, SOUTH OF

                                    WINDMILL DRIVE) INCLUDING AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP

                                    OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

 

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

 

ORDIN. #4339         ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY’S ZONING ORDINANCE NO. 3966

                                    SO AS TO RECLASSIFY CERTAIN LANDS IN THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

                                    FROM R-2 DISTRICT TO B-2 DISTRICT (512 18TH STREET) INCLUDING

                                    AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

 

and, Councilman Palmer 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.

 

 

            Next on the agenda was the rezoning of certain lands from R-1 to R-2 (west side of Newell Road, north of 45th Court).  Motion was made by Councilman Palmer duly seconded by Councilman Harris and unanimously passed by the Council to table this item until the next regular meeting.

 

 

 

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

 

ORDER #14388       ORDER AUTHORIZING FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $11,250

                                    TO EAST MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

                                    FOR THE BRANDING CAMPAIGN

 

 

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

 

RESO. #5536                        RESOLUTION APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE AMENDED BUDGET

                                    FOR THE CITY OF MERIDIAN FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING

                                    SEPTEMBER 30, 2008, AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK IN

                                    REFERENCE THERETO

 

and, Councilman Harris 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.

 

 

            Next on the agenda was the adoption of the FY 2009 budget.  Motion was made by Councilman Harris duly seconded by Councilwoman Henson to adopt the budget.  Mayor Smith stated that the Council approved the contract with Specialized Management services to collect past due fines and forfeitures earlier in the meeting.  The firm estimated that it will be able to net for the city $300,000 over the next year.  This $300,000 will be added to the budget and various items that were removed from the budget for Parks & Recreation and Public Works will be added back.  These funds will be carefully monitored and if the revenues meet the projections then the expenditures will be made.  He asked that the Council amend their motion to approve the budget to include the $300,000 revenue and the expenditures outlined in his letter of September 16, 2008.  Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to amend the motion as requested by the Mayor.  Councilman Harris offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Resolution:

 

RESO. #5537                        RESOLUTION APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR THE

                                    CITY OF MERIDIAN FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER

                                    30, 2009, AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK IN REFERENCE THERETO

 

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.

 

 

            No action was taken on R-10 (ordinance providing revenue and levy a tax for City of Meridian for FY 2009) and R-11 (ordinance providing revenue and levy a tax for Meridian Separate School

District for FY 2009).  These items will be taken up at the recessed meeting if the assessed valuation comes in from Lauderdale County.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #14389       ORDER TO CHARGE OFF INACTIVE AND UNCOLLECTIBLE WATER

                                    ACCOUNTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007 IN THE AMOUNT OF $54,519.72

 

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

 

ORDER #14390       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT FOR

                                    PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BETWEEN THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

                                    AND NEEL-SCHAFFER, INC. (DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM)

 

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.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #14391       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF 22ND AVENUE BRIDGE

                                    RENOVATION TASK ORDER BETWEEN THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

                                    AND THOMPSON ENGINEERING, 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 Resolution:

 

RESO. #5538                        RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF CONTRACT

                                    FOR THE USE OF THE COUNTY JAIL BY THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

 

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 Councilman Harris duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the claims docket dated September 11, 2008 in the amount of $2,580,379.81.

 

 

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

 

ORDER #14392       ORDER ACCEPTING THE BID OF WALLACE DEARING ROOFING

                                    SOLUTIONS, MERIDIAN, MS, FOR KRESS BUILDING ROOF AND

                                    WINDOW IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $93,220.00 AND

                                    AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF CONTRACT FOR SAID WORK

 

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.

 

 

            President Perry advised of the notification of legal advertisement for the following: a) new concession/restroom building at Jaycee soccer complex.

 

 

            President Perry called for citizen comments.  1) James Fisher, 3030 Mt. Gilead Road, appeared and thanked the Council for approving the budget with the raises for the fire fighters.  2) Mable Oatis, 1402 39th Avenue, appeared and stated the 2009 National Council of Meridianites, Inc. convention and picnic will be held in Meridian from June 24-27, 2009.  She went over the financial impact this event has on the city’s economy.  They will be coming to the city later for possible assistance with cash contributions, free use of the Frank Cochran Center and Highland Park, ads for their souvenir journal, bags for delegates and chapter members, customized banners to display downtown and on major thoroughfares into to city, and for pens, pencils, etc for the souvenir bags.  3) Angelina Patton, 3329 Davis Street, and Jimmy Triplett, 3123 5th Street, appeared regarding the needs for sidewalks and “children at play signs” on 5th Street.  She had dropped off a petition regarding this last week with the Clerk of Council.  4) Robert Markham, 323 45th Street, appeared regarding the rezoning on Newell Road.  He lives in the Royal Oaks Subdivision and he said they have to fight rezoning in their area all the time.  He was advised that this was tabled until the next meeting.

 

 

            An executive session was requested regarding possible litigation.  Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Harris and unanimously passed by the Council to close the meeting to determine whether to declare an executive session.  Motion was made by Councilman Harris duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to declare an executive session in order to discuss possible litigation.  The Council then went into executive session.  Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilman Harris and unanimously passed by the Council to go out of executive session.

 

 

            President Perry called the 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 recessed until Friday, September 19, 2008, at 8:00 a.m.

 

 

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,  

 

 

                                                                        Pam McInnis, Clerk of Council