RECESSED MEETING, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 AT 3:00 P.M.

 

Meeting called to order by Council President Perry.

 

Present:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Harris.

 

Absent:  Palmer.

 

 

            Mayor Smith stated that tax collections for FY 2008 have not reached expectations.  He stated he did not have full confidence in the numbers given by Lauderdale County.  The figures were calculated quickly and this can cause errors.  The administration has taken a very conservative view on the proposed revenue from those figures. 

 

 

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

 

ORDIN. #4340         ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE A REVENUE FOR THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

                                    FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

 

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

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Harris.

Nay:  None.

Absent:  Palmer.

 

 

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

 

ORDIN. #4341         ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE A REVENUE AND LEVY A TAX FOR THE

                                    MERIDIAN SEPARATE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR

                                    ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2009   

 

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

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Harris.

Nay:  None.

Absent:  Palmer.

 

 

 

            Discussion was held at this time regarding the housing of city prisoners.  Rick Barry, Attorney for Lauderdale County, sent the City Council a jail contract and asked that it be placed on the agenda for passage.  That contract was not changed from the $23.00 a day cost per city prisoner and it was adopted.  Mayor Smith stated he was called on September 12th by Supervisors Hank Florey and Ray Boswell and was told that the cost would change from $23.00 to $30.00 a day.  Some of the Supervisors wanted to extend the contract for 30 days.  He said he received a letter that there would be no extension.  He asked the City Council to declare a state of emergency which is warranted because of the situation in which the city finds itself in regard to the jail contract with Lauderdale County.  This declaration will allow the city to activate a memorandum of understanding between Police Chief Benny Dubose and the Sheriff of Newton County from October 1, 2008 to January 1, 2009 at $20.00 a day per city prisoner.  This will give the city the opportunity to work on a contract with Newton County to house city prisoners.  There are currently 39 city prisoners in the county jail and 38 of those are non-violent offenders who will be bonded out.  The 39th prisoner will be arraigned and will be a county prisoner and there will be no city prisoners left in the county jail.  Preliminary hearings are being held every day to make sure they are entered into the county system.  The city has holding jails at the police department which will be utilized. 

 

Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilwoman Henson and unanimously passed by the Council to amend the agenda to add an order declaring a state of emergency in connection with the incarceration of city prisoners.   

 

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

 

ORDER #14394       ORDER DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN CONNECTION

                                    WITH THE INCARCERATION OF CITY PRISONERS

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

Absent:  Palmer.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilwoman Henson and unanimously passed by the Council to amending the agenda to add a resolution authorizing the MOU with Newton County. 

 

 

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

 

RESO. #5539                        RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF MEMORANDUM OF

                                    UNDERSTANDING FOR THE USE OF THE COUNTY JAIL BETWEEN THE

                                    CITY OF MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI AND NEW COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI

 

 

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, Harris.

Nay:  None.

Absent:  Palmer.

 

 

            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