City gets mixed insurance quotes

The City of Holly Springs Board of Aldermen received insurance information from James Moody, with Cadence Insurance, and Reginald Thompson, with The Evans Agency.

There was good news and not so good news.

Thompson said the casualty and property insurance rates have increased anywhere from 20 percent to 50 percent. That included auto and theft and physical damage to vehicles covered under the city’s policy.

Ward 3 alderman Colter Teel, asked Thompson if insurance had gone up across the board or if the city’s premium was going up because of exposure in the city.

“Across the industry,” Thompson said. “We try to have things ahead of time. There probably won’t be many options.”

Thompson said he searched for an underwriter that would provide the best quotes.

“The property and casualty world is seeing losses unprecedented,” he said. “Reinsurance is taking losses never seen. There are so many drivers (forces) in the auto market.”

Moody, who has been working with the city since 2022, said United Health Care carrier, came in when a local quote from Blue Cross Blue Shield increased by 55 percent.

He said he is looking for better rates and is checking the market with Blue Cross of Mississippi to try to come back to the city with a better offer. The rates Blue Cross is offering is considerably lower than what the city has been paying for United Health Care, Moody said.

The city has a good loss/risk ratio, he said, well under 100 percent.

Teel said some city employees have struggled under the United Health Care policy to find providers who would take their insurance when the city left Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Moody said the copay for the pharmacy will be a onetime fee of $50. Dental and Vision coverage will likely be offers from Guardian and Mutual of Omaha.

April 1 is the renewal date for Blue Cross and Mutual of Omaha’s dental and vision coverage, Moody said.

Both agents will be returning to the board before renewal dates to make final recommendations.

The board took the following actions:

• authorized transfer of $183,047 to the general operating fund for the Fire Station Reimbursement #3.

• authorized transfer of $237,702 to the general operating fund for modernization use tax receipts. The fund is used for road and bridge and stormwater infrastructure improvements.

• approved payment of city bills and claims and city utility bills and claims.

• authorized payment of $195 to Brian Smith for a repair on the front door.

• approved payment of $29,055 for ice melts from Woods Farm Supply and six sources to clear the streets of snow. The following companies cleared the streets - R.L. Isom; Integrity Drywall/Octavius Allen; Marvin Walton; Brandon Brock; Thomas Construction/ Corey Thomas; Willie J. Construction/John Renick; and Spring Creek Septic System/Leroy Jones.

During public comment the following people spoke:

• Mary Elaine Hensley Valentine, regarding an alleged unpermitted vehicle repair business operating at a South Center Street address.

• Jim Smith, regarding a water leak and utilities in the Depot District.

• Jimmie Leon Young, regarding relationships among employees in Parks & Rec.

• Thelbert Lesure, regarding appreciation to Mayor Sharon Gipson for recovery efforts following the snowstorm. Other actions taken by the board of aldermen included:

• approval of a Pet Accountability Ordinance by unanimous vote of the board.

• approval of travel for the Mayor and Board of Aldermen to attend Certified Municipal Officials Elective evening class in Oxford, by unanimous vote of the board.

• approval of travel for city clerk Jerrica Jones and deputy clerks Lakisha Street, and Wanda Scott, to attend the 2024 Spring Certified Municipal Clerks training in Oxford, by unanimous vote of the board.

• authorization of travel for city attorney John Keith Perry to attend the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association’s Legal Conference in Nashville, Tenn., by unanimous vote of the board.

• authorization for travel of Broderick Robinson to attend the Mississippi State Fire Academy for 1001-I-II firefighter training course, by unanimous vote of the board.

• approval of travel for assistant fire chief Shane Wommack and officer Michael Holmes to the 2024 Mississippi Fire Service Training Chief’s/Training Officers Conference in Southaven, by unanimous vote of the board.

• authorization to hire Dillon Hoey as general laborer in the Street Department by a vote of 4-1 with Teel voting against the motion because of the late arrival of the meeting agenda.

• appointment of McArthur Riley as general laborer in the Street Department by unanimous vote of the board.

• appointment of Walter Christie as a certified police officer by unanimous vote of the board.

• approval to transfer Lieutenant Travian Jeffries from full-time to part-time fireman.

• motion to transfer Dillon Pool from part-time fireman to full-time fireman.

The following motions were held or not acted upon:

• motion to appoint Justin Ogelsby as general laborer in the Holly Springs Street department.

• motion to reinstate Tranesicia Walker as detective in the Holly Springs Police Department.

• motion to appoint officer Michael Prince Scott to patrolmen in the Holly Springs Police department.

• motion to promote Javarrius Jeffries as foreman at the utility department.

• motion to hire Robert Curry as assistant warehouseman at the utility department.

• motion to appoint Jasmine Jackson as administrative assistant in the utility department.

• motion to appoint Timothy D. McKinley as apprentice lineman at the utility department.

• motion to appoint Travis Pegues as mechanic in the utility department.

• motion to appoint Dewayne E. Richards as general laborer in the water department.

• motion to appoint Clifford Childers as general laborer in the water department.

• motion to appoint Timothy J. Jones as general laborer in the water department.

• motion to transfer Quad Harris to position of meter reader in the utility department.

• motion to appoint Marc Lawrence as general laborer in the concrete division of the utility department.

• motion to appoint Pearlie B. Howell as part-time general laborer in the buildings and grounds department.

• motion to appoint Jabari Stone as general laborer in the building and grounds department.

• motion to change the pay grade of Whitney Hunt Jones in the billing department.

• motion to transfer Cametra Tucker to the billing department.

• motion to promote Darwin Williams to serviceman in the utility department.

• motion to promote Christopher Rounds from part-time to full-time fireman in the fire department.

• motion to hire Tom Haywood as engineer with the Holly Springs Utility Department at a rate of $55 an hour.

• motion to hire Ricky Jones as general manager at the Holly Springs Utility Department at a rate of $95,000 a year.