Aldermen approve marquee
A movement by Holly Springs Ward 2 alderman Andre Jones to put an electronic marquee at the Eddie Lee Smith Multipurpose Center has been approved.
Jones proposed the $32,857 expenditure for the doublesided LED display be paid for out of the tourism tax.
Half, or $16,428, would be paid by the City of Holly Springs and the other half by the Holly Springs Tourism and Recreation Bureau.
Jones said the tourism fund has $380,000, and the cost of the marquee, “wouldn’t put a dent in that account.”
Jones and Ward 1 alderman Bernita Fountain proposed the marquee last year to boost morale in the city. The marquee would be useful to announce and promote events.
Other actions by the board of aldermen at the April 4 meeting included:
• discussions in executive session or personnel, ICS Head Start, TVPPA, a school board member, and July 4 fireworks.
• approval of a motion to reinstate two employees who had been suspended with pay by Mayor Sharon Gipson.
• holding action on a proposal to work with TVPPA (Tennessee Valley Public Power Association) to make assessments of the Holly Springs Utility Department. Jones favored moving forward with TVPPA on the assessment but Gipson didn’t want to take up the matter. The matter was held.
• taking no action on a discussion to clarify rent of the Sims School property to ICS Head Start.
• approved of a payment to Janice Wagg for 55 hours over the period of Feb. 23 through March 12 for work with Parks and Recreation to get the little league teams set for play. The board approved a payment to Wagg of $453.
• authorized of HSUD (Holly Springs Utility
Department) employee training by Central Service Agency at $150 an hour. The training is to help HSUD get up to date on required reports to the Tennessee Valley Authority.
• holding motions to authorize locator training for HSUD employees.
• authorization of a payment of $2,970 to D MAC Utilities for emergency boring services.
• approval of a purchase of equipment from Mitumba Charity in the amount of $3,995 for equipment needed by HSUD.
• holding action on a proposal to authorize TVPPA to make an assessment of the condition and needs of HSUD’s electric department and utility.
• approval of ratification of travel for fire chief Rodney Crane, Capt. Kevin White, and firefighters Nakita Taylor, James Williams and Broderick Robinson to attend the State Fire Academy.
• authorization of travel for lieutenants Travail Jeffries and Christopher McMillen to attend a fire service instructor course at the State Fire Academy.
• approval of travel for Capt. Kevin White and administrative assistant Daphne Lumpkin to attend fire and life safety education at the State Fire Academy.
• authorization of travel for Pamela Lewis to attend Preservation Boot Camp in Jackson.
• approval of a payment of $302 to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety for March Municipal Court assessment/settlement.
• approval of payment of bills and claims for the general city and for the city utility (HSUD) bills and claims.