Board discusses police car lease
With the fleet getting old and maintenance costs going up, the Holly Springs Mayor and Board of Aldermen discussed entering into a lease for 12 new police cars.
Mayor Sharon Gipson said one of the detectives has researched vehicle leases because the department is short on affordable, dependable safe vehicles.
A dozen Ford SUVs are under consideration. Gipson said four SUVs are already on order to be financed by Hancock Bank, but no payments have been made.
She said the city had been told the four vehicles are on rail cars but they have not been delivered. The department has been replacing tires and repairing patrol cars, with a 2016 vehicle the youngest of the fleet.
“This is an alternative way to finance,” Gipson said.
Payment options varied with $694,885 to be financed in 16 payments for 12 cars. The vehicles would be completely outfitted.
“We are in dire need of these,” Gipson said. “They are replacing the whole fleet of 12?” asked Ward 3 alderman Colter Teel.
Gipson said the department only has about 4 vehicles with the exception of the ones driven by Chief Grant Glover and assistant chief Darryl Bowens.
“This is for patrol cars?” Teel asked.
“We are proposing Ford Explorers for patrol and supervisors’ cars,” the mayor said.
Teel asked how many patrolmen are on staff during a normal day.
“Two officers and a lieutenant during the week,” said Glover. “We are equipped to have 22 police officers.”
Ward 2 alderman Andre Jones admitted the city is a small municipality.
Gipson said there are four officers per shift including supervisors. The city is looking at alternatives in recruiting and comparing police salaries with other towns, to see what the city has that others do not have.
She said Holly Springs could recruit officers from Memphis, Tenn., even if they are retirees.
Ward 1 alderman Bernita Fountain, a deputy sheriff, asked what type of vehicle is preferred, SUVs or cars.
Gipson said the plan would offer 24-hour maintenance and be outfitted with sirens and lights.
Glover said Dodge Chargers have been discontinued. The company said Challengers will also be discontinued.
“Oxford is replacing (cars) with SUVs for patrol cars,” Gipson said. “The Mississippi Highway Patrol has also switched to SUVs.
The proposed Explorers each come completely outfitted and the lease includes routine maintenance, front end alignment and transmission fluid checks at a price of $57,507, Gipson said. At the end of the lease the city can purchase the vehicle for $1.
Gipson said the vehicles are now available on the lot.
Jones said police recruitment should include written goals and steps to take to reach those goals. He asked for a report on police goals from the department.
“We are looking at various options,” Gipson said. “That’s definitely a priority.”
INMATE HOUSING
Teel brought up the issue of inmate housing when the city bills and claims were being considered.
“That is an astronomical amount of money,” Teel said looking at the bill.
Gipson said where the inmate is ultimately housed, Marshall or Benton counties, often depends on which officer is at the Marshall County jail.
Jones said the city never had an agreement with Benton County. And there are liability issues with having officers take inmates to another jurisdiction, he said.
Benton County has not come before the board to discuss housing of inmates arrested in Holly Springs, he said.
Gipson said if Marshall County won’t accept an inmate then the inmate is carried to Benton County for housing.
Fountain said inmates are not turned away if the arresting officer brings in the correct paperwork to the jail. The process is the same at both jails, she said.
Unless there is a medical treatment needed before the inmate enters the jail, that has to be decided, the officer does not decide where to take the inmate, she said.
City attorney Keith Perry said the city is waiting on approval from the office of Attorney General before implementing an agreement with the county.
Gipson said the city has never had an issue with the sheriff over intake and housing of city inmates.
“If we did execute paperwork with Benton County, I have not seen it,” Jones said.
Gipson said the city has never had an agreement with Benton County.
“How did we just go to Benton County without an agreement?” Teel asked.
“I’m not sure,” Gipson said. “The county can take them now, and has taken them without an agreement.”
Jones said some sort of agreement should be in place in order to transport an inmate to Benton County.
EXPANDING HEAT AND AIR AT HSUD
Three quotes were received for expanding the heating and air at the Holly Springs Utility Department: Colstons - $18,300; Zinn - $18,278 and Octavious Bowen - $20,900.
Gipson recommended Bowen’s higher quote based upon his saying he can get the job done in a week. The other two offers said it would take them from four to five weeks, she said.
“You say you are licensed and bonded and the part will be here in a week?” asked Ward 4 alderman Patricia Merriweather.
Bowen said installing the unit usually takes one day but duct work will cause the installation to take two or three days. He will have to use a crane and have several people to do the work.
Fountain asked if the unit costs $13,000.
Bowen said the cost of the unit will come out of the $20,000 quote. He carries $2 million bond with a local insurer on his work, he said.
“I assume the slight increase in your price is quick turnaround?” Merriweather asked.
Bowen said the price was based on the level of manpower needed for the job.
“He doesn’t have the lowest and best quote,” said alderman-at-large Dexter Shipp.
“The main thing is the turnaround time,” Gipson said.
Shipp made a motion to give the job to Bowen.
“For future reference, I don’t like having to be in a position (of not having information) until it is time to vote on it,” Teel said.
“Can we wait to Thursday?” Jones asked. “I know Mr. Bowen personally. He does excellent work all over Mississippi. That’s not the issue. Usually we have other quotes going with your quote. The only reason I am not prepared to vote is I have only seen your quote and not the others.”
Merriweather said she has an issue of only being able to asked about the cooling system at HSUD at the meeting. And you say they’ve been out of air for so long,” she said. “In the future if we know about these things before (the meeting)....”
Gipson held the item and said it would be put back on the agenda at the Thursday night budget meeting. (The budget meeting was not held because of lack of a quorum.)
In other business, the board of aldermen:
• discussed grid modernization. Gipson said the city is pursuing a grant from TVA that would help upgrade the substation. She proposed IMS Engineers submit the grant application on behalf of the city and assist with the project. The grant is through the American Public power Association.
Teel asked first for a report from IMS on work already approved by the board.
Gipson said she will invite IMS to a meeting to report on work progress.
Teel said he wants more time to learn more about the grant before voting on it.
“We just learned about it at the moment,” Teel said.
Gipson said the deadline for the grant submission is September 30 the cause of the haste.
Teel made a motion to apply for the grant and it passed without opposition.
• approved hiring Tyren Williams as customer service teller/cashier at the utility department.
• held up a motion to hire Oliver Iron Works to repair sections of the wrought-iron fence at the cemetery damaged by falling trees during a spring thunderstorm. The sole quote for $18,200 was discussed but held up when aldermen questioned if other quotes for the work were sought.
• received $151,714 in July sales tax receipts into the general operating fund.
• transferred $2,422 and $29,759 from July Tourism taxes into the money market fund. Half of that, $1,211 and $14,879, was transferred into the Holly Springs Tourism account.
• authorized payment of $25,000 to Marshall County E-911 (first installment).
• approved travel for Jerrica Jones to attend the Mississippi Municipal Clerks and Collectors Association conference.
• approved $229 in membership free to the National Human Resources Association for Pat Dawson.