City adopts annexation ordinance
The Holly Springs Board of Aldermen adopted its annexation ordinance at the March 3 meeting.
Blake Walley, with Slaughter & Associates, provided a cursory final review of the annexation plan. Nothing has been changed in the plan since Walley presented it earlier in the year.
Chad Mask of Jackson was present at the meeting. He provided the city with a legal description of the boundaries included in the ordinance.
The next step will be to go before a chancery judge to request approval of the annexation plan. The city will publish the date the plan will go to chancery court for anyone who wishes to provide comment either endorsing or opposing the plan.
In other business, the board opened bids on an NRCS (Natural Resources Conser vation Service) bank stabilization project and bids for an architect to lead the repair of the historic Old Holly Springs Water and Light Building on Falconer Avenue.
Five bids were offered on the bank stabilization project at Rising Star Road.
Low bidder was Ste-Bil Grading Inc. of Waterford at an offer of $96,476. Other bids included A&B Construction - $98,486; Xcavators - $99,796; Patton Construction - $128,257; and Wright Contracting Group - $142,826. The engineers’ estimate was $116,295 with a 20 percent match of $23,259 by the city.
Ste-Bil was awarded the bid and a 20 percent match by the city comes to $19,295, a savings of about $4,000 to the city.
The project is an emergency watershed protection project grant to stabilize the bank. Ste-Bil also stabilized the bank behind Sonic.
Three bids were proposed for architectural services for restoration of the Old Water and Light Building — Beard and Riser Architects; Mills & Mills Architects; and Belinda Stewart Architects. The contract was awarded to Mills & Mills Architects.
Restructuring of departments
The mayor presented a plan to restructure the Street Department with Buildings and Grounds and Cemetery departments.
Anetria Jeffries is over Buildings and Grounds, Anthony Jones over Streets and Viez Todd over the entire effort.
uck said in the past different crews worked different areas, but the new plan is for all the crews to work together to get things done. Those over the departments will also work together.
Upkeep of the Parks and Recreation and the other parks will be done in one day, Buck said, with the entire crew out there.
Viez Todd will serve as director of Streets, Buildings and Grounds, the Cemetery, Parks and Recreation and cleaning service.
Jones is serving as assistant in the Street Department and Jeffries as assistant over Buildings and Grounds.
The groups will supervise full-time employees as well as seasonal employees.
Alderman Tim Liddy asked some questions on how the plan will work to keep up the cemetery and also in maintaining new landscaping beds planned on the downtown square.
Buck said all parties will work together. Todd, Jones and Jeffries all received salary adjustments commensurate with their duties.
Streets, Buildings and Grounds
The board approved a request to purchase a heavy-duty, 14-foot trailer at $7,472 to haul heavy equipment. The board also approved the purchase of two heavy-duty trucks on state contract for no more than $25,000 each. The trucks will be used to pull the heavy-duty trailer loaded with equipment.
Two employees from the Street Department will be sent to Raymond to get certified in mosquito control.
Fire Department
The board approved purchase of a 2009 Ford F-150 pickup from surplus property at $4,500. The truck replaces a 1996 Ford Explorer Fire Prevention truck which now will go to surplus property.
Police Department
The board approved travel for Sgt. James Wright and officer Earnest Bradley to attend Legal Updates training in Pearl.
The board also approved the hiring of Drakius Betts as a certified police officer. Betts has been in law enforcement for about four years.
Public Works
The board authorized the removal of two trees on South Market Street at a cost of not more than $4,800. The removal includes cutting existing dead/diseased trees and removal of debris by Team Waste and the grinding of stumps. One of the trees is located in front of Tyson Drugs.
The board also authorized payment of $18,900 to JBHM Architects for engineering estimate No. 1 on the Holly Springs Aquatic Center Complex project.
Utility Department
The board promoted Javarrius Jeffries to apprentice lineman II. The board also authorized advertising for a superintendent of Water/Sewer/Gas. Superintendent Troy Wright was granted permission to retire May 1.
City Clerk
The board approved travel for the Mayor’s Youth Council and chaperones to attend the Mississippi Municipal League’s Mayor’s Youth Council meeting in June.
The board also authorized the city to participate in the Youth Entrepreneurial Summer Program by contributing up to $18,000 to hold the training for about a dozen children.
The board approved $57,335 payment to HUB International for the year 2020-2021 commercial auto insurance.
The resignation of Torris Brown as payroll clerk for the city was accepted. The board also authorized advertising the position.