City tax revenues increase
Holly Springs Mayor Kelvin Buck reports sales tax revenues for the month of May were up as compared to even last year’s pre-COVID-19 values for May.
It is an unexpected, but happy surprise, he said.
He believes more people have been shopping locally during the COVID-19 pandemic, which initially created a need to shut down non-essential businesses in Holly Springs and in other areas of the state and nation.
“I hope they will keep this up (shopping locally),” Buck said. “It’s a silver lining in everything.” He said the city has not been negatively impacted much at all financially by the pandemic and all original projects that were lined up for the year are progressing as hoped.
“The numbers are good,” said Ward 3 alderman Mark Miller.
He called the sales tax revenues “a small upside to the pandemic.” The city discussed the purchase of a new fire truck and using the old 2003 truck as a backup, since it no longer meets the criteria of the fire grading district rating bureau.
Miller said a new fire truck would run over a half million dollars and it takes from 12 months to 14 months to get one built and delivered, once ordered.
“We have to do it pretty soon,” he said, adding that, if it is not ordered before the last six months of the fiscal year, the city will not be able to make a purchase until the municipal elections are completed in 2021.
No price or financing has been discussed at the board of aldermen meetings, he said.
Fire chief Rodney Crane made the presentation to the board, letting the mayor and aldermen know a replacement truck is needed as soon as possible.
Assistant fire chief Leland Reed said the 2003 truck will go to a reserve truck. He said in order to keep the city’s fire rating at Level 5, the old truck will have to be replaced.
Street Department
The board of aldermen approved hiring of five seasonal laborers in the Street Department/ Buildings and Grounds. The board approved offering jobs to Orlando Richmond, Quo derick Harris, Jarvis Dowdy, Allen House and Floyd Dixon.
Fire Department/Police
The board of aldermen accepted the a letter of resignation from Capt. Will Martin, effective July 26 and a letter of resignation from Jerry Birmingham. Christopher McMillen was approved for travel to certification training at the Mississippi Fire Academy in Pearl in August.
Sun Belt Fire Equipment made a presentation of a new E-One Fire Truck.
Detective Cody Spoon was approved for travel to Detective and New Criminal Investigator Training in August.
Public Works
The board of aldermen approved the following re quests for change or ders/payments:
• Change order #5 on the Downtown Greenspace Project not to exceed $1,000 to extend walls of an existing inlet and to reset a top located at the Van Dorn Avenue/Memphis Street Inter - section.
• Change order #2 and final in the deductive amount of $3,510 on the EWP (Emergency Watershed Protection) project at Sonic Drive Inn.
• payment to Cobb Environmental in the amount of $1,700 for completion of an asbestos survey on the Old Water & Light Building.
• payment to STE-BIL Grading for $27,120 for pay application #2 and final on the EWP project at Sonic.
• Change order #2 and final in the additive amount of $2,419 on the Rising Star Road EWP project.
• payment to STE-BIL Grading for $6,985 for pay application #3 and final on the Rising Star Road EWP project.
• payment to Elliott & Britt Engineering in the amount of $181 on the Rising Star Road EWP project.
• payment of $15,252 to Elliott & Britt on the Sonic EWP project.
City Clerk
The board authorized payment for the following invoices:
• $135,368 to Bank Plus on the Street Bond.
• $8,724 to Pendleton Com mu nity Bank on the fire truck loan.
• $20,152 to First Security Bank.
The board also authorized travel for Mayor Buck to attend a Liability & Worker’s Comp seminar at the Mississippi Municipal League conference. The board also approved replacing an air conditioning unit at City Hall.
July 7 meeting notes
The board opened bids on a 2006 KME Fire Truck #3. C&W Diesel won the bid at $4,000.
Two bids on a Kershaw Klearway 500 brush cutter at the Holly Springs Utility Department were both rejected
Street and Fire Department business
The resignation of Dominic Martin in the Street/Buildings & Grounds Department was accepted by the board of aldermen.
Clifton McCoy was approved as full-time firefighter. Lincoln Lewis and Courtney Barrett were approved as part-time firefighters.
Public Works
The board of aldermen authorized advertising for bids on the Old Water & Light Building Restoration Project.
A request for payment of pay application #5 of $19,806 to Progressive Construction of the Mid-south was approved for work on the Down - town Greenspace Project.
The board authorized Mayor Buck to sign documents pertaining to the submission of a 2020 CDBG (Community Development Block Grant). The project of $128,000 is to complete drainage improvements on Hill Street. The city will match 30 percent of the amount if the grant is awarded.
HSUD
The board of aldermen approved a FY 2020 Bad Debt List.
A postage meter contract with Memphis Communications Corp. was approved.The board approved advertising for a position of water serviceman, a position for groundsman/apprentice lineman, and a position for lineman.
Tracy Reynolds was promoted from gas foreman to gas operator in the gas department.
Christopher Rounds was promoted to apprentice lineman IV in the electric department.
William “Kyle” Roberts was promoted to apprentice lineman II in the electric department.
A payment to the Municipal Gas Authority of Mississippi of $28,123 was approved as natural gas supply and pipeline charges for May 2020.
City Clerk
A payment to HUB International for property insurance was approved at $25,140 covering a one year period beginning July 15, 2020.
Mattie Richmond was approved for transfer to payroll from accounts payable.
The hearing in Chancery Court on the annexation of properties is set for August 28.