Holly Springs City Department reports

In open session consisting of one hour and twenty minutes, the Holly Springs Mayor and Board of Aldermen handled travel requests and took up department reports at the October 7 meeting before going into executive session to discuss personnel in the Holly Springs Utility Department, the Holly Springs Police Department in the general city and to discuss prospective litigation.

The executive session lasted the remainder of the five hour and 12 minute meeting.

The board approved travel for the following:

• for the board and mayor to attend the Mississippi Municipal League On-Demand Webinars at a cost of $25 each.

• for fire chief Rodney Crane, Capt. Kevin White and Capt. Leron Weeks to attend the Mississippi Mid-Winter emergency management education conference in November.

• for Chester Lesueur, Marvin Burt, Tracy Reynolds and Ivory Steward to attend the Chemical Spill Response Training in Batesville in November.

The board approved the resignation letter of Tawanda Bibbs from the Police Department and approved Captain Steve English to move to position of Chief Detective with no pay increase.

Aldermen approved a recommendation of approval of a preliminary plat for a commercial development adjacent and north of Dollar Tree on Craft Street.

The board approved a proposal to collect debt at HSUD through the Municipal Intercept Company (reported in a separate article).

A proposal to execute an agreement with Advance Metering System to replace 2,000 electric meters was approved (reported in a separate article).

The board authorized developing an agreement with Chris Mitchell as a local rate consultant for the electric department.

The board approved hiring of Jaunita Prichard as a customer service representative in the Holly Springs Utility Department and transfer of Angel Oliver from head of Human Resources to office manager at the the HSUD.

The board accepted the resignation of Jacquelyn Sellers Hampton and Miranda Isabel from the HSUD.

The board approved general city bills and claims of $87,547 and city utility bills and claims of $1,283,153.

Department head and aldermen reports were heard.

Parks and rec

Darrel Thomas, head of Parks and Recreation presented representatives who offered proposals to install playground equipment at Henley Park, Coopwood Park and at other sites.

Zack Ford, of Water Valley, said playground equipment at Coopwood and other parks are unsafe or need updating. Some surfaces needed to be replaced and playground equipment needed to be thrown out at Coopwood Park. He recommended playgrounds be placed away from the ball fields, such as a spot between the tennis court and the softball fields at Sam Coopwood Park.

Mayor Charles Terry thought there needs to be seating for parents who accompany their children as they play.

“It’s something we could definitely consider,” said Ford.

Terry suggested fencing be installed as well at the playgrounds along with seating.

Ward 4 alderman Patricia Merriweather said fancy colors of equipment is what she has in mind.

Alderman-at-large Dexter Shipp asked about a matching grant.

Ford said the matching grant ends in a week.

Will McNeer said he met with Thomas and looked over the designs of the playgrounds. There was an issue of collapsing pipe at Henley Park. He had proposals for parks on West Valley Avenue, Coop wood Park and at Ida B. Wells near the splash pad. He said grants are a 50:50 match. Mayor Terry asked about construction time. McNeer said the factory lead time is four weeks but will be longer as winter approaches.

He proposed wood fiber, rubber nuggets or board in place on surfaces under swings and slides. He has a wide array of color choices.

Chris James, with MidSouth Recreation, and Brent Williams, with WILCO Services in Coldwater, presented their recommendations.

James said he thinks the old equipment needs to be demolished and a wood fiber playground mulch of different colors are available.

Williams is the contractor who installs everything. He has 32 years in the business in the state. It will take three or four weeks to get the equipment in and prices were included in their proposal.

Ward 3 Alderman Jim Moore asked if the equipment bids were “apples to apples.” Thomas said they are. “The specs for material is the same for each company?” asked Merriweather. “Can we get that in writing?” The board passed a motion to take the bids under advisement. Thomas said the lighting problems at the Multi-purpose Building was taken care of by HSUD. He said he is looking at the basketball courts at Henley Park, West Valley Avenue and Sam Coopwood Park. Thomas said he is working to arrange an event for children that would bring the Grizzles to interact with children. That would improve participation, he said.

City clerk

City clerk Jerrica Jones presented the monthly receivables for September. They included ad valorem collect for the city of $21,265; monthly tourism tax of $38,304 and $6,219; and Ncourt receipts of $2,611. Monthly disbursements were tourism bureau payments of $19,152 and $3,109; ad valorem payment to the Holly Springs School District of $56,629 and $2,800 to the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration.

Aldermen reports

Ward 1 alderman Sandra Hodges had no concerns.

Merriweather asked about speed bumps.

Terry said the board has to decide which it wants to take up and for those that are kept, they should be replaced with bumps that are not as high.

Merriweather asked about leaf collection and if the leaf truck is running.

Terry said leaves can be placed in bags for pickup. The leaf truck can pick up leaves where there are no curbs and gutters, he said.

Merriweather asked about City Cleanup Day and invited the community to the Pastor’s Consortium. “The police department is doing their part with Bible study,” she said.

Mayor’s report

Terry said he has handled a lot of questions about utility bills, either through calls or by people coming by his office.

He has an open door policy and said he sees everyone, but they may have to wait for their turn.

He said the city is trying to get utility bills back on schedule

“We’re trying to move forward with the utility department,” he said.

He is working on some prospective economic development and housing development projects.

(Correction;

The marquee will be placed on Martin Luther King Drive near Rust College).