Holly Springs Department Reports

Professional consultant Michael Watson reported to the City of Holly Springs Mayor and Board of Aldermen at the April 7 meeting that an independent consultant with 30 years experience with the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association is conducting a salary survey of general managers.

Bernadette Martin with TVPPA is helping conduct a search for General Manager for the Holly Springs Utility Department.

Mayor Charles Terry asked what the low, medium and high salary pay over The Valley is for a general manager.

Watson said the low salary is in the $170,000 range. The mid-range salary for a utility with 10,000 to 20,000 customers like Holly Springs is $192,000. The high end is $232,000.

He said 23 local power companies out of the 153 LPCs in The Valley fall within the 10,000 to 20,000 meters bracket where HSUD falls.

Police Chief Grant Glover said the Police Department is coordinating with officers with the Mississippi Highway Patrol and the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department to conduct safety checkpoints in the city.

Driver’s licenses and proof of insurance will be asked for.

He reported four-wheelers operating illegally on the streets may be ticketed and towed. Off-the-road vehicles are not allowed to drive on the city streets, he said.

Mayor Charles Terry asked about golf carts.

“Mainly four-wheelers and side-by-sides,” Glover said.

Ward 3 Alderman Jim Moore said these vehicles must be street legal with safety belts, street lights and inspected. He said the vehicles are allowed to be operated in Oxford on streets with 35 miles per hour limits.

In the HSUD report, Watson said the Tennessee Valley Authority complaint list covered high power bills and some meter reading issues. He said the high bills were related to cold weather in January and February.

In terms of reliability, Watson said there were 8,430 meters out, some related to a long outage in Potts Camp due to power poles broken that were located in a high water area. The power outage lasted 24 hours. A bad storm in March also contributed to the large number of outages.

HSUD met with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to discuss reimbursement from the ice storm damage costs.

Accounting Manager Chawanna Harris said the 2025 Annual Report was sent to TVA and is currently in regulatory review by the agency.

Billing operations have resumed to a normal revenue schedule, she said. The number of power customers for year 2025 is 11,889, down slightly from 2024 and 2023 figures.

TVA was paid $1,559,911 in March this year. The next payment due TVA in June is $2,145,627.

HSUD currently owes TVA $19,256,370 for wholesale power.

Total revenue the HSUD received from July to current is $25,621,133. From January 2026 to current is $10,972,847.

An updated employee performance and job descriptions was presented to the mayor and board for approval.

Recap from July 2025 to current:

• FY 2024 and 2025 reports submitted to TVA.

• Past due state reports submitted resulted in successful reduction of late fees of $11,000 and prevented future late fees through timely submissions.

• Debt Management – enrolled in Mississippi Municipal League Intercept Program and resumed service disconnections.

• Vendor payments – reduced accounts payable aging from over 200 days past due to current status.

• Supplier relationships strengthened through proactive communication and engagement. Rebuilt trust and improved vendor partnerships.

• Internal control improvements ongoing – improved processes within accounts payable and warehouse inventory management process.

• requested approval to remit aged customer refund balances to Mississippi Unclaimed Property at state treasury. Request was approved.

• Enhanced customer service through expanded staffing and enhanced employee training and improved overall customer experience through service enhancements.

Water/Sewer/Gas superintendent Tracy Reynolds said the city is experiencing lots of water leaks. His department is working with the Street Department on patching holes.

Street Superintendent Anthony Jones reported filling 104 potholes, picking up 120 trash bags and 154 bags of leaves.

“Be patient with us, we’re cleaning up the city,” he said.

City Clerk Jerrica Jones said the city had to stop picking household solid waste like furniture, appliances and bedding until the ice storm debris crews finished their work. The city is now back to picking up household outcasts.

Alderman Jim Moore said contractors should provide a dumpster for their construction and repair discards.

Parks and Recreation director Darrel Thomas said the Junior Grizzlies took kids to a Grizzlies game.

A baseball jamboree is coming up in Potts Camp.

In Aldermen reports, Sandra Hodges asked the mayor and board if they wanted to donate a laptop to a graduating senior. The mayor and board would have to donate the computer out of their personal money.

Alderman Jim Moore said he wants the city to be sparkling for the upcoming Pilgrimage weekend.

“Lots of people will be coming to town,” Moore said.

Shipp asked for prayers for the family of the Newsom woman who died from a mauling by dogs.

Terry asked for patience with the City as the HSUD keeps moving forward.

“Things are moving slowly but surely,” he said.