Bank of Holly Springs

HSUD to add payment lanes

To make the bill payment process smoother, the Holly Springs Utility Department is looking at a pneumatic vacuum tube system like the ones used by banks to serve customers more quickly.

HSUD now has one drive-through window and also a kiosk where customers can pay their bills.

Currently the lobby is closed to customers except by appointment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to general manager Bill Stone.

A lowest and best quote for installation of the vacuum tube system was offered by ADT Commercial at $41,967 for two drive-through lanes.

HSUD is also creating two new, enclosed office spaces in the customer service area of the building.

Bobby Miller and Sons Construction provided the lowest and best quote at $11,850.

The kiosk is used for credit card or online payments, Stone said. The drive-through is for cash and check payments.

“It will alleviate congestion,” Stone said about the payment lanes.

Alderman Tim Liddy asked how the prepay system is being accepted by customers. Stone said there are only a few pre-

pay customers so far. HSUD is using prepay for a few customers who had bad debt and other prepay customers are signed on to test the system.

“Participation is very low,” Stone said.

Wallace Bostelmann, minister at the Zion Lutheran Church in Holly Springs accepted a position on the board of directors for the Holly Springs Housing Authority after nomination by Mayor Kelvin Buck.

Bostelmann replaces Rev. Bruce McMillen, who recently retired from the board of directors.

“He’s knowledgeable and enthusiastic,” Buck said.

Bostelmann served with government housing in Washington, D.C. And in public housing for four different states in the south including Mississippi.

“I’m excited about getting back in the saddle to serve the city,” Bostelmann said.

In other HSUD business, the board of aldermen:

• offered a job to Gregory Dowdy as water/wastewater ser viceman.

• approved John Austin Valentine as lineman in the electric department.

• offered Tyler Harden a apprentice lineman level 1 position in the electric department.

• approved a full-time gas service man position to Clifton McCoy. He has been working as a firemen.

In other actions, the board of aldermen:

• approved moving four seasonal workers in the Street Department/Buildings and Grounds to full time November 1. They are Brionne Gulledge, Allen House, Jarvis Dowdy and Quoderick Harris.

• approved hiring a new class of firefighters. They include Derrell Staten, Dillon Pool, Miles Moore and Alan Hall as full-time firefighters. Corbin Sitzes was offered part-time firefighter status. Sitzes and Pool have been serving as volunteer firefighters at the Victoria Fire Department. Clifton McCoy was dropped from full-time status to part-time since he is going full-time with the gas department.

• chief Rodney Crane and assistant chief Leland Reed were approved for travel to the fire chief’s conference in Januar y.

• approved travel for desk clerks Joslyn Fitzpatrick and Irene Kilpatrick in the police department to attend a 40hour basic certification course for dispatchers.

• accepted the resignations of Devontay Gary and Tareq Elkhayyat from the police department. This leaves four positions open at the department.

• authorized payment of $31,303 to Progressive Construction for the downtown green space project.

• designated chief Rodney Crane as representative for the City of Holly Springs with MEMA (Mississippi Emergency Management Agency).

• authorized Holly Springs to participate in the 2020 update of the District 2 Regional HazMat Plan. The plan has to be updated every five years.

• raised detective pay to $17 an hour.

• approved payment of $167,598 to the Mississippi Municipal Workers Compensation Group.

Holly Springs South Reporter

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Holly Springs, MS 38635
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