HSUD reports to TVA past due
The Holly Springs Board of Aldermen approved three additional days of training in accounting for the utility department at request of Mayor Sharon Gipson.
CSA (Central Service Association) has already come in and spent three days with employees at HSUD in an attempt to catch up with reporting, especially on those reports required by the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Gipson said reports were in arrears since April 2021. The new administration took over July 1, 2021.
The mayor said TVA wants a report completed by April 8 but the city can’t have that ready by then. She hopes to have the report to TVA by May.
CSA, the company who assists utilities with billing and accounting software training and reporting, charges $150 an hour for on-site services.
Gipson said CSA is helping HSUD with billing, accounts payable, and payroll.
Ward 4 alderman Patricia Merriweather asked if CSA is helping HSUD monthly, why would it be bringing the cooperative in as consultants?
“We are moving forward so we are not late with it,” Gipson said. “We are working to become independent. Our goal is to not need them as much, but meantime we do need their assistance and will always need them. They are helping us clean it up as we told the taxpayers we would do.”
CSA, headquartered in Tupelo, is a member-owned cooperative acting as a not-for-profit serving utility systems, including electric, gas, water, wastewater, solid waste, fiber, cable, telephone and propane. The service began in 1937.
CSA manages software and billing and accounting across the CSA system of hundreds of utilities.
In other matters, the board of aldermen:
•approved corrections of scribbler’s errors in the Holly Springs minute book concerning documents related to the cast-iron replacement project financing and other matters.
Gipson said the errors have to be corrected before the city can get financing for the project.
•appointed Pam Lewis as coordinator for ADA/Section 504 (Title VI).
Gipson said a coordinator has to be named to handle projects that deal with disabilities, such as the sidewalk projects on Maury Street.
“Anytime you are dealing with federal funds, you have to have a coordinator,” said city attorney John Perry.
Former public works director Will Denton served in the capacity as coordinator.
•set a public hearing for May 3 to take comment on a variance/amendment for CFI zoning.
•approved payment of $849,485 in ad valorem school tax to the school district.
•transferred $724 from the general operating fund to the municipal court account.
The following actions regarding personnel were approved, including: •promotion of Sgt. Dennis Freeman to lieutenant in the police department with salary bump from $43,160 to $46,821.
•promoted Tranescia Walker to detective with salary bump from $37,814 to $40,461.
•approved animal control
officer Clay Byers for travel to attend Basic Animal Control Officer certification in Olive Branch. He also will attend Chemical Immobilization certification class.
•approved travel for Tranescia Walker to Reid Technique Investigative Interviewing and Advanced Interrogation Class.
•authorized Earnest Bradley to attend Interview and Interrogation Course in Moorhead.
•approved travel for police chief Grant Glover to attend FBI Supervisor Leadership Institute in June. A previous class he registered for was full.
•authorized assistant police chief Darryl Bowens to attend Leadership for Troubling Times classes in Hoover, Ala. He also will attend street crimes training in Biloxi.
•ratified training for police dispatchers Pearlie Jones and Latisha Stinson in Oxford.
•approved travel of officer Montarious Coleman to Field Training Officer certification classes in Meridian.
•approved travel for officer Jariah Leasure to attend forensic consultation classes in Oxford.
•approved use of Sam Coopwood Park for Safety Day May 25, between hours of 9:30 a.m. And 2 p.m.
•approved traffic control at 564 Woodward Avenue for a food truck festival Saturday June 4, between 12 p.m. And 6 p.m. The event is staged at the former country club property.
•authorized traffic control and escort for a Juneteenth celebration June 18 on the downtown square. The event is sponsored by Care Now Pantry.