Perry new city attorney

In a special-called meeting of the Holly Springs mayor and board of aldermen Friday at 1 p.m., John Keith Perry of Southaven was approved to serve as city attorney by a vote of 4-0.

Ward 3 alderman Colter Teel, who had voiced concerns about hiring Perry for the position in previous regular meetings, was absent.

At the first meeting of the new city administration July 6, Perry was not in attendance, and the board chose to not take action on Mayor Sharon Gipson’s call for an order to hire Perry.

In its July 20 regular meeting, there was no motion by the board to hire Perry or no second to a motion by Alderman Teel to table the matter.

Teel initiated discussion July 20, saying he had researched Perry’s credentials and could find no fault with them.

However, hiring an attorney who lives outside the city caused Teel great pause.

“Not one person had anything bad to say about you,” Teel told Perry. “I think highly of you.

“But it’s hard for me to face the citizens who elected me if I go with someone from another county. I’m not representing anyone but Holly Springs. I’ve got to vote for people who are here.”

Perry expressed appreciation for Teel’s honesty and apologized for missing the first board meeting where he was at the top of the agenda.

He practiced law in Holly Springs four years on North Memphis Street, he said.

“Nobody on this board owes me anything,” Perry said. “This is purely an opportunity.” He summarized his work for several government entities, including Tunica County and Coldwater, and his criminal law practice.

Merriweather asked Perry what he brings to the table. She said as a first-time alderman she lacked adequate knowledge of the statutes, but working with the city schools in Memphis, Tenn., she never faced a lawsuit.

Perry went into a lengthy description of types of government boards and commissions, saying Holly Springs municipal government is not set up like county government.

“You are busier than I am, I would say,” Merriweather said to Perry, interrupting his lengthy reply explaining his law practice.

Teel asked to go into executive session July 20 but Gipson refused, saying it was OK to hold the discussions in open session.

Several aldermen questioned why the board could not go into executive session.

“I motion to table this until we know more,” Teel said. “I think some things need to be hashed out.” Gipson said there was a grant in play, and she asked for a small extension and got an OK to hold it out for one week.

Teel’s motion to table received no second.

Gipson thanked Perry for coming before the board.

“We are going to keep praying,” she said. “We haven’t given up yet.” Her prayers were answered at the Friday, July 23, special-called meeting.

Also on July 23, the board approved advertising for positions in the fire and police departments and other areas.

Gipson asked to move on the advertising so it does not take longer to fill these positions, including a number of vacancies in the police department. A motion to advertise by Ward 4 alderman Patricia Merriweather was approved by a vote of 4-0.

Also, shipping containers are wanted for use by the fire department for training. The containers will be donated by the railroad. Holly Springs Utility Department will transport the containers to a location behind the old Sims School where they will be used to construct mock-up, two-story buildings for training.

A motion by Fountain to accept the shipping containers was unanimously approved by a vote of 4-0.

In the July 20 regular meeting, local attorney Phillip Knecht was recommended for appointment as city prosecutor.

Teel asked if Knecht lived in the city, and Merriweather asked about his practice and availability.

Knecht said he works in his family business in Olive Branch with his dad, who encouraged him to accept the appointment.

He said he has time for the job and also lives in Holly Springs and has practiced in the court system as well as private practice.

Merriweather asked what he will do in municipal court as a prosecutor.

Knecht said most cases that come before the court are misdemeanors or traffic citations. And he has served as a criminal defense attorney as well, he said.

Knecht was approved by unanimous vote of the board.

Lakisha Boga was promoted to deputy city clerk. She has been serving a short time in the clerk’s office.

The board of aldermen attended the Mississippi Municipal League conference this week for training.