Board OKs some hirings

The Holly Springs Board of Aldermen approved three key appointments in the city recommended by Mayor Sharon Gipson at the December 21 meeting.

They came after an hourplus executive session to discuss personnel and other looming issues.

Annie Mason was unanimously approved as accounting manager at the Holly Springs Utility Department and Chawanna “Summer” Harris was unanimously approved as senior accountant at the utility.

These two positions are key to righting the accounts, especially receivables in billing, since former HSUD general manager Bill Stone and CFO Steve Reed were pushed out in the summer.

Curtis J. Fitts, Gipson’s

pick to lead the street department, was appointed by a vote of 4-1 with Ward 1 alderman Bernita Fountain the dissenting vote.

Fountain explained why she did not vote for Fitts and why she voted for the two appointments in accounting at HSUD.

She said Anthony Jones had been doing the work of assistant supervisor of the street department going back to the Kelvin Buck administration after taking over responsibilities when Viez Todd got sick. Fountain said she has nothing against Fitts, whom she said had a great resumé. But she felt Jones had been overlooked and deserved to be moved into the position of supervisor. Instead, he also lost his position as assistant supervisor during this administration.

Regarding the two appointments in accounting, Fountain said there was “a dire need for accountants to fill the two positions” in order to get the accounts in order at HSUD so the utility can have a passing audit.

“I’m concerned mainly about the current accounting going forward for this administration,” she said.

Some other board concerns are likely to be resolved soon. They include the payment of $103,433 to B & B Contractors for restoration work on the historic Water and Lights Building. The board also voted to authorize city attorney John Perry to negotiate a settlement of a claim from Grays Power Supply for $307,000 for right-ofway clearance under power lines in the electric department.

The board also approved a motion to opt in to a class-action lawsuit related to a global opioid settlement by a vote of 4-1 with Ward 3 alderman Colter Teel opposing the measure.

Opioid lawsuits allege opioid manufacturers caused the opioid crisis through deceptive marketing practices, misrepresenting that opioids had a low risk of addiction and touting benefits without disclosing the medication’s risks. Several drug makers and distributors have agreed to billions in settlements.

Fountain said class-action documents were initiated during the Buck administration by then city attorney Shirley Byers. Several local pharmacies and doctors have also opted in, she said.

Other appointments the board of aldermen approved included: • hiring Willie Rooks to position of apprentice lineman.

• approving Deroderick Zinn as general laborer in Buildings and Grounds.

• moving Jarvis Dowdy to part-time status in Buildings and Grounds. Dowdy requested the move from fulltime to part-time status.

Other measures included motions:

• to transfer $28,533 for November tourism tax revenues from General ACH Fund to public money market.

• to pay $14,266 to Holly Springs Tourism Bureau share of tourism tax revenues for November.

• to transfer $3,003 from general ACH Fund to public money market for November tourism tax collections.

• to pay $1,501 to Holly Springs Tourism Bureau for November tourism tax collection.

• to pay $127,009 from ACH Fund to general operating fund.

• to pay $28,261 to the IRS for tax period March 31, 2021.

• to transfer $1,164 from General ACH Fund to General Operating Fund. Source is from Fire protection/fire code funds.

• to transfer $67,827 from

General ACH Fund to General Operating Fund. Source is from TVA in lieu of taxes.

The following travel was approved:

• for city clerk and deputies to attend training in Oxford for certification by the municipal clerk program.

• for police chief Grant Glover to attend New Police Chief’s Orientation in Ridgeland.

• for police officers to attend human trafficking training at the Marshall County WIN Job Center.

• for police officers Samuel Harris and Nolan Moss to attend training for Standardized Field Sobriety Testing in Columbus.

• for the mayor and board of aldermen to attend the 2022 Mid-Winter Conference in Jackson in January.

The board approved the general city claims and the HSUD claims and minutes.