Aldermen continue meeting without mayor

At the two hour mark as the mayor and board of aldermen came out of executive session, Tuesday, Oct. 1, important utility department business was taken up by the board.

“I will be needing to leave,” Mayor Sharon Gipson said as she gathered up her documents following actions she reported taken in executive session.

Vice Mayor Dexter Shipp presided as Wayne Jones, general manager of the Holly Springs Utility Department, asked to discuss a sewage issue.

Jones also asked to add an item for travel of an HSUD employee.

Board attorney Garret Estes objected saying the employee, Chawanna Harris, was not placed on the agenda. Jones asked to ratify her travel to Tupelo for training. She had already arrived in Tupelo for her meeting.

“I got more than training, Sir,” Jones said to Estes.

City clerk Jerrica Jones said the board could add Jones’ items to the agenda. Even though the agenda had already been adopted, it could be amended.

Estes said typically after the agenda is adopted, it cannot be amended.

“We’ve done it before,” Jones said.

“Mr. (Eddie) Jefferson is here. We have some sewage issues,” Wayne Jones said.

Ward 4 alderman Patricia Merriweather asked if the sewage issue was an urgent matter.

“Sewage, sewage, sewage,” Jones said.

Merriweather said it could be discussed under the aldermen’s report listed on the agenda.

“That was one of the things I was going to ask questions about (under the aldermen’s report),” Merriweather said. “It’s because I have constituents, particularly on West Street. So, under my report, then, I have questions.”

“Alright, Mr. Jefferson,” said vice-mayor Shipp.

“What’s going on, can I ask that question?” Merriweather asked. “What’s going on with your sewer?” Eddie Jefferson, with the sewer and water department, laid out his dilemma.

“Our station at Highway 7 North, it’s down. We have a bypass pump there. And we need a new station there. I have two quotes,” Jefferson said.

Tim Carver Mechanical Company quoted $116,534 and Smith & Loveless quoted $197,000, to build a new sewer station. Jefferson said Smith & Loveless would knock off $20,000 to bring their quote down to $177,000.

“What is Smith & Loveless offering that Tim Carver is not?” Merriweather asked.

“They are just built different,” Jefferson said. “Smith & Loveless, that’s the station that was there previously, been there 25 years. It’s just time for a replacement.”

Jefferson said he looked at a station Carver built in Hernando.

‘It has a grinder on it, so you know that station is out there by the prison. Sometimes the grinder goes down and will not keep it (sewage) from building up so much. If the grinder was to go at the prison, it could, on this one (Smith and Loveless), keep it from clogging up so much,” Jefferson said.

“So, that will be your recommendation?” asked Ward 3 alderman Colter Teel.

“Tim Carver more modern? Futuristic?” asked Ward 1 alderman Bernita Fountain. “Maybe get another 25 years?”

Jefferson said he spoke with the operator in Hernando who said the station had been in operation 11 months and has not had any issues.

“They just bought one,” he said.

“This station you are talking about, has it completely failed?” asked Estes.

“Completely,” Jefferson said.

Merriweather asked whether the board could vote on the measure.

“You brought it up. The issue under your discussion, and he answered your questions,” Estes said. “I think it would allow you to vote on it.”

Fountain asked how much longer the bypass pump will hold up.

“It’s holding good,” Jefferson said.

“To deliver 14 to 18 weeks away?” Teel asked.

Jefferson explained the cost to keep operating on a bypass pump basis.

The bypass pump rents for $2,100 a month, and the utility is spending about $900 a month in diesel fuel to operate the bypass pump.

“So, that’s about $3,000 a month,” he said. “So, in 4 years and seven months, we could put that in the station and have it paid for.”

Estes said if the board finds the situation is an emergency in nature and the process of soliciting bids can be bypassed, the motion just needs to have that finding added in the motion.

Fountain asked if money is in the sewage budget for this department.

Annie Mason had already left the meeting and could not be consulted.

Jefferson said Mason said close attention is being paid to spending and it could be worked out. It will take four to six months to build the station and get it installed, before payment is due, he said.

Wayne Jones stepped in to the conversation. He has instructed Terry Sims to come up with a budget for water, sewer, and gas, including capital equipment, repairs and maintenance.

“Everything,” Jones said.

Teel asked how street lights can be repaired. They are out at Johnson Park and at Salem Bridge.

“There’s nine in a row in one area I’ve seen,” Teel said.

Attention was directed to the backhoe repair as water leaks are being reported at Rust College and at the Compress district and the backhoe is needed to repair on water lines.

Changing the subject, Teel asked Jones if a service could be retained to just repair street lamps.

Jones said he is dealing with priorities right now. Street lights are low on the priority list right now.

He said a company that installs fluorescent lights could save the utility a lot on electricity.

Jones said Northeast Electric has offered to provide free training to cashiers and those who answer the phones at HSUD.

Reading of automated meters has increased by 80 percent and meter reading efficiency has increased by 50 percent, due to training of Jolly meter readers, Jones said.

“So, we are on schedule to get our billing back on track,” he said.

HSUD was able to pay TVA its second payment of $1.2 million for wholesale power because of the increase in meter reading, he said.

Customers with bills 60 to 90 days past due will begin to either pay their bills or get electricity turned off. Projected revenue for collection of over due bills is estimated to bring in around $400,000, Jones said.

Jones said he wants to extend Jolly’s contract for one year.

A request by Martin Street residents to remove speed bumps, was approved by a vote of 3-0. Ward 2 alderman Andre Jones had left the meeting and Shipp could not vote since he was presiding.

Residents said the street is too narrow for the speed bumps since residents park on each side of the narrow street.