Repair on West Valley Avenue soon

The Holly Springs Mayor and Board of Aldermen approved a quote for the repair of the storm drain, street and sidewalk collapse on West Valley at the August 19 meeting.

White Construction and Associates won the bid at $73,885 over Woods Construction Service of Byhalia’s quote of $80,378. White is also completing the erosion mitigation project on Hill Street and Cuba Street.

Aldermen also approved Mayor Charles Terry asking for an extension of the Hill Street project to include use of funds left over in the project to install a larger pipe at Govan crossing where stormwater is expected to jump the road now that the washout at Hill Street/Cuba Street has been repaired.

Terry asked Britt to look at a drainage issue on Huggins Street west of the Ida B. Wells Post Office.

Other actions of the board included:

• Authorizing the Annual North Mississippi Greek Picnic to use Sam Coopwood Park. The use was already approved by the previous administration.

• Promoting Courtney Boyd as Street Department Director pending board approval on salary. Boyd is serving as interim director. The motion to promote was approved by all aldermen except Ward 2 alderman Andre Jones.

• Authorizing travel for Michael Holmes with the fire department to attend an Incident Management of Hazardous Materials course.

• Promoting Annette McNeil to part-time police officer. The board discussed salary and her certification as a police officer in executive session.

• Approving Jerry Fox as part-time reserve officer in the police department. His position requires maintenance of certification and four days work a month. Fox is from Marshall County who has served in the military.

• Approving city general bills and claims of $84,424.

• Approving city utility bills and claims of $1,183,042. The claims included a payment of $258,000 to the Tennessee Valley Authority for wholesale power.

• Reviewing rental rates and fees at multi-purpose building Sam Coopwood Park and all other parks.

Rental Fees and Deposits

The rental fees and deposits for use of the multi-purpose building, and parks were discussed.

City clerk Jerrica Jones said the rental fees were not changed, but rental agreements were to stay the same, as proposed by Darrel Thomas, director of Parks and Recreation.

Alderman Jones was concerned that the revenues from the use of the Multi-purpose Building would drop if deposits were increased as Thomas recommended.

He wanted deposits to remain at $100 per use except for public and commercial uses.

Ward 3 alderman Jim Moore said the deposits cover damages and historically are returned if the renter cleans up after themselves and there is no damage to the building.

Thomas said many renters are not leaving the building in the same state of cleanliness as it was prior to use.

He said if damages are found or the building is not left clean, the deposit is usually not refunded.

“Our building is going down,” he said.

Thomas said the Multi-purpose Building is the most suitable place as far as price is concerned.

“You can’t get that anywhere else. Rentals and deposits are around $600 to $700 elsewhere,” Thomas said.

Ward 1 alderman Sandra Hodges said non-profits should not be charged.

“People coming in as nonprofits but are charging people,” Thomas said.

Moore said non-profits raise operating money at events.

“The way I see it, does $200 cover cleaning but not damages?” he asked.

Terry suggested non-profits pay $100 deposit, the public pay $200, non-profits deposit for eight hours pay $100, eight hours use by the public pay $350 and that commercial and others pay $500.

He asked for a motion. “We’ve had one to two weeks to think about it,” he said. Alderman-at-large Dexter Shipp moved to accept Thomas’s recommendations and Moore seconded. “You are going to lose revenue,” alderman Jones said. “If they leave it in good condition, they get their deposit back,” said Ward 4 alderman Patricia Merriweather. “That’s my comment.”

Four aldermen voted to approve Thomas recommendation and alderman Jones voted against the measure.

The rates and deposits are as follows:

• four hours non-profits, $150 rental + $150 deposit

• four hours public, $250+$250

• eight hours non-profit, $250+$250

• eight hours public, $500 + $500

• eight hours commercial/other $1,000 + $500

• free community events, free + $150 deposit

• Sam Coopwood Park, Pavillion A - $100+$50; Pavillion B - $75+$50; Pavillion C $50+$50

• all other parks, $75+$50

Alderman Jones asked what damage has been incurred.

“If they are tearing stuff up, I can understand,” he said.

`Floor, water fountains, holes in walls in entrance,” Thomas said.

“I suggest focus on repairs then justify,” Jones said.

“So what if damages are more than deposits?” Merriweather asked.

“If damages are over deposit, you still have recourse to go to justice court,” said board attorney John Keith Perry Jr.

Jones said he wants revenue tracked from when the new fees go into effect for a year and to compare that revenue from the time before.