City starts Blue Light Patrolling
In department reports at the August 19 meeting of the Holly Springs Mayor and Board of Aldermen, police chief Grant Glover and assistant chief Dwight Harris said they are going to bring back blue light patrolling of neighborhoods.
Harris said it is an idea used in Jackson’s police department.
“It gives a perception police are actively seeking anyone violating the law, makes them think twice before doing something,” Harris said.
Glover said officers won’t patrol main streets but will be in neighborhoods at night between hours of 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
“We are trying to deter crime,” Glover said. “It starts when it gets dark.”
Harris said the patrol is not harassing or a traffic stop.
“We want the public to know and say, ‘we appreciate that,’ ” Harris said.
Parks and Recreation director Darrel Thomas presented the football game schedules at Sam Coopwood Park.
Holly Springs varsity and junior high games will be played there.
“They haven’t asked for police presence,” said Ward 4 alderman Patricia Merriweather.
Most games are played on Friday nights.
Mayor Charles Terry said the school has its private security and Holly Springs Police Department will also have a presence.
The board approved the game schedule.
Anitria Jeffries Nunnally, supervisor of Buildings and Grounds, reported that one debris truck is working and the John Deere debris truck is out of order.
Mayor Charles Terry said when the public sees grass is not cut, they should know the city has financial issues.
“It (the money) may be in the budget but not in the bank,” he said. “The board needs to see what we will provide. We have to use funds the best we can for the rest of the budget. We’re having a situation with equipment.”
Nunnally said she has four lawn mowers and four weed eaters and workers have to keep plugging tires that lose air.
Ward 4 alderman Patricia Merriweather added the department has to have mower blades, trash bags, gloves, safety glasses and oil and tires for the mowers.
Fire Chief Rodney Crane said the department wants approval to fly the large 911 flag, Sept. 11, and to have a parade as usual.
This year a bagpipe will be played on the courthouse lawn,” he said.
City clerk Jerrica Jones presented monthly financials as follows:
• sales tax receipts$143,893
• modernization Use Tax $299,912
• ad valorem tax receipts $51,718
• tourism tax receipts $17,902
• Holly Springs School District ad valorem tax receipts $148,010 · court assessments from the Department of Finance and Administration - $1,434 Jones said the City is seeking to borrow against $508,000 in certificates of deposit in order to make payroll. The loan must be paid back by March 2026.
She estimated the Friday payroll would be between $118,000 and $150,000.
Ward 4 alderman Patricia Merriweather asked the city clerk to explain why the city has this shortfall.
Jones said the State Auditor’s office is withholding up to $450,000 in sales taxes until the audits for years 2022, 2023, and 2024 are completed.
The money withheld will go toward payment for the audits and the cost of the auditor to manage the audits.
“We are not the only city under this,” Ward 3 alderman Jim Moore said.
“One of our questions asked, they (state auditors) said they wanted a guarantee to pay for the audits because the City will not be receiving TVA PILOT payments,” Jones said.
Board attorney John Keith Perry Jr. said an audit can cost $30,000 per audit each year, or up to $90,000.
Jones said the auditor thinks the 2021 utility and city audits can be finished in a week or two.
“Who is going to do the audit?” Merriweather asked.
“They put out an RFP (Request for Proposals),” Jones said. “They will choose the auditing firm to do the audit.”
Merriweather asked how long the loan from the bank will cover payroll.
Jones said about one and a half months.
Terry said the general city CDs are the ones being used as collateral.
He said three is not enough money to cover payroll for the next three months or to cover repair and replacement of equipment.
“What is the other choice?” Terry asked.
“Not to pay payroll,” Jones said.
“The money has to be in the bank by Thursday,” Terry said.
Moore moved to authorize a resolution to use the CDs for purpose of payroll and the motion passed by unanimous vote.
HSUD general manager Wayne Jones asked for the mayor’s permission to sign accident settlements of $16,249, $10,371, and $2,458 to the utility’s good.
He offered the mayor and aldermen to do a ride-by to see the right-of-ways cut and workers putting up poles.
Jones presented the board a copy of a revised right-of-way contract proposal he created for use in contracts paid out of TVA’s legislative money of $435,000.
“If we spend this, hopefully we will get more,” he said. “They look at an area we have defined and bid on it.”
Terry recommended the funds be used for defoliation of undergrowth on the lines rather than for cutting of limbs, saying he thinks the money will cover more area by defoliation.
Jones said to get that money the right-of-way has to be approved by TVA.
“That money has been sitting there for how many years now,” Terry said. “These people want to see us do something.”
Jones then asked to hire an engineering consulting firm to manage right-of-way, AMI metering and cast-iron replacement of gas lines.
Terry asked how engineering was handled in the past.
Jones said Fisher Arnold and Allen Hoshall were consultants.
“Do you have money to pay them?” Terry asked.
Jones said they can be paid an hourly rate.
Aldermen thanked the public for their participation in town hall meetings.
Alderman Jones thanked the city employees, especially utility workers.
“At the end of the day we want to provide services to not only the citizens of the city, but to our customers,” he said.
Mayor Terry announced the meeting fell on his 50th day in office.
“It has been a challenge. I work well under pressure. So far I’m been fighting brush fires. Now I’m going to the utility department because it is the main issue that concerns many of you.”
He complemented the clerks in City Hall for the work they do joyfully.
“We can’t fix it overnight, it’s going to take time to get it done. Be patient with us,” he said.