NOVUM Advisory to help city with audits
The City of Holly Springs Mayor and Board of Aldermen approved a motion to hire NOVUM Advisory to help the city get caught up on it’s auditing reports going back over four years.
NOVUM is an accounting and consulting group that helps governments – counties, schools, and cities – stay accountable and compliant and get caught up on audits.
City clerk Jerrica Jones said the group will help assure the auditing process will be a smooth process once the auditors do come in.
Jones reported on settlements and disbursements.
The state auditor released the sales tax in the full amount for the month coming to $136,832. The auditor’s office held out about $450,000 in sales tax to assure the audit reports from the city and the Holly Springs Utility Department are completed.
Other settlements included $36,095 in Tourism Tax receipts; a TVA in lieu of payment of $90,485; and Ncourt settlement of $3,674. Monthly disbursements included $18,047 in Tourism Bureau payments; a payment of $6,512 to the department of Finance and Administration; and $38 in refunds to individuals.
The ad valorem tax for the Holly Springs School District was not received, nor was the ad valorem for the City. General City bills and claims came to $91,854. City utility bills and claims came to $879,415.
Other actions included:
• acceptance of a plat for Phase II of Woodward Estates Minor Lot Subdivision. Zoning administrator Pam Lewis said Phase 1 was approved in 2020 and Phase II was approved by the planning commission after all requirements were met.
• approved seeking quotes for city services and materials on a job-by-job basis, rather than the traditional advertising method used in prior administrations.
• accepted resignation of Officer Desmond Washington, who graduated the police academy and then took a position at the Sheriff’s Department. Police Chief Grant Glover said the Sheriff’s Department will pay for Washington’s training.
• accepted the resignation of fireman Mikaya Baxter effective December 15.
• approved Tinnin Electric Company for payment of $3,400 in repairs on the air conditioning system and breaker box at the Multi-purpose building.
• authorized payment of $9,603 to Tennessee Gas Pipeline. The claim had missed the deadline to be included in aldermen’s packets.
Department Reports
Darrel Thomas said a new walking trail was laid at the Ida B. Wells Park.
Water leaks at the Multi-purpose building were repaired. The air and heat system at the building should be repaired by weekend.
Junior League sports camp begins in January.
Thomas said about 40 children from all over the county showed up for Sports Camp.
Some counties have already put out their league schedules, Thomas said.
T-Ball, baseball, softball and coach pitch begins in April.
Chief Rodney Crane reported on fire department activities.
A rash of structure fires have been worked in cities, counties and over the entire state, recently, he said.
Some of the fires were the result of old model space heaters causing wall outlet fires. Other causes of fires include chimney fires, wood heater fires, and fireplace fires — the result of failure to check and clean the flues. Smoke alarms need to be working.
“We’re gearing up for winter months from now through April,” Crane said.
He said the city is preparing to use the Multi-Purpose Building as a warming center.
Police chief Grant Glover said he didn’t have ticket reports ready because the municipal court clerk didn’t have the numbers. Blue light patrolling continues from dusk to dawn. And officers are leaving notices under the doors of businesses that they have checked their businesses overnight.
He said inoperable police cars are being parked behind the police department and will be declared surplus and taken to auction.
Michael Watson said HSUD is making a focused effort to catch up on outdoor lighting repairs and replacing bad utility poles.
All billing will be caught up by the end of December then the HSUD will get back on a 30- day billing cycle.
“We’re trying to keep billing cycles between 27 and 33 days,” he said.
Mayor Charles Terry said customers are getting normal bills now whereas their bills were for three months of energy consumption, causing bills to be high.
In board of aldermen reports, Ward 1 alderman Sandra Hodges wished the community a Merry Christmas.
Kevin White and Shane Wommack were thanked for their 30 plus years of service to the fire department at the employees Christmas Party.
Kevin White and Shane Wommack were thanked for their 30 plus years of service to the fire department at the employees Christmas Party.
Ward 3 alderman Jim Moore requested the set of speed breakers on South Center Street under the hill from the cemetery be taken up. He said they should be taken up because drivers over the hill do not see the breakers in time and that the breakers cannot be seen at night.
Ward 4 alderman Patricia Merriweather wanted the city to collect bagged leaves in a timely manner because some of the bagged leaves placed curbside are breaking open.
She asked two or three NO DUMPING signs be placed, specifying Rising Star Road and the viaduct at Salem bridge. She asked about the streetpaving plan and wanted to know if there are significant drainage issues in the city.
Terry said engineer Larry Britt is preparing a resolution containing request for funding of drainage areas for the 2026 session of the Mississippi Legislature. In 2025, the Cuba Street/Hill Street drainage area was repaired with legislative funds.
In the Mayor’s report, Terry thanked the water treatment crews led by Eddie Jefferson, for a rapid response to the blowout of a water main at the water treatment plant. He said the boil water order was self imposed out of an abundance of caution.
The availability of warming centers is being put on the area broadcast news outlets.
He and Watson and Crane met with department heads and discussed inclement weather plans and stockpiles of supplies.
Terry said consumers have asked why the texting system set in place by the former administration was not being used.
The contract expired in November and had a huge price tag on it, he said. A new texting system is being worked on that will cost a third of the prior one, he said.
Customers will be able to receive texts for anyone in the data base and customers can opt out, he said.
Merriweather asked if there is a problem of city water. Has it been tested for lead?
City clerk Jerrica Jones said the project is not a city project.
Terry said it is an ongoing project to test the city’s utility and customers connections to see if any of the lines and equipment is constructed of old lead pipes.
Alderman-at-large Dexter Shipp asked if there is a report back from the state on problems with Craft Street.
Terry said he has reported it to the Mississippi Department of Transportation but has not received a reply.
The board entered executive session at 6:40 p.m. and came out of sessopm at just over the two hour mark on the streaming device.