Holly Springs department reports

The City of Holly Springs heard reports from departments and the board of aldermen and mayor at the March 3 board meeting.

Streaming was not available but should be put back up by the next board meeting, according to Alderman-at-large Dexter Shipp.

First to report was engineer Larry Britt on progress with the repair of the storm water drain on West Valley Avenue.

He said a source of water that was not storm water runoff or sewer water, but spring water from the Spring Hollow Park (Ida B. Wells Park) was running through the drain.

The spring water will continue to pour through the storm water drain pipes. Britt asked for pay request No. 1 to White Construction Company for $72,188 for repair of West Valley Avenue drain and street.

On the topic of setting the marquee that has been sitting in the shipping crate for several years, Britt said he looked at the specifications and located all the parts and pieces.

At the time of the approval, aldermen wanted the marquee attached to the Multi-Purpose Building to advertise events.

It is to be erected at the intersection of Martin Luther King Drive and Highway 7 North opposite Rust College.

There is a lot of concrete footing that will have to be prepared for the marquee and lots of electrical work that will have to be done to set the marquee up.

The marquee was approved by the board of aldermen under the Sharon Gipson administration, but remained in the shipping crate until now.

Britt recommended the board of aldermen get quotes for the concrete and underground electrical.

“It is a good spot to be seen,” he said. “It doesn’t matter where you put the sign as long as the electrical is done right.”

Tracy Reynolds, superintendent of water, sewer and gas, and Eddie Jefferson over the water supply for the city pumps reported to the board on problems. Reynolds said the sewer at Eddie Lee Smith Drive and West Street needs grinder pumps and preparation of manholes work because gravity flow is not working well.

The board asked questions regarding the West Street drainage located by Cuman’s. The guard rails have failed on the east side at the location, and passage of rainwater into the drain on the west side is encumbered.

Britt said the drain cannot be repaired unless workers can get in the ditch to see what the erosion has done.

Britt said 30 years ago the drain was handling stormwater runoff, but now the pipe through which water must pass is undersized for the quantity of stormwater runoff.

He asked the board to allow quotes to be taken.

Ward 4 Alderman Patricia Merriweather said the issue with the collapse of the road at Cuman’s is not new. The street there is very narrow.

“So you think it’s feasible to put up rails on it now?” she asked.

Rails had been there but that has fallen off into the ravine.

Britt said traffic cones could be put up first as a temporary measure.

Mayor Charles Terry said street superintendent Anthony Jones can make recommendations.

Britt said West Street was at one time a prominent street going north and south, but storm waters have created a really deep ditch on the east side.

“If we can’t repair it, we have to figure out how to put something new in there,” Britt said.

It will be a problem to put more guard rails up because there is no shoulder to attach to.

“Nothing close to put rails up. I don’t know what to do on the west side,” Terry said.

“It’s (rainwater is) shooting way out into the ditch and washing out,” Britt said.

Departments

Parks and Recreation director Darrel Thomas said he has nothing new to report.

Those who have signed up for the Grizzlies basketball will receive emails of when they go to Memphis for a game, he said.

Dizzy Dean baseball signups will continue to March 15 and afterward late fees will be charged. The programs are softball and T-ball and then in the summer football will get organized.

“We got a lot of things,” Thomas said.

Shipp noted that the playground equipment for Henley and Coopwood parks won’t arrive for three to four weeks.

Thomas said 811 pipeline training awareness was held at the multi-purpose center recently.

The HSUD accounting manager Chawanna Harris and professional consultant Michael Watson reported reported on the recent financials and progress on ice storm recovery.

Watson said the utility received $4.02 million in invoices related to the ice storm recovery process and more invoices will be coming in. Cash on hand was just under $5 million, he said.

HSUD deferred payment to Tennessee Vally Authority (TVA) for the February wholesale power bill because of cash flow concerns.

He said the utility continues to seek a loan from TVA and has reached out to CoBank for a possible loan.

CoBank Cooperative is a national cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America and provides loans and leases, expert financing and other financial services. It is part of the US Farm Credit System.

Watson said as of February, all outside contractors have been released.

The current issue at hand is ice storm debris cleanup and monitoring.

Watson said Laurel Matula, founder of ER Assist Disaster Funding Solutions, based in Arkansas, will work with the HSUD to keep track of all requirements related to the Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement process.

February’s invoice for $5 million has not been posted, Harris said. The current TVA bill is about $15 million, she said.

Ward 1 Alderman Sandra Hodges asked about 90 day evaluations of new employees by Human Resources.

The topic was moved to executive session.

Water Sewer and Gas superintendent Tracy Reynolds and Eddie Jefferson had requests. Reynolds said the old trencher is not working properly and he has found a 2011 trencher in the rental fleet with low hours. He said a better trencher is much needed.

Jefferson, water treatment technician, said he has meter heads that need replacing, but it is not an emergency issue.

Street superintendent

Anthony Jones said he has patched about 82 potholes and is in need of dealing with leaves.

Terry asked what the possibility of bagging the leaves that are in the right of way which will hinder grass mowing.

Jones said the engine on the backhoe is obsolete and requires continuous repair.

Jones said the bags are expensive and bagging leaves takes time, as well.

Jones asked the opinion on using the street sweeper early in the morning to move leaves.

Board members had a few concerns.

Aldermen and mayor

Alderman Hodges said Paulette Fitts has been added to the Tourism board. She said she wants to discuss the salaries at the utility department with Human Resources.

Some employees are asking for raises in the HSUD, she said.

Ward 3 Alderman Jim Moore asked who is responsible for clearing the storm water drains.

Ward 4 Alderman Patricia Merriweather said her issues with West Street Bridge, with an AT&T pole leaning at Holy Family and playground equipment have already been discussed. She expressed excitement at promoting literacy in “Read Across Holly Springs Day.”

Elected officials and business people will contribute this year with a grand finale at the Marshall County Library at 5 p.m.

Alderman-at-large Dexter Shipp express happiness at the ribbon cutting for The ARC, a special events center opening on Memphis Street by the Billy Autry family.

“That’s a very nice building,” he said.

Terry thanked all for what they have done for the city. He said the cause of the pothole on Craft Street seems to have been found to be pine tree roots growing under the pavement.

He said there is a unique situation going on with utility billing and that some customers are getting two bills, the first bill to get caught up on old bills and then a second bill that won’t be due until sometime in March.