Martha Cole, leader of Girl Scout Troop #511C, was the first to appear before the Magee Mayor and Board of Aldermen Tuesday, October 1, to request usage of the Magee Civic Center from this point forward without having to make the same request each time they want to use it.
The cost of rental for the Civic Center is $300 per event. Before the new rental agreements were put in place, the Girl Scouts did not pay a rental or deposit fee. After several minutes of discussion, Cole said the group would not be able to come up with $300, as their fundraising was small, only cookie sales. The board tabled the decision until further discussion at a workshop scheduled Wednesday, October 2.
They said they may need to make case by case determinations based upon who is requesting rental, i.e., civic organizations.
Pat Brown, executive director of the Simpson County Development Foundation, updated the board on marketing efforts of SCFD regarding property between C Spire and Polk Meat Products on Highway 49 South. It has been declared surplus and an investor is interested in purchasing one of the parcels. The cost to install a frontage road there is between $1.2 million and $1.5 million, according to Albert White with the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
Brown said this particular business, which he is not at liberty to disclose, would attract more businesses and employ 60-70 people. He is asking for consideration from the City of Magee to assist in funding the frontage road in the same manner as Mendenhall helped fund a frontage road.
Brown also reached out to former Mayor Jimmy Clyde, who told him that the city did help fund the frontage road in front of Walmart and the former Western Sizzlin Restaurant. When asked about the funding Brown said Mendenhall Mayor Todd Booth stated that Mendenhall sponsored that city’s frontage road funding. However, Brown had also called state Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson, who said there are some legislative funds available as well.
A Memorandum of Understanding between the drug prevention education D.A.R.E. Program and Magee was approved by the board at a cost of $1,700. Police Chief Dennis Borges stated it is important to teach children about drugs and gangs and this is an investment in our children. He will assign Becky Freeman as D.A.R.E. officer.
Dr. Scottye Holloway, president of Mendenhall Ministries and Son Solar, Inc., appeared before the board requesting a letter of support for the program Son Solar, Inc. Holloway, along with Brittney Womack, clarified that they were not asking for any funding from the city. Son Solar was developed during the Covid pandemic as a way to utilize the 120 acre farm that MM owns, repurposing it into a solar farm. The goal is to bring manufacturing to Simpson County. Federal money through the Department of Energy is available for project development toward clean energy, reaching out to manufacturers across the US to relocate to Mississippi. Womack has reached out to 50 companies; two are considering relocation. No decision was made.
Alderman Sammie Tebo asked Public Works Director Tim Bray if he assembled the vehicles list requested at the last meeting. Bray did not have a list with him but discussed the varying stages of disrepair of public works vehicles. Alderwoman Sue Honea asked how many new vehicles he needed; Bray answered four. Tebo requested that Bray get board members a written list with specific details about each vehicle as well as what is needed.
Chief Borges brought several items before the board requiring replacement by substantial financial investments including outdated and inadequate equipment purchases. During inventory several pieces were discovered to be missing, but all weapons were accounted for.
The board approved an expenditure of $49,000 spread over five years for the purchase of 14 body cameras and seven tasers at cost of $31,000, also spread over five years. In addition the grant awarded for the new AFES digital scanner requires a $5,000 input from the city to complete the $23,000 expenditure; the grant was $18,000.
Finally the board approved the cost of $1,800 for several dispatchers to attend necessary training. Alderman Patrick Brown requested that a log be kept as equipment is dispensed as to which officer was assigned what.
Borges has assembled a vehicle inventory list and will forward it to board members. He requested executive session for personnel issues.
Fire Chief David Craft offered commendations to a private citizen, the Simpson County Sheriff’s Department, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Covington County Ambulance Service and his firefighters in extinguishing a vehicle fire on September 27 near EJ Luckey Road and Highway 28W. The vehicle was fully engulfed when Magee Volunteer Fire Department arrived on scene. The driver had exited the burning vehicle, and the private citizen had moved the driver away from it. Craft stated he was told that the combined efforts of these parties may very well have saved the young man’s life. He has undergone several surgeries and is stable but has a long recovery ahead of him. Craft requested executive session for personnel issues.
Zoning Director Penny Aguirre commended Chief Craft for his assistance in obtaining $20,000 in permits for work in the city. The two have been working together on building inspection issues since there is no director at this time. Aguirre asked when the board planned to begin interviews for the building inspector position which included discussion as a potential part time one. Aguirre and Craft agreed it requires full-time hours. The board tabled the discussion to the next workshop.
Aguirre revisited three issues from past board meetings – the mission and vision statements, the function of the Zoning Board as a property maintenance hearing board, and changes to the zoning ordinance regarding property owners initiating rezoning actions. All were tabled to the next workshop.
After much discussion, a public zoning hearing was approved by the board to get input regarding the parking of commercial vehicles in residential areas and fencing ordinances.
Parks and Recreation Director Jimmy Zila stated Magee would host private school playoffs the upcoming weekend with an expected turnout of 3,000 people to Magee. Simpson County Academy is in these playoffs.
Airport Manager Mike Berry reported the airport sold 540 gallons of fuel in September.
During executive session five part-time police officers and one full-time officer were approved for hire. One volunteer fire firefighter was also approved.
