A dispute over providing water service to property on Old Gravel Road was a focus of the February meeting of the Mendenhall Mayor and Board of Aldermen.
Jim Deweese appeared before the board to discuss water service on Old Gravel Road. Mayor Todd Booth explained that he and Deweese had an agreement for Deweese to build houses on Old Gravel 49 on lots that had been cleared for a new subdivision outside the city limits. Booth previously received approval from the board to extend water services to these properties after he had presented the project as new houses to be built.
Booth said since the city had extended water services to the property, Deweese has switched from houses being built to allowing mobile homes on the properties. Booth said he would never have presented the project to the board if he had known the property would be used for mobile home sites. Booth has since refused to supply water to the properties.
Deweese said that at no point and time did he say the lots were not advertised for mobile homes, and said Booth never said for it the sites had to be only for houses. Deweese said he would have advertised it that way if that is what he was told.
He provided the board members with a timeline and offered to share his text conversation with the mayor. Deweese also stated that the property would not be a trailer park and that only two newer model mobile homes will be brought in. He added that he believed that Mayor Booth was operating on assumptions.
Deweese said Ashley Edwards and Johnathan Winters have bought tracts and ordered new mobile homes to be brought there. They are waiting for water. Deweese said he was not told that the city would not supply water until January 26 and argued that the board had approved the provision of water and the tracts were sold with that understanding.
Booth said, “I would have never come to this board had I known it was mobile homes. You told me you were building houses.”
Booth said before the board considers providing water to the area a public hearing should be held for the people who live there to voice their concerns.
Attorney Wesley Broadhead said the board speaks through their minutes. He said the minutes of the October 3 board meeting approving extending water services outside the city limits did not specify against mobile homes. Broadhead said the board also has the right to go in a different direction.
Booth said, “It didn’t say when we would furnish them water. It could be 10 years for now when we furnish them water, we never said when.”
Broadhead advised the board to discuss the matter in executive session. Alderwoman Judy Lee moved to have a public hearing on the issue, and it was approved.
Dr. Christine Bridges with Haven House in Vicksburg appeared before the board to discuss a proclamation for teen dating violence awareness. She explained that Haven House is working with Angel Wings Outreach Center to help raise awareness on the dangers of teen dating violence. Representatives from Havin House plan to work with the schools and inform students on how to identify and report dating violence. The board supported the proclamation and thanked Dr. Bridges for bringing these services to Mendenhall.
Emergency and Fire Coordinator Matt Abbot presented two grant opportunities to the Board of Aldermen. He sought permission to apply for a 5 percent matching AFG grant with plans to purchase a new set of jaws of life if the grant is awarded. The second grant was a forestry assistance grant for 50 percent matching if funds exceeded $4,500. Abbott said there is a good chance to replace tools and expendable equipment on trucks to include hoses if awarded. After some discussion the board approved Abbott to start the grant process pending mutual aid funds could be used for matching.
Linda Riley was refunded fees for her public hearing concerning her property at 214 Lee Street.
Attorney Wesley Broadhead opened bids for the city’s upcoming asphalt project. Two bids were received. J&L Enterprises submitted a bid that was assumed to be $144 per ton; however, an error with a decimal placed in the price made the bid non-conforming. The second bid was received from AAA Contracting with a per ton price of $185 and met all other bid specifications. AAA was awarded the asphalt project for this year.
The board approved the zoning minutes from February 1. The zoning meeting approved a new service station to be opened on Highway 149.
The property cleanup process was discussed. The board called for a clear letter to tell citizens what needs to be done and gives a set amount of time. If not complete within the time frame, the board can declare the property a nuisance. At that point the city cleans it up and assesses the fees to citizen’s taxes. This could help bypass the court process and the two-month process of enforcing property cleanup.
The board also discussed a fine of $1,500 for not showing up to the board meeting concerning property cleanup issues. No action was taken on changing the process, and the discussion was tabled until next board meeting.
The board entered executive session before adjourning the meeting.
