The Mendenhall Mayor and Board of Aldermen held their regularly scheduled meeting to discuss city business on Tuesday October 4. Kimberly Sampson from the Mississippi Department of Health spoke with the board about the complete street initiative. Complete streets were a project Mayor Todd Booth has mentioned before which includes installing and fixing sidewalks. To join the initiative the city would need to pass a resolution and commit to improving streets for all citizens. According to the initiative, complete streets policies and ordinances ask that streets and roads are designed to enable safe access for all types of users. This includes motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists, as well as some of the most vulnerable users including the elderly, children, and people with disabilities.
Typically, complete street roadway design features include: sidewalks, lane striping, bicycle lanes, paved shoulders suitable for use by bicyclists as well as signage, crosswalks, pedestrian control signals, curb cuts, raised crosswalks, ramps and traffic calming measures. This does not mean that every road has a bike lane and sidewalk. Bike lanes and sidewalks are methods used to create a complete street, but there is no singular design for complete streets; each one is unique and responds to its community. The goal is to balance safety and convenience for everyone using the roadways.
The board approved to move forward with the initiative and pass a resolution. This makes the city eligible to receive grant money that will be applied to completing streets around the city. Booth explained that the goal is to start fixing the sidewalks that the city has. He expressed a desire to rework the sidewalks from the school down to the Sportsplex to give students that walk safe passage in the city.
Booth said, “The kids that walk can walk from school down to the sportsplex and be on a sidewalk the entire time. We also want to put a walking bridge on South Main that leads over the creek to our new walking trail.”
Booth explained that the city has a lot of positive advancements being made and he is excited to move forward with complete streets to make traveling around the city safer for pedestrians.
Chancery Judge Post One candidate Albert Turnage appeared before the board to introduce himself. No action was taken on a request from Willie Smith for the city to purchase a sponsorship banner from MHS Tiger soccer for $200. Proof of publications for the City of Mendenhall 2022-2023 fiscal year budget and tax levy resolution were approved. The board set trick or treating for the city on October 31 from5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Personnel changes in public works were ratified by the board. Tristian Moore, Robert Walter and Kevin Puckett were all hired as full-time employees in the public works department.
The board discussed from House Bill 1353 for the Mendenhall Fire Department.
House Bill 1353 will provide funds to be distributed equally among the following fire departments to assist in paying various department costs: Braxton Fire Department, Cato Fire Department, Harrisville Volunteer Fire Department, Magee Fire Department, Mendenhall Fire Department, Mendenhall Station 7 Fire Department, Old Pearl Volunteer Fire Department, Pinola Fire Department, Puckett Volunteer Fire Department and Shell Road Volunteer Fire Department.
The board approved forms for House Bill 1353 and which included a memorandum of understanding, a letter requesting a transfer of funds, and authorizing the as the signatory official for all documents. A new checking account for HB 1353 funds was also approved. The Mendenhall Fire Department is expected to receive $15,000.
The board entered executive session to discuss personnel before adjourning the meting.
