The Magee Mayor and Board of Aldermen’s meeting on August 20 opened with the announcement of the resignation by Bennie Blair, Animal Control Officer, effective August 28, 2024.
The board received updates from Forrest Dungan of Clearpointe Engineering regarding ongoing projects. The paving project is advertised with bids due September 3, 2024. The community park and pickle ball courts projects have also been advertised under two separate contracts with bids due September 24.
Dungan asked the board to review an agreement with NRCS regarding the 11th Avenue Big Creek erosion control project offering a 75/25 match grant. If accepted the city would be responsible for $30,000 of the total cost that is $129,000.
Contract #4, the Lamar Road sewer extension project, received a low bid of $378,000 from Greenbrier. The board opted to table this until the August 21 budget hearing.
On Contract #2, the water treatment plant improvements, work is 95 percent complete. Dungan did inform the board of greater issues with the splitter box than previously known. Greenbrier submitted a cost of $18,900 to hard pipe the plant and eliminate the box completely. Monies remaining with MCWI will cover the cost. The board approved the measure along with extending the time for completion to September 6.
The meter project is 43 percent complete.
Curtis Lowry appeared on behalf of Abraham Paredes, who purchased property that is landlocked on all sides by the city and rail. Paredes would like the city to grant an easement for entry to the property. The board requested more information before making a decision.
Laterral Spurlock brought three issues before the board for consideration. A tree on city property has fallen onto a gazebo on her property. She was told that this was “an act of God” and the city is not responsible for removing the tree. A trash can that was destroyed was not replaced with an equivalent product. The board approved reimbursement for the price of the trashcan.
Spurlock also reported that her yard floods from runoff of the Magee Fire Station each time it rains. Mayor Dale Berry said that MDOT has reviewed the situation and says there is nothing they can do.
Zoning Board Chairman Jim Ball brought several concerns to the board, including drainage ditch debris and run off, the airport and zoning matters. Ball asked the board to be pro-active regarding ditches to prevent backup and flooding.
He also asked for clarification on the purpose of the airport, its benefit to the citizens of Magee, its funding and long term goals.
Ball drew attention to section 2506 of the zoning ordinance regarding who may request rezoning of property. At the previous meeting a revised ordinance was recommended that would state that only a property owner could make such a rezoning request. The board asked for a workshop to discuss the matter, and Ball said the opportunity for discussion had been during that previous meeting, thus creating more transparency. He also requested the workshop as suggested.
Ball said that enforcement of zoning violations is nearly nonexistent. He offered suggestions that were made during a town hall meeting recently and asked the board to consider significant consequences imposed as a result of violations.
Public Works Director Tim Bray requested executive session for personnel matters.
Police Chief Bryan Green informed the board that the Magee Police Department has received a grant from the Mississippi Department of Homeland Security in the amount of $18,365 to purchase a digital fingerprint machine. The board accepted the grant. He also requested an executive session for personnel matters.
Fire Chief David Craft requested executive session for personnel matters.
Zoning Director Penny Aguirre asked the board to approve publication on three zoning hearings scheduled in September. The board approved. She recommended the establishment of a board of appeals for those who may disagree with the zoning director’s interpretation of the property maintenance code. The members of the zoning board have agreed to act as that appeals board if the city board agrees. The board will review the recommendation.
Aguirre updated the board on the property on 49 North on which no clean up has taken place as agreed to during previous meetings.
Lastly, she produced a first draft mission statement for board members to review and make recommendations. She included input from all city department heads. She is also working on a vision statement.
City Building Inspector Kara Lucas said the final inspection for the Millcreek expansion would be Wednesday, August 21, 2024. Lucas’ final day with the city is August 30, 2024.
Parks and Recreation Director Jimmy Zila reported on upcoming tournaments at the Sports Plex. Sprinkler heads are being replaced on all the fields, he said.
Airport Manager Mike Berry addressed the board regarding the concerns of Jim Ball, listing efforts to make the airport viable again and saying there is potential to make money.
The mayor requested executive session to schedule interviews for the positioin of chief of police.
The results of executive session included hiring a full time public works employee and a part-time employee for the fire department, and accepting the resignation of a police officer.
Interviews for the chief of police will begin Thursday, August 29, 2024. Five of the 14 applicants were selected for interviews.
