The Mendenhall Board of Aldermen recently held their monthly meeting addressing infrastructure concerns, approving contracts, and handling municipal financial matters at City Hall.
Mayor Todd Booth informed the board of a significant water and sewer leak along Highway 13, prompting immediate action. Following discussions, Alderman Robert Mangum moved to declare a State of Emergency, a motion that was seconded by Alderwoman Janna Miller and unanimously approved. The problem has since been corrected and the water system has returned to normal functions.
In a bid opening for engineering services for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Water Tank Project, three contractors submitted bids: Cornerstone Engineering, LLC (400 points), Clear Point Engineering (500 points), and T. Baker Smith (290 points). After consideration, the board approved Clear Point Engineering, which submitted the highest-scoring bid which met all specifications.
The board approved an expenditure for a 2025 profile advertisement in Simpson County News. They also reviewed and approved financial reports for January 2025, including revenue, expense statements, and claims dockets totaling over $500,000. The board also approved a $135,047.79 payment to Peoples Bank for the third installment of the 2023 paving project loan.
The board accepted the retirement resignation of Michelle Berry, effective March 31, 2025. Additionally, they ratified the hiring of Stormee Abbott as a full-time dispatcher at $13 per hour and Nora Letchworth as a part-time dispatcher at $12 per hour. The resignation of Sports Director Duane Fewell was also approved.
A public hearing was held to address property clean up. The owner of 133 Maud Avenue was granted until May 31, 2025, to clean and repair the property. 301 West Court Avenue was declared a safety hazard, and the owner was fined $500, which could be waived if the property was cleaned within two weeks. 611 Simpson Circle was also declared a safety hazard, with the owner being fined $500 under the same conditions. 303 Circle Drive's owner was granted an extension until May 31, 2025.
The board reviewed multiple bids for replacing the City Hall roof and selected Powell Construction at a cost of $20,500.
The meeting concluded with updates on city court citations and an audit discussion, with no immediate action taken. The Board of Aldermen adjourned until their next scheduled meeting in March.
