The Magee Board of Aldermen was encouraged to continue to support a consolidated high school as well as future bond efforts, despite the failure of the recent county school bond issue to pass.
Alderman Patrick Brown said he was speaking for himself but told guests at the April 5 board meeting that he was in full support of the issue and questioned the status of the resolution the board had agreed to pass. Brown told the crowd the importance of bond issues and how the city had used them in the past to finance city projects.
Board Attorney Marc McMillan, said that the school support resolution was being prepared.
Janice Skiffer, former county school administrator, stressed to the board the importance of consolidation and the environment that the children are being educated in.
Wanda Funchess, a special education teacher at Mendenhall Jr. High, told the board that the school situation is “horrendous.” She spoke of sewer backups and not having heat or air conditioning in the gym. She said the new superintendent had made some improvements but the schools still had issues like no hot water in the bathrooms, especially during the Covid pandemic when everyone was cautioned about washing their hands and other safety precautions. She, like Skiffer, emphasized the importance of the board’s support.
In other business, Keifer Grimes, consultant to Magee Airport, advised the board that fuel samples had been taken based on recent complaints from local pilot Brien Hubbard. Grimes reported that Hubbard had made 24 of the 60 registered purchases of fuel. Findings indicated no problem with the fuel that was tested. The airport is awaiting approval of the Federal Aviation Administration to start selling fuel again.
Grimes said, that there are, however, problems with the asphalt on the tarmac of the airport. He reported that the base is disintegrating and would need to be re-milled and repaired in the future.
A ribbon cutting for the new community center located at the site of the former YMCA facility in Eastside subdivision was planned for April 12, and a community cleanup is set for Friday, April 29.
The board has planned a work session for April 11 to discuss candidates for the position of Magee Police Chief. The board will most likely exercise their right to go into executive session under the guidelines of discussing personnel issues.
The board took under advisement the plan to purchase a security camera system for the city. Plans call for 19 stationary cameras, one that would be mobile so it could move to make observations. The service to operate the system is $25,495 and equipment is $28,455.
This system would allow local business to integrate their security with the city for a simple $200 piece of equipment. The system also has a residential application. The board opted to determine a source of funding before proceeding further. The board indicated that they may discuss the possibility of purchasing the system during the called meeting.
Discussion of the claims docket revealed that the recent drainage problem in the sewer line was a combination is issue which included a collapsed line as well as discharge and other issues like lines sagging in the middle of long stretches. The cost of have the line cleared was $6,521 from a vendor, B Clean. The board questioned how many times the city would be faced with the same problem and decided to determine how much the new improvements may help in deterring the issues.
Shane Steele, who is in charge of property maintenance and cleaning in the City of Magee, reported that several of the notices sent to violators of property codes have resulted in progress. He told the board that the owner of Cook Funeral Home intends to have the problem property demolished and have a new business on that site by the first of the year.
The mayor discussed the city lease of a new dump truck for $112,000 with a buy back at the end of three years for $63,000. PriorityOne was selected for financing with a low bid of 3.13 financing for a period of six months, to be rebid at that point.
The board agreed to hire Demitrus Hodge in Parks and Recreation.
Joseph McNair and William Vaughn went from part time to full time in the Magee Police Department. The board agreed to hire Heather Gieger as part time dispatcher and approved continuing education classes for Candace McGill. The mayor and board complimented the department on solving a recent burglary within 24 hours of its occurrence.
The board approved hiring Jeremy Sanford to go to work in the Public Works Department.
Alderman Sue Honea updated the board on the city’s new website, stating the importance of the department heads generating information to keep the web-site accurate and informative.
