Magee Mayor Dale Berry told the board last week that on Friday at 11 a.m. he wanted Magee to look “like a ghost town.”
He said he was encouraging everyone to be at Memorial Stadium in Jackson as the Trojans played for the State 3A Championship, which they ultimately won.
He reminded everyone that nothing should be thrown from floats in the Christmas Parade on December 8.
He informed the board that an automatic teller machine (ATM) is going to be located at City Hall. It will be in the police department. In addition to allowing people the opportunity to get cash for utility bills it could also assist non-local traffic offenders to pay their tickets while in Magee.
Mayor Berry reported that there has been interest in providing shelter for homeless people in Magee. He said the city has located a building across from the satellite jail facility. The next step in the process would be for a non-profit organization to come forward and make contact with the city to operate the shelter. He said the city could sign a one year lease and provide help with solving the local homeless problem.
The City plans to accept credit card payments, but the company they are currently dealing with wants a copy of their articles of incorporation. Attorney Bruce Smith said that would be difficult to do since Magee was chartered in 1893. Additional contact was to be made with the company to determine what was actually needed from the City.
The library has been having problems with phone systems, and AT&T was to send a service tech to review the problem. Parties involved have discussed whether the problem was the system, the equipment or the provider.
No minutes were available for the board to approve because City Clerk Lane Yearby had been sick and they were not available.
The mayor explained why the board is seeing two dockets for each meeting. He said it is because the first one is prepared on Fridays before the meeting as a standard. The meetings are on Tuesdays, and by Mondays additional bills normally arrive creating the need for an additional docket.
The board approved bringing Shane Brown as a part time police officer. They also approved the hiring of Marquita Johnson as a part time dispatcher.
Hugh Dilmore, public works director, reminded the board that all garbage picked upby city trucks must be in garbage bags. Also garbage cans may not weigh more than 50 pounds as required by the city insurer. Dilmore reported two active leaks with one being on Raleigh Road and the other near Polk’s Meat.
He reported that the heavy rains over Thanksgiving had created some drainage issues, which the road crew is working to improve. The board approved his getting quotes on a small excavator for the city. He also cautioned the board that they may be subject to losing inmate help at any time and suggested bringing on an extra employee that could be used as a floater.
The board approved Dilmore disposing of old water hydrants that were no longer serviceable. Dilmore informed the board that the vendor indicated he would reduce the city’s billing if the city would make the old ones available.
