At the Magee Mayor and Board of Aldermen met on October 3, Mayor Dale Berry reported that the city is working with Entergy to convert all street lights in the city to LED.
Berry said this will be a slow process as the city is working to get as many lights as they can. New LED lights have been installed in areas around the city and Berry said they are much brighter and citizens have been pleased.
In other matters, Berry explained that Fifth Avenue past the old elementary school was renamed Logan Street 20 years ago and a new sign has been in place, but the name change had not been updated with E-911. The board voted to contact E-911 and update the name to Logan Street.
The board discussed the city re-zoning ordinance they had previously voted to adopt. They approved plan 4 as presented by the Central Mississippi Planning and Development District, which moved Big Lane Heights from Ward 2 to Ward 3. The plan was adopted to get the city in compliance with state regulations on population variance between the four wards. The board unanimously adopted the ordinance.
Berry told the board that over $200,000 was spent to repair damage to water and sewer systems caused by extreme cold during the winter and lightning damage later. This necessitated a slight increase in the water and sewer bills. A $10 flat rate increase on water and sewer was approved by the board. Berry said the increase was for water and sewer only, not for garbage collection, and is needed to build up the city’s water fund. He clarified that only $10 would be added to the total bill.
Berry addressed garbage collection at local apartment complexes. He explained that the apartment owners choose to use dumpsters instead of paying city garbage fees. Berry said the city garbage bills pay for city garbage and grapple trucks and that the city will no longer collect old furniture and other garbage from apartment complexes that do not pay for city services.
Berry reiterated, “You have to pay for garbage services to get the use of the grapple truck.”
Shane Steele, director of city code enforcement, briefed the board on how Mendenhall addresses the issue with apartments, saying they have a set fee for picking up garbage from places with a dumpster. The board tabled the item to do more research on the situation.
Forrest Dungan with Clear Point Engineering briefed the board on their ongoing MCWI projects. Dungan said bids were opened for contract two of the MCWI project, which is part of the state’s matching funds for the city’s ARPA money. Dungan said in total the city has a $2 million grant, and the first contract was for replacing the filter on water plant 2. Contract two will address infrastructure needs at water plant number 1, which will include replacing the aerators and addressing the control panel and electrical work. Dungan also spoke of an alternate addition to the base bid for replacing the water pumps at plant 1. He recommended that the board accept the lowest bid from Greenbriar Digging Service with the base bid and alternate for a contracted total amount of $787,500. The board unanimously approved Dungan’s recommendation.
Public Works Director Tim Bray presented the board with bids on an air conditioning unit for the Magee Public Library. The board accepted the lower bid from Harper Heating and Cooling for $24,560. The board approved a bid from Delta Boring Service for $10,200 to repair an eight-inch water line on the frontage road near Fun Time Liquor.
Mayor Berry reported that two new employees were hired in public works, which makes the department fully staffed. He said one employee was hired for the Magee Police department.
City Fire Marshal Charlie Valadie explained that the fire department has had an increase in calls over the past month to 50 and a total of 100 calls the past two months. He said this has been a tremendous increase from their usual 22 calls per month.
Valadie addressed the property across the street from City Hall that has a collapsed wall in the alley. He said barricades have been placed around the collapsed area and it has been deemed unsafe for human habitation. He said contact will be made with the owner of the building to find out their plans for the property.
Berry explained that a city fire truck was deemed surplus and listed for sale at $65,000. The mayor of Mize inquired about the truck and offered to pay $50,000. The board approved the request to sell the truck for $50,000.
Valadie said, “We have a great working relationship with Mize.”
Following Valadie’s report the board entered executive session to discuss personnel and conduct interviews.
After the executive session Buck Craft was named interim fire chief for the Magee Fire Department after Chief Lane Steele resigned. Steele will remain a fireman with the Magee Fire Department and will have 40 years of service next March.
