At their last meeting on April 7, the Mendenhall Board of Aldermen took up several issues prompted by the coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent shelter in place order for the state.
The board first voted against establishing a curfew for the city.
The proposed curfew was for juveniles 17 and younger between the hours of 7:30 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. Minors out during this time would need to be accompanied by an adult. After some discussion the motion died from lack of a second.
The Board approved the order set by the Mississippi Service Commission of suspending disconnection of utilities for 60 days during the COVID-19 crisis. This does not eliminate the requirement that utility customers continue to pay their bills. There will be no disconnections during this time, but after the duration of the order disconnections will resume. Customers should continue to pay their monthly utility bills.
Toney Olney with the Mendenhall Sports Club brought the board up to date on the city’s youth baseball program. He stated that Dixie Youth, the baseball program the city is associated with, does not plan to make a decision until the middle of May on whether or not there will be a season. Olney said there is a possibility of having an abbreviated season that will last approximately six weeks.
Alderman Donnie Thomas raised questions about refunding registration fees paid by parents whose children planned to participate in the league. Thomas and Mayor Todd Booth both reported speaking to parents who inquired about refunds since the season has yet to begin. Olney stated that the cost of refunding the fee would be over $11,000. He said there is only a little more than $9,000 available to the program after money was spent on buying supplies in preparation for the season.
The board discussed solutions to the problem. Booth suggested that if the season does not take place this year due to the virus, the fees be credited to next season. Thomas said, “With people not being able to work, having those fees refunded may be the difference in eating this week or not.”
The board unanimously agreed that if parents asked for a refund, they should get their money back.
Alderman Tim Gray said, “We need to do the right thing and give a refund to any people who ask for their money back.” The board plans to reconvene if there are any other problems concerning the program during the crisis.
All tabled items from the month of March, which included discussing charging for the use of the baseball fields, adopting an emergency repair and purchase policy, and discussing a policy for the use of the armory, were tabled once again to be discussed in May.
In other business, it was announced that the Mendenhall Police Department will be purchasing new tasers, thanks to a grant secured by Sergeant Allen Moore. The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program allows states and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control drug trafficking, drug related crime, and violent crime.
Based on their own local needs and conditions, agencies are provided with the flexibility to prioritize and place justice funds where they are needed most. JAG funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice.
The grant has been especially beneficial to the Mendenhall Police Department. Last year the department was able to purchase three hand-held portable breathalyzers and an automatic fingerprint identification system. This year the department will use these funds to purchase six new tasers.
The board approved Police Chief Candy McCullum to attend the summer conference, and the court clerk and deputy court clerk to attend clerk training. Dorian Dampeer was hired as a part-time dispatcher for the Mendenhall Police Department. The board briefly entered executive session to discuss personnel before adjourning the meeting.
