The Magee Board of Aldermen held their regularly scheduled meeting on December 5.
During comments Mayor Dale Berry requested the Christmas holiday for city employees to include the Friday before Christmas. The board tabled the decision until their mid-month meeting.
After reviewing the claims docket, Alderman Sammie Tebo questioned paying for streetlights that are not in service. Tebo said that there have not been streetlights on Highway 28 since last fall in the Eastside community. He added that several streetlights have been turned in to Entergy that are not being repaired.
Tebo said, “Why are we paying the light bill if they are not furnishing the lights?”
Alderman Mark Grubbs said that he reported a light being out using Energy’s online system and two days later it was fixed. Berry said he has ridden two Entergy employees around to discuss where lights need repairs. Tebo requested that someone at City Hall assist with the online process of reporting light issues before the claims docket was approved.
Berry spoke on the CDBG grant for the city lagoon project and explained that additional money will not be coming from the Delta Regional Authority in 2023. Berry said CMPDD suggested the city rescind the CDBG grant application and in 2024 reapply with the Delta Regional Authority. The board voted to rescind the CDBG grant for 2023.
Christian Carrico, president of Keep Magee Beautiful, reported that the flower beds by McDonalds and near Piggly Wiggly have been damaged by the drought and presented a bid of approximately $1,600 to re-do both flower beds. The board unanimously approved the request. He also received approval for the lowest bid of $24,750 to resurface three of the city’s tennis courts. Carrico anticipates the tennis courts being ready before the high school tennis season on February 1.
He presented the board with an update on fundraising efforts for the city park and said they are currently at $600,000 with a goal of $800,000.
Jean Allen appeared before the board on behalf of the Magee Bicentennial Committee, reporting that the first event for the bicentennial celebration will be January 27 at the Simpson County Courthouse, and the Magee emphasis will be from April 13-27. Magee will begin by highlighting the Choctaw heritage of the area through the early settlers period. She said the committee decided to designate a two-week period of history for each town and community. The grand finale of the celebration will be on July 4 at the courthouse, where plans are to open the buried time capsule.
Zoning Administrator Penny Aguirre requested that the board approve publication notices of hearings to be held on January 9 regarding the property that was previously Bridgepoint Church, as well as a property located on 5th Avenue. The board approved.
Code enforcement officer Shane Steele was approved to hold a hearing for properties located at 227 5th Avenue SE and on Main Street across from City Hall. Both have been declared vacant and abandoned. The hearing will be held on January 16.
The board entered an executive session to discuss personnel before adjourning the meeting.
