The Magee Board of Aldermen heard from Dr. Norman Miller with ASAP Ambulance Service, the provider for Simpson County.
Miller told the board that the average response time for an ambulance to arrive on the scene is 15 minutes. He reported that ASAP is receiving a three to one ratio on transport calls for a patient versus emergency calls. Miller told the board that currently ASAP had sufficient number of qualified healthcare responders but that there is a nationwide shortage.
He said the wait time at Magee General had increased by seven minutes for patient service. He said MGH is still having to do patient referral to other hospitals.
Merica Kalman, owner and operator of The Vault, asked the board to allow her to have Choctaw St. closed on October 30 for a Halloween event the restaurant will host. She agreed to have security to prevent any altercations such as have occurred in the past. The board reminded her that Magee has an open container ordinance which does not allow alcohol to be served or consumed in public, meaning the street. The board voted four to one to allow closure of the street. Alderman Lane Steele voted against.
Magee Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Doris Adcox updated the board about ,Crazy Day which was held last weekend. The city okayed closing some streets for attractions for the day.
The board okayed the closing of alleyways that were never opened to public travel to allow for sale of property. The property in question originally belonged to Dr. Stephens.
The mayor informed the board that a survey on 1.7 acres at the airport had been completed and now the city needs an appraisal so the property can be sold.
Brett Duncan, who is consulting for the city through Prince CPA, helped the city manage the purchase of a new 3,500 Ram truck that will be bought from Pine Belt in Hattiesburg for $34,665. It will have a dump body from Warren Equipment in Collins for $10,100. The board is also paying a note off to PriorityOne for $30,640 for the mini-excavator.
Duncan also discussed funding that the city can receive from the federal government associated with the pandemic. He said that while the city had been approved for $1 million and thus far has received $500,000, the guidelines for the second $500,000 would be very stringent and it is not necessarily approved unless it complies with strict guidelines.
The board discussed the use of industrial totes that hold garbage versus portable garbage cans as now used. The board instructed attorney Bruce Smith to research and report back to the board his findings.
The board approved Brandi Hanna going from part time to full time as a dispatcher. They also approved Angi Fortenberry going from full time to part time as a dispatcher.
Public works is continuing to have leaks and many of which are associated with asbestos pipes that are breaking down and creating leaks.
The board went into executive session to discuss security measures with the police department.
