At the September 2 meeting of the Magee Mayor and Board of Aldermen, Mayor Mark Grubbs updated the board and audience on several current city projects.
The City Park playground surface installment was to begin on September 3, and turf work should be completed by the week ending September 12. Then, fencing installation will begin followed by landscaping. The target for opening the park is the end of September.
Grubbs said that Voice of Hope and Beauty from Ashes residents would begin working last week with the City of Magee, providing extra help for cleaning purposes both interior and exterior.
The master improvement plan for the water distribution and sewer waste water collection systems is in process. The environmental review letters have been approved. A public hearing is scheduled for October 7 at 5 p.m.
Grubbs added that water leaks have been repaired in 28 areas of the city at this point. Rather than continue to patch, the city is waiting for price quotes on work to repair leaks appropriately.
Fire Chief David Craft gave a status update on the business fire inspection process that began in August; 65 businesses have been reviewed. Craft stated that this is not a pass/fail inspection but added, “Many are on the defensive when we first go talk with them. After talking with them we let them know we’re there to help them, not write them up.”
Inspections provide the opportunity for the owners to meet the fire department personnel while they give information about updates such as fire detectors and make recommendations. The information will be on file so there will be a way to check businesses year to year. Craft said he has found no life safety issues thus far.
Zoning Director Penny Aguirre distributed a map showing 6th Ave. SE ending at Laurel Dr. SE. There is a piece of land belonging to E.O. Berry Salvage that used this unimproved strip of land simply as a turnaround on the property. A sale of the property is pending, but the strip is city owned and cuts through the property. Landmark Survey determined that the stretch is indeed a road.
Realtor Roma Windham requested that the strip be closed so the property may be sold. The board has tabled the issue until more information may be presented, since the city owns that road that cuts through the parcel for sale. City Attorney Wesla Sullivan will also review.
Aguirre gave board members a copy of a letter sent by certified mail to the owners of GW and Jo’s Café, stating that the city does not have a current inspection of the cafe by the MS Department of Health on file as required of all businesses that serve food and beverages. Also, the city has no current alcohol license on file that would have been issued for the business by the Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
Aquirre reported that most of the municipalities in Mississippi have adopted the 2024 code. She stated that the three people involved with enforcing even the 2021 codes must be authorized to do so each year to act as the code officials. The board approved authorization of Craft as fire code official; Aguirre as zoning and property maintenance code official; and Building Inspector Duane Simmons as building code official.
Police Chief Denis Borges requested executive session for personnel issues.
Simmons presented a report to the board on document issuance. Eleven different residential permits and licenses were issued. In addition six junk vehicles were removed.
Several department heads were absent from the regular Magee Mayor and Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday. They were directors of public works, Tim Bray, parks and recreation Jimmy Zila and airport manager Mike Berry. No reports were made on those areas.
During executive session the board approved one new hire for public works.
