Ben Stephens will be coming back as a fulltime law enforcement officer with the Magee Police Department following the announced departure of Officer Will Douglas.
The board heard from Stephens during their board meeting Tuesday night and made the decision to re-hire him. Stephens said that he was aware of the opening and that made him go ahead and decide that he wanted to move back to Magee.
Stephens has served the past 12 years with Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. He said he has achieved numerous certifications that would help locally. He noted that he was in a point that he would like to return to Magee to continue his career and that he had spoken with MBN officials and they supported his decision. Stephens worked with Magee PD from 1999 until he left to join MBN in 2005.
The board also approved the hiring of Billy Seghini as a part-time officer for the Magee Police Department. He is currently employed with the Simpson County Sheriff’s Department. He will continue in the position with the Sheriff’s Office full-time.
The board approved the naming of two roads near the new Magee Elementary School on Highway 49. One is Elementary Avenue and the other is Tractor Supply Avenue.
The board agreed to purchase street lights to be place on poles in the Trinity Subdivision. At present it will be one light. The residents are paying for special poles which will have underground wiring. Southern Pine will erect the poles.
Mayor-elect Dale Berry reported that he had met with the Chamber of Commerce and they asked the city for assistance in the placement of six wireless speakers which could play music in the downtown area daily. The Chamber requested donations to fund the project. The wireless speakers cost $2,200 each, and the Chamber will recognize the sponsors for the speakers.
The Chamber also requested assistance in placing the speakers on the street poles. Alderman Lane Steele offered to do that work because the city does not have a bucket truck but Steele has one for his business. Once installed the plans are for the speakers to play Christian and classical music and holiday music at Christmas.
The board approved a bid for paving at the sportplex in the area of the new splashpad in the amount of $30,600.
The board approved the removal of trees in the city right-of-way by Becky’s Burgers. She plans to do an expansion at the existing location.
The board heard a request from Duane Puckett, who had operated Puckett’s Upholstery in Magee for years and recently moved to Highway 49.
His business is located in a section of 49 which is in Magee but has a Mendenhall address. He requested that the city annex his location because customers cannot locate his business with the Mendenhall address. He indicated he would be willing to pay a higher tax rate so that he could get his address changed and have a Magee address.
The board will refer the matter to the board attorney.
