Dwayne Rawson

The meetings covered various administrative and operational matters including the approval of claims dockets, authorization of travel for city officials, and discussions regarding the 911 addressing system and delinquent personal property taxes. Significant actions included awarding contracts for the Spring Street Overlay Project, approving lease purchase financing for a city truck, and authorizing repairs to a lift station. The board addressed personnel matters including the hiring of a police officer and auxiliary firefighter, and considered pay increases for part-time staff. Additionally, the board approved contributions to local organizations, authorized grant applications for airport projects, accepted a judicial resignation, and held executive sessions regarding job performance and misconduct allegations.

The board sessions covered a wide array of municipal business, including the approval of parade and march permits, the submission of a grant application for municipal improvements, and updates on a narcotics task force and K-9 unit. Revisions were made to official travel reimbursement rates, and approval was granted for seismic survey requests and the installation of LED lighting for public safety. Additionally, the board managed personnel and structural appointments for the Housing Authority, approved invoice payments for museum projects, and formalized a non-potable water agreement. Significant emergency management actions included extending a local emergency proclamation for storm damage and declaring an emergency for drainage ditch repairs. Personnel-related discussions and actions were conducted in executive sessions, including the hiring of an assistant police chief, the termination of a police officer, and the authorization to recruit for police staff vacancies. Furthermore, the board accepted a significant private donation for the cemetery fund and updated a memorandum of understanding regarding disaster response sites.

The regular meeting agenda included several items for decision. Key discussions involved the recognition of Harvey Hull for his MSU Hall of Fame induction and presentations regarding the DAR program and an after-school tutoring program. Financial decisions included approving claims dockets, authorizing travel for various personnel, considering the acceptance of the FY 2009-2010 audited financial statements, and renewing the Workers Compensation Insurance Policy. The board also considered a request for a 5K run, a lease request from Johnson Oil Co. for airport property, the purchase of bullet proof vests for police officers, payments for radio equipment and the library system allocation, and the CDBG requisition for the rubbish site project. Other items covered establishing trick-or-treat hours, accepting the low bid for the Police Department renovation project, discussing cardboard box pickup and garbage fees for annexed residents, and re-appointing several city officials and department heads. An executive session was held to discuss police department job performance, after which all police department employees were rehired.

The Regular Meeting agenda included adopting the agenda and approving the claims dockets, including the Narcotics Claims Docket. Travel authorizations were approved for personnel to attend a police academy and an asbestos refresher course. Discussions involved updates on voter rolls with Election Commissioners and the cleanup status of property owned by Satish V. Amin, for whom an additional thirty-day extension was granted. The Board authorized the opening of a pool hall at 402 Court Street, contingent on code adherence. The request from Felix Wright regarding payment for sprinkler system pipe installation was discussed without action. Approval was granted for the Annual Red, White and Blueberry Celebration, including the co-sponsorship of a beauty pageant and waiving facility fees. A ten-year ad valorem tax exemption resolution was adopted for Sunbeam Products, Inc. on additional property. The proposal for establishing Parade Permit Fees was tabled. The Board authorized the use of one police officer for security at the Distinguished Young Woman Pageant. An ordinance was adopted transferring the television cable franchise from Etan Industries, Inc. (DBA CMA Communications) to Ultra Communications Group, LLC. Payment to RBG Contractors, Inc. for emergency sewer line repair on Spring Street and a CDBG/CAP Requisition for the Water Well Improvements Project were approved. Reimbursement for Amos Holifield's commercial driver's license cost was approved, as was the one-year renewal of the police department's software subscription. Jan Bishop was designated as the agent for administering federal assistance under the Disaster Relief Act. The proclamations of local emergency related to Hurricane Isaac and the February 10, 2013 storm were both extended. The resignation of Brian Everett from the Narcotics Task Force was accepted. Discussions were held regarding the relocation of a fire hydrant, the cancellation of the contract with Tailwaggers for Life Rescue Farm, proceeding with funding for Mitigation Projects pending a report, co-sponsoring a Back to School Program, and the cost of a road bore for a proposed restaurant. The city's financial statements were also discussed.

The Board agenda included several actions such as adopting the agenda, approving claims dockets, and approving travel for a Municipal Court Clerk. Key considerations involved declaring surplus vehicles from the South Mississippi Narcotics Task Force, approving payments to Belinda Stewart Architects, P.A. for museum project services and Pickering Firm, Inc. for drainage project services, and extending a proclamation of local emergency related to the April 2014 storm. The Board approved the placement of a street light and authorized a 5K Walk/Run for the Chamber of Commerce. A resolution was adopted to opt out of the Senate Bill 2378 Statewide Building Code Law. Discussions included the South Mississippi Narcotics Task Force Interlocal Agreement, the salary for Fire Chief Willard H. Crocker (which failed to pass), and personnel matters for the police department, resulting in the hiring of Courtney S. Clanton as Police Officer and Thomas Abate as Police Investigator. The proposed FY 2014-15 Budget was discussed, and a septic tank for Central Sunbelt Federal Credit Union was authorized. The subsequent recessed meeting involved discussions on Meadowlands Commerce Park infrastructure improvements, approval of a Mutual Aid Fire Protection Agreement, payment for repairs to Hwy 145 Well No. 2, discussion on water rates, and approval of the 2014 assessment rolls and the 2014 tax levy.