Board of Aldermen - Regular Meeting

5:30. So we're starting our board of al board of alderman meeting. This is our recess meeting of April 21st. This will be the last one of the month. Uh we will first call the meeting to order. We'll stand for a pledge of allegiance followed by invitation from alderman and join to the flag of the United States of America and to the for it stands nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Loving God, thank you for choosing us to serve our community. Grant us humility and wisdom in that service. Help us to make decisions that prioritize justice, compassion, and the well-being of all our community. Amen. All right. Once again, we thank everyone for being here this evening. Um, our first order of business will be an approval of the official agenda. There are a couple items that have been uh pulled from the agenda. Specifically, first, we have under utilities L2. We did not like the bids that we received and so we will be rejecting those and going back out. They were significantly higher than our expectations. So we wanted to analyze them and see what else we might do to bring them in in line in a way that uh works better for us. And then uh item G3 which was the um second item or not the second item but the other item related to the human resources department. So we're pulling those two items from the agenda. Other than that I have no other changes. Is there anyone else all around?

No ma'am. Thank you. Alman Skinner. Uh no ma'am. Brooks. No m. No, ma'am. Thank you, Vice Mayor. No, ma'am. Mayor, thank you. All ma'am, mayor. Thank you. All right. Thank you. With that, I do need a motion to approve the official agenda with the changes. Move approval. Thank you, Ala. Second. Second. Second from Alman Skinner. All those in favor, please signify by saying I.

Opposed. All right. Motion carries and I will read the consented items. First, we have consideration of the minutes of the April 7th, 2026 regular meeting of the mayor and board of all of the city of Starkville. Under mayor's business, we have consideration of approving the amended and restated development and reimbursement agreement with HPM Development LLC. B is consideration of supporting Presley Basset Stark's Miss Hospitality through a full page ad in the program for $350 as allowed by Mississippi code section 17-3-3. Under engineering, we have consideration of approving permission to advertise for bids for the Brush Arbor Cemetery project under finance administration. Number two is accept acceptance of the March 2026 financial statements and number three is requesting acknowledgement by the board of by the board of alderman of privilege licenses in accordance with Mississippi code annotated section 27-17-501 issued by the city clerk's office for the month of March 2026 respectively. Um, human resources. We have number one, request approval for city departments to participate in the Startwell Octavah County School District's SOCSD 21st century grant program internships for Starville High School juniors and seniors spanning June 1 through July 31, 2026 with reimbursement for actual hours worked and the city to pay for fringe benefits. Number two is request authorization to hire Ryan Long as a reserve peace off reserve police officer and Riley Stanford as animal patrol officer and to promote Mercedes Reed as an animal patrol officer lead in the Startwell Police Department. Under sanitation, we have consideration of the agreement with Neil Schaefer for engineering services related to the closure of the city county landfill located at 1677 Rockill Road. Under utilities department, we have consideration of approval of the change order number two for ditch 2 alternate sludge removal for the Ernest E. Jones wastewater treatment aeration

improvements project. Three is request authorization to rotary lobe air blower SN 0612941402 in Quincy air compressor uh SN number 989395 as surplus and sale on govdealss.com number four is request authorization to accept the low quote from Magnolia Pump and Equipment Inc. in the amount of $35,450 for pump rebuild at the influence station at the wastewater treatment plant. Number five is request authorization to accept the best quote from Lewis Electric, Inc. in the amount of $20,350 for replacement of traffic light cabinet at the intersection of Highway 12 and Market Street. And six is consideration of approval of a fair housing resolution and declare April as fair housing month for the city of Starkles Henderson and Sand Road wastewater community development block grant CDG. And that concludes the consented agenda items. The next thing we have is announcements and comments. And so uh I want to announce the energy workshops. And there they are. I was hoping we've got a little thing up on the board there that people can see. uh hopefully who are watching this on Facebook, but I will also read them aloud. On April the 28th, we have from 11 to noon at the Needmore Center and then from 12 to 1 also at the Needmore Center and then 1:30 to 2:30 at the Discovery Center and 6:00 to 7:00 back at the Needmore Center. And then on the 29th, we have from 10:30 to 11:30 at the library, which I think that's a great place to do it as well. And then from 5:30 to 6:30 at Trinity Presbyterian and all these are free energy workshops to help you make the most of your uh kilowatt hour count but you know ways to save conserve energy and things that you can do. I think there's there still is a package that's handed out. Is that correct Mr. Camp?

Yes.

Okay. So there's value to light bulbs and some other things that I believe are part of that package. Okay. All right. Well anyway those are open to the public and free. I think they are asking for RSVP on the ones over lunchtime in order to be able to serve a lunch. So, that would be the only caveat, right? Okay. All right. Well, thank you very much. And then, um I do have uh a sad announcement and I'll go ahead and say that here in our public space here. Um Miss Vicky Hampton um who was the mayor's executive assistant for a number of years during my entire tenure and during uh Mayor Wisman's tenure prior to me uh has passed away. She passed away this weekend and her service will be um Friday from 4 to 6 in Lewisville um at the um gosh didn't write it down and now I can't call it

Mount Si

Mount Si thank you Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Lewisville and then the um service itself will be at 11 o'clock at the same location. So uh if you would consider keeping her family in your thoughts and prayers. We certainly uh regret that she was unable to enjoy her retirement which is what she was going to do uh next week on the 30th. And so our celebration will be of a different kind. So um anyway, so I said that and then we have introductions. So now we'll we'll move to those folks who are going to get introduced this evening. We have three new employees that we um enjoy welcoming to the city. And first we'll start with utilities. So Mr. Kemp, you and Tamarius Miller, Mr. Miller. Um, tomorrow Miller starts his full-time employment in the Startwell Utilities Department as a water technician woman. I love this. This is a great story as far as I'm concerned. This is a great story. So, he graduates from Startwell High School in May of this year, not yet there, which is part of this program that I think is just extraordinary. He initially began work with Startwell Utility Department as a student intern through the Startwell Octavah County School District's workbased learning program. is he is a success story for the school district and the department and the city. That is his successful completion of his internship resulted in him being selected for full-time employment. Tomorrow will participate in excavating concrete, pavement and dirt, and he will operate leak detection and pipe location equipment. He will also install, repair, and maintain water manes, hydrants, and other water system facilities. He has two dogs and one horse. He enjoys fishing, playing video games, and training horses. And we are delighted that this program worked for you and that you're going to come work for us. So, you've got a wonderful future ahead of you. Congratulations. And next, we have community development department. Michaelia Hudson comes to the city of Starville as a building inspector in the community development department. She goes by K, by the way. With over 10 years of field experience

related to inspections and permit views, Nikaya has an extensive background in safety regulations. She has various training and holds multiple certifications in field safety training. As a business as a building inspector, Kay will conduct on-site inspections of residential, commercial, and industrial properties to verify compliance with codes and safety standards. She will perform digital reviews of construction plans and permits for regulatory compliance and will also inspect structures and systems for electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, and cooling for safety and code adherence. Originally from Pearl, Mississippi, Kay earned a bachelor's degree degree from Tugaloo College and a master's degree from Jackson State University. She's married to Warren Hudson and they have a son named Warren Jr. and one dog. Outside of work, she enjoys playing tennis and softball and watching sports and classic television. So, we are delighted to have you. Welcome aboard. And last but not least, Miss Beck and I were out enjoying the sunshine a little earlier today. I didn't realize who she was until she came in. Uh Feaybeck began employment with the city as a disp dispatcher in the police department. She has extensive experience in call centers and administration. She stated that she wants to provide emergency services to the community to ensure high quality living in Starkville. She will receive non-emergency and emergency calls from the public. Determine the nature, location, and priority of emergencies, maintain contact status, and location of police units, and keep a daily log current with all field calls and units, and service at police department reception to visitors seeking general information or referrals as needed. BA is originally from Austin, Texas, and is a graduate of Texas State University. She has two children, Edward and Leanne, two Labradors, and a border colleague. She enjoys largecale resin work, gardening, and cooking. Welcome aboard. And that concludes my my part of the uh announcements and comments. Board of Alderman. Alman Morland, anything?

No, ma'am. All this truck. No, ma'am. Alman Skinner, you want to talk about your trip up to Chicago? Come on. Give us a give us a preview of Wrigley Field. It was uh it's a really great place to watch a baseball game. I look forward to going back again one day. Awesome. Well, we were all jealous. Uh Brooks, just remind everybody about the Charlotte Derby. Oh, of course. Yes. Well, it's almost hard to hard to not remember that, but yes, you're absolutely right. Um, starts at 9, I believe it is. Okay. All right. Should be a pretty much an all day event in terms of prep and enjoying it and then tear down. So, thank you for that. No, ma'am. Thank you. Vice Mayor. No, ma'am. Thank you. Alman Vaughn. No, ma'am. Ma'am, thank you.

Okay. And oh, and as a by the way, I should have said this. We do have a a tournament at cornstone this weekend and uh so and and then it's a softball I think and then a tournament again the following weekend. So we are getting all kinds of activity around town which is wonderful. Um all right our first item well not item but uh citizens comments is next. So we look forward to hearing from Mr. Turner. Giving you first place row all the time Mr. Turner. Greetings to me. My name is Alvin. Tunnel war to the mayor, to the police chief, to the fire chief, to a sanitation in two hours. Uh NACP president Dr. Jerry Jeff. Uh just some concern that citizen has uh they have informed me that the sidewalks on North Montgomery have gotten to be dangerous uh for pedestrians and uh they all broken and it's hard to get around on the sidewalk on North also that the people is concerned about are hard to get to I can meet now Alman Von at uh Peter Rock. All right. And they're wondering how the gas truck will turn on Jackson Street. But just some concerns upstairs.

All right. Thank you, Mr. Turner. Anyone else under citizens comments? Anyone else under citizens comments? All right. Seeing none, we'll move to public hearings. We have a public hearing for a 211911 determination. Thank you.

Good evening, mayor, vice mayor, and board alderman. I'm here to present to you a 211911 for 45 Lakeside Drive, Starkville, Mississippi 39759, parcel number 159-32-015.00. Uh the owner of this property is uh Jen uh Miss Jenkins uh Jacqueline Jenkins and um we went out and inspected the property on January 14th, 2026 uh showing the cracking that you could kind of see here on the wall and damage to the corner of the property here as well as a damage um electrical meter. Uh the the letter of violation was sent out on March 9th, 2026 and a public hearing was posted at the city hall uh the property and u mailed to the owner on April 7th, 2026. Uh the warrant was signed by Judge Kelly April 2nd, 2026 and executed by myself, uh Sergeant Gillan, building official McMullen on April 7th, 2026. Uh we took pictures of the exterior and um interior of the structure. Here you can still see a clear picture of uh the property, the crack on the side on the closer look of the crack on the southwest corner where you have the damaged um electrical meter. Significant cracking uh of the foundation there. Uh in the front room you can see a collapsed um roof uh roof here flooring and you can see the baseboards where the floor

should should lay as well as the back room. You can see the bottom of the door where the floor should lay and all the collapsed flooring and uh furniture inside of there as well as the bathroom. Uh you can see the floors collapsed and the toilet is no longer supported by the floor as well as uh damaged plumbing. We got exposed electrical box and damaged um sheetrock there in the kitchen. There's evidence of overgrown vegetation inside of the building as well as holes and rotten wood on the roof. Uh back of the building shows a lot a of overgrowth u for vegetation and the property was reinspected on April 20th, 2026 and showed no change to the building um itself there. Is there any questions for me for the board alderman?

It's like it's going back to nature with all these the vines and stuff going over. I'm assuming no one is living there. No, ma'am. I don't know how they could, but I'll ask the question anyway. So, any other questions of officer Harvey? All right. Is have we been in touch with the applicant? Have you had not applicant with the owner? Have you had any uh conversations? Yes, ma'am. Uh contacted her a couple of times. Uh she determined that she'd like to see what the city would like to do with the structure first and go from there.

Okay. Well, all righty then. Okay. If there are no other questions from the board, I will open as a public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak to this matter, now would be the time. This is 45 Lakeside Drive uh to determine whether or not it is in such a state of uncleanliness as to be subject to um or is to be amended to the public health, safety, and welfare and subject to cleanup or demolition. So, anyone wishing to speak to this? Seeing none, I will close it as a public hearing. Um do I have a motion from anyone? A motion from Alderman Vaughn. Do I have a second? Second. Second from Alman Cystrong. And this is to determine that it is the cleanup should occur. All those in favor, please signify by saying I.

I. Opposed. All right. And that has no timeline associated with it. So we will move forward with that post taste. Thank you so much. All right. Um, next up we have the claims docket. Do I have a motion? Move approval. Have a motion from all public. Do I second? Second. Second from all Skinner. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I I opposed. Nay. Nay. All right. Motion carries. Thank you. And then we move to we move to uh potential closed determination session. Do I have a motion to go into closed determination session to determine the need for executive session to consider litigation and personnel matters?

I have a motion from Alman Brooks. Do I have a second? Second. Second from Alman Poco. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. All right, we are moving into close determination session to determine the need for executive

session. We took no action in executive session. I will read the uh motion for or the the call of a work session in accordance with the notices required in Mississippi code annotate 254113. The board will have a work session on Friday the 1st of May, 2026 at 11 a.m. That meeting will be held at city hall in the second floor conference room located at 110 West Main. The notice shall be provided of this work session within one hour of this meeting by posting such notice at city hall. The notice for the work session shall be made a part of the minutes of the board meeting. The work session will be an open public meeting in the city of Startwell and the public and press are invited to attend. Could I get a motion to adjourn? Move alone. Oh. All right. Thank you. Second, please. Second.

All right. All the focus. All those in favor signify by saying I. We are in adjournment. Thank you everyone.