Mayor and Board of Aldermen - Regular Meeting

to order. Please stand with us. We'll be led in prayer by Alderman Gallagher. Please remain standing after that for the pledge of allegiance led by Alderman Large George Payne.

Heavenly Father, we bless your holy name and we're thankful that you give us an opportunity to meet. Lord, I pray that you would uh be in our meeting, Lord Jesus, and let every decision come through you, Lord. Lord, I just want to uh pray for the right family who uh lost a couple of family members, Lord, and just pray that you would be with them and send your Holy Spirit to comfort the family. In your name we pray. Amen.

Amen. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [clears throat] First on the agenda this evening is the approval of minutes for the January 2000 exc January 20226 meeting. Second.

We have a motion by Alderman Hoot. Second Alderman Payne. Is there any discussion? [snorts] Hearing none. Roll call. Alderman Payne. Yes. Alderman Lewis. Yes. Alderman H. Yes. Alderman Jerome. Yes. Alderman Gallagher. Yes. Marvin Wheeler Flores. Yes, that motion carries. Next on the agenda is a fire department contract with Image Trend City attorney, Mr. Nick Manley.

I guess mayor board, this contract is uh with Image Trend LLC. It's uh it replace the incident reporting software that's used by uh the fire department and EMS department. Um, it'll also maintain city compliance with the state and allow the city to maintain eligibility to receive funds through the state insurance rebates that we get on an annual basis. Uh, the cost for the software is a onetime fee in the amount of $4,360 and there's a recurring cost in the amount of $27,630. Um, they did provide a sole source letter image trend, but also in this situation, the software is actually ancillary to the service. So while we also have a soul source letter, it's also ancillary, so it can be approved um as presented, assuming that's what the board wants to do. Um so tonight just need an authorization and approval uh for the um signature on the agreement and the subscription agreement which has also been presented and changes have been made as requested by the city and this be signed by the police fire chief.

Second. We have a motion by Alderman Hoo, second by Alderman Payne. Is there any discussion hearing? None. Roll call. Alderman Payne. Yes. Alderman Lewis. Yes. Alderman [clears throat] who? Yes. Alderman Jerome. Yes. Orderman Gallagher. Yes. Orderman Wheeler. Orderman Flores. Yes. That motion carries. Next on our agenda is a resolution for definition of hotel for special tax collections provided in Senate Bill 2805.

Yes. So, Senate Bill 285 was passed last year and it amends sections uh 2765 23.1 and 41493 of the Mississippi code. Um and it clarifies the the gross proceeds or gross income and it use the term third party facilitators um including entities or individuals enga engaged in furnishing, facilitating, arranging, brokering, providing short-term rentals. They those count as um hotels as far as the levy goes. the taxes that are levied against hotels. Um so tonight need authorization for the mayor to sign this resolution so that it can be used um so those can also be taxed as hotels um as set forth by Senate Bill 2805 and subject to all the taxes that the hotels pay in Detto County and South. So move second. [clears throat]

I'm sorry who made the motion? Alderman Flores made motion and we have a second Gallagher. Is there any discussion? So this is essentially taxing like few RBOs and Airbnbs. Yes. It requires them to pay the same tax a hotel would pay. Good. Any other discussion? Hearing none. Roll call. Alderman Payne? Yes. Alderman Lewis? [clears throat] Yes. Alderman Hughes? Yes. Alman Jerome? Yes. Alderman Gallagher? Yes. Arman Wheeler? Yes. Arman Flores? Yes.

That motion carries. Next on our agenda is facilities contract with Canop Engineering. Yeah, this uh camp engineering they've already designed the electrical for the SPD generator project. Um this provoke proposal uh will allow authorize them to um write the updated specs um review bids and provide inspections as far as the project um progresses. Uh the additional sum is the amount of $7,000. The lump sum cost so need authorization tonight to enter this professional services agreement with Kenup Engineering um so that uh they can proceed with the generator project for the SPD. It'll be signed by Dylan Brink. I'll make that motion, Mayor. Second. We have a motion by Alderman Payne, second by Alderman Wheeler. Is there any discussion?

Hearing none. Roll call. Alderman Payne? Yes. Alderman Lewis? Yes. Alderman Hoots? Yes. Alderman Jerome? Yes. Alderman Gallagher. Yes. Alderman Wheeler. Alman Flores. Yes. That motion carries. Next on the agenda is IT contract with Unity. Yeah. This contract doesn't require any um action. just putting in the minutes for tonight. Um there was a con the um IT department signed the contract for internet and phone services uh for 80 that switched them from um the old port building to the one on Northwest Drive. So just putting that in the minutes tonight since it's not costing anything, but wanted to make a note that be in our minutes moving forward. Okay. Next on the agenda is a fire department contract with Mississippi Medicaid.

Yeah, this contract will authorize for Chief Sky to sign. And it just allows the um authorization that required for the um reval re- validation required by Medicaid um for billing for EMS in Mississippi. So any authorization to sign this by the um chief scian so that they can have that validation for the continued Medicaid billing in Mississippi. So move second. We have a motion Gallagher, second Wheeler. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Say no. Eyes have it. Motion carries. Next on the agenda is a contract with our parks department in Argo Entertainment.

This contract is a contract we've used in the past with Fargo. Uh they provide the firework presentation for the July 4th event at Snowden. Um they handle all the um entertainment and the fireworks. And this will authorize them to proceed um for that um fireworks show and display and event on July 4th at Snowden. And the cost is $40,000 for Argo. Um that we'll continue to use them for uh this event on July 4th. Make a motion. Mayor second. We have a motion. Bon Payne, second Wheeler. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor say I. I. [clears throat]

Any opposed say no. Eyes have it. Motion carries. Next on our agenda is approval for a parks variance. This is required by your facilities rental policy. [clears throat and cough] Varianc is needed for the digpack event at the Snowden House on April 14th. Um since beer will be served has to be approved by the board and it's a crawfish um boil along with stump speeches for digpack. Make a motion. Second.

We have a motion pay second Gallagher. Is there any discussion? Um, one time just to ex uh just reiterate this to the board to make sure if you're getting questions in the public or the public the um Snowden House, you know, with the uh enhancements that we made to the amphitheater, the more concerts that we're having, that limits opportunities that we used to have, you know, to rent the Snowden House. You know, used to there were summer weddings there and and so many other events. Uh but now, you know, we made the decision that we thought it was best for the city to ramp up that amphitheater to have more concerts, make it a bigger deal. It's proven to be a bigger deal. Um so that uh the trade-off to that is you don't have as many opportunities to rent the Snowden house from April 1st until October or until November 1. And so just want to make sure everybody understands that. But we're still trying to, you know, with the rental policy, um, if something is in those off months or even in the edges of the season, if we don't have anything booked, you we go ahead and do that. Um, the question comes up sometimes, u, well, if I know in advance, why can't I just go ahead and book it? Because some of the concerts we don't know up front. So, like there, they may develop, you know, 30 days out and we don't want to say no to a great concert because we got a wedding booked there. So anyway, just wanted y'all to know that it's one of those things where we love her in the Snowden house. It's a beautiful venue, but you got to make a decision. Do you want to have concerts or do you want to have, you know, June weddings? And so anyway, we get a lot of calls. Christy Faulner answers a lot of calls about that. Uh West Brown, our parks, uh same thing. But I want y'all to be informed about that. Um any other discussion on the parks variance? [snorts] Hearing none, all in favor say I. I. Any oppose say no. Eyes have it. Motion carries. Next on the agenda is a police department human trafficking task force with the Mississippi attorney general.

Yeah, thisou is for chief current signature. Just authorizes the police department to work with the attorney general's office to um strengthen coordin coordination um intelligence sharing and victim referral efforts for human trafficking um in the state. It's not required once you sign it, but it does authorize the them participate in that program with the AG's office, the police department to participate in the program. So move second. We have a motion by Alderman H. Second. Alderman Payne. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. Roll call. Alderman Payne. Yes. Alderman Lewis. Yes. Alderman H. Yes. Alderman Jerome. No.

Alderman Gallagher. Oh, I'm sorry. Alderman Jerome, it's okay. Alderman Gallagher, yes. Arman Wheeler, Flores, that motion carries. Next on the agenda is a task order for Nailroads beautifification project. Mr. Whitney Cook, planning director. Uh yes, sir. This is um a quote from Quality Landscaping who we do have a master contract with for landscaping and city beautifification throughout the city. uh nail road that is now uh punched through from Tuloma to Gatwell Road. We actually placed some medians in there and had them irrigated and our plan is to provide a streetscape design down the middle of it. So this is the request to uh go ahead and get that in place. Uh it will be funded through our city mification.

So moved. Second. We have a motion Flores, second Gallagher. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. Roll call. Alderman Payne. Yes. Alderman Lewis. Yes. Alderman Hoots. Yes. Alderman Jerome. Yes. Arderman Gallagher. Yes. Alman Wheeler. Yes. Arman Flores. Yes. That motion carries. And nothing on the planning agenda. Whitney. Yes, sir.

Okay. So, we'll move on. Next on the agenda is the mayor's report. Um, just to kind of move through a few things kind of quickly. So, uh, winter storm debriefing. Uh, I think we've all talked about that enough, but I just want to again publicly acknowledge the efforts of the city of South Haven. Our public works teams. We're running six units uh 18 hours a day throughout this event. Uh uh plowing the snow and ice out of streets. Uh these people showed up and uh showed out. They worked their tail off. Our police as usual out there. I mean, they're always doing the great stuff and rescuing people that that you you can't even count the things that they're doing. But in an event like this, they they're they're rescuing vehicles that are sliding, that are stuck. They're they're doing this, doing that. already had people reached out to me and want I mean wanting to just thank them [clears throat] and buy them dinner. I mean just just the extra effort that they did. It's just it's so impressive. So I'm so thankful for our police department. Same thing with fire and EMS. Uh it just you can't make this up. The calls that come in, you know, out uh outside of the the normal stuff, we're you know rescuing people that are in danger, but just other other kinds of calls that we just went above and beyond to help the people. So I'm extremely proud of that. our facilities team, you know, the facilities that we have in South Haven when you have a weather event like that. Uh there's all kinds of risk involved. I mean, you know, securing the buildings, making sure that you don't have catastrophic losses to your to the taxpayers's property, keeping the parking lots safe, everything and everything. Uh great job there. Uh utilities, u you know, when you when you talk about utilities, it's water and sewer, but that's not all that they do. Our utilities team, they do anything in the world. when they're on the streets, people need their help. They're there to help them. You know, they're on call 24/7. They're running trucks all over the street. They're fixing uh broken uh frozen pipes, turning water off for frozen pipes or, you know, fixing, you know, water main

brakes and everything else. So, it's just a, you know, when everybody else is at home sleeping and can't wait to get up and and give their rating of how the city did at 8:00 in the morning, that's because them and a lot of us were up at 3:00 in the morning. we were working when you were sleeping. So these people do an incredible job. Um and then uh the other departments too like you know I always try to make sure that I explain this because all of our departments when you have an operation like the city of South Haven you know it's it's like a body like you know what the arm does and the brain does and the knees do and the feet do without one of them the whole thing doesn't work or it's severely hampered. So obviously we praise those people that are on the streets in the cold weather, you know, not get enough sleep, not getting enough food and everything like that. We that's an outstanding effort, but don't forget the other people who, you know, had laptops at home. And so when everybody else was watching Lifetime Movies, enjoying the beautiful uh uh white ground, they were not watching Lifetime movies. They were on their laptop. They were answering phone calls. Their calls were forwarded. So everybody was working during this event. So anyway, if we can, I just want to thank uh acknowledge the the people that gave a tremendous extra effort during this event and uh and thank everybody for that. Okay, moving on. Um the y'all at a previous meeting we talked about uh every other year uh the Economic Development Council coordinates a congressional briefing trip to Washington DC. Uh we we used to do it every year, started doing it every other year now, trying to get them to come here because there's things we can show them here when we're asking, you know, for federal assistance um funding specifically with certain things. A lot of times it's it's great to have them here so we can show them. And uh but we still go there every other year. So this

year is the year that we're going to DC on March 18 through 20. So uh time is up. We got to let them know uh tomorrow morning if you will let Christy Faulner know who we can take. Uh they have three each city's taken can take three alderments. So if y'all will um make a decision on who those three are and let Christie know by uh by like 9:00 a.m. tomorrow if you will and we'll go ahead and let the council know, you know, so they can make u appropriate reservations. Um, one thing that you're going to get, I just want, no action needed tonight, but I want you to know when you get this, we'll probably email it to you, uh, so you can be reviewing it before the next meeting. But there's, um, we're going to eventually have to do something about the billboard sign ordinance because as the interstate is widened, um, you know, between Goodman Road and Church Road, it's going to enhance demand for advertising along that corridor. And so really we have a an ordinance that's I don't want to use the word antiquated but it's it's it's kind of old and the reason is we want to be careful when you when you when you get into a sign ordinance you have to be real careful because sometimes you can create more harm than you do good with signs. Um and and as our attorneys will all tell us we we can't regulate content. So we have to make sure that we're you know following all laws with our ordinances. But um we have a proposal that that expands the ability to put more billboards on I this is on I55 only and uh Whitney is going to have that ready. You're putting the finishing touches on that with maps and the whole thing. But it's going to be my recommendation to you that we go ahead and get ahead of this because they're they're going to be um demands that are coming. So if we go ahead and lay this out, it's going to be better for the city that we and everybody else so everybody knows what the rules and the guidelines are. So, we will send that

out by email for review. Reach out to me with any uh questions about that, please. And then we'll add it on the um agenda on on February 17. Um Mike Mullen's uh tribute hall unveiling because of the weather and a bunch of other things that we were going to have that tonight. It was best for us to move that to the 17th. So, we will have uh the tribute hall ser unveiling ceremony uh in the tribute hall on on the 17th of February at 5:15 uh today. Uh we got the signs at Greenbrook done. So, if you haven't seen them, ride by and check it out. It's it's beautiful. It's a great tribute to a great man that u dedicated a lot of his life to the city. So, that was special for us. And then that is basically all that is all I have tonight. So, we'll move on. Next on our agenda is our personnel document.

Mr. Mr. Mayor move we approve the personnel docket as presented on the date. Second. We have a motion by Alderman Payne, second by Alderman Wheeler. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Alderman Payne, yes. Alderman Lewis, yes. Alderman, yes. Alderman Jerome, yes. Alderman Gallagher, yes. Alderman Wheeler, yes. Alman Flores, yes.

That motion carries. Next on our agenda is our city attorney's legal update. Mr. Nick Manley again. A couple items um sent an email out for for these items earlier. The first one though is uh one that came up yesterday is going ahead and approving the record rotation list for South Haven Police Department. Um that was finalized yesterday. It's American towing, auto rescue, choice towing, Griffit towing, K& towing and transport and Robert's automotive and towing. Um see the authorization to approve the list as set forth in the resolution. Salute. We have a motion Hoots.

Second Alderman Lewis. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. Roll call. Alderman Payne. Yes. Alderman Lewis. Yes. Alderman Higs. Yes. Alderman Jerome. Yes. Alderman Gallagher. Yes. Orderman Wheeler. Yes. Orderman Flores. Yes. And that motion carries. Uh the next item is the uh authorization to go ahead and start the no process for the activation for the airways overlay from nail to church road and the get well use meanwell road multi-use trail from church to star landing. Um need authorization to activate those two projects for the m through the no. I'll make that motion. Second.

We have a motion by alderman Payne, second by Alderman Gallagher. Is there any discussion? Don't the one thing just to remind everybody that how important that NPO is, those uh multi-use trails will connect to what's existing. So we have one before that that's extending it from Nail Road to Church. So then when this one is done from church to Star Landing, you're going to have a trail 10- foot trail that goes that really is connected from Central Park and you know and comes down meanders down to Loma down May Boulevard into Snowen Grove Park then goes southbound along Getwell all the way to Star Landing. So you're talking about that's Whitney that's got to be one of the most the longest pedestrian paths in Mississippi, wouldn't you think?

Yeah. and we have other pieces that can cross over and get the parts and everything else trying to make as comprehensive as possible.

So in 2016 we made a commitment. We joined Greenprint 20 240 which is a a metro plan to for all the cities in the the Midsouth area to start enhancing pedestrian paths and and then eventually start connecting the cities like that. So, we made that commitment um you know almost 10 years ago now, but we've come a long way with our pedestrian pass. We really had before 2016, we really had nothing. I mean, [clears throat] as far as I mean, we had a you know, a few subdivisions that had uh sidewalks and stuff like that, but the uh progress that we've made becoming a more pedestrian friendly city is incredible. So, it's it's very important for the future of our city. So, but anyway, I just want to add that that this that these NPOS's it they're just tremendous when we can get some outside funding for that.

Is that [snorts] path going to stay on the east side of Gwell or is it going to it flips? Uh Whitney, remind me again. I get it. So, it'll be the the new sections we're talking about will actually be on the west side. So, what we have on the east side will cross over at Central Parkway and then continue down the west side. Well, I was wondering because it's it's kind of a ditch there and it'd be kind of you'd have a lot of extra work. Yeah, we're going to capture in front of schools and keep downside. So, and when Gwell the Gwell Road project was done, the road was built for that to prep for that. So, okay, any other discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Alderman Payne, yes. Alderman Lewis, yes. Alderman Hoot, yes. Alman Jerome, yes. Alderman Gallagher, yes. Alman Wheeler, yes. Arman Flores,

yes. That motion carries. And then last item is the um South Haven Fire Department recently went to bid for uniforms. Um they received two bids. Uh the bids were from Midsouth Solutions and then also um Emergency Equipment Professionals. The low bid was Midsouth Solutions. However, the um fire department is rep recommending that we go with emergency equipment professionals. Um the emergency equipment professionals bid was $4,295 per uniform and the um Midsouth solutions was $4,22. So it's about a two and a half percent increase or two and a half percent difference um between midsouth [clears throat] solutions and emergency equipment professionals. Um however emergency equipment professionals has um an office in the inventory in Detto County on Highway 51. So, it's closer. Also, that they're um they have recently been used by the South Haven Police Department and it's been um very I guess 100% better is the quote that was used and better um service, better um quality, better items or just a better situation. And then there's been some um issues with Midsouth Solutions as far as the uniforms go um with delays receiving them and not receiving them at all. So based on those factors and um the request tonight is to go with the higher bid of emergency equipment professionals um for the reasons stated um and those be set forth in the resolution if approved by the board.

Mayor I'll make that motion we go E. We have a motion Hoot second Lewis. Any discussion? I like the idea of sticking close to home. Mississippi vendors. Any other discussion? Roll call, please. Alderman Payne, yes. Alderman Lewis, yes. Alderman H. Yes. Alderman Jerome, yes. Alderman Gallagher, yes. Alderman Wheeler, Flores, yes. That motion carries. Next on our agenda is a utilities billing link adjustment docket.

Mr. Mayor, I move we approve the utility bill link adjustment docket as presented. I'll second. We have a motion by Alderman Payne, second by Alderman Jerome. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Alderman Payne, yes. Alderman Lewis, yes. Alderman Hoots, yes. Alderman Jerome, yes. Alderman Gallagher, yes. Alderman Wheeler, yes. Flores, yes. That motion carries. Next on our agenda is one claims docket. Mr. Mayor, I move we approve the claims docket in the amount of1,736,9603 including demand checks. Second.

We have a motion by Alderman Payne. Second Alderman Flores. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. Roll call. Alderman Payne. Yes. Alderman Lewis. Yes. Alderman Hoot. Yes. Alderman Jerome. Yes. Alderman Gallagher. Yes. Alderman Wheeler. Yes. Alman Flores. Yes. That motion carries. Next on our agenda is the purpose of determining the need for executive session. I'll make that motion. Second. We have a motion by Alderman Gallagher, second by Alderman Wheeler. All in favor say I. I. I. Any oppose say no.

Eyes have it. The needs this evening are claim against the police department, economic development within the city, utilities personnel, fire personnel, public works personnel, and interdep departmental personnel with no action. So is there now a motion to declare executive session? So move. Second. We have a motion Hoot, second Alderman Jerome. All in favor say I. Any oppose, say no. Eyes have it. Motion carries. The mayor and board will now enter executive session.