Mayor and Board of Aldermen - Regular Meeting

Everyone, I'm now calling this meeting to order. Please stand with us. Be led in prayer by Alderman Gallagher. Please remain standing after that for the pledge of allegiance that will be led by Alderman at large George Payne. Heavenly Father, once again we come before you asking for your grace, Lord, and your mercy. Lord, I pray that you would u be with our nation and heal it, Lord. uh be with our city and watch over it, Lord Jesus. And we just thank you for the opportunity to be here in Jesus name. Amen.

I pledge allegiance 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. Before we get started this evening, it's been brought to my attention there could have be some confusion. We may have uh some in the audience that are looking for the MDQ hearing. And just making sure everybody understands this is a city board meeting. This is not the hearing. MDQ is having a public hearing at the Ranger Center at Northwest Community College on Church Road. So anyway, just making sure everybody if if you're expecting that you're uh just if you want to get there, I believe the meeting start at the same time. So uh you still have time to get over there if that's what you intended to do. First on the agenda this evening is the approval of minutes for the February 3, 2026 meeting.

Second. We have a motion by Alderman Hoot, second by Alderman Payne. Is there any discussion hearing? None. Roll call. Alderman Payne. Yes. Yes. Alderman Lewis. Yes. Alderman who? Yes. Alderman Jerome. Yes. Alderman Gallagher. Yes. Alderman Wheeler. Yes. Alderman Flores. Yes.

That motion carries. Next on our agenda is an amendment to our employee handbook. I'll go ahead and handle this one. Y'all y'all know that uh we recently went through um arguably one of the worst winter storms in the history of our city. and uh just witnessing it firsthand with [clears throat] the effort that our people put forth uh during the event. Um and y'all know that it was a rare combination of ice, not just snow. So, wreaked a lot of havoc on the u the public roadways and our streets. And so, we had u there's required a whole lot, you know, to get those things cleared up. And and so what we want to do is um just amend the handbook. We've had an inclement weather policy. It's been enforced for um probably a decade, but um we want to make an adjustment to this and u and and u and phrase it the critical event policy because it's more than just weather. This same thing could occur uh in situations where the city is in a dangerous situation due to you know something other than weather. You know there could be miscellaneous other things that would cause a critical event. So, so what happened basically obviously our our public safety, our police and fire, EMS, uh that's they work on different shifts than the rest of us because of uh their careers by nature. You know, it's a 247 operation, never shuts down. So, that's taken into account, you know, with their compensation. Um our utilities crews and public works crews and facilities crews are different than that. [snorts] So, they're paid based on basically a 40-hour week. So what we had during this last situation is we had um because we have limited personnel, the personnel are are geared towards what happens in a 365day period. We don't we don't we don't we don't have people just unlimited number of personnel that are on staff. So we had uh some of these

people that were working u 18our shifts and so you know it's just just an unbelievable effort by so many of them. So basically this policy just redefineses what a critical event is and enables there to be um uh extra compensation for uh for employees that work in these critical events in in uh facilities, public works and uh and utilities. And so, uh, what I want to do is, uh, if we agree to pass this tonight is also go back retroactively and pay them for the past storm because I I want them to know that that all of us appreciate, you know, when when things get tough, you know, you need people that step up to the plate [clears throat] uh, and put forth that extra effort and we want to make sure that we reward them for that. Um, so anyway, that's what this is about. So, I'm asking, we'll discuss it more, but I'm asking for a motion.

I'll make a motion. Second. So we have a motion modern wheeler second hoots. And so any other discussion or questions about this? I think it's a great idea. [clears throat] Okay. Any other discussion? Hearing none. Roll call, please. Alderman Payne, yes. Alderman Lewis, yes. Alderman Hoot, yes. Alderman Jerome, yes. Alderman Gallagher, yes. Orderman Wheeler, Flores, yes. That motion carries. Next on our agenda is uh our bids for the sweeper truck bid discussion about that. What's going on?

Yeah, Mayor Mort. Um the uh city went out to bid for sweeper trucks. The bids came back and the low bid um was um from River City. However, it didn't satisfy or have the um uh requirements of set forth in the bid specs and the higher bid from Cington Sales um was higher than what was budgeted anticipated. So tonight, the recommendation is to reject both bids and then enter back into a contract with um the company that we're using now for the for now so we can have those streets clean and then reassess um the bid specs moving forward for a possible rebid for the trucks. But tonight, just authorize the rejection of both bids um for this uh sweeper truck.

So move second. We have a motion Gallagher, second by Arman Hoots. Is there any discussion hearing? None. Roll call. Alderman Payne? Yes. Alderman Lewis? Yes. Alderman Hoots? Yes. Alderman Jerome? Yes. Alderman Gallagher. Yes. Wheeler, Flores, yes. That motion carries. Next on the agenda is a resolution to acknowledge Stormwater Week. Yeah. This resolution is just part of the permit of the city under to designate um as part of the outreach for the permit for April 13th through 17th as storm water week. I'll make the motion move.

We have a motion by Alderman Payne. Is there a second? Second by Alderman Lewis. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. Roll call, please. Alderman Payne, yes. Alderman Lewis, yes. Alderman Hoot, yes. Alderman Jerome, yes. Yes. Alderman Gallagher. Yes. Arman Wheeler. Yes. Ardman Flores. Yes. That motion carries. Next on the agenda is a contract for a donation to our South Haven Police Department.

This contract um is with MZXT LLC. It's a donation for the South Haven Police Department in the amount of 1,380,000 and not $380,00 purchases. So tonight, I need authorization for the um signature for the contract so that donation can be made. I'll make that motion. Mayor, we have [clears throat] a motion by Alderman Payne, second by Alderman Lewis. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Alderman Payne, yes. Alderman Lewis, yes. Alderman Hoots, yes. Alderman Jerome, yes. Alderman Gallagher, yes. Alman Wheeler, yes. Alman Flores, yes. That motion carries. Next on the agenda is a waste pro contract amendment.

This contract amendment with Waste Pros for an additional year beginning on May 1st, 2026. Um so this as part of the contract was initial two years. Um then there was seven one-year additional terms and this will extend it for the first year on the additional terms of until April 30th 2027. So need um authorization for the mayor to sign the amendment for the additional year. I'll make that motion. Second. We have a motion by Alderman Wheeler, second by Alderman Payne. Is there any discussion hearing? None. Roll call. Alderman Payne. Yes. Yes. Alderman Lewis. [clears throat] Yes. Alderman who? Yes. Alderman Jerome. Yes. Alderman Gallagher. Yes. Alman Wheeler. Yes. Alman Flores. Yes.

That motion carries. Next on the agenda is authorization to seek bids for the generator project with the police department. Yeah. At the last meeting it was approved for the engineering um contract for the uh generation generator project. Um this is just authorization to seek bids for the project. It'll provide power um to the entire facility during an outage. um the current situ or the current generators only um provides power in during the dispatch area. So this will need um this will provide power to the entire um operation um facility um for the project once it's completed. So authorization to seek bids is needed and once those bids are received and come back forward by the board.

I'll make the motion mayor. We have a motion Payne. Is there a second? I'll second. Second Alderman Lewis. Is there any discussion hearing? None. Roll call. Alderman Payne? Yes. Alderman Lewis? Yes. Alderman Hoot? Yes. Alderman Jerome? Yes. Alderman Gallagher? Yes. Orderman Wheeler? Yes. Orderman Flores? Yes. That motion carries. Next on the agenda is approval for police department purchases.

These purchases are from the grant from from the uh to the South Police Department. The first approval is they're both on state contract is the mobile command vehicle um at 365 371 and the second is for the purchase of five Dodge Rams on state contract and that total is $194,860. Need authorization to approve both those purchases. So move second. We have a motion by Alderman Hoo, second by Alderman Wheeler. Is there any discussion? Nice toys. Is the mobile command is that going to is that also emergency dispatch or is that just mobile command? What's that?

Is the mobile command just mobile command or is that got emergency dispatch as well? Emergency dispatch for the mobile command or is just mobile? Just mobile command. Okay. What' you say? Any other discussion? Hearing none. Roll call. Alderman Payne? Yes. Alderman Lewis? Yes. Alderman Hughes? Yes. Alderman Jerome. Yes. Alderman Gallagher. Yes. Arman Wheeler. Yes. Alman Flores. Yes. That motion carries. Next on our agenda is a service contract for utilities.

Yeah. This contract is for extended warranty for utilities. The 2026 Dodge Ram um 7-year 100,000 mile extended warranty. Um the increasing cost and repairs for the utilities department um has become an issue. So, this will help offset those costs and events needed. The cost is in the amount of $4,320 and approval is needed for the director of utilities department to sign. Second. We have a motion Payne, second by Alderman Wheeler. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor say I. I.

Any [clears throat] oppose say no. Eyes have it. Motion carries. Next on the agenda is the authorization of uh of use of a city facility according to our rental policy. Oh, sorry. Um authorization is needed just for the use of Forever Young Center on February 21st from 1 to 3 p.m. for the North Mississippi Bluebird Symposium. So move second. We have a motion of Alderman Hoots, second by Alderman Wheeler. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. Roll call. Alderman Payne. Yes. Alderman Lewis. Yes. Alderman Huth. Yes. Alderman Jerome. Yes. Alderman Gallagher. Yes. Alman Wheeler. Yes. Alman Flores. Yes.

That motion carries. Next on our agenda is planning agenda. Nothing tonight. Okay, we'll move on. Next on our agenda is our mayor's report. Just a quick um quick discussion about um man, the weeks run together and we start looking at the calendar. realize that today is going to be the last board meeting for our utilities director, Ray Humphrey. And u so he's retiring on February 27. So this will be his last public meeting. And uh Ray started with the city in 1986. 1986 that's been a long time ago. started uh worker kept on you just earned the the trust and uh respect of all his peers and became the director of utilities has held that position for a long time and um there's going to be a lot more celebration in the next two weeks about Ray Humphrey but what I'll say tonight is u I I thought about it like how do you if just in a few words how do you explain Ray Humphrey and It's the ultimate team player. I mean, the guy is just and a worker. I mean, the guy is just a dang worker and the ultimate team player. Like anything that uh needs to happen in this city, he he's never looking to see, you know, who's going to step up and do that, he's he's already on it. He he's solving uh that problem before anybody else even really gets gets focused on it. But I could talk about Ray's work ethic, but Ry has truly been one of the hardest working people that we've ever had as a city. And like I said, uh the ultimate teammate. Whenever another department needs him. Anytime I've ever called on him 24/7. It could be 8:00 on a Saturday night. You know, if I hear something, I reach out to him. Ray's there and he's he's on it. I mean, he's on it immediately. And so, we're gonna Ray,

we're going to miss you. We're going to miss you a lot. Thank you. [applause]

And I'm going to let that be the mayor's report tonight. So, we're going to move on. The next on our agenda is the citizens agenda. And uh Mr. Chris Cresman signed up to speak. Please come forward. Welcome there.

Yes, sir. Okay, this is about my water bill. My mother's paid it for 32 years. I've paid it for two years. It's about me coming here to get $25 put back into my hand, not taking off my bill, but it's my right to get it. And I'm going to explain why. On December the 11th, I paid my water bill. December the 12th at 9:00 I got a message call from South Haven saying I'm going to cut your water off if you don't pay it by the 17th. So I called back and talked to a lady. I said hey I paid my bill got receipt in hand. She said do not worry about that. It's okay. The 16th of that same month December 16th got another call at 5:00 said we're going to cut your bill off water off if you don't pay it by tomorrow. I went down there the next day. I said why do I have to worry about that? Why am I having to waste my time to come down here and explain about these phone calls? The lady said it was a glitch. I said, "I think it's a human error. I think y'all can mash some kind of button to stop from getting that phone call." Okay. When that happened, I specifically never said, "Take my name off the call list." I said, "I do not want to be called if I've paid my bill. Take care of that." So, I didn't get another call. And at 2:12, I was going to pay my bill at 2:00. I noticed my water was cut off at 10:00 that morning. So, I went down there and talked to a different lady than I talked to before. And I told her that uh you know, I hadn't paid my water bill. There's $25 added to it. [clears throat] At 4:15 that afternoon, I was back down there. I said, "No one has showed up cutting the water back on." So I said, "Can I cut it on myself?" And I did. But I never asked to be there was when the lady called back. I said, "You tell me where my phone was called and saying a

certain date." I said, "I thought you got the 17th." I said, "Show me on this bill that South Haven puts out where it says a specific date your phone, your water's going to get cut off." I know I'm a month behind. I'm moving on March 11th. Far as I know, my house is sold. I'm going to be gone from here. But I don't like treat people not being treated right. Trying to speak to someone about something, they won't make some excuse and then when you say something about it, it's like you're in the wrong cuz you're not the head people there. But you can look up the records. It's not a fancy deal here. It's nothing. But what I'm saying is true. It's a principle of the thing for me to get a call on the 12th after I paid it on December the 11th and to get one on the 16th and me having to go down there and say, "Do y'all not have enough figure out in y'all's lifetime for I don't know how y'all got this job." I said, "But mash a button, do whatever you got to do to stop it from going to someone saying the water's going to be cut off and hadn't wasted time. I want the $25 back. It's mine. It's my right. I don't want to take it off my bill. And if I'm wrong about this and y'all go through this yourself, you're going to experience what I did thinking you're not being treated right. So that's all I got to say. Well, and I'm going to say this because I'm going to be real candid and honest with you, and I'm not trying to upset you. That's not my goal at all. Um, but there's a a lengthy time period that you're late on a bill before you go to cut off. The reason that the city has a fee and it's applied equally to everyone is because it takes more resources. So when when your wa when your water is that far late and it's been repetitively because they brought it to my attention. It's not one time you've been late on your water bill countless a lot of times. And so when it's late like that it's taking extra resources for the taxpayers to have somebody to go out there to manage that. Then they have a cut off list. So there's special employees that are assigned to that and that it goes on a

list. So there is some turnaround time. It's not like an immediate thing where you say somebody pushes a button. That's not how it works. I mean, when we get to the point where somebody's water's got to be cut off, there's resources assigned to that. So, the $25 fee is for those resources. Everything I just said to you, I still mean it. I think you're in the wrong. Okay. That's why you're getting a chance to speak. I appreciate that. But I'm going to respond as I always do when somebody comes forward. I'm going to put the facts out there. And the facts are that you paid your water bill late. And you paid it late many times. It's been paid though, right? It has. But you've already caused resources to have to have been spent on that. That's why you're being charged $25. Is it on this letter saying that

you're not the only person? Anybody that's is that's applied fairly and equally to anyone who pays their bill late. Those are the facts, sir. But anyway, your opin your opinion and mine. It's not an opinion. It's not an opinion. Okay. Well, everything I've said, I'm going to stand behind it. I'm going to take it to my grave. I feel like I'm in the right. Okay. When you get a phone call after the 12th, after the 11th at 9:00, then you get another one on the 16th and somebody doesn't have enough sense to do something. Why do you pay your bills 6 weeks late every I'm behind. Money's been tight. That's why I'm selling my house and moving. People are in tight for money right now. Yeah, it's been hard for me to pay my bills.

But you and I'm sorry about that. I wish you all the best. But what I'm trying to explain to you is we have all of us have a job to do to manage the taxpayers money to be fair with that. So this policy is in place for that. It's not it's not to create any hardship for you or anything like that. It's nothing personal against you, but to be fair with the taxpayers. That's why there is a fee. So that's why this board has the authority to wave that. And if y'all want to do it, I'll say nothing else about it. But it's not fair to the other people in this city who pay the $25 cut off fee.

Well, there needs to be something on this letter saying exactly when it's going to get cut off. when you get a letter, when you get a phone call saying, "Hey, if you don't pay it by the 17th," you assume that's what's going to happen next time, the 17th, you know, because you're you're not going to owe a bill on 17th, and then get a message say, "We fix to cut your water off tomorrow." I've been a month behind, and I'm going to catch up. I don't know what kind of deposit I got, but I want, you know, that'll be straightened out and clear. But I would take it to my grave and know I'm in the right no matter I appreciate you what you said. Talk to me straight up, but I I will never ever as long as I live. I've made a lot of mistakes in my life. I've been wrong about stuff and say, "Hey, you were wrong. If I'm wrong, I will say I'm I'm wrong." I will bow down and say, "Hey, I was in the wrong. I'm right about this." But hey, whatever y'all decide, but I want this $25 back in my hand. It's mine. Y'all make your decision. knew what you want to do. But everything I've told y'all is the way it happened. I don't think it's fair to people not to put it on this letter say, "Hey, we're going to cut your water off this month on the 12th. The next month's the 17th." I'm telling you what happened. 34 years worth. My family's paid bills up here. You know, yeah, a month behind, but 34 years worth. That's a lot. But I know that's no different than, hey, you're grown. Pay your bills on time. But I'm telling you, I've been in a tight I never been a tight like this in my lifetime. But things happen and I'm going to come out of this down the road and look back on it and say, "Wow, this is only $25, but I don't care if it's a dollar. It's a principle and I'm in the right." It's all I got to say.

Well, that's all I got to say. Thank you, sir. So, is there a motion to remove the $25 fee from this account? Does anyone want to make a motion to remove the $25 fee? Okay. Hearing none, we'll move on. There's no motion. All right. Next on the agenda is a donation docket. Lucky dog. Well, we have more than one. So, to our animal shelter, right, Nick? Yes, both of them. 344 from Lucky Dog and then cast Retail Group 766. Mr. Mayor, I move we approve the two donations to our animal shelter from Lucky Dog and from Castle Retail Group presented on this date. We have a motion by Alderman Payne. Is there a second? I'll

second. Second by Alderman Lewis. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. Roll call, please. Alderman Payne, yes. Alderman Lewis, yes. Alderman Hoots, yes. Alderman Jerome, yes. Alderman Gallagher, yes. Alderman Wheeler, yes. Arman Flores, yes. That motion carries. Next on the agenda is a personnel docket. Mr. Mayor, I move we approve the personnel docket as presented on this date. Second. We have a motion, Alderman Payne, second Hoots. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. Roll call. Alderman Payne. Yes. Alderman Lewis. Yes. Alderman Hoots. Yes. Alderman Jerome. Yes. Orderman Gallagher. Yes. Arman Wheeler. Yes. Arman Flores. [snorts] Yes.

That motion carries. Next on the agenda is our city attorney's legal update. Mr. Nick Manley. Again, [snorts] just have one quick item. uh just authorization to for um Dylan Brink to sign the monitoring agreement with the court uh fire department or court monitoring agreement for fire. Um it's just associate it's a $850 um fee uh and it allows for the installation and inspection for the new building. Second. We have a motion hoop second by Alderman Payne. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor say I. I.

Any oppose say no. Eyes have it. Motion carries. Next on our agenda is our utilities billing leak adjustment docket. Mr. Mayor, I move we approve the utility bill leak adjustment docket as presented on presented on this date. Second. We have a motion of Alderman Payne, second Alderman Gallagher. Is there any discussion hearing? None. Roll call. Alderman Payne. Yes. Alderman Lewis, yes. Alderman Hoot, yes. Orderman Jerome, yes. Orderman Gallagher, yes. Arman Wheeler, yes. Arman Flores, yes. That motion carries. Next on our agenda, we have one claims docket.

Mr. Mayor, I move we approve the claims docket in the amount of $7,625,9062 including demand checks. Second. We have a motion. Bman Payne, second Bman Flores. Is there any discussion hearing? None. Roll call. Alderman Payne. Yes. Alderman Lewis. Yes. Alderman Hoot. Yes. Alderman Jerome. Yes. Alderman Gallagher. Yes. Orderman Wheeler. Yes. Arman Flores. Yes. That motion carries. Next on our agenda is to determine the purpose of executive session. Make that motion. Second. We have a motion Gallagher, second by Alderman Payne. All in favor say I.

Any oppose say no. Eyes have it. The needs this evening are litigation and claims involving city infrastructure and the Sally and the Sing Fire Department economic development um police personnel and interdep departmental personnel with no action. Is there is there now a motion to declare executive session? Second. Got a motion Hoots. Second Aderman Lewis. All in favor say I. I any oppose say no. Eyes have it. Motion carries. The mayor and board will now enter executive session.