Coffeeville Aldermen Handle Routine Business

Staff Report

COFFEEVILLE – Kerrie Staten appeared before the Mayor and Board of Aldermen during the regular monthly meeting April 7 and requested that the stop sign in front of her home be moved up the street.

According to the minutes from the meeting, Staten complained that she experienced loud noises, squealing tires, and trash thrown in her yard if and when people stopped at the stop sign.

She also stated that the police did not monitor this stop sign enough and that Officer Milton Hervey failed to respond to a call regarding some of the issues she mentioned, it was reported in the minutes. Mayor Mack Burns explained that moving this sign was not an option.

Staten also complained of her water bill being too high and that the meter reader was not reading her meter because of silt in the box. Mayor Burns explained that silt and water enter the meter boxes due to rainfall. This is not uncommon and happens all over town.

Mayor Burns also explained   that she was actually under the normal usage level based on average usage for four occupants in her home. Meter readings have been re-checked and are accurate.

Mayor Burns offered to make an adjustment from her current ten thousand gallon bill to eight thousand gallons of usage. Alderman William Shelton suggested waiting until the next billing cycle and see how much usage she has at that time.

Staten also expressed how inadequately the Town crew had cleaned out the curb in front of her home, the minutes continued. She stated that she had to call them back because they left debris in the street and that they should have done the work right the first time. Mayor Burns said that he would pass this information along to the Maintenance Supervisor.

Among other actions, the Board of Aldermen:

• Heard from Eric Nicholson, who appeared concerning a letter he had received from the Town regarding a zoning violation. Nicholson is currently renting out a business for private events, which he once ran for other purposes. This building is located within an area zoned residential thus the notice of violation from the Town.

Mr. Nicholson told the board that he used this building as a residence and saw no problem with renting it out for events. Town Attorney Larry Maxey instructed Nicholson to submit a letter requesting a variance to the zoning for this location and then a public hearing would be held regarding this matter. Nicholson said that he would submit the variance request;

• Heard from Glenda Smith and Belton Johnson who expressed their intent to open a sports bar and grill in Coffeeville. Another individual with an interest in the project, Marcus Johnson, was not able to attend the meeting.

Their plan is to have an establishment similar to Chili’s or Applebee’s with a family type atmosphere. They are currently looking at vacant buildings in the commercially zoned (C-l) downtown area.

Mayor Burns will meet with Smith and Johnson to make contact with the owners of existing buildings for lease or sell and also assist with any other questions they might have, according to the board minutes;

• Voted to send Alderman Michael Ayers to attend Mississippi Rural Water board member training;

• Approved paying 70 percent of town employees’ insurance costs;

• Agreed to purchase a full page advertisement for $100 in the Central Mississippi Incorporated banquet program;

• Increased the Town’s contribution to the Coffeeville Library from $200 to $300 per month at the request of Patty Bailey. Yalobusha County contributes $30,800 per year and the rest of the budget comes from state funding and grants that have been reduced for the coming year leaving a shortfall in the library budget;

• Tabled for additional information adding local assessments to fines. Mayor Burns informed the Board that the state allows addition of up to $50 in local assessments;

• Hired Noel Hughes to remove trees from the bank on Rayburn Street at a cost of $3000. The Board discussed current cost estimates to complete the project which ran as high as $50,000-plus;

• Authorized Mayor Burns to borrow up to $17,705 to purchase a 2009 Dodge truck for the Town crew at state contract price;

• Tabled action on repair or replacement of the Town Hall roof. The Board wanted to obtain more information.

Estimates for different types of roofs run from $6,650 to $9,425. The consensus of the Board was that a metal roof would be the best option to pursue;

• Heard from Chief Martin who reported that there were no problems covering the Town with three full-time officers and one part-time office;

• Discussed a list of public concerns including:

Curb at corner of Fly and Morrison, road sinking in at corner of NW Street and Okahoma, police coverage, speeding on Okahoma, home Program – apply in August, installation of “children at play” signs on various streets around elementary school, EMS service, and A.V. Logan home on Brower Rd. – loitering.

• Were told by Mayor Burns that the Town has received notification of approval from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency for two new warning sirens and one generator for the water well;

• Paid Claims.

In attendance were Mayor Mack Burns, Aldermen Michael Ayers, Joe Bourn, Johnnie Roland, William Shelton, Town Clerk Patricia Moody, Police Chief Mark Martin, and City Attorney William L. Maxey.

The Coffeeville Town Board meets the first Tuesday of each month at Town Hall. For additional information or to be placed on the agenda, contact Town Clerk Moody at 675-2642.