City Officials Declare Property Surplus, Could Make Space For New Business

Mayor Larry Hart told Aldermen that some business people were interested in City property that fronts North Court Street between the back of Defer’s Service Station and the old railroad bed.

By Jack Gurner
Reporter

WATER VALLEY – The possibility of a new business opening on North Court Street east of Central was discussed at the regular monthly Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday, May 4.

Mayor Larry Hart told Aldermen that some business people were interested in City property that fronts North Court Street between the back of Defer’s Service Station and the old railroad bed.

Hart explained that about an acre of land was needed and the procedure would be to declare the property surplus. At a point in the future the land would be advertised for sale and bids taken. He noted that the city would reserve the right to reject any and all bids.

The Mayor said that he had not been authorized to say what type of business, but it was more a service business than retail.

Alderman Larry Bell asked if the residents of the area could be consulted since the neighborhood was mostly residential. Hart said that would probably have to be done anyway.

Aldermen voted to declare the property surplus and advertise it for bid at a later date.

Among other actions, the Board of Aldermen:

• Held a public hearing for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).

Hart explained that the city was trying to get $600,000 in grant money through a CDBG and through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to refurbish sewer infrastructure.

The purpose of the hearing, he said, was to talk about how the money would be used to repair a main sewer trunk line.

The Mayor introduced Tim Climer of the North Central Planning and Development District. Climer will be administrator of the grant, he said.

• Approved a resolution allowing the Mayor to submit an application for the CDGB grant and also approved a letter to the ARC regarding the project.

• Took no action on a request by Jamie McCammon for a zoning variance on property located at 129 S. Main Street.

“My intent is to reopen the Jenkins Service Station and do light mechanic work,” McCammon told Aldermen. “And, to supply gas at a full-service station to help the elderly people of this town and the handicapped people of this town.”

McCammon had appeared before the Planning Commission on Jan 18 and again on April 19 to present the project. According to the minutes, the Planning Commission-ers, among other things, had requested that McCammon check with the property owners nearby for their feelings.

McCammon told Commissioners he did and they had no reservations about his proposed business. However, the minutes state that Planning Commission members got a different report from neighbors to the property based on their own investigation.

“The previous administration spent several thousand dollars rewriting the zoning ordinance,” Hart said. “In their wisdom they decided they wanted a Planning Commission to handle these matters.”

Hart read from the minutes that the Planning Commission unanimously could not recommend a variance be given.

“I think it is incumbent on this Board to support this Planning Commission,” Hart added and asked Aldermen if there were a motion to do anything different. There was no motion.

• Adopted the amended Section 2 of the Park Ordinance making the use of tobacco products illegal in City Parks.

Hart said that at the last meeting the board voted to amend the park ordinance and the procedure is to read the part of the ordinance that is being changed. The new version will take effect 30 days after it is published in the Herald.

The amended section now includes wording making it illegal “to use tobacco products of any kind” along with prohibitions already in place against riding bicycles, skateboarding or roller skating on the gazebo, bandstand, tennis courts, basketball courts, sports complexes, walkways or other grounds of all City Parks or other publicly owned places of recreation and enjoyment.

• Reappointed Travis Clement to another five-year term on the Housing Authority Board.

• Paid an $11,259.27 invoice from John Crow.

Hart explained that Crow had been hired early on in the term to prosecute several DUI cases that had been appealed from Municipal Court to Circuit Court. He has completed eight of 17.

“That’s a large amount of money and John has done a large amount of work,” Hart said. “Of the eight cases that he’s completed, we have collected just under $5,000 in fines.”

“So, when this thing washes completely out one day, we will have recovered a very large part of John’s expense that we’re paying him to prosecute these,” the Mayor continued.

“But, more importantly, we will have sent a message to the community that we are not going to turn our backs on DUI convictions in our City Court. We’re not going to tolerate DUI in our city.”

Hart said that Crow had been working hard and it would be in order to authorize the payment.

“Question,” Alderman Fred White said. He then turned to Crow and asked, “John, can we pay you as we collect it?”

White’s good-natured quip drew laughter from the Board members.

“Well, I guess that would be alright,” Crow answered.

He explained that since starting work on the appeals, there had been three new ones added to the roughly 25 already in the system. Nine out of 10 involved DUI. “We haven’t lost one yet over there (in Circuit Court).”

“This has been quite an experience,” Crow said. “By far, they are bogus appeals by lawyers who are making a large amount of money on delaying the consequences.”

Crow added that the appeals had just been sitting in Circuit Court and nothing was being done. “We are doing something about them now.”

• Authorized Mayor Hart to sign an agreement with Yalobusha County involving the loan of two aerators for the City’s wastewater treatment facility.

The aerators have been sitting idle at the treatment plant on County-owned property near Oakland. They were originally intended to provide oxygen for the wastewater discharged from the Mississippi Beef Processor operation. However, only one aerator is needed for the discharge from Windsor Foods, according to County officials.

• Adjourned after meeting for 36 minutes.

The next regular meeting of the Board is June 1.