Grant Funds Renovation At Coffeeville Town Hall
Anthony Turner (right) mixes mortar for bricklayer Leslie Mister (center) as he works on the Coffeeville Town Hall. Fred Oswalt (left) of AT&T is checking telephone lines. Renovations are expected to take about a month.
Coffeeville’s Town Clerk Brenda Gibson is temporarily located in the Police Department during renovations to Town Hall. – Photos by Jack Gurner
By Jack Gurner
Reporter
COFFEEVILLE – Town Hall is undergoing a facelift thanks to a $50,000 grant administered by the Mississippi Development Authority.
Mayor Mack Burns announced the Small Municipalities and Limited Population Grant during the March meeting of the Town Board.
Work began Monday, June 7, and is expected to take about a month. Meanwhile, the Town Clerk’s office is temporarily located in the Police Department across the street at 16415 Depot.
Payment of utility bills and other Town business will be conducted there, according to Town Clerk Brenda Gibson. She praised Police Chief Mark Martin for helping move and set up computer equipment. “It was a nice, fast transition because of Mark.”
Gibson is new to the position of Town Clerk having been hired by Aldermen during the May meeting of the Town Board.
Among other actions at the May 4 meeting, the Board of Aldermen:
• Heard from Chip Frazier who expressed his concerns over the narrow width of some sections of Tennessee Street along with potholes that need to be repaired.
Mayor Burns said that he agreed with Mr. Frazier’s concerns and would check to see what kind of grant funds may be available to rework the bridges and overlay the street, the minutes state.
• Accepted a quote of $3000 to remove two large oak trees and two smaller trees at the intersection of Okahoma and Oak Streets.
• Hired Chad Carwile as a part-time police officer to replace Steve McLarty who resigned.
• Resolved to apply for a grant from the USDA to purchase a new police vehicle.
• Authorized Mayor Burns to solicit bids for the water tank project.
• Raised the minimum sewer rate to $11 for 1000 gallons and $2.50 for each additional 1000 gallons subject to approval from the Public Service Commission.
• Voted to continue to pay 70 percent of the cost of health insurance for Town employees after the rates went from $317.54 per month to $400.04 per month per employee.
• Paid Claims.
• Adjourned.
Present at the meeting were Mayor Burns and Aldermen Michael Ayers, Joe Bourn, George Miller, Bryan McCullough, and Eva Longstreet. Also present were Town Attorney William L. Maxey and Police Chief Mark Martin.
