Louisville Alderman Discuss Budgets and Garbage Pickup Violations

The Louisville Board of Aldermen met on Tuesday, August 7 in a regularly scheduled meeting. Prior to the meeting, a public budget hearing was held.The city will continue work on department budgets with a further work session next week. The following are the results of Tuesday's meeting:

• The Crimestoppers representative was not in attendance and the discussion of establishing a local Crimestoppers was postponed until the August 21 meeting.
• The Board adopted a  resolution for Golden Triangle Planning and Development to apply for a Rural Business Enterprise Grant through Rural Development for the expansion of the hanger at the airport for Delta Aviation.  The Board also paid airport invoices related to previous construction grants.
• The Board authorized the sale of land adjoining the old Louisville Brick Company to MS Property Investments LLC and authorized the payments of 70% of the amount of $52,268.65 to Mississippi Development Authority and 30% in the amount of $22,400.85 to Winston County Economic Development Partnership. (The City acted as a go-between for the sale)  
• Acknowledged the transfer of forfeited tax land from the State of Mississippi. See the previous article on WWN.
• Found the unclean property on 314 South Jones to be in compliance
• Allowed an extension on the cleanup of an unclean property on 117 Eiland til October 2.
• Set a hearing on unclean property at 405 Metts Street owned by Larry D. Walker for September 4.
• Set Hearing on unclean property at 114 Kennedy owned by Sarah Bell for September 4
• Authorized payment of Docket of Claims  in the amount of $128,546.14
• Authorize payment of $7,475 to ETCA for annual groundwater testing at the landfill to be paid from landfill funds.
• The Board acknowledged receipt of $4,113.10 from Red Hill Salvage, LLC and then authorized payment of same amount to IPFS Corp, for insurance on Georgia Pacific building.
• The Board tabled action on payment to the Policy Center for annual insurance premium til full accounting could be completed
• Authorized Dare  Training for Tonya McWhirter  in Tupelo August 19-31 at no cost to the city.
• Approved Sue Daniels’ attendance to the Professional Development and Municipal Court Clerk’s training in Jackson on September 5-7 at no cost to the city.
• Approved Todd McCullough’s attendance to the MS Recreation &  Parks Association training in Jackson on September 17-20, $255.00 registration cost plus meals.
• Reappointed Mrs. Frances Edwards to a three year appointment on the Historic Preservation Board .
• Board member Judy McLeod requested that the Board consider a feasibility study on hiring the city's own mechanic to service city vehicles. No action was taken at this time.
• There was also discussion that a 3 mil levy increase tied specifically to the Winston County Library be considered in future budgets to help fund its operation. No action to be taken at this time.
• Several Aldermen had requests for city grounds maintenance and care in different parts of the city. These were to be provided to Public Works for review.
• Alderman Eugene Crosby raised the issue of possible regulation of residential rental properties in the city. Several other communities have taken some form of action to insure code enforcement of these properties. No action was taken at this time.
• Crosby also raised the issue of garbage pickup violations. Several Board members indicated that a few citizens were not following the rules for large item pickup and leaving these items for extended periods of time. Code Enforcement Officer Jody Fulton indicated that the City was aware of the problem and were working on "warning stickers" to be placed on property when codes were violated to notify property owners.

The Board's next meeting is scheduled for August 21.

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