The Webster Progress-Times

Sewer matters took up most of a special called meeting of the Eupora Board of Aldermen on Monday.

Mayor Pete Fortner reported that utility contractor Perma Corp. of Columbus had determined that the pump motors and drain fields for the self-treatment sewer plants at the North Lake Circle residences of Glenn Both and Russ Turner were not functioning properly.

Fortner said the city has since ordered new equipment for the sewage treatment systems at a cost of a couple of thousand dollars each and should arrive in about two weeks. Booth and Turner had met with the board last week about problems with the equipment; which the city is responsible for maintaining. No action was required by the board.

The mayor also reported that the 14-year-old Water/Sewer Department machine used to clean out sewer lines is no longer operational and requested approval to lease-purchase a new machine at a cost of about $25,000. Fortner said repair expenses would be too costly and requested approval to buy a new machine as an emergency purchase, which the board authorized.

Aldermen also adopted two resolutions authorizing the city to apply for two grants related to sewer system improvements. One resolution declared an emergency situation concerning the replacement of the existing sewage lift station on Hodges Road and requests a $75,000 grant from the Mississippi Development Authority to replace it.

Fortner said the pumping station quit working Saturday. This was the maximum grant amount available and the mayor said the city will probably have to incur another $4,0000-$5,000 in expenses, but that the city may be able to do some of the required concrete work.

The other resolution authorizes the city to apply for a $250,000 Small Municipalities/Limited Population Counties Fund grant to repair the existing sewer line that goes through a field in the Hodges Road area.

Aldermen additionally authorized the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District to submit an application on behalf of the city for an economic development infrastructure Community Development Block Grant for improvements at the city-owned Hawkeye Glove building. The PDD had a public hearing concerning the Hawkeye grant on April 23.

The maximum award available is $650,000, but Fortner said the city can only afford to apply for up to $300,000 based upon the $200,000 worth of equipment in the building that represents Hawkeye's required 20-percent match to the grant. Priority needs to be funded by the grant are heating/air-conditioning equipment and lighting; Fortner said the grant, if awarded, will not be enough to also cover the cost of building a new loading dock and lowering the ceilings, which are also needed.

Two other motions regarding grants were also approved, one authorizing advertisement for bids to reconstruct the airport access road. The city has been awarded a federal grant of nearly $190,000 for this work.

The other motion authorized the city to apply for a COPS grant, which it unsuccessfully applied for the last two years. The grant would fund the hiring of a police officer to teach Drug Abuse Resistance Education classes at 100 percent for three years, with the city required to fund the fourth year.

Aldermen also voted to employ Curry Johnson at minimum wage as an extra summer worker, with his salary to be divided equally between the park and street departments.

Hank Flowers (Ward 4) was absent. The city board's next regular meeting will be at 7 p.m. June 7 at City Hall.