The Webster Progress-Times

Eupora leaders are mulling over the mayor's proposal to use reserve funds to repave city streets.

His plan follows notification last week from the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District that the city's application for a street improvement grant had been declined. Mayor Pete Fortner told aldermen Monday that the state had only approved block grants for sewer projects. Because of the state's financial situation, he said he did not foresee the city receiving such a grant next year either.

Fortner proposed that the board consider contracting with J.J. Ferguson Sand & Gravel to overlay as many streets as possible up to $300,000, with the money coming out of general fund reserves. The bid price which the city accepted from J.J. Ferguson last summer for paving materials remains in effect through Aug. 3 and must be honored by the company through that date.

"I think we need to pave some this summer while we've got a good bid from J.J. Ferguson," Fortner said.

He recommended that the streets be paved in order of need as listed on a street estimate prepared by Calvert-Spradling Engineers last year. The streets include, in order of need, Waterworks Road, South Azalea Drive, East Pecan Avenue, East Gum Avenue, East Elm Avenue, East Cedar Avenue, East Walnut Avenue, South Dunn Street and East Gould Avenue.

The total cost for overlaying all of the streets listed totals $900,000. The city spent $210,000 last summer from reserve funds for J.J. Ferguson to pave some of the streets.

At-large Aldermen Mike Hillhouse said he did not think the board should authorize spending the suggested amount from the reserve funds, which total $455,000. After further discussion, the board agreed to table the matter until its next regular meeting at 7 p.m. July 6, a Tuesday. That meeting will be one day later than normal because the Fourth of July falls on a Sunday and the following Monday is a legal holiday.

Also this week, the board voted to enter into an interlocal agreement with the village of Walthall for the city to collect Walthall's sewer fees beginning Oct. 1. It will do so for a commission of $1 for each sewer service customer for 12 months, with that fee possibly increasing afterwards.

The city owns and operates Walthall's water system and currently collects its water fees, but the village owns the sewer system and bills 78 customers separately for sewer services. The request for the additional collections by Walthall Mayor Belinda Stewart was made because the village has had problems collecting sewer fees.

"We've lost thousands of dollars," she told the board, and confirmed that Walthall aldermen had verbally agreed to allow Eupora to collect the sewer fees.

Fortner said a previous attorney general's opinion stated that the city of Eupora could not cut off water service to Walthall sewer customers who owed sewer fees, as the village had previously requested, since it did not collect those bills.

Greg Medders appeared before the board with questions concerning the board's

previous authorization of grant applications to replace the existing failing sewage lift station on Hodges Road and to repair an existing sewer line.

Ward 1 Alderman Robert Calvin Mays asked that the board consider advertising for the sale of all timber behind Brantley Park. He requested this because the timber borders residences in Westwood and said it should be cut to do away with ticks, snakes and insects in the area.

Hank Flowers (Ward 4) said he would prefer to keep the timber intact because of possible future development of Brantley Park. He noted that an engineering firm had previously developed a plan for expanding the park and the city did not know which trees it had recommended be left for beautification. After further discussion, Mays said he still thought the trees close to the property lines should be cut but agreed to table the matter.

Also tabled was any action concerning a citizen's request to place a stop sign or three-way stop sign at West Fox Avenue and Cemetery Road. The board had first considered this in May but tabled the matter until Police Chief Gregg Hunter could report findings about accidents there. He said Monday that only two accidents with considerable property damage had occurred there in the past four years.

Some aldermen expressed concerns that a stop sign might hinder school buses. Mays said he felt that a caution sign should at least be placed at the intersection because many people do not yield, especially those unfamiliar with the area.

During department head reports, Hunter told the aldermen that the Police Department had presented eight new cases to the recall grand jury in May, resulting in eight indictments. One case was sent back for presentation to the new grand jury that convenes June 21 because a witness did not appear, he said.

In other business, aldermen:

€ heard an update from Executive Director Jimmy Sloan concerning the Golden Triangle Regional Solid Waste Management Authority. He said the regional landfill at the Clay and Oktibbeha County lines is the most successful in the state based upon its low tipping fees.

€ voted to advertise for bids for annual products and services.

€ accepted a $3,267.50 bid from the Bradley Water Association, the only one submitted, for the sale of an 8,000-gallon backup water tank used while the Walthall water tank was being painted.

€ approved a lease agreement resolution with First Continental Lease of Hattiesburg for the emergency purchase of a Pipe Hunter sewer cleaner from Covington Sales and Service. The cost of the demonstration model is $25,556.

First Continental, a division of Bancorp South, submitted the lowest of three quotes, the others being from AmSouth and Union Planters banks. The lease-to-own agreement is for 48 months at 3.29 percent interest.

€ heard a report from Fortner that Jeanette Avery has not cleaned up her property on Hill Street as previously requested by the city in a letter. Her sister, an attorney, had informed the city attorney in January that the family would clean up the property after a previous hearing had been scheduled on the matter. The board set the new property hearing for July 6.

€ approved the same discount as the county does, not to exceed 10 percent, for unpaid taxes owed the city by Heath Home Furnishings on the old Futorian building. The company, which filed for bankruptcy two years ago, owes the city $36,814 for 2000-01 taxes and owes the county more than $100,000 in back taxes. The bankruptcy attorney employed by the company requested the discount and implied that it would pay the taxes soon if so approved, according to the mayor.

€ accepted a $25,996.56 bid from Ackerman Chevrolet for the purchase of a truck for use by the Water/Wastewater Department. The bid, the lowest of three submitted, was for a 2004 Chevrolet extended cab, four-wheel drive truck with a V-8 engine.

A Homeland Security grant will cover $19,000 of the cost for the truck, which is technically referred to as a "prime equipment mover" because it is equipped to transport a large generator and items such as hazardous materials suits if necessary. The remaining $6,000 will be paid from the water/sewer fund.

€ accepted the work of the general contractor on the clearing and grubbing of the Industrial Park No. 3 property. Fortner said the deadline for the grant-funded project's second extension is today. The extensions were necessary, he said, because subcontractors did not initially remove stumps as required by bid specifications.

€ authorized Fortner to research rental property inspection ordinances of other towns. The mayor pointed out that some rental properties in Eupora are not being maintained and are safety hazards for tenants. He proposed enacting an ordinance here to set standards and possibly involve inspection of rental properties once a year.

"There should be something," Flowers agreed.

€ voted to extend the city's building lease with Hawkeye Glove from three to five years. This was done to meet minimum requirements of an application for a grant to heat, cool and light the building owned by the city on Roane Avenue. The plant now employs 90 people.

Dan Burchfield (Ward 2) was unable to attend because of a conflict.