Officials urge Eupora citizens interested in receiving assistance under a program that provides affordable housing for low-income families to attend an upcoming public hearing.
The purpose of the March 6 hearing will be to obtain citizen input into the development of the city's application for HOME Investment Partnerships Program grant funds up to $350,000 for housing improvements. It begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Eupora Community Center before the Board of Aldermen's regular monthly meeting.
The HOME project is designed to produce affordable housing for low- and very low-income people. Housing Specialist Pat Patterson of the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District reviewed the application process with the city board at a special called meeting on Feb. 9.
The program will support the construction of five new homes in Eupora, according to Patterson. She said eligible homeowners must be able to document that they have had clear title to their property for at least 12 months and have lived there as principal resident for 12 consecutive months. The city's application must be submitted to the Mississippi Development Authority by April 7.
CDBG Hearing
Also on Feb. 9, aldermen had an initial public hearing before the meeting on the city's application for a $450,000 Community Development Block Grant for sewer system improvements.
Planner George Crawford of the PDD facilitated the hearing, which included comments from Terry Wills regarding problems with rainwater getting into sewer lines at properties he owns on Hill Street and Adams Avenue. He agreed to write a letter explaining the problems to be submitted with the grant application.
The city intends to leverage CDBG funds with local funds from a USDA Rural Development bond issue for other sewer system improvements in order to provide maximum use of the CDBG program funds.
The board, following the hearing, adopted a resolution authorizing the city to commit local funds on a dollar-for-dollar basis, up to $450,000, to the cost of the total project, contingent upon its approval.
Crawford also reported that a quote of $26,639.17 had been obtained to install two install new heater motors in the city-owned Hawkeye Glove buildings. The old motors had gone out. He said a previous block grant received for heating and cooling system improvements at the building will pay for the motors themselves but the city must pay the engineering fee of $1,500 plus costs, if any, above contingencies.
In a matter tabled from Feb. 6, the board voted to accept bids from John Deere for a tractor and mower to be used by the Street Department. The total cost to the city after deducting $14,696 from a USDA Rural Development community facilities grant will be $38,175.08, which will be financed.
Monday Meeting
Aldermen had another special called meeting on Monday. It included an executive session to discuss a lawsuit (see related story) and three other agenda items. The purpose given was because the issues involved litigation, potential litigation or personnel.
These included a water rate study by City Engineer Stanley Spradling. This matter was also discussed during a closed session on Feb. 9; when no related action was taken afterwards in open session.
Water/Wastewater Superintendent Benny Neal had requested on Jan. 3 that Calvert-Spradling Engineers review the city's water rates, especially when sold in bulk. He and Spradling staying in the closed session with the mayor and aldermen on Feb. 9 but were not present at Monday's meeting, when the board voted in open session to table the item until March 6 so that Neal could be present to answer questions.
Another closed-session subject was Police Department travel reimbursements, a subject that was tabled from Feb. 6 for more research. Police Chief Gregg Hunter met with the board during Monday's executive session.
Afterwards in open session, the board approved a motion for Mayor Tommy Lott, Hunter, board attorney Hugh Gibson and City Clerk Lesa Hardin to research/define undercover drug operation expenses.
Also discussed in the closed session was deputy clerk pay. The board voted afterwards to evaluate whether the current staff will be sufficient and for the study to be re-evaluated later.
Henry Flowers (Ward 4), who is also a member of North Mississippi Medical Center-Eupora's Advisory Board, asked his fellow aldermen during open session to consider making individual contributions to the Harold H. Whitaker Educational Scholarship Endowment.
The endowment was established last year upon Whitaker's retirement as hospital administrator. Interest income from the endowment's annual earnings will be used to provide scholarships for Webster County high school graduates.
Flowers, as mayor pro tem, presided Monday in the absence of Lott, who was unable to attend.
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