Board of Mayor and Aldermen

1415 Walnut Street City of Vicksburg Vicksburg, MS 39180 Minutes - Final Board of Mayor and Aldermen Friday, November 8, 2024 10:00 AM Robert M. Walker Building 1. Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance and Call to Order Invocation was given by Mayor George Flaggs, Jr. Pledge of Allegiance was led by Alderman Mayfield. 2. Roll Call Also present: Lee Thames, City Attorney Deborah A. Kaiser-Nickson, City Clerk Tasha Jordan, Associate City Clerk Present: 3- Mayor George Flaggs Jr. Alderman Thomas Mayfield Alderman Alex J. Monsour Jr. 3. Board Comments: 4. Adopt Agenda On motion of Mayor George Flaggs, Sr., seconded by Alderman Mayfield, the Mayor and Aldermen voted to adopt the agenda as printed. The motion was adopted unanimously by the following vote: Aye: 3- Mayor Flaggs Jr., Alderman Mayfield, and Alderman Monsour Jr. Recognitions: A. ID-24-1337 Certificate of Recognition - AMAZE Award in memory of the Late Alderman Michael Mayfield, Sr.: 1. Jase Jung 2. Martha Thomas 3. Keng-Kenneth Smith 4. Cameron Pollard 5. Laila Soto 6. Bentley Brown B. ID-24-1348 Employee Anniversaries: 1. One (1) year of service: a. Veronica Williamson - Ambulance Department 2. Two (2) years of service: a. Joseph Moore III - Street Department Mayor Flaggs, Jr. recognized Veronica Williamson – Ambulance Department for one (1) year of service; Joseph Moore III – Street Department for two (2) years of service. The Mayor and Board of Aldermen congratulated both employees for their dedicated years of service with the City of Vicksburg. Approval of Consent Agenda Items: On motion of Mayor Flaggs, Jr., seconded by Alderman Monsour, Jr., the Mayor and Aldermen voted to approve the Consent Agenda Items. The motion was adopted unanimously by the following vote: Aye: 3- Mayor Flaggs Jr., Alderman Mayfield, and Alderman Monsour Jr. A. ID-24-1349 Approve the following Personnel Action Forms: 1. Resignation: a. Police Department (1) City of Vicksburg Page 1 Printed on 11/20/2024 Board of Mayor and Aldermen Minutes - Final November 8, 2024 b. Fire Department (1) 2. New Hire: a. Ambulance Department (1) B. ID-24-1335 Approve Appointment of Marcus James to Planning and Zoning Commission Attachments: Appointment Planning & Zoning Commission C. ID-24-1346 Approve Sponsorship Application in the amount of $200.00 from Naomi Bell on behalf of The Historic Jackson Street Missionary Baptist Church for 9th Year Pastoral Anniversary pursuant to Section 17-3-1 and Section 17-3-3 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended Attachments: Sponsorship Application Jackson Street Mayor Flaggs, Jr., stated that the sponsorship application from Naomi Bell on behalf of The Historic Jackson Street Missionary Baptist Church for the 9th Year Pastoral Anniversary will bring into favorable notice the opportunities, possibilities, and resources of the City of Vicksburg and will be helpful toward advancing the moral, financial, and other interests of the City of Vicksburg. The Mayor and Board of Aldermen approved the sponsorship application from Naomi Bell in the amount of $200.00 for the 9th Year Pastoral Anniversary. The city is authorized pursuant to Section 17-3-1 and Section 17-3-3 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended. D. ID-24-1336 Approve request from Jennifer Harper on behalf of Vicksburg Senior Center for thirty (30) seniors to attend a day trip to Handworks Holiday Market LLC at Jackson Trademart on November 22, 2024 and Authorize payment of entrance fees in the amount of $285.90 Attachments: Senior Center Jackson Trademart E. ID-24-1344 Authorize City Clerk to Transfer funds FROM the Separate Project Bank Accounts TO reimburse the City’s Water & Gas (pooled cash) Account for project expenditures as follows: 1. FROM American Rescue Plan Account TO Water & Gas (pooled cash) Account: a. FY24 Expenditures - $1,000.00 b. FY25 Expenditures - $15,000.00 2. FROM Infrastructure Fund Account TO Water & Gas (pooled cash) Account: a. FY24 Expenditures - $105,926.33 3. FROM Riverfront Development Project Account TO Water & Gas (pooled cash) Account: a. FY24 Expenditures - $20,303.99 4. FROM ERBR-Fisher Ferry Road Bridge Project Account TO Water & Gas (pooled cash) Account: a. FY24 Expenditures - $23,548.10 5. FROM MS Infrastructure BOND Fund Account TO Water & Gas (pooled cash) Account: a. FY24 Expenditures - $516,071.55 b. FY25 Expenditures - $178,923.60 F. ID-24-1341 Approve the following for payment: City of Vicksburg Page 2 Printed on 11/20/2024 Board of Mayor and Aldermen Minutes - Final November 8, 2024 1. AJ Construction: a. Pay App #2 in the amount of $158,978.97 for Washington Street Rehabilitation Project Attachments: Pay App #2_ N. Washington St. Rehab Project G. ID-24-1340 Approve Claims Docket The City Clerk presented the Docket of Claims numbering: 320005-330259 for approval. Routine Agenda: A. ID-24-1338 Discuss Southern Cultural Heritage Center Updates Ms. Stacey Mahoney, of the Southern Cultural Heritage Center, came before the Board to inform the public of the upcoming events at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center for the month of April 2024 and invited the public to attend. The Mayor and Aldermen thanked Ms. Mahoney for attending the meeting. B. ID-24-1339 Hearing to determine whether or not the properties listed on the Community Development Agenda are a public menace to the public health, safety and welfare of the community Attachments: AGENDA 11-08-24 Master Copy of the Agenda for November 8 2024 Jeff Richardson, Director of Community Development, came for a hearing before the Board to discuss and request permission to proceed to cut, clean, and demolish the following properties: (1.) First East Street, PPIN 018655; owned by Bernard, Telisa Brown - (Remove all dilapidated, inoperable, unlicensed, abandoned, and dismantled vehicles) (2.) 1609 First East Street, PPIN 017500; owned by Ross, Eddie - (Remove all dilapidated, inoperable, unlicensed, abandoned, and dismantled vehicles) (3.) 1614 First East Street, PPIN 017510; owned by Milton, Eddie Jr. & Linda C - (Remove inoperable, unlicensed, abandoned, and dismantled vehicles + car parts) (4.) 800 First North Street, PPIN 018661; owned by Branch, Joseph L. - (Cut grass and weeds. Remove all trash and debris from the entire property) (5.) 650 Fort Hill Drive, PPIN 014078; owned by Crist, Kayla - (Remove inoperable and unlicensed vehicles. Cut grass and weeds. Remove all trash and debris from the entire property + abandoned furniture) (6.) 1414 Grove Street, PPIN 018784; owned by Neely, Easter - (Remove grass, weeds, rubbish, trash, and debris from the entire property. Remove dilapidated structure) RE-ENTRIES (1.) 311 Farmer Street, PPIN 019074; owned by Brown, Lucia Hawkins Estate - (Cut and clean the entire property of overgrown grass and weeds) (2.) 519 Fairground Street, PPIN 015142; owned by Morgan, Paul C. - (Cut and clean the entire property of overgrown grass and weeds) On motion of Mayor Flaggs, Jr., seconded by Alderman Mayfield, the Mayor and Aldermen voted to declare the foregoing properties which have not complied to be a public menace to the health, safety, and welfare of the community and authorize the Director of Community Development to proceed to cut, clean, and demolish structures with all charges incurred to be assessed against the property owner(s). In the event an extension is granted, if owner(s) has/have not complied at the end of the extension period, the Director of Community Development is authorized to proceed, along with the following actions: (1.) First East Street, PPIN 018655; owned by Bernard, Telisa Brown - (Remove all dilapidated, inoperable, unlicensed, abandoned, and dismantled vehicles) -Complied City of Vicksburg Page 3 Printed on 11/20/2024 Board of Mayor and Aldermen Minutes - Final November 8, 2024 (2.) 1609 First East Street, PPIN 017500; owned by Ross, Eddie - (Remove all dilapidated, inoperable, unlicensed, abandoned, and dismantled vehicles)-Not complied (3.) 1614 First East Street, PPIN 017510; owned by Milton, Eddie Jr. & Linda C - (Remove inoperable, unlicensed, abandoned, and dismantled vehicles + car parts)-Not complied, 30 day extension (4.) 800 First North Street, PPIN 018661; owned by Branch, Joseph L. - (Cut grass and weeds. Remove all trash and debris from the entire property)-Complied (5.) 650 Fort Hill Drive, PPIN 014078; owned by Crist, Kayla - (Remove inoperable and unlicensed vehicles. Cut grass and weeds. Remove all trash and debris from the entire property + abandoned furniture)-Not complied (6.) 1414 Grove Street, PPIN 018784; owned by Neely, Easter - (Remove grass, weeds, rubbish, trash, and debris from the entire property. Remove dilapidated structure)-Not complied RE-ENTRIES (1.) 311 Farmer Street, PPIN 019074; owned by Brown, Lucia Hawkins Estate - (Cut and clean the entire property of overgrown grass and weeds)-Not complied (2.) 519 Fairground Street, PPIN 015142; owned by Morgan, Paul C. - (Cut and clean the entire property of overgrown grass and weeds)-Not complied The motion was adopted unanimously by the following vote: Aye: 3- Mayor Flaggs Jr., Alderman Mayfield, and Alderman Monsour Jr. C. ID-24-1345 Approve the following for City Sponsorship of the Fourth Friday Block Party to be held on November 22, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. at intersection of Crawford and Washington Streets: 1. Authorization for one-way traffic from Clay Street to South Street to keep pedestrians safe 2. Authorize Mayor to execute Contract with American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) Funding Recipient Country Que Ent LLC in the amount of $500.00 to provide musical entertainment to the citizens and visitors of Vicksburg resulting in residents and visitors being able to take advantage of the downtown area and bringing sales increases to the local businesses in downtown Vicksburg Attachments: Fourth Friday Block Party ARPA Contract Country Que Ent LLC On motion of Mayor Flaggs, Jr., seconded by Alderman Mayfield, the Mayor and Aldermen voted to Approve the following for City Sponsorship of the Fourth Friday Block Party to be held on November 22, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. at intersection of Crawford and Washington Streets: (1.) Authorization for one-way traffic from Clay Street to South Street to keep pedestrians safe. (2.) Authorization for the Mayor to execute a contract with American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) Funding Recipient Country Que Ent LLC in the amount of $500.00 to provide musical entertainment to the citizens and visitors of Vicksburg. This will allow residents and visitors to take advantage of the downtown area and increase sales for local businesses in downtown Vicksburg. The motion was adopted unanimously by the following vote: Aye: 3- Mayor Flaggs Jr., Alderman Mayfield, and Alderman Monsour Jr. D. ID-24-1347 Authorize Mayor to execute Agreement for the Purpose of the City Paying Tuition Cost for Employee to obtain a Paramedic Degree/Certification: 1. Demond Patton to attend Hinds Community College in the Spring of 2025 and Summer of 2025 Attachments: Agreement Patton On motion of Mayor Flaggs, Jr., seconded by Alderman Mayfield, the Mayor and City of Vicksburg Page 4 Printed on 11/20/2024 Board of Mayor and Aldermen Minutes - Final November 8, 2024 Aldermen voted to Authorize the Mayor to execute Agreement for the Purpose of the City Paying Tuition Cost for employee Demond Patton to attend Hinds Community College in the Spring of 2025 and Summer of 2025 to obtain a Paramedic Degree/Certification. The motion was adopted unanimously by the following vote: Aye: 3- Mayor Flaggs Jr., Alderman Mayfield, and Alderman Monsour Jr. E. ID-24-1352 Authorize Mayor to execute Fourth Amendment to Agreement for Professional Services Between the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Vicksburg, MS and TRC Engineers, Inc. Attachments: 4th Amendment TRC On motion of Mayor Flaggs, Jr., seconded by Alderman Mayfield, the Mayor and Alderman voted to Authorize the Mayor to execute Fourth Amendment to Agreement for Professional Services Between the Mayor and Alderman of the City of Vicksburg, MS and TRC Engineers, Inc.. The motion was adopted unanimously by the following vote: Aye: 2- Mayor Flaggs Jr., and Alderman Mayfield Recused: 1- Alderman Monsour Jr. Executive Session: Mayor Flaggs, Jr. moved the Mayor and Aldermen go into a closed meeting to determine if the Board should go into executive session. The motion was seconded by Alderman Monsour, Jr. Voting aye, Mayor Flaggs, Jr., Alderman Mayfield, Alderman Monsour, Jr. None voting nay, the motion was unanimously adopted. The Mayor and Aldermen discussed whether they should go into executive session. Mayor Flaggs, Jr. moved to go into executive session to discuss Personnel Action Forms for: Longevity Pay-Ambulance Department (1); Longevity Pay-Street Department (1) The motion was seconded by Alderman Monsour, Jr. Upon vote being taken, the following voted aye: Mayor Flaggs, Jr., Alderman Mayfield, Alderman Monsour, Jr. The motion was adopted unanimously. The Mayor and Aldermen announced they would go into executive session to discuss Personnel Action Forms for: Longevity Pay-Ambulance Department (1); Longevity Pay-Street Department (1) The Mayor and Aldermen are now in executive session. Those present at the executive session were Mayor Flaggs, Jr., Alderman Mayfield, Alderman Monsour, Jr., Kristen Harris - Chief of Staff, Lee Thames - City Attorney, Deborah A. Kaiser-Nickson - City Clerk, Tasha Jordan - Associate City Clerk, Carla Sullivan-Sanders - Human Resource Director, Kelsey Hicks - Human Resources/Safety, Elizabeth Michelle Thomas - Constituent Services Representative, Charlie Hill - Deputy Chief of Police Aye: 3- Mayor Flaggs Jr., Alderman Mayfield, and Alderman Monsour Jr. A. ID-24-1350 Longevity Pay - Ambulance Department (1) On motion of Mayor Flaggs, Jr., seconded by Alderman Monsour, Jr., the Mayor and Aldermen voted to approve the Longevity Pay of a Emergency Medical Services Paramedic From $12.02 per hour to $12.12 (12.02+.10) per hour, effective November 15, 2024. Employee is entitled to an additional .10 cents increase per hour for one (1) year of service in the Ambulance Department. The motion was adopted unanimously by the following vote: Aye: 3- Mayor Flaggs Jr., Alderman Mayfield, and Alderman Monsour Jr. B. ID-24-1351 Longevity Pay - Street Department (1) On motion of Mayor Flaggs, Jr., seconded by Alderman Monsour, Jr., the Mayor and Aldermen voted to approve the Longevity Pay of a Truck Driver from $14.62 per hour to $14.82 (14.42 + .20+.20) per hour, effective November 16, 2024. Employee is entitled to an additional .20 cents increase per hour for two (2) years of service in the Street Department. The motion was adopted unanimously by the following vote: City of Vicksburg Page 5 Printed on 11/20/2024 Board of Mayor and Aldermen Minutes - Final November 8, 2024 Aye: 3- Mayor Flaggs Jr., Alderman Mayfield, and Alderman Monsour Jr. C. ID-24-1353 Come Out of Executive Session and Approve All Items Taken Up in Executive Session On motion of Mayor Flaggs, Jr., seconded by Alderman Monsour Jr., the Mayor and Aldermen voted to Come Out of Executive Session and Approve All Items Taken Up in Executive Session. The motion was adopted unanimously by the following vote: Aye: 3- Mayor Flaggs Jr., Alderman Mayfield, and Alderman Monsour Jr. Adjournment On motion of Mayor Flaggs, Jr., seconded by Alderman Monsour, Jr., and unanimously passed, the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Vicksburg adjourned to meet 10 o’clock a.m., Monday, November 18, 2024, to take up and act upon any and all matters that may come before the Board. MAYOR ATTEST: CITY CLERK Aye: 3- Mayor Flaggs Jr., Alderman Mayfield, and Alderman Monsour Jr. City of Vicksburg Page 6 Printed on 11/20/2024