[0:06] September the 1st, we're getting started with parts. Start

[0:12] us off with prayer and we get we're going to get on with the agenda. folks.

[0:19] » God, our father, grant us wisdom that we make uh good decisions that were that

[0:25] will be just for uh the people of our community, all people in our community.

[0:30] Um give us blessings going forth that we may continue um the trajectory of New

[0:36] Albony that it may continue to grow and that the lives of all New Albany

[0:40] citizens may improve. We pray all these things in Jesus name. In the name of the

[0:44] Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

[0:46] » Amen.

[0:51] » All right. First item on the agenda tonight.

[0:56] I had a opportunity from the public uh for the budget for 2026 27

[1:28] And we do have copies that somebody might anybody want a copy of it, feel

[1:33] free.

[1:38] We have now we have till with Reagan September 15th to finalize it.

[1:44] Um if I'm not mistaken. So believe that. Yep.

[1:57] I think just highlighting just the budget for this year. Uh one thing that

[2:02] we added that we didn't have last year um and we've been I think meaning to do

[2:06] it is just kind of have a uh as we can all test to the ice storm fern this past

[2:14] year is the the need for a rainy day fund. So, we're going to start a uh the

[2:20] board start a reserve fund so we'll be able to to fund it this year and

[2:26] hopefully for the next several years get that built up so we could have some uh

[2:33] cash in reserve in case you know unfortunate case of of winter storm or

[2:38] any kind of tragedy or dis disaster.

[2:45] Does anybody from Buffet have any questions about the budget?

[2:57] » All right. If not, we'll move on to Department of Business and Bill Maddox,

[3:02] you are the first on the scene. Have a few items tonight

[3:08] pay request on our gas land replacement project. This is the CESA grant project.

[3:14] we we've been working on for the last couple of years. The pay request are one

[3:18] day a B construction about $156,53.95

[3:24] that that's for their actual construction work and material they

[3:26] purchased during the last month. $11,4390

[3:31] to Engineering for construction inspection and $11,33125

[3:37] to Cruise Engineering for project management. here at this time.

[3:43] » I got I got a motion by Will and second by Keith. Any further questions?

[3:48] » All in favor say I. Any oppose? Motion carries. Keep on on the same project.

[3:55] This project um this is part of the $5 million grant that we got a couple years

[4:00] ago. Um the the first part of the project u about three and a half

[4:04] million. So we had money left over. So then we started going west on the

[4:08] project and we we designed enough we thought would you know use up the rest

[4:11] of the money on the project bids came in for the can in loan. So we still have 61

[4:18] $16,1540 that we need to spend to finish out this

[4:22] grant. Uh our uh construction contractor AMB construction has agreed to honor

[4:28] their prices. They're they're doing the change order to extend the the footage

[4:31] on this project so we can uh extend the fund. So, you know, we have another $7

[4:36] million grant coming after this that that'll get our that pipe change out all

[4:40] the way. You know, our most hot springs most of the way up there anyway. So,

[4:45] anyway, every every uh foot we can get out of this is going to be a help. So,

[4:50] what I'm asking for is a change order. Uh this is is kind of crazy, but it's uh

[4:55] part 3B. It's phase one part 3B and it'll be the uh change order number one

[5:00] A and B construction to allow them to uh continue work. We can spend the rest of

[5:04] our grant funds. >> I got a motion by Drew. Second by

[5:10] Prenita. Any further questions? All in favor say I.

[5:13] » Any oppose? Motion carries. >> Okay. The next one is engineering

[5:17] services agreement with AG engineering for AB engineers out of Starkville. Uh

[5:22] this is through the engineering work on our electric system projects associated

[5:25] with MDA uh grant we have that's for the SCADA system and our uh uh outage

[5:31] management system that would like >> motion by Keith second by Parks. Any

[5:37] further questions? All in favor say I. I.

[5:40] » Any oppose? Motion carries. The last item we discovered this in a

[5:45] recent electric system audit we had the last couple weeks uh during uh the

[5:50] winter storm burn. We went into emergency purchasing mode a few days

[5:54] before that storm that you know that allows us to not have to uh material we

[6:00] can just make the purchases that we need you know during that time we stayed

[6:03] under that emergency um u guidelines through the end of February. the 1st of

[6:09] March when we came out uh we brought all the items that we had bought and you

[6:13] know presented those three notes in the minutes. It's was an emergency purchase.

[6:17] Uh this one we we did not have on the list. So we need to add this to our our

[6:22] list of item that we our purchase order that we issued during

[6:26] this one is to Steuart Irby $195,2859

[6:32] and this was for material to uh repair and rebuild our fiber system. Okay.

[6:39] Motion by Drew second by Will. Any further questions? All in favor say I.

[6:45] Any oppose? Motion carries. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thanks, Bill.

[6:50] » All right, Billy Jean.

[6:54] » Um, >> she wants them back. I got

[6:58] » Oh, yes. I um I mailed you my big report with Kenny's earlier uh this week, but

[7:03] uh I did want to share with you the um product of a grant through Mississippi

[7:07] Heritage Hills uh for tourism collateral. And um those are the pieces

[7:13] that were created. It was a $12,000 grant um uh through them. And these will

[7:18] go to the museum, to our welcome center, at the trail head, to the library, and

[7:23] to all the state approved welcome centers across the state. Um, but I

[7:28] think it was a a nice uh product that was produced there. So, um, also I put

[7:35] on the um on your uh area uh our community theater is trying

[7:42] to kick back off again with the community Christmas program. Um, this is

[7:46] going to be directed by Victoria Brown who's an elementary school teacher and I

[7:51] love theater, but this is triyouts October the 3. Um, for adult rows and

[7:57] children rows, and I think it's going to be good. So, I wanted to share that with

[8:01] you as well. U, I had another agenda item, but I think the mayor and I were

[8:05] going to tail that >> later. We won't go over the first down

[8:10] tonight. We'll progress. We do regroup. Thank you.

[8:16] » Jill, great to have you here today. >> It's good to be here.

[8:21] » Um, well, we started our fall programming with youth and adults. Um,

[8:26] we've got a grant from the arts commission to do our literary fest again

[8:30] this year. And we've got a mystery dinner theater that we're hosting on

[8:35] November the 6th and the 7th. And it's a rainy night. And we're partnering with

[8:40] the Blue Mountain Christian University theater players. And we've commissioned

[8:44] uh Christie to write a play about the life and death Paul Rainy. Did he die on

[8:49] the steamer or did the Russians kill him? Well,

[8:54] you'll decide to come and find out. It's a fundraiser uh for the museum and it'll

[8:59] be two nights. Um we've got our 2026 state historic

[9:04] marker um that has been shipped from the

[9:07] foundry for the Mayweather Lewis final journey. It tells the story of him

[9:12] traveling from uh St. Louis down the Mississippi River

[9:17] um to what became Memphis and then he crosses the Talahhatche River on his way

[9:21] to the Chickasaw agency that would now be located near the Ponttop Chicksaw

[9:27] County mine and um this was the journey where he was murdered or killed himself.

[9:33] So um he did that in October of 1809. So we'll probably try to place it in

[9:39] October to uh be close to that anniversary.

[9:44] Regarding the galleries under renovation, um y'all are welcome to step

[9:49] stop by anytime and see them. Uh the muralist has completed her work in the

[9:53] Hunt Gallery. She's still got work to do in the Discovery Zone. Uh the remaining

[9:59] installation will be done um in the creative spirits this Friday, I hope, if

[10:05] everything works out. We've got the cases all designed and our digital

[10:10] archive has about 150 people in it. So, um, our usual adult classes will be

[10:16] through the month that you got in my report. Um, we have the Greenfield Farm

[10:21] exhibit on vapor soil that'll open on September the 17th.

[10:26] And this year, our liberty lunchon is on the 25th, which is father's birthday. It

[10:30] just kind of worked out that way. But we've got 13 countries and 43 states

[10:36] represented this year. And if you don't have your duck tickets, see you later. I

[10:43] can hook you up. >> Thank you, Jill.

[10:45] » Thank you, Jill.

[10:48] » All right, Chief. >> Mr. Mayor, how y'all doing tonight?

[10:53] » Doing good. >> Lit.

[11:01] » So, three and four can go off, correct? >> Yes, they're going on table.

[11:05] » Okay. Um, so

[11:12] » we're going work on it later in the week with the niche.

[11:16] Uh, so first things up is the wireless

[11:21] communication. All right. So we have what our tickets and fines.

[11:29] We have one little supplements go to the wireless communications fund. Over time

[11:36] that fund increases and as we need radios and wireless communication

[11:43] equipment we call down there and basically send them the invoice and and

[11:48] they approve what we want to buy. Basically how it works. So

[11:55] we have uh asked for the approval from them of six cam wood walkie talkies two

[12:01] charging stations the total amount $14,258.94.

[12:09] They did approve the purchase. They did send the check. Miss Megan has gotten

[12:14] the check and it's deposited in the drug task force fund. So we have that money

[12:19] on hand. The wireless communications did approve it. I'm asking for the board

[12:23] permission to use the money to purchase the radios.

[12:28] » Second, >> got a motion by Park, second by Fernita.

[12:31] Any questions for Chief? I got a question. This is not the tech our tech

[12:36] fund. This is a separate fund. >> This is a separate fund.

[12:38] » What and is it through? >> This goes as part of the assessments.

[12:42] There's a list of assessments we have on our citations and fines.

[12:46] » Some apply to all like the uh core tech fund is all. This one is a little bit

[12:51] more specific, but there's several tickets and things come through. We

[12:55] tagged a suspect, too. And it's it's been that way for money.

[13:00] » The state have the money. >> The state holds the money.

[13:02] » Okay. >> They So the court and what happens is

[13:05] court takes the money in, separates it out, sends it to the state, state holds

[13:09] it, and we have to send down what we want and then approve it, which is what

[13:14] has happened here. >> Gotcha.

[13:17] Thank you. Okay. All in favor say I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Chief.

[13:23] » All right. Uh, second thing is emergency hires of um

[13:30] I asked the board if we could hire go ahead and hire Eric Welch and Eli

[13:35] Russell. Both of them uh one lives in the city

[13:39] and one both of them Union County residents. Eric is a uh certified police

[13:43] officer. So he's basically plug and play for us. He's from New Albi. He's lived

[13:48] here long enough for about 10 years. His wife works one of the local clinics. Uh

[13:53] so they're established here and then Eli is about 23. He is also born and raised

[13:59] in this community and we'll have send him the cabinet to be to be certified.

[14:05] So we pro discuss this but by nominated put

[14:11] do we need to do each individually or can we do them both?

[14:14] » Okay. All right. Okay. I got a motion by Will, second by Keith. Any other

[14:21] questions for Chief? All in favor say I. >> Any oppose? Motion carries.

[14:26] » All right. This came in today. It was not in so I was not able to get it on

[14:30] the agenda. Uh but 2026 2027 DPS LEO grant was approved today for us. That's

[14:39] kind of a separate grant we applied for and I actually get did most of the leg

[14:43] work on it. It's a 50% match grant. What we asked for in this grant is basically

[14:49] six ballistic vests and uh two uh 2026 Ford SUV interceptors. The grant has

[14:56] been approved. Uh the grant request was 101,41,416.

[15:05] The reimbursement approved is $50,78 and $78. And I have a paperwork that

[15:12] I'll submit to the clerk on that we've discussed tonight. So it's not really a

[15:17] board action. I just kind of want to make you aware of it that that came in

[15:21] today. >> Hey, Mr. Mayor. That's all I have.

[15:25] » All right. Thank you. Any other question for Chief?

[15:30] » Okay. Thanks, Chris.

[15:36] All right. Chase, you got anything, my friend?

[15:44] How you thank Mr. May board? Um I emailed our board. Uh got some updates

[15:49] on disc golf course. Uh the baskets came in last week. We started assembling them

[15:53] today. Uh all the team pad signs are up. Um youth and adult co-ed kickball

[15:59] registrations going on. Uh youth soccer, we ended up with over 460 kids. Um and

[16:05] tonight's the 4v4 adult soccer championship. I think it's team advers

[16:10] team ICI. >> So that's that that'll finish up

[16:14] tonight. Unless you have any questions, that's all I got.

[16:17] » Well, hey Chase, I do have something for you. I just want to just let the board

[16:21] know know that what a great job you did on the USA tennis tournament out there.

[16:25] Was it two weekends ago? >> But uh I've heard nothing but good

[16:29] things and appreciate you guys working on that.

[16:31] » Yes, sir. Thank you. >> Thank you.

[16:35] » All right, Chief. Uh, you got my report. That's all I have for the board.

[16:41] Any questions for Chief Whitide?

[16:49] If no, we'll pass on to building the Inspector.

[16:57] I report uh we didn't have a zoning meeting.

[17:02] » So that was good. >> Then we had a hearing for the reszoning

[17:07] of 503 bridge highway 30 west from SM8 to SM5.

[17:13] Uh the owner was unable to make it but she's available on phone if I can answer

[17:18] any questions on it. It's the uh it's Holly Will height the daycare the home

[17:25] 30 there the wise after school day there's a reason from SNA to SM5

[17:33] so she could turn that into duplex you know the back building was built and

[17:38] that didn't work out so turn the house be the house and then the building in

[17:43] the back which they wouldn't have to do much to it to turn it into a duplex so

[17:48] it just too. Not not the back you see, but the

[17:53] house in the back building

[17:58] just need a >> So everything far as it already zoned.

[18:03] Is there nothing? >> No, we need a vote to reszone it from

[18:07] SNF. >> Tonight's the public hearing

[18:16] board.

[18:20] Okay, take a motion by T second by will. Any other questions for

[18:27] all in favor say I. >> Any oppose? Motion carries for resone 3

[18:32] highway 30 from SN.

[18:36] Got it.

[18:40] » We got a property which is 211 East Main Street.

[18:48] Thank all we all know which one it is. So we sent out all the notices and I

[18:54] spoke of braing about it yesterday. So we just need

[19:00] a motion to condemn that. >> Okay. Hold on.

[19:05] Part of the condemnation you're you're referring to both the house and also

[19:09] clean up the yard. >> Yes. To be able to mow it. So he's

[19:13] asking not just condemn the art but also write a re-entry to that event so he can

[19:19] look multiple times.

[19:24] » Have you had any communication the owner?

[19:27] » No, not the owner. We sent letters and they all come back. We sent letters to

[19:32] the mortgage holder and a property maintenance company. the property

[19:37] maintenance company actually transferred it to a different property maintenance

[19:41] co company and I've been in contact email with them the whole time there has

[19:46] been people try to buy the property one person is very interested in it but they

[19:52] can't I mean it's I don't know all the details but it's a lot of stuff on this

[19:58] house so >> well it's definitely an eyesore

[20:02] » way past due but that we thanks for work I make the motion to condemn the

[20:08] property. >> Okay. Got a motion by parks.

[20:11] » What other words I need to add to that? >> Yeah.

[20:14] Other aspect we always add to that. First of all, the right of re-entry for

[20:17] the arts, but we always add to that to demolish it after 30 days if they

[20:23] haven't done so themselves. So, we don't have time to set for that. We don't do

[20:27] it for at least 30 days. He may wait longer on this. That's usually part of

[20:32] the motion. >> Okay. I make a motion to condemn using

[20:36] the language that Reagan just used that language.

[20:41] Smart man. I got a motion by Parks,

[20:46] » second by Keith. Any further questions? All in favor say I.

[20:50] » Any oppose? Motion carries. >> All right, we'll turn the adjudication

[20:54] over to Joe.

[20:59] » Good evening, board. >> One second. expired.

[21:09] » All right, we'll start updates on the last hearings we did of 500 Court

[21:14] Street.

[21:24] I spoke with Miss Genie. I've been working with her. She's

[21:29] her health has been giving her issues this recently.

[21:34] number of doctor's visits today. And I mean, we

[21:38] she's made progress. I've offered for us to come help her,

[21:44] you know, bring trucks and help her clean up. She thinks she can get it if

[21:48] we give her a little more time. She's been taking a little bit out every day

[21:51] and partner's been picking it up. Um, this is what it looks like today. This

[21:56] is her back patio. Uh, she has made progress.

[22:05] We're our 30 days is up. We could supposed to go in and clean it or we

[22:09] were

[22:18] what do we got proof coding it last? I mean clean it last time.

[22:23] » We gave her 30 days to do it or so. >> All right. So

[22:28] one thing you could do rather than just Rose is going out and approve cleaning

[22:33] and but don't let it be at his discretion if she's making progress

[22:37] doing it all.

[22:42] Like I said, I talked with her. I tried to call for help. She don't really want

[22:46] the help. She thinks she can do it, but I'm not going to get her other way.

[22:53] I mean, >> I do see progress, but I mean

[23:00] Chris has been going and picking it up.

[23:05] » I've been driving by. He has >> help neighbors help.

[23:16] » They still complain, but she's trying.

[23:22] something for the whole month.

[23:26] » She's been she's been having some health issues.

[23:28] » Well, she's got a lot. >> That's for that big Wasn't there a big

[23:31] box right there with that? >> Yeah, there were there were four crates

[23:34] there that had shoes and pots and pans. >> Yeah. So, there's some basic progress.

[23:42] » So, was your recommendation to I >> I kind of like Reggie's idea. Let's go

[23:47] ahead and put tooth clean it for her and let her

[23:53] Try and I'll just work with her. Continue to work with her.

[23:59] » You're good with that? >> You want?

[24:02] » Yeah. I got a motion by >> second by Drew. Any other questions? All

[24:08] » say I oppose. Motion carries. >> All right. Next on the is uh 118 T.

[24:19] this no change at all. The owner, Mr. Clayton, has started the eviction

[24:26] process and he's fixing to go to court to have

[24:31] him evicted. So, I mean, that should take care of itself.

[24:39] You know, after court date, after they serve these papers, do it through the

[24:43] legal process, they take several weeks.

[24:50] It won't take long.

[24:57] » Do you want to do the same type of format to where we go ahead? You think

[25:00] right just to get a motion? >> Yeah, go ahead and adj.

[25:08] » I got a motion by Keith. Second my parts. Any other questions

[25:14] about uh 118 tape? All in favor say I.

[25:19] » Any opposed? Motion carries. >> On a good note.

[25:23] » 706 Shady Grove. >> Okay.

[25:27] » Has made improvements. >> Wow.

[25:30] » So, I think we would be good there. Like I said, I've been working with him as

[25:33] well. He still got a broke down a lot more on his carport, but we're working

[25:38] with that. So >> must have done a lot of work yesterday

[25:42] because Saturday it went. >> Yeah, he was as far as this afternoon.

[25:49] » Yeah, he's he's trying

[25:54] last minute kind of guy. He's I think >> maybe just works better under pressure.

[25:58] » Yeah, it must be. So that that's updates on the previous

[26:04] ones. Current public hearing for 2011 Sycamore Drive.

[26:11] Uh he is not here. They call you know

[26:17] Perez.

[26:25] » What is that first name? >> I don't have that on this.

[26:52] Is this another situation where the owner is renting this or

[26:56] » there's the owner? The owner. >> The owner.

[27:00] » Jose. Jose.

[27:09] » So, is this similar to last month what we the motion we need to make on this?

[27:15] » Yeah, there's a a plan and building materials

[27:22] and he was given that it is a health safety

[27:29] risk. clean up

[27:36] » last month. That's what we did. Typically,

[27:41] » have you been in communication with him? >> Not recently. Um, Mr. Eric talked to me

[27:49] last time. He had an injury and he bought some hust.

[28:00] » I would still go ahead and authorize the clean up

[28:04] » rather than have another motion by

[28:11] motion by second by Drew. >> Any other questions? All in favor say I.

[28:17] Any opposed? Motion carries.

[28:22] And the last public hearing um 204 Highway 15 South

[28:29] Gregory Parish. This was this morning.

[28:35] Um still overflowing into the travel

[28:42] and he is wearing a shirt.

[28:53] The garage has been cluttered for a long time, but it's

[29:00] still out into the driveway and now it's visible from the highway. Um,

[29:05] » have you had a phone call or anything? Any community has not contacted

[29:11] » and all these properties we've been dealing with, but

[29:14] » a number of years. >> Yeah.

[29:16] This one not as long as some of them, but yeah, these it's been at least a

[29:21] year

[29:26] plus one. Give him 30 days. Okay. So, all right.

[29:31] Got a motion by key.

[29:35] » Second. >> Second by Drew. Any other questions? All

[29:38] in favor say I. >> Any oppose? Motion carries.

[29:43] » All right. So, next step would be set a public hearing for 806 Fifer Street.

[29:51] Do all >> Okay. Awesome.

[29:53] » Well, they're a little different. Is is a clean home.

[30:05] » Well, there there is whether you're tearing down or cleaning. So, you still

[30:10] set them. >> Okay. All

[30:11] right. >> Uh 806 Fiber Street,

[30:18] 512 Booker Street, which is a grass lot. 603 Baker Street, a grass lot. 511

[30:27] Hopper Street, grass lot.

[30:31] I'm going to set it here. You've been noticed.

[30:35] » So that one's Fifer right there. This is five.

[30:40] And this is one that's been going on since

[30:43] like 2018 was the first time I noticed.

[30:50] And it just gets it cleans up and gets worse. Cleans up and gets worse.

[30:55] » Okay. So, we can do all four of them together.

[30:58] » So, we got 806 Viper Street, 512 Booker Street, 603 Baker Street, 511 Hopper

[31:04] Street. >> Yes, sir.

[31:06] and then the grass lot. So, I'll show you pictures.

[31:28] » What's the middle of the board? We got a motion by Keith.

[31:34] Second. Second by Drew. Any other questions? All in favor say I.

[31:40] » Any oppose? Motion carries. Well, that'll be all of my time. Thank you.

[31:46] Okay. on 706 Shady Grove. Are we just going to

[31:50] kind of monitor just kind of or is he kind of off the

[31:56] » Okay,

[32:02] good job, y'all. Thank you. >> All right, on to consent agenda. Any

[32:08] questions on the U August item?

[32:17] And then the far as the August 4th, August 14th, August 27th minutes

[32:28] before we go to the um

[32:37] I guess we'll go with entertaining the idea for litigation purposes for

[32:40] executive session. And I got a motion by truth.

[32:46] » Second by will. >> All in favor say I.

[32:50] » Motion carries.

Meeting Of Mayor and Board Of Alderman City of New Albany Sept1, 2026

Transcript