Three months before the City of Clarksdale was to seek bids for city insurance, the Board of Mayor and Commissioners on a 3-2 vote decided to make a change.
Clarksdale named Marketing Group of Mississippi Insurance (MGOMSI) as its agent of record on a motion by Ward 3 Commissioner Willie Turner and a second by Ward 4 Commissioner Ed Seals. Ward 1 Commissioner Bo Plunk and Ward 2 Commissioner Ken Murphey questioned why the decision was being made so quickly when the city would be soliciting insurance quotes in August.
When the vote was taken, Turner and Seals voted for the change with Murphey and Plunk voting not to do it now. Mayor Chuck Espy, who had brought the company before the board earlier this month, cast the deciding 3-2 vote.
The city was approached by Homer Braylock and Artie Armstrong earlier this month seeking to obtain the city’s insurance business specifically health insurance riders. MGOMSI’s simple, three-page website, - mgomsi.com - says they have over 25 years of combined experience providing Health Insurance coverage. MGOMSI lists office at 357 Towne Center Blvd., Suite 201 Ridgeland.
“The guys who hold our insurance now have saved us millions of dollars and all I want is the best insurance possible for our employees,” said Plunk. “Don’t we have to bid this and isn’t this the way we have done it in the past?
City board attorney Melvin Miller said the city does not have a contract and can change.
Mayor Espy said the city would take bids in August and this was a trial run. When Plunk asked for clarity on how long the company would have the city’s business, Espy said a year.
Plunk asked the vote be carried over to get a better understanding of what would change and why.
Espy pointed out there was a motion and second and a vote was called.
Before the vote, Murphey said he felt the bid process, which has been used for years by the city for insurance, was the best process.
“I got some concerns about this; are we getting the same coverage, better coverage, better rates or what,” said Murphey. “I don’t know why we are kicking a company to the curb that has been good to us.”
Seals and Turner were silent on the issue.
In other business:
• The city approved a request from Michael Barefield for police and fire participation for a birthday parade on Friday, June 10
• Commissioners approved a request from Bill Gresham asking for street sweeper in the downtown area before 7 a.m., and a day set to let the residents move their car that morning.
• John Ruskey presented a check for $1,000 to the police department from fees paid by campers that stayed during Juke Joint Festival
• Commissioners authorized Public Works to accept quote to repair drainage at 636 Oakhurst
• Commissioners authorized Public Works to obtain quotes to repair drainage at 1411 Park Lane, 1035 Russwin, 1040 Spruce and 477 Ohio.
• Approved Mayor Espy as a voting delegate at the Mississippi Municipal League convention in Biloxi in June. Alternate is Commissioner Plunk
• The city voted to enter into an agreement with architect Belinda Stewart to advertise for roof repairs to the City Auditorium
• Acknowledge vague expenses that will be paid with ARPA funds.
• Accepted a quote from Britts Tree Service, in the amount of $1,600 to remove three trees.
• Accepted a quote from Resurface Paint in the amount of$5,525.00 to install a partition wall on the third floor of City Hall.
• The board accepted a quote from Timbo Construction in the amount of $9,613.69 to install carpet in the city board room
• The city paid the following bills: Cornerstone $ 2,250; City of Clarksdale $1,858; MDA $1,858; Cintas $543.94; Avaya $3,975; Travelers $1,326; Slaughter & Associates $7,024.38; Debra Brown $1,100; Hammons & Associates $227.70; Robert Huff Designs $1,400; O'Reilly $744.95; Britt Tree Service $250; Sound Center $2,239.80; John Deere $3,518.95; Cannon Cleveland $47,275; Geiger $284.67; Visa $1,234.85.
• The board did not fill the following vacant board seats:
- Clarksdale School Board, Ward2.
- Blues Museum, Ward2.
- Quality of Life Commission, Ward 1.
• The board voted to allow Policeman Bell to attend a homicide investigations training in Choctaw, Mississippi on May 24-25.
• The board acknowledged Asst. Chief Ramirez will not be attending the Chiefs Conference on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
• The board voted to obtain quotes for the landfill to remove dirt and get ready to move from one cell to another cell.
• The city will advertise for a Deputy City Clerk.
• The board acknowledged that Lakeisha Jones is out on medical leave.
• The city voted to pay new longevity increases for the following firemen: Joseph Pittman, Christopher Terry and Jameel Wallace.
• The city voted to pay a claim, as advised by City Board Attorney Melvin Miller on Tenyuntay Brown.
• The city agreed to a City/County equipment lending agreement that will let the city work outside the city limits and set prices to pay for the use of equipment and labor.
The city adjourned until its Thursday, June 9 vetting meeting and it, Monday June 13 Regular meeting.
