It is the start of the summer construction season, the summer swimming season and budget adjustment season for the City of Clarksdale.
The City of Clarksdale closed Friars Point Road recently in anticipation of tearing out the old bridge and building a new one over the Big Sunflower River just north of Lee Drive. The road will be closed for about a year.
The city is directing motorist to take Highway 61 North to access Coahoma Community College, Friar’s Point or locations north of town. A truck route has been established down Eagle Nest Road.
The Board of Mayor and Commissioners was approached in April by residents on Ridge Road asking the city to closely watch traffic through their neighborhood.
M&N Excavators, Inc., has landed the contract to remove and replace the Friars Point Road Bridge for $1,654,910.02.
Friars Point Road and the bridge have been high on the city’s list of projects. It was one of six projects proposed in the 2019 $5 million bond floated by the city. The price for repairing the road and bridge was listed as $3.6 million.
The city has backed off repairing the road and sought the county’s help at one time to fix the wavy, north approach to the bridge.
The winter storm took its toll on the Clarksdale swimming pool and repairs will probably delay the opening of the pool this summer.
The city has received bids repair pumps, the chlorine feeder, tile repair, cleaning services and to repair leaks for about $15,000. The city voted to do the work.
Last year the city pool saw 2,308 people swim from the last two days in May to the first two days of August. The pool generated $2,330.62 in swimming fees.
The city pool saw expenses of $29,602.20, payroll for lifeguards and supervisors accounting for $20,105, chemicals costing $3,423.57 and pool repairs for 2022-23 costing $2,423.57. The rest was for Social Security, Medicare, retirement and lifeguard certification.
Contractors said the freeze damage was not unique to Clarksdale. The Delta saw temperatures near zero for about four days this year.
The city is looking into reimbursement from insurance to help cover the expense.
The board also approved a 2023-24 budget adjustments exceeded 10-percent and authorized the city clerk to advertise the $200,000 budget adjustment.
The changes are: $75,000 for City Judicial Personnel; $110,000 for Police Services – Overtime and Payroll; $15,000 for Street Department Payroll.
The board was told the expenses for judicial services were for a third city judge. The city voted to hire two city judges earlier this year after former City Judge Carlos Moore resigned in February. The city retained City Judge Derrick Hopson and gave him a $26,000 raise.
That vote saw Mayor Chuck Espy, Ward 3 Commissioner Willie Turner and Ward 5 Commissioner Ed Seals vote for the judge’s raise and Ward 1 Commissioner Bo Plunk and Ward 2 Commissioner Jimmy Harris vote against it.
In Other Business:
• The board was approached once more about getting people a place to eat at Care Station and demanding the city spend $50,000 to feed them inside.
• Julie Green-Nesbit approached the board about the Jesus Parade at the Expo Center set for June 14.
• Lavaille Lavetta requested proclaiming June 21, as Elgton Jenkins and TJ Gray Day.
• Spring Initiative requested school supplies for 80 students for a summer event on July 19.
• Colleen Buyer, with Shared Experiences, requested a $2,500 sponsorship for the Women in Blues Festival May 18. She also asked for port-a-potties and trash collection for the event.
• The city authorized an agreement with SpyGlass to analyze the city's telecommunications service accounts to seek cost recovery, service elimination and cost reduction recommendations.
• The city authorized paying the Chamber of Commerce in the amount of $18,614.40. The details of the expense were not given.
• The city authorized for the mayor to execute the letter allowing Advanced Mosquito Control to file forms with the FAA for the 2024 season.
• The city approved appointing delegates to the MS Municipal League.
• The city sought permission to reimburse the debit card account in the amount of $414.19 for the month of April.
• The city sought permission to pay Accounts Payable for the month of April in the amount of $183,288.09.
• The city voted to pay the following miscellaneous claims: Chuck Espy April mileage, $351.75; General Fund, $14,349.30; Dunn Utility, $1,823.20; Harris Enterprise of Chicago, $50,405.73; Carrier, $2,502.50; Neel-Schaffer, $4,850; Christian Plumbing, $275; Smith & Weiland, $11,500; Sandra Johnson $4,485.89; Cornerstone, $3,375; Russel's Tree Service, $1,800; John Givins, $400; Catalis, $1,512.
• Corporal Damion Blue was sworn in as Deputy Municipal Court Clerk for affidavits. Blue will also be allowed to work off duty with the Drew Police Department.
• Police entered a five-year contract with Axon Enterprise Inc., for 25 tasers. No price was given.
• Police purchased a 2024 Dodge Durango PPV from Landers Dodge of Southaven, for $38,781.
• Assistant Fire Chiefs Willie Williams and Hunter Rybolt will attend the Mississippi Firefighters and Fire Chiefs Conference on May 29-June 2 in Natchez.
• Public Works took bids for trailers from Southland Trailers, for $7,999, and The Co-Op for $13,810.
• The city acknowledged best quotes from Russell's Tree Service for $7,100 to trim trees at 2103 Seventh St., 434 Richie, Carr St., and 115 1st St.
• The city acknowledged waiver of cleaning property and authorized demolition for 206 Catalpa, 335 Madison, 1313 Melrose, 628 Paul Edwards/627 Baird, 125 16th St., 1219 7th St.,
• The city voted to hire Robert Womble as a mechanic in Public Works.
• The city authorized Final Pay App 4 in the amount of $38,954.61 to Brocato Construction for the Riverside erosion project.
•The city authorized Elm Riverside Storm Drainage Pay App #1 in the amount of $40,000.70 to Memphis Sewer & Water.
• The city agreed to a contract of $87,000.00 to Coahoma Collective for management of the Sunflower River Walk project.
• The city will allow a policy change to the Civic Auditorium to allow for possession, consumption and sale of alcohol.
• The city entered executive session to settle an ongoing lawsuit.
• The city recessed until noon Thursday, May 23 at City Hall. All meetings are open to the public.
• The board approved minutes of the April 22 minutes.
