The Clarksdale Board of Mayor and Commissioners got back to business this week with a normal, regularly scheduled meeting with all in attendance.
The city board had been stymied from conducting regular business for almost two months as Mayor Chuck Espy used a parliamentary procedure to prevent a quorum from meeting while Ward 3 Commissioner Willie Turner was vacant from his seat.
Turner announced his retirement from the Coahoma County Sheriff’s Department at the end of 2023 with newly elected Sheriff Mario Magsby coming on board in January. State retirement requires a 90-day break from a previous state job before an employee can draw a retirement check.
At the heart of the tactic was a desire by Espy and Ward 5 Commissioner Ed Seals to hold off appointing a new city court judge following the unexpected resignation of City Judge Carlos Moore in February.
Ward 1 Commissioner Bo Plunk and Ward 2 Commissioner Jimmy Harris had sought to appoint Justice Court Judge Burks Rogers to the post. Espy proposed attorney Cindy Mitchell.
A special called meeting last week saw the city hire both Mitchell and Rogers and retain Judge Derrick Hopson. Espy, Seals and Turner also voted to give Hopson a $26,000 raise and Plunk pointed out that sent Hopson’s salary to $64,000 while Mitchell and Rogers got $27,000 each.
Plunk and Harris voted against the raise.
At Monday’s meeting the board voted to send Hopson, Mitchell and Rogers to the 2024 Municipal Court Judges’ seminar in Biloxi, May 31 to June 2 and to pay for hotels and travel.
The board also authorized to make raises for Lynn Logan and Josephine Bruce in the Judicial Department.
In Other Business:
• The board acknowledged the 90-day notice letter from Republic Services that the city’s current contract will expire June 30 and will not be renewed under the same terms.
Republic said higher operating costs have prompted the need for a new contract.
Espy said negotiating contracts is the mayor’s job and he will work with Republic to maintain low rates.
The board also authorized the mayor to sign consent for a mosquito control contract with Vector Disease Control International out of Little Rock, Ark.
• Commissioners approv-ed the 3rd Annual Walk for Autism on April 26 at 10 a.m. at the Walmart parking lot.
•Commissioners approv-ed travel for Code Enforcement and the City Attorney to attend the “Dreaming in the Delta: Transforming Vacancy Into Vibrancy” conference sponsored by Community Progress and the Walton Family Foundation.
• The city approved a $5,000 check to the Clarksdale Chamber of Commerce for the Juke Joint festival.
• Plunk reappointed Clara Sims to the Clarksdale School Board.
• Commissioners tabled appointments to the Quality of Life Board, Library Board and the Planning Commission Board.
• The board voted to pay the following miscellaneous claims: Fiser Insurance, $16,530; Granicus, $1,844.36; Lamar Christian, $1,800; Fiser Insurance, $558; Chaplain John E. Givins, $400; Sandra Johnson, $4,306.26; and Cornerstone, $4,464
• Acknowledge bids received from Lutts Wrecker Service and Delta Wrecker Service to remove unauthorized vehicles parked inside the 2024 Juke Joint Festival grounds this weekend and voted to accept a bid from Delta Wrecker Service.
• The city cleared Public Works to demolish and clean the following properties: 125 16th St.; 627 Baird St.; 628 Paul Edwards; 328 Adams St.; and 324 Mississippi Ave.
• Accepted a bid to mow and maintain the city’s field at MAP Easton from Williams Lawn Care.
• The city acknowledged completion of the introductory period for Curtis Hawkins in the Police Depart.
• The city acknowledged status changes in the Public Works Department for: Charles Cooper, salary increase; Cory Thomas, salary increase; Henry Morris, laborer withdrawal; Albert Nickson, transfer from truck driver to knuckle boom operator; Christopher Giles, offer employment as laborer. The city also voted to advertise for a truck driver.
• The city entered executive session to discuss the job performance of an employee in the Clarksdale Police Department. The city later voted in open session to terminate the employee.
• The city voted to adjourn until Monday, April 22, at 4 p.m. City Board meeting are held at City Hall and are open to the public.
