Clarksdale has found a way to hire police officers, enforce city ordinances, clean up the town and they have found a way to fund it, too.
The Board of Mayor and Commissioners were presented a report Monday by the Police Advisory Board formed earlier this summer to study ways to reduce gang violence, illegal drugs, property crime and neighborhood blight.
Also at Monday’s city board meeting, Commissioner Bo Plunk unveiled a plan to levy a tax on alcohol and tobacco to pay for more police officers, equipment, code enforcement officers and public works employees. That funding mechanism would require Local and Private legislation to be passed by the state and could prompt a referendum on the tax.
The Police Advisory Board offered a simple list of ideas to commissioners
“We looked at what we called ‘low hanging fruit’ that would not cost a lot,” said Pete Johnson, chairman of the Police Advisory Board. “We also took a realistic look at costs for more police officers, equipment and a code enforcement officer.
“This is an interim report and the proof will be in the pudding,” said Johnson. “If you just accept this report and wink, that will take the wind out of our sails and the efforts of people who are serious about changing some things in Clarksdale.”
The city also had attorney Tray Hairston, of Butler & Snow, present a proposal to word legislation to allow the city to implement its tax on alcohol and tobacco. Hairston also said Butler & Snow could help the city navigate the passage of that legislation at the Capitol.
The foundation of the tax would be .10-cents added to the purchase of any alcohol or tobacco product. The tax could generate up to $500,000 a year or more.
“There are a lot of details to be worked out, but basically if you don’t smoke or drink you won’t get taxed,” said Plunk. “We want the money to be used only to fund police, fire department and public works.”
Plunk pointed to declining population figures and said this would not be a city tax increase on property and would not affect those who own retail businesses or cars and houses.
“It only affects those who smoke and drink,” said Plunk. “I smoke but I don’t drink. It might help you stop smoking or drinking and it will fight crime and clean up neighborhoods in this town.”
Plunk said he wanted to be very open about this and the alcohol and tobacco lobby in Jackson would fight against it.
“This is to help Clarksdale and if we get started now it will be January before we get the law filed in Jackson,” said Plunk. “Then we have to show people we want it. Other cities in Mississippi have done this. We need to do this and turn this town around.”
The Police Advisory Board asked the city to fund a review of the SkyCop cameras in Clarksdale and use them to identify vehicles and people committing crime.
The Advisory Board asked for police to be more active, patrol high crime areas and make more stops at night to check out who is on city streets and what they are up to.
The Advisory Board also asked for another Code Enforcement Officer to tag abandoned cars in yards, check certificate of occupancy permits when renters vacate a home and condemn and demolish unsafe, burned-out and abandoned homes.
The Advisory Board asked the city board attorney to research ordinances in other towns used to reduce crime, neighborhood blight, beggars and the homeless population.
The Advisory Board also asked that the fire department assist the Code Enforcement Officer in surveying neighborhoods for unhealthy and hazardous conditions. That work would include everything from documenting house fires and subsequent repairs to reporting broken traffic lights and needed street repairs to public works and checking on the elderly as they made their rounds.
In Other Business:
• The city paid System Technologies, back-pay of $15,812.50 for 2022, $24,162,50 for 2023 and $20,370 for 2024 for SkyCop equipment maintenance.
• The city approved $95,000 in incentive pay for 19 police officers: Damion Blue, Jacob Braxton, Alvin Coley, Larry Grimes, Raymond Hill, Eric Hunter, George Johnson, William Leavy, Stacy Lester, Casey Lewis, Robbie Linley, Vincent Noland, Delarian Norsworthy, Christopher Osborne, LaJaris Pates, Vincent Ramirez, Markel Sanders, Darrell Taylor and Otis Taylor.
• Four people requested speed bumps and SkyCop cameras to reduce speeders and stop crime on Grant Place and Chestnut Street.
• Milton Gardner, who was recently arrested for public drunk and urinating in public, came before the board asking for help for the homeless and mentally ill. Gardner quoted scripture and said he would soon seek help from the Nations of Islam since churches, the city and the county were not supporting him.
• Commissioners were approached by Chuck Rutledge, of Coahoma Collective, asking the city to formally sign a letter of support for an EPA Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants (Community Change Grants) that would help develop a walking trail along the Sunflower River and revitalizing the Old Clarksdale High School.
Coahoma Collective has been named the recipient of a state and federal grant totaling $1.278 million. That grant would help build a walking trail along the west bank of the Sunflower River from Soldier Field south to Third Street, cross over the river on a pedestrian bridge and work its way back to the First Street bridge.
Rutledge said is seeking a second federal grant that would turn the old high school property into affordable rental housing, a disaster recovery center and create a community land trust that would buy older properties that have fallen into disrepair and build houses on those lots. The project would also make a memorial pool at the site of the old city pool.
Rutledge said all he needs are city board minutes approving the project to seek this second grant that could be as much as $20 million. Rutledge has said time is running out for the application.
• Tim Luster approached commissioners about grease in sewer lines that is causing backups at Clarksdale Methodist Church.
Luster said the church has already talked with Clarksdale Public Utilities about the problem and is seeking reimbursement from CPU for a backup that cost the church several thousand dollars in repairs.
• Charles Penner requested the use of the Gazebo at the City Auditorium on Oct. 18 for a series of class reunions.
• Commissioners approved $37,936 for a new truck to be used by the Park Commission.
• The city paid Key Solutions, $36,140 for a one-year computer service agreement.
• The city approved a payment of $488.10 to close out the ARPA fund that saw almost $3.3 million given to the city during COVID.
• The city paid the following miscellaneous claims: Cornerstone, $6,125; Willard Concrete, $14,784; Louis Pike, $250; Slaughter and Assoc., $3,469.13; Chuck Espy, $892.65; Granicus, $1,844.35; Joshua Cross, $250; M&N Excavators, 101,117.84; Smith & Weiland, $16,549.10; Catalis, $1,512; Carrier, $1,873; Chaplin John E. Givins, $400; Civic Plus, $2,639; Pamela Buck, $1,500; Neel-Shaffer, $7,959.79;.
• The city approved the purchase of three 2025 Dodge Durango PPV’s for $39,959 per vehicle.
• The city approved tree removals, but did not give the location or price for removal.
• Bradley Hillhouse was placed on administrative leave.
• The city paid MS Home Corp for grants obtained but did not define what was purchased.
• The city accepted the Planning Commission’s approval for Blues 76 Subdivision to plat a gas station in both Lyon and Clarksdale, off of Highway 61.
• The city recessed until Thursday, Oct. 24 at noon at City Hall. All city board meetings are open to the public and the community is urged to attend.
