The Clarksdale Board of Mayor and Commissioner heard from a constituent on Thursday and took action to improve local parks on Monday.
Charles Meyers approached the city Thursday saying vandalism at local parks has to stop and he offered solutions that he hopes will make Clarksdale parks safer and prettier.
“We’ve got people doing donuts in sports cars in our parks in broad daylight,” said Meyers. “They’ve torn up equipment at a lot of our parks.”
Meyers said he approached Clarksdale Police Chief Sandra Williams, who increased patrols of local parks, but Meyers pointed out police can’t just watch parks.
“You put posts and chains up at Soldier’s Park downtown and I think it helped,” said Meyers. “I’m going to suggest you do more of that at Nosef (Park) and other parks around town. Lighting would help, too.”
Meyers even brought an estimate of $300 per park to put up posts and chains to limit access to bikes and foot-traffic only.
On Monday, on a motion by Ward 1 Commissioner Bo Plunk and a second by Ward 2 Commissioner Ken Murphey the city voted to obtain quotes for material and get city crews to install the chains and posts and paint them.
In a related vote, Chuck Rutledge requested a meter box at the old swimming pool pump house to be placed on city billing to light up the area for sculptures on the Riverwalk.
On a motion by Murphey and a second by Ward 3 Commissioner Willie Turner the city voted to submit a Rutledge’s request to Clarksdale Public Utility get power and lighting to the park.
In Other Business:
• The board waived the reading of the minutes and voted to adopt them.
• The Board was approached by Jon Levingston and Oliver Luckett who made a presentation for an art district project in the downtown area.
Levingston said the Chamber is a co-sponsor of murals. Luckett said the mural recently created on the side of Ground Zero honors the blues and he hopes to do more for the community.
• The city approved the 100 Black Man March on Feb. 7, and directed police to set up a route for the event.
• Marsha Williams approached the board seeking support for Ready To Read, a non-profit program that seeks to keep children at the proper reading level. The city approved a letter of support but did not fund the project.
• Authorized the reimbursement of incidental expenses in the amount of $748.60 for December.
• Paid invoices in the amount of $183,829.37, in which $89,438.34 is General Fund.
• Paid miscellaneous claims to: Cornerstone Services $2,250; FNB $1,240; Chuck Espy (Dec) $230; Amanda Dear Jones $1,000; General Fund $1,858.09; MDA $1,858.09; Fiser Insurance $30,732.
• Issued a request to Cable One to refund a deposit of $25,000 for cable television no longer needed.
• Approved a request by Corine Ellington to make payments on a cleanup bill for property located at 428 Bolivar St.
• Approved reservations for the Mayor, City Clerk, City Attorney and Commissioners to attend the Mississippi Municipal League convention March 30-31.
• Approved the 2021 holiday schedule.
• Voted to approve the 18th COVID-19 Emergency Order.
• Approved a mobile unit to test city employee for COVID-19.
• Approveed a tax exemption to Image Industries for their 2020 taxes, excluding school tax.
Entered Executive Session and returned to open session with the following votes:
• Offered employment to Antonio Fair and Laterance Moore as firefighters.
• Accepted the resignation of Jadarian Clark from the fire department
• Acknowledged Perry Henry is out on medical leave.
• Hired Muriel Canada as a police dispatcher.
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