The Clarksdale Board of Mayor and Commissioners approved a permit for Clarksdale Collegiate Public Charter School to operate high school Monday.
The new school will be built at Riverside Drive and Walnut Avenue and is known as the Old Federal Compress. The property is zoned R-10, Residential.
The permit was initially tabled by the city at their Sept. 25 board meeting.
Ward 2 Commissioner Bo Plunk said he was concerned city schools were closing schools and asked about taxes to fund the new facility.
Plunk said Monday he has been told the new school will be built with federal and state grants and donations from foundations around the country.
Ward 3 Commissioner Willie Turner said in September he wanted more information. Ward 4 Commissioner Ed Seals motioned to table the matter.
Charter School Administrator Amanda Johnson came before the board and said it was time for the school to grow.
Johnson said the Charter School has grown from 150 students in 2018 to over 600 students in grades K through 6th, in two facilities on West Second Street. She said the facility on Riverside will serve grades 7th through 12th.
To Plunk’s point, Johnson said the Charter School had looked at Myrtle Hall and the Bobo/Old High School properties, but was unable to close a sale.
On a motion by Plunk and a second by Turner, the permit was approved.
In Other Business:
• Clarksdale Superintendent Toya Harrell-Matthews approach-ed the board with the district’s latest state accountability grades. She pointed out there is still work to be done, but she feels the district is headed in the right direction.
Matthews said the district has once again obtained a D rating and was four points away from a C.
She thanked teachers and the administrative staff for their hard work.
Each Clarksdale Municipal School Board Trustee is appointed by a member of the Clarksdale Board of Mayor and Commissioners.
• Mayor Chuck Espy asked Superintendent Matthews to get students at the high school to vote in the upcoming Ward 2 runoff Election set for Oct. 24.
• The city approved the lowest and best bids for a John Deere bulldozer from Stribling for $248,000; a skidder for $103,500; a knuckle boom truck for $225,000; and another dump truck from Truck Works for $245,000. Equipment purchases totaled $821,500.
• The city paid the following miscellaneous claims: Cornerstone, $4,464; Chuck Espy travel and mileage, $544.96; City Clerk consultant Cathy Clark, $3,000; Police Department consultant, Sandra Johnson, $2,870.84; Life Line Screenings, $250; Communications skills training for Tara Slack from Staff4U Inc., $2,500; Tyler Technologies $1,562.56; MidSouth Waste Disposal, $74,000; Sound Center, $915.76 for a TV in the Mayor’s office
• The city paid bills for the month of September in the amount of $117,520.31.
• The city paid the Incidental Expense account for the month of September in the amount of $4,617.26
• The city acknowledged the receipt of funds from Coahoma County for the Carnegie Library Roof repairs in the amount of $40,685.85 and authorized the city clerk to issue a check to the library for the same amount. The city and county are splitting the cost of roof repairs at the library.
• The city approved Change Order 1 for the Riverside Erosion repair from Brocat Construction for removal and replacement of a six-inch water line in the amount of $12,500.
• The city approved Pay Estimate #3 in the amount of $17, 571.31 for TM Productions and Change order #4 for the completion of the Elm/Riverside project
• Commissioner Turner asked for an update on the house demolition plan for Clarksdale.
Turner was told six more houses were added to the list for demolition this week, raising the number of houses to be demolished and hauled away to 12.
Houses currently being demolished are in the 12th, 15th and 16th street areas.
• Commissioner Seals asked a vacant lot near Union Grove Church and the Children’s Clinic needed mowing.
• City Human Resources clerk Tara Slack told the board there are no current openings for police, fire or public works, but urged people to file resumes with the WIN Job Center.
Later in the meeting Commissioners voted to accept the resignation of Corporal Jasmine Booker in the police department effective Oct. 5.
The city also voted to withdraw offer of employment to Jarliscra Bickham as a dispatcher in the Police Department.
• The city approved the Cancer Awareness Walk will be held on Oct. 14, at 9:30 a.m. starting at the Central Fire Station. Florida Cares Properties, Delta Manor, the Church of Christ and the Clarksdale Fire Department will host the walk.
• The city approved the American Legion and Troop and Pack #4004 to host the Veterans Day Flag Ceremony and Program at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at Veterans Park downtown.
• Commissioners approved permission for the Mayor to attend the Delta Caucus Conference on Nov. 16- 17, in
Little Rock, Ark and to pay registration, hotel and travel expenses.
• The city accepted a quote from Bliss Products for 200 yards of playground mulch in the amount of $6,269.23 for the Park Commission.
• Commissioners approved reimbursing the Park Commission for the purchase of chemicals for all small parks in the amount of $1,512.
• The city renewed a one year agreement with Key Solutions for parts, labor and mileage in the amount of $36,140.
• The city authorized entering an agreement with the Coahoma County Tax Assessor for changes required by Attorney General’s Office.
• Commissioners approved payment of tickets for city personnel to the Chamber Banquet to be held Thursday, Oct. 26, at the Pinnacle.
• Commissioners acknowledge receipt of a letter from the Town of Lambert requesting the donation of patrol cars for their Police Department and a dump truck and a pickup truck for their Public Works.
• The city acknowledged Municipal Compliance for FY 09-30-2023 but did not specify what department may have been out of compliance.
• The city tabled appointments to several boards.
• Commissioners approved the purchase of flooring material and labor from Lowe's for the Police Department dispatch office in the amount of $1,680.93
• Commissioners approved dispatcher Ella Williams to travel to an orientation course for E-Telecommunication in Canton, Oct. 16-17.
• Commissioners approved Sgt. Braxton and Cpl. Hunter to attend the Blue to Gold Training on Oct. 18-19 in Pearl.
• The city approved travel for dispatcher Ella Williams to attend the IAED Basic Communications Course Oct. 23-27, in Tupelo.
• The city approved David Walker to use a Public Works vehicle and carry it home.
• The city offered employment to Daniel Williams and Stephen Webb in the Fire Department.
• The city increased the salary and supervisory duties for Assistant Chief Charles Lane in the Fire Department.
• The board entered executive session to discuss job performance of a person in a specific position or termination of an employee holding a specific position in the Fire Department
• The board voted to recess until noon, Monday, Oct. 16, at City Hall. All board meetings are open to the public.
