Approximately a year from now, Clarksdale taxpayers will begin to pay for the new traffic signals and landscaping coming to three of the city’s gateway intersections.
In its meeting Monday afternoon, the Board of Mayor and Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution in support of a $1.2 million bond.
The bond will run over eight years and require an increase of one and a half millage on the tax paid by Clarksdale property owners. That increase will be seen when city taxpayers get their tax bill in December 2019.
The bond will pay for:
* The installation of new, decorative traffic signal poles at the intersections where South State Street meets Desoto and Madison avenues. The project is expected to cost $415,000.
* Landscaping at the Desoto-State Street and Sunflower Avenue and South State Street intersections at a cost of $275,000.
* And the purchase of two new street sweepers at a total cost of $375,000.
The additional $75,000 will be used to pay for closing costs such as attorney and financing fees.
City Clerk Cathy Clark said the city will pay an estimated $180,000 per year over the next eight years for the intersection work and two street sweepers. However, the $60,000 to $70,000 the city will pay per month for two new street sweepers will come from Clarksdale Public Utilities via the garbage collection fee city residents pay monthly.
In other news from Monday’s meeting, commissioners:
* Gave their approval to three separate conditional-use permits for new businesses within the city limits.
Those receiving approval were Latisha Jones, who is looking to open an assisted-living facility at 537 W. Second St.; Bishop Zedric Clayton II with The City of Truth church, which is looking to open a daycare center serving 30 to 50 children at 600 Yazoo Ave.; and Charles Myles and Darylette Jones, who plan to operate an online ordering service for women’s clothing out of their location at 1527 Linden Place.
All of the above requests had been endorsed by the Clarksdale Planning Commission with no one voicing opposition.
* Agreed to the demolition of a property at 714 Lincoln St.
* Heard that the Clarksdale downtown Christmas Parade will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4.
* Went into executive session to discuss personnel. During executive session, the board approved longevity pay increases for four employees and withdrew an offer of employment for a firefighter’s position.
