In an effort to help keep residents informed of actions taken by their elected municipal officials, The Dispatch is publishing the approved minutes of the town councils of each of Perry County’s three municipalities.

To follow are the approved minutes from the June meetings of the mayors and boards of aldermen of Beaumont, New Augusta and Richton. The minutes, which are public records, were provided to The Dispatch after the newspaper made a formal public records request.

BEAUMONT

Be it remembered that the Mayor and Board of the Town of Beaumont met in a regular meeting at the Town Hall at 6 p.m. on June 1, 2021 with the following present:

Jamie Chambless, Tammy Breland, Darlene Collins, Stephanie Herring, David Walley, Chris Bolton, Princess Bolton, Beverly Hesterman, Hope Freeman, Marvin Freeman, Wayne Penton, Ronnie Rankins, Jeremy McSwain, Dale Carnahan, Leon Small, Jennifer Ducre and Darrell Ducre.

Mayor Jamie Chambless brought the meeting to order. Prayer was by Dale Carnahan.

Motion by Hope Freeman and seconded by Chris Bolton to approve the minutes from the May meetings. All voted aye.

Motion by Hope Freeman and seconded by Chris Bolton to pay all claims on the claims docket.

Motion by Beverly Hesterman and seconded by Hope Freeman to authorize the payment of registration fee and travel expense for Eric Hillman to attend gas training on July 7-9in Orange Beach, Ala.

Motion by Chris Bolton by Chris Bolton and seconded by Hope Freeman to authorize payment of three election commissioners $175.00 and $100.00 for Adell Hinton and Sherrie Carnahan $100.00 for attending election certification training. All voted aye.

Motion by Beverly Hesterman and seconded by Hope Freeman to approve Ronald Byrd’s request for a three way stop at the corner of Green Street and Patterson Loop. All voted aye.

Motion by Hope Freeman and seconded by Chris Bolton to approve the report of billing adjustments made due to the customers not benefitting from the use of the utilities. All voted aye.

Motion by Hope Freeman and seconded by Chris Bolton to accept the 2020-2021 amended budget. All voted aye.

Motion by Chris Bolton and seconded by Beverly Hesterman to approve the monthly financial report. All voted aye.

Motion by Princess Bolton and seconded by Chris Bolton to hire Jeremy McSwain as a full-time police officer at $26,000 per year effective immediately. All voted aye.

Wayne Penton said he would use his wrecker to move to old police cars that belong to the town to the old police station. the board said they would give him time to remove any items that may belong to him from the building.

Jennifer and Darrell Ducre thanked the town for burning trash pile and removing the tree limb that was hanging over Sixth Street.

Motion by Princess Bolton and seconded by Chris Bolton to adjourn until Tuesday, July 6, 2021, at 6 p.m. All voted aye.

Tammy Breland, Clerk and Jamie Chambless, Mayor

 

NEW AUGUSTA

Town of New Augusta Regular Board Meeting

Mayor Joe Gallaspy called the meeting to order June 1, 2021 at  p.m. Alderman Roger Jones gave the invocation. The following were present for the meeting: Mayor Joe D. Gallaspy, Alderwoman Pamela Brewer, Alderman David Gallaspy, Alderwoman Jan Hall, Alderman Roger Jones, Alderman Steve Spicer, Town Clerk Sherry Burns, Deputy Clerk Jessica Herring, Utilities Steven Rogers, Police Chief Christy Carona and Town Attorney Chipper Johnson.

Approval of minutes: Alderman Gallaspy made the motion to approve the May 2021 board minutes. Alderman Spicer seconded. The motion carried unanimously with those present voting “aye.”

Approval of agenda: Alderman Spicer made the motion to approve the agenda. Alderman Gallaspy seconded. The motion carried unanimously with those present voting “aye.”

Guests: Alderwoman Brewer made the motion to adjust the water bill due to a leak for Aretha McLain-Arteaga. Alderman Spicer seconded the motion. Motion carried with those present voting “aye.”

New Business: Alderman Gallaspy made the motion to accept the Section 3 Plan (Community Development Block Grant) and sign the resolution. Alderman Spicer seconded. Motion carried unanimously with those present voting  “aye.”

Clerk informed the Board that she had received a statement from the Department of Employment Security alleging that we owe some back payments from 2007-2009. She has talked to both Auditor Doug King and Attorney Chipper Johnson about the situation. Attorney Johnson composed a letter and it has been sent to the Department of Employment Security to try to lessen the amount since this was so long ago. (Employment Security Payment on Kevin Bolton)

After discussion on the matter on the tree removal across from McCoy Park on First Street, it was tabled.

After discussing a letter received from Melissa Hinton asking for help on her water bill because of filling an in-ground pool, the matter was tabled until after the total water bill is received.

Alderman Spicer made the motion to accept the water report and repair the sewer machine. Alderwoman Brewer seconded. Motion carried unanimously with those present voting “aye.”

May’s Water Report: Replaced meter and meter box at 109 Hwy. 98 East; replaced meter and meter box on curb stop at 802 Main Street; repaired leak on meter service at 2501 Hwy. 98 East; repaired leak on meter service at 103 Third Avenue Apt. 3 and replace curb stop; repaired a leak at Southern Forest Products inside pole yard to a line that is not metered; sprayed town one time; mowed twice; had to dig up septic tank at the ball fields and get it pumped out; had to pimp out of lift station at West Wingate and Oak Street and sent it off to be checked; and blew a section of sewer main out at Dogwood and Oak Street.

Alderman Spicer made the motion to accept the water report and repair the sewer machine. Alderman Gallaspy seconded. Motion carried unanimously with those present voting “aye.”

May’s Fire Report: Six calls: one EMS; three vehicle collisions; one vehicle fire; and one mutual aid.

Fire donations: $510.31- Alderman Gallaspy made the motion to accept the report and donations. Alderwoman Hall seconded. Motion carried unanimously with those present voting “aye.”

May’s Police Report: One arrest; five citations; one warrant served; two assists; one incident; 13 incident reports- for a total of 44 calls for service.

General Funds- $378.25; State Assessments- $463.00; City- $30.00; Crime Stoppers- $6.00; and MS Warrant Network- $50.75.

Chief Carona state the police JAG Grant was due by the end of the month and wanted to apply for it. The grant would be $5,000 with a waiver for the match, if approved. Chief Carona will get Corey Proctor to write the grant.

Alderman Gallaspy made the motion to accept the police report and funds and allow Corey Proctor to write the JAG Grant for a fee. Aldermen Spicer seconded. Motion carried unanimously with those present voting “aye.”

Warrants: Alderman Gallaspy made the motion to pay the warrants and accept the Revenues and Expenditures Report. Aldermand Spicer seconded. Motion carried unanimously with those present voting “aye.”

Adjourn: Alderman Gallaspy made a motion to adjourn. Alderman Spicer seconded. Motion carried unanimously with those present voting “aye.”

 

RICHTON

JUNE 1, 2021

PROCEEDINGS OF THE MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE TOWN OF RICHTON, MISSISSIPPI

The Mayor and Board of Aldermen met in REGULAR SESSION on the above date at 6:30 o=clock P. M., Richton City Hall with the following listed present.

Michael W. Ruffin, Mayor; Ed Hearn, Jr., Alderman; Arnell Husband, Alderman; Keith Evans, Alderman; Todd Lee, Alderman; Brenda Phillips, Alderman; Terri L. Dunn, Clerk; Michael Reed, City Attorney; and Jimmy Bunch, Chief of Police

Visitors:           None

Mayor Ruffin called the meeting to order and the following business is transacted.

Mayor Ruffin called for the reading of the minutes. On motion by T. Lee seconded by B. Phillips and to dispense with the reading of the previous minutes and approve the minutes as written.  All voting yea.

Mayor Ruffin presented for final consideration variance application from Lawanda Robins to vary use of property in R-2 Medium Residential District to Zoning Ordinance #177, As Amended.  On motion by A. Husband, seconded by T. Lee, variance application approved and all voting yea.

Mayor Ruffin presented for final consideration the variance application from First Baptist Church of Richton to vary sign restriction use of R-1 Residential District to Zoning Ordinance #177, As Amended.  No action taken due to no one there.

Mayor Ruffin presented cash request No. 2, on CDBG Project, for $19,245.00.  On motion by T. Lee, seconded by B. Phillips and all voting yea to pay as presented.

On motion by A. Husband, seconded by B. Phillips approving 12 extra hours for Jarrot Husband.  All voting yea.

Financial reports for the month of May 2021 were presented and approved on motion by A. Husband and seconded by T. Lee and all voting yea.

Claims as listed in Claim Docket #2 on pages C542– C548 presented by the clerk were approved on motion by A. Husband, seconded by K. Evans.  All voting yea.

Upon call for further business and none being presented, meeting is adjourned on motion by T. Lee, seconded by A. Husband.  All voting yea.

APPROVED,

Michael W. Ruffin, Mayor