Canton Board of Aldermen covers operations, safety and budget in July meetings

Special to The Canton News 

The City of Canton Board of Aldermen and Alderwomen met several times in July to address citywide priorities, ranging from infrastructure and public safety to personnel matters and financial approvals.

The July 1 regular meeting opened with presentations from Jackie Ard, Courtney Rainey, Stan Beasley, Neel Shaffer and Waggoner Engineering. Department heads, including Police Chief Otha Brown, Fire Chief Kenna Pierce and Public Works Director Tony Coffer, provided updates on ongoing operations. During the meeting, the Board authorized the mayor or his designee to respond to the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), selecting the Sponsorship Agreement as the City’s preferred funding method for watershed plan development under the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Operations Program. The Board also entered executive session to discuss two personnel matters related to job performance or mental health, one under supervision and finance, and the other in building and zoning.

Later that same day, the Board held a special-called meeting. Among the actions taken was the approval of a $65.71 payment due to a Fuelman card malfunction and authorization to purchase ten Mobile Field Interview (MIFI) units for the Police Department at a monthly cost of $369.90. The Board passed a resolution to change authorized signatories on City accounts and made an appointment for Mayor Pro-Tempore. They also approved municipal bond renewals for City officials and employees, authorized the cleaning and marking of Nissan City vehicles, and designated a point of contact for audit coordination with the Department of Revenue and the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office. Additional business included approving a change of locks and codes for City Hall and the Mayor’s office, granting access to specific City officials. The Board also considered the installation of speed bumps on Martin Luther King Drive and Adeline Street, and approved minutes from two previous meetings held on June 17 and June 23.

At the regular meeting on July 15, the Board approved a payment of $1,782.64 to address stormwater drainage issues at 302 West Peace Street. Favorable notice was given to the Canton Garden Club for a city beautification initiative. Waggoner Engineering was authorized to conduct a transportation study in coordination with the Delta Regional Authority. The Board approved hiring Joann Garrett as a temporary employee to support the City Clerk’s office during an upcoming municipal league conference. Several financial items were addressed, including a $27,893.75 payment to Pinnacle Construction for the South Madison Street project and $31,500 to replace City Hall’s front doors with ADA-compliant glass entrances. The Board approved a $3,625 annual software support agreement with Delta Computer Systems and authorized advertising for engineering services to support landfill expansion. Approval was also given to purchase a camera system for garbage trucks at a cost of $378 and to authorize travel for a City representative to attend a conference in Biloxi.

The Board concluded the July 15 meeting with an executive session to discuss ten personnel matters across departments, including finance, fire, police, and parks and recreation. Two litigation items were also considered.