Civic Corner: February 2022
By Ricki Garrett, PhD, Alderwoman at Large
Since our January 18 Board of Aldermen meeting was fairly perfunctory, I thought I would share some other information from the work of the Board in recent weeks. First of all, congratulations to Ward 6 Alderman James Lott for hosting a forum of Hinds County officials this month. Approximately thirty or so citizens came to hear the officials speak and had the opportunity to ask questions. Ward 3 Alderman Bill Barnett, Ward 5 Alderwoman Beverly Oliver and I were also in attendance.
This month, Ward 1 Alderwoman Karen Godfrey is joining Mayor Fisher and Public Works Director Phillip Lilly for an Ask the Mayor session, which provides citizens the opportunity to hear an Alderman, a department head and the mayor answer questions and to call in or ask questions online. Each month, a different Alderman and department head will participate.
The Board of Aldermen had a busy work session this week, focusing on the ninety-seven-million-dollar effort by Clinton, Bolton and Raymond to allow treated water from all three cities to flow to the Big Black River. Joining Mayor Fisher and the Clinton Aldermen at the meeting were former Congressman Gregg Harper, who has been engaged as our federal lobbyist, two other members of the Watkins & Eager firm, and several representatives of the City of Raymond. Funding from various sources will be sought as our engineering firm, WGK Inc., develops the plan for this project.
The Mississippi Municipal League held its Mid-Winter Conference this past week, and Ward 6 Alderman James Lott, Ward 5 Alderwoman Beverly Oliver, City Clerk Russell Wall, and I participated. The Legislative Committee met and got approval for the 2022 Legislative agenda. Items on the agenda, which MML will advocate for this year, include a matching grant program for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, which would provide cities with a match from the state for the ARPA funds they have received. MML is also advocating for a Medical Marijuana bill that would provide cities with municipal zoning regulation, taxes, and diversion to cities and towns. The agenda also includes full funding of Homestead Exemption reimbursements to the cities and the creation of a revolving loan fund or grant program to address abandoned or menacing properties. As always, the Mississippi Municipal League will oppose any bills that preempt local authority, exempt sales tax or prohibit annexation.
The City is moving forward with advertising for two positions in the Marketing, Communication, and Tourism Department. The first will be a fulltime Depot Agent who will oversee all operations at the Clinton Depot. The other will be a fulltime marketing professional who will work with the department head, Amanda Mills Jones, and with other City departments to make sure the branding and marketing of the City will be uniform and will not require outside consulting.
Finally, the Board has authorized the continuation of Clinton’s partnership with the Mississippi Main Street Association as a Mississippi Main Street Association Designated Community. Tara Lytal has been an outstanding Main Street Director for our city, and we look forward to further progress in both the Olde Towne and Clinton Boulevard areas.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Space will be provided in each issue of The Clinton Courier to the Board of Aldermen for a recap of each meeting. Aldermen are asked to volunteer to provide this recap for the Courier.
