Civic Corner: Board of Aldermen Recap – March 15

By Ricki Garrett, PhD, Alderwoman at Large

In a previous article, I shared with you that the Board of Aldermen was exploring the idea of doing a city-wide drainage study to determine the causes of flooding in our city. A previous study had been done twenty years ago, but, due to the inability of the City to acquire needed property, no action was taken. Our consulting engineering firm, WGK, has done a preliminary cost analysis for evaluating four creeks in Clinton, identifying possible improvements and implementing a strategy to improve them. The four creeks are Bogue Chitto, Lindsey, Straight Fence, and French/Allen. However, the cost of the stream study would be approximately $500,000. The Board will have to determine if it is financially feasible to do the study.

At the work session this week, the Board had further discussion with Waste Management, our current garbage collection company, regarding a new six-year contract. Fortunately for the City, the Board has not had a contentious battle over garbage collection. However, Alderman Martin did express concern that Waste Management had added a clause that would allow them to raise rates if certain conditions occur, including a rise in the price of fuel. This is in addition to a clause that prices could go up based on the Consumer Price Index. However, since the company had agreed to a compromise, allowing prices to go down provided certain conditions occur, the Board approved the contract at its Board Meeting on a vote of six to one, with Alderman Martin voting no.

In Tuesday’s meeting, the Board of Aldermen also approved signage for the businesses going into the container at 819 Northside Drive and, also, for the Baywash at 902 Old Vicksburg Road, which will be a revitalization of a previous car wash in that location.

Alderman Chip Wilbanks expressed a desire at the work session to see some improvements in the landscaping and maintenance of the Olde Towne area. The Board discussed possibly having the area landscaped and then having it professionally maintained.

The Board will consider at its next meeting whether to apply for funding through the Metropolitan Planning Organization to build a multi-use path from Brighton Park to Olde Vineyard Subdivision along Clinton-Raymond Road. These are the same type of funds the City is using for the Arrow Drive/Cynthia Road multi-use path, and the City would be competing with others in the metropolitan area.

In other news, the Mississippi Municipal League has successfully killed a legislative bill that would have significantly damaged the City’s ability to regulate home-based businesses. The bill would have put home values at risk by allowing any type of business to move into a neighborhood. The Municipal League regularly opposes bills that take away cities’ abilities to govern themselves.

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.