Civic Corner: Board of Aldermen Recap
By Ricki Garrett, PhD, Alderwoman-at-Large
The Board of Aldermen meeting began with the approval of a proclamation declaring March 28, 2024, as “Blinded Veterans Day” in Clinton. Following the approval of the consent agenda, the Board heard from Fire Chief Jeff Blackledge. Chief Blackledge reported that there had been 423 Emergency Medical Service calls this year so far. There have been thirty-one fires, including five structure fires in January, many of them total losses. Finally, there have been forty-five vehicle collision calls, two weather calls and two elevator rescues.
The Board of Aldermen approved the reappointment of Barbara Linn, Benjie Barham and Saundra Atterberry to the City of Clinton Planning and Zoning Committee.
Ward 6 Alderman James Lott made a motion to reconsider a vote from the previous Board that denied a conditional use for Arrow Post, a convenience store on Pinehaven Road. He indicated that he had had discussions with the developers, viewed the site, and had decided that the convenience store was appropriate. Ward 5 Alderwoman Beverly Oliver and I argued against a convenience store in that location, as we had done in the previous meeting, but the vote was 4 to 2 to approve the conditional use, with Ward 2 Alderman Jim Martin not present.
The Boad of Aldermen approved the appointment of Sara Graham and Collin Baird to the Olde Towne Historic Committee. The Board also approved the execution of a maximum price amendment to the contract with Century Construction in the amount of $7,325,052 and approved the base site package and alternates 1-4 related to Phase I on the 80/20 Development Project to Joe McGee Construction in the amount of $4,676,982.23. The Mayor expressed appreciation to Mississippi College and the 80/20 Committee for all of the work that had transpired on this project.
The Board also provided approval for the Clinton Police Department off-duty officers to use uniforms, weapons and official police vehicles in the performance of certain private duties at Mississippi College and to allow the Clinton Police Department’s SWAT Team to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, the Byram Police Department, the Capitol Police Department and the Jackson Police Department for the purpose of a unified Metro Special Response team.
In further action, the Board of Aldermen accepted a proposal totaling $10,000 and authorized the Mayor to execute the necessary contract documents as an addendum to the existing professional services contract with All Phases Archaeology to revisit and perform additional testing at sites identified during the Phase 1 Survey related to the Wastewater Improvement Project. This additional work is necessary, because, in the original phase of work, certain artifacts were found during the digging that the Department of Archives and History reviewed and determined further excavation was needed to assure they are not a part of a possible historical structure.
Finally, the Board approved the hiring of two certified firefighters and two uncertified firefighters for the Clinton Fire Department and a grounds technician for Parks and Recreation.
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.
