Ward 6 Alderman Andre’ Spiller said he was tired of repeated problems with “slum lords” renting sub-par properties and refusing to take care of them.

“On Friday or Saturday, I heard a bunch of gunshots in the trailer park behind the Brown Bag,” Spiller said, referring to Cracker Barrel North on Hwy. 51. “Brown Bag is shutting down because of these problems. The trailer park owner knows all of this is happening. I want to see if maybe he wants to take a sleeping bag and go sleep out there with me for a week and see if he likes the pressure. I’m tired of all this.”

Spiller said property owners who treat residents in a similar manner are basically “slum lords.”

“The police shouldn’t have to go and babysit,” he said. “After the police have been called three or more times, landlords ought to be charged. We need to do something.”

Spiller also asked Board attorney Bobby Moak to send a letter to the owners of the old King’s Daughters Hospital on North Jackson Street. If they have no plan of action for the property, it needs to come down, he said.

The alderman also asked the board if anyone would be opposed to him visiting the Northeast Mississippi city of Tupelo to see their municipal pool and talk with them about the day-to-day operation of it.

“I don’t see any problem with you going on your own,” Mayor Joe Cox replied.

 

The Board also approved:

• A one-year anniversary increase of $1 per hour for Jeffy James in the Water Department, from $12.59 to $13.59 per hour.
• A one-year anniversary increase of $1 per hour for Brody Evans, a laborer in the Water Department, from $11.38 to $12.38 per hour.
• To hire David King Jr. as a certified fire fighter at an annual salary of $35,602.15, pending drug test and physical.
• To spread on minutes that Demetric Coleman, applicant for the Street Department, failed to meet the pre-requisites for employment, and that the offer to hire has been rescinded.
• Emergency replacement of Waste Water Treatment Plant aerators — one seal replacement at $2,874.89; gear box replacement on second aerator at $10,454.85; plus labor of $1,468.74; approved transfer of funds from Mississippi Public Infrastructure account to cover repairs by Precision Armature.
• Installation of 109 feet of 12-inch water line to tie into the 12-inch water main on South First Street, and to include repair of other issues that may arise as a result. This is to increase fire hydrant pressure and water pressure on the northeast side of the city. Total cost is yet to be determined until project is completed by Greenbriar Digging Services; approve transfer of funds from Mississippi Public Infrastructure account to cover repair.