Over $14,000 was paid by the city council to a local asphalt company for the repaving of three streets within Yazoo City. But Alderwoman Elizabeth Thomas said the process should have been done differently.
During the recent Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting, the city council approved three invoices to Delta Asphalt for a total of $14,315 for the repaving of three streets, including Barksdale Street and Rudy Shields Circle, with no opposing votes.
“We have a special charter, which means it has to come before the board,” Thomas said, concerning the completion of the re-pavement project. “It has to be done with three votes out of five.”
But Mayor David Starling said he was under the impression that if each project was under $5,000 and funds came from the mayor’s budget, the project could be completed. He also said he made the board aware that he was going to move forward with the projects, receiving no opposition at the time.
“I told the board that I was going to do this some months ago,” Starling said. “Everyone agreed to it. I will shoulder the blame. But I thought I wouldn’t have to get board approval if the money used came out of the mayor’s budget. With each job being under $5,000, I thought I could go ahead and do it.”
The city also approved paying $3,719 in the striping of the parking lot at Yazoo City High School. The Yazoo County Board of Supervisors paid for the re-pavement of the local high school parking lot.
Starling added the projects were made in the best interest of Yazoo City. Thomas replied that similar projects came before the board in the past.
“The past is not here,” Starling replied. “We were doing something for the best interest of our city. Yazoo City High School is one of our schools. And it is not fair to the county to come in and work on our property.”
The discussion ended with the approval of all payments. But Starling said he will come before the board with any other future street projects, regardless of cost or where the funds came from.
“We will all vote on streets moving forward,” he said.
In other city news:
* A reimbursement of $750 was approved for a Jackson debris removal company who had to work an extra day to properly remove debris from a local property. The company had to return to work due to the rubbish pit not being opened during its posted hours. The city also addressed the concern with the rubbish pit staff, adding that the pit is to have employees present during its posted operational hours.
* City leaders said they have received many complaints concerning garbage pickup within the city. The city council said they are planning to meet with the contracted providers to share their concerns. But they ask that all citizens report their concerns to the Yazoo City Action Line at 662-746-3211. A complaint form is also available on the city’s website at www.cityofyazoo.org. Such complaints will be used when a meeting with the contract providers is held.
“So far, we have had no response from our provider,” Starling said. “If you have problems with your garbage, I encourage you to call the Action Line so that we will have enough adequate evidence on hand to present to them because something has to be done.”
* Thomas also asked the citizens to be patient with city work crews as they clean up the local canals and waterways considering the recent heavy rainfall. She said flooding occurs when such a large amount of rainfall happens in a short amount of time, but she said crews are out addressing the problem areas.
* Aldermen Jammie McCoy and Macklyn Austin also asked residents to be patient as the city continues to repair several pieces of equipment within the street department. They said they understand the concerns surrounding grass cutting and other projects, but the city is in the process of repairing and/or acquiring equipment.
Alderman Charlie Jenkins suggested that the city council meet with the Public Service Commission’s Board of Commissioners to discuss the recent higher utility costs passed onto the city customers.
* The Yazoo City Fire Department will host an Agility Test on Sept. 3 at 8:30 a.m. at Campanella Park that will be open to the public, ages 18 years and older. The annual Fill the Boot campaign will also be held next weekend at Save-A-Lot and WalMart. The department also recently secured a $8,000 Homeland Security grant.
