A Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Ocean Springs was called to order by Mayor Ainsworth at 6:00 p.m. on March 2, 2004, at City Hall in the City of Ocean Springs. Present were Aldermen Jalanivich, Lloyd, McDonnell, Cody, Carvin, Dalgo and Gill, City Attorney Oscar Jordan and Deputy City Clerk Diane Northrop.
Alderman Cody gave the Invocation.
Mayor Ainsworth led the Pledge of Allegiance.
At this time Brian Gebany of the Ocean Springs Elks Lodge presented Mayor Ainsworth with a check in the amount of $1,700.00 to benefit the city’s D.A.R.E. program.
(HOSA Letter – Sponsorship at Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center)
Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Gill, to honor the request of HOSA for sponsorship of one room at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center in exchange for $15,000.00 in repairs, rejuvenation, furnishing the space, and in-kind labor.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
City Clerk:
a) Pay Docket of Claims and spread docket summary upon the Minutes:
(Docket Summary)
b) Accept Action Report
c) Promote Jacqueline Thomas to Water Officer Supervisor, effective March 3, 2004, at rate of $14.50 per hour:
(Thomas Promotion Letter)
Police Dept.:
d) Allow Court Clerk Kristy Jones to attend Municipal Court Clerks Seminar in Choctaw, MS on March 11-12, 2004, and pay all reasonable and actual expenses not paid by Mississippi Judicial College
e) Approve repairs to Police Motorcycle Unit #207 by Mississippi Coast Harley-Davidson, authorize purchasing clerk to issue purchase order and pay invoice ($1,282.69):
(Motorcycle Repairs)
Fire Dept.:
f) Accept Fire Report for January 2004
g) Allow Firefighters David Fisher and Shawn Lopes to attend Chevron Firefighting School at College Station, TX on March 29-April 2, 2004 (including orientation class), and pay all reasonable and actual expenses not paid by Chevron Refinery
h) Allow Deputy Fire Chief to attend Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings in Socorro, NM, on May 11-14, 2004, and pay all reasonable and actual expenses not paid by Office of Domestic Preparedness
i) Allow Lt. Rick Harris to attend International Association of Arson Investigators Conference and Training Seminar in Biloxi on March 10-12, 2004, and prepay $100.00 registration fee
j) Place Firefighter Troy Peltier on full-time status and increase pay to Firefighter 3rd Class ($25,000 yr./$9.64 hr.):
(Peltier Probation Memo)
City Engineer:
k) Approve Pay Request No. 7 from Caldwell Tanks ($11,655.00) regarding Contract A – New Elevated Water Tank, DWI-280035-02, and release payment upon receipt of DWSIRLF loan funds:
(Caldwell Tank Invoice)
Public Works:
l) Approve emergency purchase for repair of Pabst Rd. Water Well by Bunch Electrical ($2,425.00):
(Emergency Purchase Memo)
m) Ratify transfer of Danny Harris from Water Dept. to Street Dept. and Keith Bailey from Maintenance Dept. to Sewer Dept., effective February 27, 2004:
(Harris/Bailey Transfer)
n) Promote Tom Jones to position of Maintenance Supervisor, effective March 3, 2004, at rate of $15.50 per hour:
(Jones Promotion Memo)
o) Pay invoice from Secret Garden ($3,081.00) for landscaping and installation at caboose:
(Secret Garden Invoice)
Community Development & Planning:
p) Authorize City Planner to begin process to hire additional building clerk:
(Building Clerk Memo)
q) Issue permit to Bruce Duckett for maintenance dredging of boat slip at 1406-1402 Hellmers Lane:
(Duckett Documents)
r) Issue permit to Janus Kulpa for maintenance dredging in vicinity of boat slip and pier at 1408 Hellmers Lane:
(Kulpa Documents)
s) Issue permit to Jack D. Riley for maintenance dredging of boat slip at 1215 Harbor Rd.:
(Riley Documents)
t) Issue permit to W. F. Pontius for maintenance dredging of boat slip and installation of one mooring piling at 1320 Hellmers Lane:
(Pontius Documents)
City Attorney:
u) Adopt Resolution Approving Amendment to Interlocal Agreement with Jackson County for Purchase of Signs at Washington Ave. & Highway 90:
(Revised Interlocal Agreement – Signs)
Miscellaneous:
v) Adopt Park Commission Amended Budget for FYE 2004:
(Park Commission Budget Amendment)
w) Accept $1,000.00 donation from Ocean Springs Wal-Mart to be used toward restoration of Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center:
(O’Keefe Center Donation)
Motion by Gill, seconded by Jalanivich, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
Police Dept.
Alderman Jalanivich asked how the Police Dept. was handling the new pooper-scooper ordinance. The Police Chief said that there was some ambiguity and it would take the officers a little while to get the idea of what it encompassed and how to enforce it. The officers were asked to carry copies of the ordinances in their patrol unit and hand them out when necessary.
Alderman Dalgo reported a vandalism problem in Magnolia Bayou Subdivision. The Police Chief said that he would increase patrol in the area and suggested the homeowners report any problems.
Fire Dept.
The Fire Chief announced that the annual Jackson County March of Dimes Walkathon would be held in Pascagoula at 9:00 a.m. on March 27, 2004.
The City Engineer reported that the drainage problem in Lakeview Subdivision could be repaired in-house at an approximate cost of $5,000.00.
Motion by Gill, seconded by Jalanivich, to authorize the Public Works Director to proceed with repairing the Pine Lake Court drainage problem.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
Motion by Dalgo, seconded by Cody, to allow the City Engineer to confer with the City Attorney regarding the necessary temporary easements for the Pine Lake Court drainage project.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
The Public Works Director reported that Jackson County would not support the milling with regard to the 2004 street paving and advised that the milling costs would be included in the $200,000.00 allotment. He added that Public Works had no place to store the milling material. He asked that he be allowed to explore the possibility of declaring any milling material as surplus and possibly advertise for bids for the sale of the material, with assistance from the City Attorney.
Motion by Lloyd, seconded by Carvin, to authorize the Public Works Director to try to find a way to dispose of the milling material, with the assistance of the City Attorney.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
The Public Works Director reported that repairs were needed to the sewer pump truck’s tank and pump apparatus. He said he had received an estimate of $10,400 from a company in Gulfport and told the Board there were two options: (1) waive the city’s bid requirement and authorize him to obtain another quote, or (2) solicit bids for the repairs.
Motion by McDonnell, seconded by Jalanivich, to authorize the Public Works Director to solicit a second quote for a rebuilt pump and replacement tank for the sewer pump truck, and that if he is not able to obtain a second quote, to authorize the City Clerk to advertise for bids.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
(Abrams – Maintenance Dredging Documents)
Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by McDonnell, to authorize the Building Dept. to issue a permit to Don Abrams for maintenance dredging of his boat slips at 1201 Harbor Rd.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
(Substance Abuse Policy)
Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Gill, to adopt the Substance Abuse Policy as presented by the Risk Manager/HR Director.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
Mayor Ainsworth thanked the Risk Manager/HR Director and the other department heads that worked on the policy.
Motion by Dalgo, seconded by Gill, to schedule a work session for 6:00 p.m. on March 30, 2004, with Julia Weaver for a presentation on “Livable Ocean Springs.”
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
Mayor Ainsworth reported that he had received a letter from the City Attorney clarifying the Mississippi Code concerning railroad-crossing closures as requested by the Mississippi Dept. of Transportation. He recommended that a public hearing on the closings be tentatively scheduled for May 18, 2004 at 6:00 p.m. to allow him time to work with the businesses in the area.
At this time there was some discussion concerning Carl Hamilton’s request for tree removal on Lot 71 in Maurepas Landing. Mr. Hamilton had previously asked that the matter be placed on the next agenda. There was some uncertainty about how many trees he was requesting to remove. The Mayor and City Planner offered to contact Mr. Hamilton for clarification of his request.
Alderman Jalanivich asked that “County Seawall Maintenance” be held over until the next meeting.
Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by ________, to purchase a full color ad in the Mississippi Press Outlook 2004 as purchased last year.
THE MOTION DIED FOR LACK OF A SECOND.
Mayor Ainsworth advised that the deadline for purchasing an ad was March 17, 2004 and that the Board had until next meeting if they wanted to take any action in the matter.
Alderman Jalanivich felt the city was close to obtaining a permit for the sports complex property and suggested a game plan be set up for when approval was granted. He said that roads would be needed and that the city would need to go out for bids. He offered to head up a committee that would confer with the City Engineer and Parks Director to develop a game plan for the property.
Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Gill, to form a three-man committee consisting of Alderman Jalanivich as chairman, Alderman McDonnell and Alderman Gill to confer with the City Engineer and Park Director regarding the sports complex property.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
An unidentified member of the audience asked about the potential railroad crossing closures. Mayor Ainsworth advised him of the action taken earlier in the meeting to tentatively schedule a public hearing on the matter.
Motion by Cody, seconded by Carvin, to go into Closed Session to determine the necessity for an Executive Session.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
Alderman Gill was absent from the Closed Session.
Motion by Cody, seconded by Jalanivich, to go into Executive Session to discuss a matter of potential litigation.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
TEMPORARILY ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Gill
Alderman Gill was present at this time.
The Deputy City Clerk announced that the Board had elected to go into Executive Session to discuss a matter of potential litigation.
The Executive Session began at 6:45 p.m. and ended at 7:05 p.m.
Motion by Cody, seconded by Jalanivich, to resume the Regular Session.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
Motion by Cody, seconded by Jalanivich, to recess until 6:00 p.m. on March 16, 2004.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
______________________________ _____________________________
City Clerk Mayor
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