School Superintendent Dr. Emma Louie presents in-kind proposal request to Eutaw Council

At its Tuesday, December 13, 2011 meeting, the Eutaw City Council listened to a presentation by School Superintendent Dr. Emma Louie concerning water and sewer lines to the new high school being constructed on Highway 11 South.

Dr. Louie asked that the council approve the city installing both water and sewer lines  to the school.

She explained that they had a time line of one year to have the lines installed. “If the city can give us in kind service comparable to one day a month, we can pay for everything,” said Louie.

After discussion, the council agreed to Louie’s request with the stipulation that it only be in-kind service. They asked City Attorney Mike Smith to assist Louie in preparing the appropriate paperwork for this venture.

The city also wants to be able to provide water and sewer service to the residents of that stretch of road and bill them for the service. According to Mayor Raymond Steele, the Greene County Water Authority had given the city permission to go into their territory,

Councilwoman Hattie Edwards said that she wanted the council to go on record that they were supportive of Louie’s request. “We want this to be our school too,” she said.

In other business, the council:

*Agreed  to leave ordinance fines and costs at their current level.

*Approved allowing Mayor Steele to purchase five police cars immediately and pay for them from the capital improvement fund. The dealership only has five cars available now and according to Steele could not give him a time line on when the sixth can be delivered. The cars are being purchased through a USDA grant and the grant money will not be available until the contract is complete. However, the city  needs new cars immediately and the council approved the use of  the capital improvement funds with the stipulation that they be repaid as soon as the sixth car is delivered and the grant fund is available,

*Agreed to have public records available to the citizens.

*Councilman Powell asked that all overtime be curtailed as much as possible.

*Received information from Police Chief Derick Coleman that he was going to begin interviewing applicants for officers next week.

*Approved travel expenses for Chief Coleman to attend a mandatory training session

*Approved bills and financial statements.

*Following a second executive session, the council agreed to get $10,000 bonds for all persons who can sign city checks.

*Agreed to close out the sidewalk project. Although there is only $10,000 in the sidewalk account, the council will transfer the additional $448 necessary to close out the project from the capital improvement fund and repay it when the grant money is received.

*Agreed to accept $5,619 from the county to help pay for tearing down the old swimming  pool across from the Baptist Church.

*At the request of Councilmember Joe Powell agreed to ask Wilma McQueen, the water clerk, to work through the first week of January to ensure that water and sewer bills get to consumers in a timely fashion. McQueen’s retirement is supposed to begin at the end of 2011 and no one will be hired to fill that position. The work load will be absorbed by office personnel already on the payroll.

During public comment, Joyce Thomas advised that she was planning to open a soul food restaurant and asked what steps she had to take with the city. She was told that she needed to purchase a business license but was advised to wait until after the first of the year since there are only three weeks left in 2011.

Leona Morrow invited everyone to join them on the 29th of December at a Unity Breakfast from 7:00 -8:15 a.m. at the Eutaw Activity Center. This is being sponsored by the Greene mPACT (Prayer Council of Greene County).

Dr. Carol Zippert invited everyone was invited to attend the Kwanzaa Celebration at the Eutaw Activity Center at 4:30 p.m. on December 27th.