The City of Newton will observe trick-or-treating on Halloween, Oct. 31, from 5 to 7 p.m.
The Board of Aldermen unanimously approved on Sept. 19 the action after several have contacted the city about when trick-or-treating will be allowed.
Mayor Murray Weems said the Newton Chamber of Commerce had asked the city specifically about date since it was planning its annual Halloween trick-or-treating event from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Halloween at the historic depot on the night.
In other business, the city received an update from Board Attorney Robert Logan about the rail spur at Biewer Sawmill. Logan said they only received one bid for the project. All but one party has given the go-ahead to move forward with the one bidder.
Logan said Weems may need to call a special meeting to approve the bid contract once the final entity signs off on the bid.
The board also approved payment to Foster, Jones & Associates, Inc., in the amount of $8,613.20, when funds become available for the rail spur project.
The city will also pay Allen & Hoshall $26,277.32 for engineering services when funds become available for an EDA Investment project.
The city also agreed to host free training sessions from Mississippi Public Entity Worker’s Compensation Trust, which carries the city’s worker’s comp insurance. The company said these training sessions are designed to help the city curb anything that would cause a worker’s compensation claim.
Alderman Bob Bridges was approved to attend the Certified Municipal Officers workshop in Pearl.
Fred Snow was appointed to replace Howard Ruffin on the city planning board. The city also agreed to allow David Stove for a variance to build a shop. The setbacks are supposed to be at least 25 feet from the property line, but the board, upon recommendation of the zoning board and planning board, agreed to allow the owner to have a 15-foot setback.
The city also declared a Kubota 8030 tractor, two packers and a 1992 Ford Pickup as surplus property. Those items will be sold at an auction in Forest on Sept. 28.
In police department action, the city accepted the resignation of Precious Buckley from a full-time police officer effective August 19 and Accept the certification of Sheila Jackson from the Municipal Court Clerk Conference.
The board also allowed the Newton Fire Department to post photos to its Facebook page to help promote the department. Chief J.C. Collins said they will only post photos of training exercises and other promotional events, but they will not post any photos of wrecks or any other calls.
At the end of the meeting, the board of aldermen held an executive session.
