An informative discussion on a longtime lease that the City of Newton has with the Masonic Cemetery resulted in more questions than answers during the Tuesday, Oct. 1 Board of Aldermen meeting. City Attorney Brian Mayo brought the matter to the attention of the board after meeting with the cemetery’s newly created board, who were also seeking information on the partnership with the city and how they could move forward with soliciting donations to maintain the cemetery.
“They’re concerned about the future of it, just like the city board is, with regards to running out of money and not having money to sustain it,” said Mayo. “And what would happen at that point in time. That’s something I’m working on because there is a lease out there between the city and the owners of the Masonic Cemetery. We are leasing the cemetery from the owners.”
Mayo said that he’s currently researching who the owners of the Masonic Cemetery would be, because to his knowledge, there’s no longer a Masonic Order in Newton. He added that during their meeting, the cemetery board did ask if the city could help maintain the cemetery by mowing the ditch running along Decatur Street and emptying the flower box when it’s full.
“We are leasing this cemetery from the owners of it, so that would necessitate maintenance to a certain degree on the city’s party, or potentially could,” said Mayo.
Aldermen Eric McCalphia questioned why the city would be leasing a private cemetery. Mayo said that it happened way before his time and is the reason he’s doing some research on the lease.
Alderman Dan Moncrief asked if it was possible for the city to get out of the lease, leading Alderman Michael Hillie to question if the city would want to do that.
“Don’t you want to stay in good faith with the citizens? We’ve been doing this historical thing for years and years,” said Hillie. “These are the same people who have supported us over the years. Y’all can do what you want to do, but I’m for whatever we can do to help.”
Alderwoman Temeka Drummond said that she wanted to see the agreement.
“That’s private property and we’re leasing private property,” Drummond said. “We’re only on the lease to keep up the maintenance.”
McCalphia said that he was still confused on the purpose of the city leasing the cemetery.
Reminding the board that he has not seen the lease agreement, Mayo said that his assumptions were that there was no interest by the cemetery owners to maintain the cemetery, that it was in a prominent location in the city, and that its location may have been the reason that it was leased to the city.
“So pretty much, we’ve got a lease agreement to maintain a property because of the location,” said Drummond.
The discussion ended with Mayo telling the board that he the purpose of bringing the subject up was to give the board all the information that he had and hopefully he would get more information on the lease to share with the board at a future meeting.
In other news from the meeting:
-Approved the minutes of the regular-called meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
-Approved the minutes of the special-called meeting on Thursday, Sept. 12.
-Approved the minutes of the regular-recessed meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 17.
-Approved having a representative from PHI Air Medical set up at City Hall and accept enrollment into their Municipality Program Air Transportation Coverage, open to residents throughout Newton County for $30 a year per household, on Monday, Oct. 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
-Approved a leak adjustment for a water customer.
-Approved the NMSD Homecoming Parade on October 4 at 4 p.m.
-Approved transferring $65,127.49 in funds from a 2013 GOB/Street Paving Bank Account to a new Street Paving Bank Account.
-Approved travel and registration for City Clerk Charlene Evans and Deputy City Clerk Demarius Evans to attend the 2024 Winter Clerk Conference in Flowood on Dec. 11-13.
-Approved setting the date for the next Community Cleanup for Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, from 8-11 a.m.
-Approved sending a courtesy letter to 320 E. Sixth Street.
-Discussed a stop sign on Miley Street that’s concealed by kudzu and other growth, to where police officers say they can’t issue tickets for those that run through the stop. Public Works director Gary Turner said that he would clean up around the sign the next morning.
-Approved placing speed breakers at the stop signs on Bingham Street after Alderman Michael Hillie reported that his constituents were complaining of vehicles speeding through the area and running the stop signs.
-Approved setting the salary for the new Parks and Recreation Director in the amount of $48,000, after a recommendation by City Manager Jay Powell.
-Approved advertising for the sale of surplus property consisting of a 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe and a 2007 Crown Victoria, while also setting reserve amounts of $1,500 for the Tahoe, and $500 for the Crown Victoria. Bids will be accepted up to Friday, Nov. 1, at 4:45 p.m. The bids will be opened on Monday, Nov. 4, and they will be presented to the board during the regularly called board meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
-Accepted the resignation of Lashondria Jones, effective Wed. Sept. 18.
-Accepted the resignation of Miguel McDonald, effective Tues. Oct. 1.
-Approved hiring Ricquel Shelby as an uncertified full-time officer at the rate of $12.50 per hour.
-Approved travel and registration for Police Chief Randy Patrick to attend the 2024 Winter Chief Conference in Oxford on Dec. 8-13.
-Approved Public Works purchasing a 2024 Chevrolet 1500 4x4 WT from Roger Dabbs Chevrolet for $45,689.65, under state contract, with funds coming from the General Fund.
-Approved soliciting financing for the new Public Works Vehicle.
-Approved hiring Richard Foster to the Sanitation Department in the amount of $12.50 per hour, effective Oct. 2.
-Approved paying the Claims Docket.
