The Newton board of Aldermen has agreed to apply for additional funding to help finance a city hall renovation project.
The city has already received $1 million from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History to rehabilitate the historic building, which is one of the oldest buildings in Newton County. However, the city is also applying for a Small Municipalities and Limited Population grant to help fund the remainder of the project. The city’s match, if approved, would be $17,409.
One of the first steps in renovating the building will be replacing the roof. City officials said at a previous meeting that contracts to replace the roof would be awarded at a later meeting this summer.
The city also was contacted by Mississippi Power about installing security cameras at Wade Park. No action was taken, and it was tabled to a later meeting once the city had more information and pricing for the cameras.
The board of aldermen also approved granting the same tax exemptions to ESCO Group LLC, a division of the Weir Group, after ESCO Corporation was acquired by Weir last year. The tax exemptions were granted for expansions and renovations that were made in previous years.
City hall will close at 3 p.m. on July 11 for the retirement reception for Doris McMillan.
Courtesy letters will be sent to the owner of 415 Decatur St. to clean up the property due to a health and safety hazard. The board tabled sending a letter to 106 Magnolia St. because city attorney Brian Mayo had questions about current owner of the property and where the letters should be sent.
The board will have a hearing at 6 p.m. Aug. 6 for property at 1017 Martin Luther King St. owned by Ashley City to discuss cleaning up the property.
Josh Foreman was hired as a full-time employee in the water department for $9.50 per hour.
Ray Payne Park in downtown Newton will be used for a back-to-school day on Aug. 3.
Part-time police officer Michael Aycox will receive $1,368.08 in back pay. The decision was made following an executive session discussion with Police Chief Harvey Curry.
Fire Chief and animal control officer J.C. Collins gave the board of aldermen a list of items that would be needed for him and the city’s other animal control officer after attending training to use tranquilizer guns. The list of items included the cost of the gun, darts and medicine and other items needed to perform their jobs. No action was taken.
The board also told Police Chief Harvey Curry that they wanted to keep the Newton Police Department open for regular business hours on weekday holidays, such as the Fourth of July in which the city was closed. This would allow anyone to come into the police station and report a crime during holidays that have been historically busy days for the police department.
The board paid its claims docket totaling $91,090.47 in general fund expenses, $30,233.17 in water department expenses and $105.03 from motel tax expenses. The docket’s total was $121,438.67.
