The Tuesday work session in the City of McComb with the mayor and selectmen was peaceful and productive in the absence of the state flag and the presence of a city police officer on security detail.
The board welcomed a new city clerk, discussed infrastructure projects and received a budget request from the library, among other matters.
Police Chief Scott McKenzie said officer Will Gatlin was on duty at city hall to provide a little reassurance for selectmen. He said the door to the selectmen’s conference area has a broken lock and one selectman felt unsafe.
City officials voted last week to remove the state flag from the city board meeting room.
“It was brought to our attention that one of our city selectmen was concerned about safety in light of things that have been going on around the country and in our state around the flag issue,” McKenzie said.
He said the officer will be in place for an indefinite amount of time, until all security concerns have been resolved. He confirmed that the neither mayor nor the selectmen have received any threats.
In another matter, Mayor Whitney Rawlings said that, for now, deputy city clerk Stephanie Forrest will replace Jeannette Butler as city clerk. Butler who retired in June.
“The board appointed Stephanie Forrest on a temporary basis, because at that time she did not feel she could fill that position,” he explained. “But now she is ready to serve.
“She’s been backing up Butler for years and is within months of being certified as a city clerk through the Mississippi Municipalities League.”
Forrest may have been underestimating herself at the beginning of her appointment.
“I had some things thrown at me in the beginning that I was worried about,” she said. “But I worked through them, I learned some things, and I realized I can do this job.”
In other business, the board:
• Heard from Fire Chief Stephen Adams about the status of Fire Station No. 4’s parking lot, which is in line for repair.
“We had to put off work because of a wet winter. Meanwhile, the parking lot has gotten worse,” he said.
The project budget was set at $13,000 and Adams said the new fix will be around $15,000.
“Instead of asking for more money, I am going to ask for a budget amendment out of my budget,” Adams said.
• Heard a budget request from Pike-Amite-Walthall Library System director Darlene Morgan. She is asking for $71,394, approximately the same amount as the past two years.
• Heard from Meredith Singley, who held a fundraiser July 18 for 1-year-old Emmett Greene, son of Beau and Beverly Greene of McComb. Emmette was diagnosed with a rare liver disease.
“We raised over $22,000 for the family’s medical bills,” Singley said. “I just wanted to come and thank the board. We wouldn’t have been so successful if it hadn’t been for your support.”
