When McComb’s 2010-11 fiscal year ends Sept. 30, a 24-year-old practice will end with it.
The city board voted 5-1 Tuesday, with Selectman Tammy Witherspoon opposed, to rescind a policy that allowed the city to adjust bills issued to water users for leaks due to faulty equipment.
“Giving away a service of the city ... I disagree with that policy,” Mayor Whitney Rawlings said. “It’s basically asking other users ... to pay for your loss.”
The city will honor all current adjustments, in addition to those filed before Sept. 30.
City bolsters fire,
police departments
The board also approved several promotions in the fire and police departments. All promotions will take effect July 22, and all will begin under a one-year probationary status.
Those promoted also will get a 3 percent pay raise, but their salary will not be determined until the board completes a pay scale in August.
Fire Chief B.J. Nettles told board members the department has not issued promotions in seven years, and Tuesday’s promotions were long overdue.
In the fire department, the board promoted Philip Hewitt, Michael Howell, Eric Bass, David Fischer, Glenn Shoemake, Gary McKenzie, Sam Marsalis, Douglas Glass and Michael Weatherspoon to pump engineers; James Lang, Phillip Holmes and Fred Lindsey to lieutenants; and Warren Agnor to captain.
In the police department, the board promoted Steven Powell and Shannon Sullivan to sergeant and John Hart to lieutenant.
In other business, the board:
• Approved a $320 payment to Janice Magee, as reimbursement for the adoption of her dog. The dog was dropped off at the shelter by the Magee’s neighbor, who was the dog’s temporary caretaker. The dog was adopted out the same day, and the animal control officer did not record the new owner’s contact information. The officer has since been fired.
• Authorized payments of $10,245 and $9,981 to the Pike County Sheriff’s Department for housing city inmates for the months of April and May.
• Received and rejected all bids for a computer system upgrade from an IBM 9406 Model 800 computer system to a new IBM Power System 7 due to a bidding impropriety. Bids will be reopened at a later date.
• Heard from Mayor’s Youth Council director Carol Rawlings and officer Desiree Magee about the group’s continuing community service efforts.
• Approved the use of Revise Software Systems to upgrade and maintain the city’s website at a cost of $7,050.
• Approved a resolution to declare the city’s intent to conduct a July 19 referendum to renew the the city’s 3 percent motel tax.
• Established the pay rate for poll workers for the referendum. Managers will make $115 per day; returning and receiving managers will receive $20 for travel allowance for pick-up and return of the ballot and supply boxes; secondary managers will receive $100 a day. All managers will receive $12 per hour for time spent in training.
• Approved a request for a proposal for a Certified Local Government grant for a historic survey of the area between Delaware Avenue on the North, Pennsylvania Avenue on the South, Fourth Street on the east and Sixth Street on the west.
• Approved a budget amendment for the fire department for a grant of $45,508 from Mississippi Task Force Logistics for a local task force base camp and logistical equipment.
• Approved the 2011-12 Southwest Mississippi Narcotics Unit interlocal agreement between the city, Brookhaven, and Pike, Walthall and Lincoln counties.
