Mayor Whitney Rawlings is trying to appease the city board on two seemingly unrelated projects — a water line on Presley Boulevard and the replacement of the defunct Fire Station No. 3 in east McComb.
Some selectmen are digging in their heels on the water line project for new developments until they see action on a new fire station.
The approximately $185,000 water line project would connect an 8-inch line south of Holden Road to another 8-inch line that runs down Parklane Road, continues west under Highway 98 and dead-ends in a field.
The water line has been needed for years, and city officials say a proposed assisted living facility and movie theater south of Presley Boulevard are tangible reasons to add the lines.
During last week’s board meeting, selectmen remained silent after Selectman Ted Tullos made a motion to enter into discussion about the water line, and the effort died for lack of a second.
At Tuesday’s work session, Rawlings addressed that.
“They say silence is golden. But in this case it is not golden,” he said. “It could potentially harm the goose that lays the golden egg.”
Rawlings said that with developers ready and willing to create new businesses, the board would be foolhardy to impede the process.
“This engine is moving and we need to keep feeding it,” he said.
Selectmen Donovan Hill, Tammy Witherspoon and Ronnie Brock have expressed concerns about spending priorities like the new water line after Rawlings broke a tie in late 2014 to reject bids to build a new station because of its $773,800 pricetag.
However, during Tuesday’s work session Hill said his only concern was making sure the fire hydrants in the city were in good shape before moving to connect the water lines. The water line and subsequent development would be in Hill’s ward.
Fire Chief Stephen Adams said the city is making good progress on fixing hydrants and the water line will improve the fire department’s capabilities.
“This is basically creating a loop, which (is) conducive for fire fighting,” Adams said. “Those lines need to be looped together. I’m supporting this water line.”
Hill noted he is a proponent of economic development and wants to see his ward thrive; he just had concerns about the state of the city’s fire hydrants.
Selectman-at large Tommy McKenzie, who is recusing himself from voting on the water line project because his employer is doing business with the developer, pointed out the line would come out of a $4.3 million utility fund and the fire station’s costs must come out of the general fund.
That, he said, makes the dissenting selectmen’s comments about spending priorities a moot point.
“I want to make sure we around this table, that we understand Gateway, this water line, fire hydrants, that comes from a fund set up for that,” McKenzie said. “It has nothing to do with a fire house we’re going to address in a minute.”
Selectwoman Tammy Witherspoon addressed McKenzie’s comments on spending priorities.
“I do have a priority — to my constituents in Ward 3,” she said. “We need a fire station.”
Witherspoon said she is willing to address the issue and get it resolved. However, plans for a new fire station have dragged on for nearly a year with rejected bids and plan modifications.
“We do have a priority,” she said. “I just feel strong about that. If we are going to fix the problem let’s fix the problem.”
After failing to second the motion last week, Selectman Michael Cameron said Tuesday he’s “all in” on the water line. He hasn’t publicly given a reason for his decision not to second the measure last week.
Rawlings, meanwhile, said he stands by his decision to reject the previous costly bids for the station.
“It slowed us down a few months, but we never said we weren’t going to do this station,” he said.
Rawlings noted the fire department has contingency plans for providing fire protection to East McComb.
Cameron said he understands the need to bring the fire station into the discussion. However, since the utility fund cannot pay for a station the board should look at the two projects separately.
“I understand what we say about having priorities, but holding hostage over something that is completely not fundable out of the fund is just not right,” he said.
Selectmen Ted Tullos and Ronnie Brock were not present at the work session.
In regards to Fire Station No. 3, architect Steve Cox said he is ready to readvertise his reconfigured original design. Cox said he’s worked with the city and Adams to cut costs while still building a functional station.
He wants the board to approve the readvertisement during the March 10 board meeting, followed quickly by the advertisements.
After prodding by the mayor, Cox hesitantly said he expects this station to cost in the $600,000 to $650,000 range.
