The City of Indianola plans to put Global Positioning System devices on all its moving vehicles.
Ward 1 Alderman Gary Fratesi first suggested this past Monday night that the city place GPS devices in all vehicles under 10 years old, but it was later suggested that all vehicles needed the devices.
“I think every one of them needs them,” Fratesi said, noting that his initial suggestion was intended to keep costs down.
Ward 5 Alderman Sam Brock said that if the city is going to go that route, it needs to place them in all of the vehicles.
“If you put GPS in some vehicles, they’re going to go to the ones that don’t have them,” he said.
Fratesi made a motion to start the process of receiving bids for the devices. It passed 5-0.
All Present
The city board met with everyone in attendance in person for the first time in several meetings this past Monday night.
The board seemed to be more focused, unified and cordial than had been the case during the final months of 2024. The meeting, which started at 7 p.m., wrapped up around 10 p.m., as has been the case for the most part during the first two months of 2025.
It is possible that absence has made the hearts grow fonder.
Timeclock Changes Coming
The board also voted on Monday night to start the process of converting its timeclock system to biometric clocks.
Alderman Fratesi said that there have been too many problems with the current system, which is well over a decade old.
“The county has gone to the biometric timeclocks. I think it’s time for us to get those as soon as we can,” he said.
The city will start receiving quotes on those products after a 5-0 vote.
Waste Management Officer Hire Delay
For the second time in as many meetings, the board voted to table the hiring of a solid waste officer.
The position came open after the city received a solid waste grant matching the city’s contribution to the salary and vehicle for that person.
Antonio Livingston was presented for hire, but Ward 5 Alderman Sam Brock motioned to table that until all applicants are able to successfully apply.
Brock said that some interested parties had not been able to get in contact with City Inspector Jamal Mayfield to apply.
Mayfield said that was the first he had heard of that.
March of the Mayors
Mayor Ken Featherstone updated the board on the March of the Mayors food drive that concluded this week.
Indianola, which began participating in the event last year, was tasked with collecting spaghetti pasta for boxes that were to be packed and donated for the needy.
Featherstone said that Indianola Academy donated the largest share of spaghetti, largely thanks to a pizza party contest the school started to incentivize donations.
The food boxes that came to Indianola were donated to the Sunflower County Transitional Shelter for the Homeless.
Up to Code
The city tabled the adoption of the 2018 International Codes for fire, building, electrical and others.
The city currently operates under the 2009 codes for the most part, said Inspector Mayfield.
The electrical codes are from 2011.
City Attorney Derek Hopson asked for a summation of changes from the 2018 codes before the board adopts them.
The matter was tabled until a later meeting.
