The City of Indianola will take a major step forward in its infrastructure rehabilitation plan later this month.
The city board voted this past Monday to advertise for bids for two projects that will utilize American Rescue Plan Act funds totaling a little over $4 million.
City Engineer Lake Baird told the board that one contract will be for water line repair/replacement/relocation, while the other will be for sewer that will include the rehabilitation of 15 pump stations.
The city received around $2.2 million originally from the federal ARPA legislation. The state offered to match any unspent funds 100%, which doubled the amount the city could spend on its water and sewer system.
The bids will go out next Friday and the following Friday and will be opened on Sept. 24.
Also during Monday night’s meeting, Mayor Ken Featherstone introduced Colee Anthony as the mayor’s Youth Council Advisor.
Anthony said that he will be a voice for the youth and a bridge between municipal government and the young people of the city.
The board voted to block off downtown streets from the corner of Main to the corner of Second, as well as to the corner of Court Avenue on Oct. 31 for the Indianola Night Out event put on by the First Ladies United Fellowship.
The organization hosted the event for the first time last year, drawing hundreds of families downtown for the Trick-or-Treat event.
The board tabled for the third time this year a discussion on abandoning the alley at 203 East Percy Street.
Property owner Jackie Simpson had approached the board twice before about abandoning the alleyway. The board has been hesitant to grant his request due to the number of property owners that could be affected along that alley.
Simpson was asked to return yet again to Monday’s upcoming special called meeting.
The board approved the final resolution for ad valorem tax exemption for UNFI Wholesale Inc. (formerly SuperValu Holdings) for a period of 10 years.
Mayor Featherstone gave the board an update on the status of the proposed mural in honor of Alex “Hambone” Brown.
Featherstone received several renderings from a muralist, but he said that he would like to reach out to at least one other painter before settling on a design.
The mayor was also authorized to draft a letter to the Sunflower County board of supervisors requesting a change to the city’s proposed use of the $700,000 in congressional appropriations that are being handled by the county.
The city decided last month to spend 100% of the money that was awarded by Congressman Bennie Thompson in February 2023 on equipment for public works.
The board also voted to approve a claims docket that included a payment to former contractor and financial consultant Dr. Phyllis Rhodes for conferring with the city clerk on documents related to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
Rhodes was dismissed as the financial consultant by the board effective May 30. She was hired on a contract basis shortly after that to help with the city’s annexation litigation.
Ward 1 Alderman Gary Fratesi said the $1,350 she requested for the work with the city clerk was not authorized by the board.
Ward 4 Alderman Marvin Elder made the motion to pay the claims docket.
Fratesi voted no, and it passed 3-1.
