The city of Indianola could be close to establishing a comprehensive plan that might include the annexation of commercial property along U.S. 82.
At Monday night’s aldermen’s meeting, the mayor and board heard a presentation from Michael Slaughter of Slaughter & Associates regarding such a plan.
Alderman Ruben Woods made contact with Slaughter at the recent Mississippi Municipal League Conference and inquired about a comprehensive plan for the city. Slaughter told the board about his company and services before sharing some of the demographic information specific to Indianola and Sunflower County.
The presentation included changes in population for the county and city, the number of persons per household, sales tax collections and median income and age levels. Slaughter encouraged them to establish a plan while extolling on the benefits to both the city leaders and the citizens.
He described it as a long-range quality of life plan. It involves meeting with city leaders and department heads along with local citizens and community leaders to determine the strengths and weaknesses in the community and how to improve the conditions. He said a comprehensive plan allows them to create the city they want.
Slaughter told them a good plan provides guidance and direction to the city so it isn’t just moving forward or backward without a good plan for the future. He also recommends a partnership between the city and the county because working together could save money due to certain elements overlapping.
Mayor Steve Rosenthal said afterwards that he has made two previous attempts to fund a comprehensive plan through a grant and he is very much in favor of that and annexation. Slaughter’s company is able to assist with both and gave a brief presentation on annexation requirements using a map of the city’s current boundaries. Rosenthal alluded to plans to annex an area of commercial property west of Indianola along the U.S. 82 corridor.
In other business, the board:
Decided to take under advisement a request from Vaughn Blalock of Southern Procurement in West Point to allow him to produce specs for the city’s new street sweeper. They said they would determine by their next meeting, whether to accept or reject. Blalock also made his bid for the city to allow Southern Procurement to represent it in the electronic bidding process, soon to be mandated by the state.
Received and accepted departmental reports from the fire department, cemetery, parks and recreation and public works departments.
Approved the waiving of a loud noise ordinance for an Aug. 19 event in support of mayoral candidate Michelle Jenkins.
Approved a city street closure request from Steven Herring for an Oct. 7 homecoming gathering.
Tabled a request from Dreifus Smith to close off city streets for a community prayer walk on Aug. 26 because Smith altered his previous route and has not completed a new one, which would have to be signed-off on by police and fire officials before the board could approve.
After a closed executive session the board voted unanimously to hire three new employees with the exception of Alderman Dana Myrick voting no on one. They also voted to transfer a public works employee to the animal control department and agreed to reduce the pay of two firefighters by one pay grade for six weeks.
