Before the onset of Monday night’s Aldermen meeting, Mayor Steve Rosenthal announced that the city was granted a $1 million appropriation through MDOT as part of House Bill 1648 to improve roads and streets in Indianola. “We will be able to do some street repair in this upcoming budget year,” said Rosenthal.
He credited and publicly thanked Senator Willie Simmons for pushing to get the appropriation passed and District 31 Representative Otis Anthony for voting for it. Rosenthal added, “It passed almost unanimously.”
He also disclosed that the city would not get the opportunity to vote on a referendum that would have provided funds for the city’s ailing infrastructure. The proposed Senate Bill 3113 died in Committee during the legislative session.
If it had passed, the bill would have allowed Indianola to impose a special one percent sales tax on any goods sold in the city that were still being taxed at the seven percent rate. The proposed revenue from the tax bill was to be used solely for the repair and replacement of the city’s streets. Rosenthal said he would try to get it passed again next year with the new legislators.
In addition to Rosenthal’s announcement, Alderman Marvin Elder presented a letter to the Mayor and Board referencing the March 25 session. In the document he stated that the questions he addressed to animal shelter director, Elizabeth Elmore, regarding the operation of the shelter, were very important and needed to be answered.
Elder said, “As city officials, I believe that we have a duty to oversee the operation of all departments in the city and the questioning of the animal shelter director was done solely for the purpose.”
Elder refuted that he was “playing games” in asking the questions. He added, “And I was not making any threats against Mayor Rosenthal in responding to his attempt to prevent me from questioning Mrs. Elmore.”
Elder continued that it was his opinion that Rosenthal conducted himself unprofessionally during the session. “And in some respect, threatening and disrespectful,” Elder said.
In other business,
The lawmakers heard and approved the mid-year budget review report from City Clerk Lashanda Moore. The report reviews expenditures from October 2018 to March 2019 and Moore said notwithstanding the need for some category reclassifications, “everybody looks okay.”
Alderman Darrell Simpson asked if she had any areas that presented a reason for concern and she said there were none. Alderman Gary Fratesi wanted to know what the overall percentage of expenses was since they are at the mid-way point and Moore said approximately 50 to 51 percent of budget.
At the request of citizen Rodney Hawkins, the aldermen also voted to remove a previous regulation that prevented the display of political signs on private property prior to 60 days before an election. The city leaders cautioned that the change only applies to the property of private homeowners and never to city or public right-of-ways.
They also reminded the citizens of the requirement to remove those signs within 10 days following the completion of the election process.
With regard to the proposal and prior approval to develop an adult municipal drug court, the city leaders approved signing a Memo Of Understanding to help facilitate the application process.
It was noted that Rosenthal has changed the way in which departmental reports are submitted. Department heads are no longer required to stand before the members to present a verbal report along with their written information.
Alderman Sam Brock asked that the agenda reflect the departments that were being reviewed during a particular session and Rosenthal agreed.
The aldermen also voted to adjudicate several properties for trash and debris removal and grass cutting.
