Indianola Mayor Steve Rosenthal took exception to some statements made by one of the city’s aldermen at the last meeting of the city fathers.
Rosenthal read a prepared statement refuting assertions that were made during that session, which were quoted in the last two editions of The Enterprise-Tocsin.
He said there is no one in city hall that is not willing to do his or her job as was mentioned at that prior session. Without mentioning any names, Rosenthal said, “You first have to investigate to understand what their position is and the responsibilities are before you speak out of turn.”
In his effort to explain what transpired on the day in question, he said it was a Friday, the last day before late fees were to be added to the water bills and cutoffs were pending.
He added that it was the busiest time of the month for the clerks.
Rosenthal said only two of the three persons mentioned have interaction responsibilities with the public and one clerk was handling tax payments while the other was handling water payments.
He said although it was stated that one clerk was not doing anything, that clerk was in fact posting and collecting tax receipts.
“Ninety percent of all tax payments come in the months of January and February,” said Rosenthal.
Rosenthal’s statement also addressed another comment that he said was made at the last session. Rosenthal said, “It was heard that employees were going around the clerk to get to the Mayor.” He responded that based on a conversation he had with City Clerk Lashanda Moore, “She said she was not aware where such a statement came from, but it was not from her and that is not her feeling.”
Rosenthal said citizens come to city hall or call him often because he is in charge of day-to-day operations. He said when citizens follow the chain of command, they come to him, and he first asks them who they have spoken with in the department in question and if they have not spoken to the proper person, he then directs them to the correct person, but instructs them to call if the issue is not resolved.
He said the quoted comments were “out of line and not based on facts, but on innuendoes.” Rosenthal said he and Moore work together to solve the city’s problems.
“These false and untrue statements are nothing more than grandstanding and they destroy the momentum of positive change the city is in,” he said.
In other business,
The city lawmakers also voted unanimously to establish a memorandum of agreement with the Mississippi Transportation Commission regarding receiving the funds allocated for the repair of the College Avenue Bridge.
At the request of Alderman Gary Fratesi, four topics were added to the agenda for discussion and voting: sewer repair; the condition of the bayou; a culvert replacement on Seymour Drive; and rescinding a previous motion and readopting a resolution in support of the one-cent tax increase.
A re-vote to adopt a resolution asking the state legislature’s permission to impose a one-cent sales tax passed 4 to 1. Although, it was approved in a 2 to 2 vote at the last session with Rosenthal casting the tie breaking yes vote.
Fratesi asked Alderman Ruben Woods to rescind his previous motion so that he could change his vote to yes and to give Alderman Darrell Simpson, who was absent then due to illness, a chance to vote. Alderman Sam Brock was the lone holdout.
The aldermen discussed the recent flooding within the city and Fratesi made a motion to have a survey done of the bayou to see if there were any blockages or beaver dams.
During the discussion Brock and Woods also mentioned several other areas that were flooding and in need of a study and the motion was made to check the bayou and the river first and then the other areas because water from the city’s ditches flow out to those reservoirs.
They discussed sewer repair and the issue of rainwater draining into the sewers and how it overworks the pumps and causes damage because they are not designed to handle rainwater runoff.
The most recent smoke testing identified hundreds of homeowners who had leaks that are affecting the system, so the aldermen agreed to notify those persons and require them to make the necessary repairs.
To avoid a potentially dangerous mishap, the aldermen voted to get recommendations and specs on replacing the culvert at the bayou on Seymour Drive just north of Main Street.
Brock also questioned weight limits for semi-trucks on B.B. King Road and since the city has a list of designated truck routes, the lawmakers decided to give route maps to the police officers so that they can enforce and ticket any violators.
Although trucks can park at the compress and gin where the street intersects Second Street, no heavy trucks are allowed south of Mill Street on that road.
The proposed route for the Planters Bank 5-K Race to Wellness, scheduled for April 27 was reviewed and approved.
