The council planned to vote on the docket of claims before the consent agenda. The docket of claims includes funding for festivals. The council would be approving disbursement of funds before approving funding, which may not be legal. (The consent agenda is used to streamline consideration of multiple items simultaneously – typically routine and non-controversial items – and voting on them all at once.) When the meeting began, the mayor explained that the order of the agenda items needed to be reversed.
The mayor said that last year the city needed to adopt a festival policy because the city had no such policy. The city attorney said that, in the past, they would meet in a room and pick some festivals to fund (thus violating the open meetings act.) Does the city have a festival policy now? The mayor asked the city attorney to explain why they were voting on festivals. The city attorney said that he and the county attorney got together and decided on the festivals that should be to funded. The mayor and council seemed okay with this backroom deal – are you? Can a past administration obligate a future administration?
The city has been funding politicians’ festivals (Brooks, Kareem, and Smith) as well as Main Street and, to a lesser extent, Roast and Boast.
Propst Park. The deadline for the survey about Propst Park is fast approaching. The city needs to hear from you. This survey is part of a previously undertaken plan evaluation that cost you up to $15,000.
A Healthier Columbus – Columbus would be the first in the Golden Triangle to implement a wellness program. There is grant money they can be made available to the city. There was a big sigh about this from council member from Ward 2. A Mississippi Rural Health Fellow representative talked about things they can do like; for one city, they purchased a refrigerator for the Farmers Market. The entire council appeared disinterested and unengaged, particularly Mickens, as he slouched in his chair. This response from the council was particularly interesting, in light of the fact that the council member from Ward 1 is supposedly a healthcare professional.
Perhaps this year, Columbus, like other cities, will participate in “Healthier MS: Blue Cross Blue Shield,” which provides grants and targeted funding to those cities focusing on health and wellness.
In a bizarre move, the council member from Ward 4 said he did not want to hear why citizens want to serve on the Tree or the Golden Triangle Waste boards. Even more surprising was the fact that none of the other council members expressed an interest in hearing what those citizens were prepared to say. Citizens has taken the time to write a letter and/or show up to speak and the council was not interested. Why?
In the previous council meeting, the council member from Ward 4 nominated a person who apparently had not even filled out an application. Did that person want to serve? Shouldn’t those considered for these positions be required to provide basic information on themselves? What if they don’t live in Columbus? Why would he nominate someone who did not fill out a form or show up, over a citizen who spoke to the council, asking for their support? Was it because the council member wanted to say, “If there are only two openings and two applicants, let’s take them – no matter what?” Suppose one or both were wholly unqualified or morally bankrupt.
Former mayor Robert Smith re-applied for the Golden Triangle Regional Waste Board. The council member from Ward 4 made a motion to not read the letter submitted by the former mayor and “just accept.” Isn’t it strange that no other council member wanted to hear what Mr. Smith had to say?
Smith, and others, may also be in violation of MS Code 25-4-105 (1) that says “a public servant is prohibited from performing any service for compensation during his time in office and does not allow compensation for any person after termination of his office in relation to any case, decision, proceeding or application with respect to which he was directly concerned or in which her personally participated in.” Do you think Mr. Smith conducts himself in a “manner that enhances public trust in government and avoids actions which may tend to create public suspicion regarding the honesty and integrity of those in government” as required in MS 25-4-101? Is this just another example of the city attorney ill-advising the council and mayor…everyone doing it this way “’because they always have?”
A few citizens who had been summoned by the code enforcement officer, appeared although they did not know why they had been summoned. They also said the director of code enforcement does not return their emails or calls, nor does the director of public works. The city attorney, as usual, spoke for the code enforcement director. She forgot to upload a slide of the residence in question but, again, nobody questioned her competence to serve in this capacity.
Warming Shelters. In the past, the city has opened up the police department for warming shelters, so citizens could be safe and warm. The homeless coalition asked that a Propst Park shelter be opened up. The city attorney – to make sure the city is not held liable – suggested declaring an emergency anytime the weather is below freezing and to “in-kind” those funds and the council agreed. Why the band-aid? Why not address the underlying issue of why Columbus has a homeless problem?
CARES Funds, ARPA Funds, One-Time Pay Raises, City Finances: Everyone wants to give pay raises, but no one wants to be the one that puts in the effort to figure out how. The mayor pointed out that the city finances have serious issues. Somehow, the council member from Ward 1 says she did not know about financial difficulties until the new administration took office. She said she is not an accountant; the city does not need a committee because she does not understand…and then says that the pay raises should be given. It appears the Ward 1 council member may be accustomed to being spoon-fed her information, truthful or otherwise. Perhaps, she would benefit from attending or watching the Mississippi Municipal League (MML) seminars, which educate people on being a city council member. By the way, the council approved her MML attendance and may have paid her admission, but she did not go. Shad White (the MS State Auditor) has demonstrated a keen interest in pursuing wasted taxpayer funds. Mr. White probably sees reason to pay another visit to Columbus soon. In fact, there has been discussion of having a new Columbus festival, “The Shad White Auditfest,” which would be paid for by the city of Columbus.
There was some bickering between the regime remainders who don’t want to acknowledge that they have not given pay raises in a long time. They want to blame the current mayor, rather than themselves. They continue to demonstrate ignorance of the fundamentals of municipal finance. Fortunately, the MML winter meeting is next week, and they always start with “government finance” and “government organization.” Maybe they will become educated (but not Ms. Stewart)? How many years does it take to soak in?
City Registrar. The regime remainders are obsessed with filling this position but not the interim city planner position, which has been vacant for six years. The council member from Ward 6 talked about the city operating efficiently and that a separate city registrar is not necessary. The city registrar coordinates municipal elections (scheduled for every four years) and otherwise has no defined role. Did you know that Mississippi law provides for that function to be contracted out to the county because it generally has more experience in the election process? The council member from Ward 5 says that this person is much needed “to help answer the phones.”
Councilwoman from Ward 1 wants to close the council meeting to citizens. She supports funding festivals with taxpayer dollars, but not allowing them to watch city council meetings in-person.
