By Myra Bean

Sardis Mayor and Board of Aldermen met for the first of its two meetings per month Tuesday, June 4.

Lake Inn

The Lake Inn, 608 East Lee St., Sardis, owner Rakesh Patel was given six months in December to have the back extension torn down. Building inspector John McCollum reported there was black mold all through the building and that it was not fit for habitation or business.

Patel, who rents rooms long term, did not have any tenants in that part of the hotel, but the board of aldermen had sent messages to Patel to demolish that section.

Wayne Lyons was scheduled on the agenda, but was not at the meeting. He had reported Patel had a medical emergency and wants an extension to get work done.

Fire Inspector Chris  Clark at the meeting reported the owner was not tearing down the building. They were in fact working and trying to renovate the building. The board members did not change their minds and still want the building torn down because of the condition and danger to the rest of the town.

Alderman-at-large Michael Price made a motion to pull the business’ privilege license and that will shut down all operations at that building. The other board members agreed. They said the building inspector needs to return to the building to see exactly what was being done. The board wants a report at the next regular meeting, which is Tuesday, June 18, at 5 p.m.

Safe Route to School

Blake Mendrop of Mendrop Engineering appeared before the board to present his case that his company could take care of the $600,000 sidewalk which will be built with grant money from MDOT.

Mendrop said his company has done a lot of work with MDOT, not necessarily a sidewalk project. He agreed to charge a 10 percent engineering fee and to work with the city on the payments.

Fifty percent of the design will be ready by Septemter so it can be presented to MDOT for approval. The city should be accepting bids by the end of the year and have the sidewalk built by the 2020 school year.

Mendrop said he did not foresee that any additional fees will be necessary.

There is an existing sidewalk from North Panola High School to the central office that Mendrop will have to make sure is MDOT and ADA compliant.

“If it is not up to standard, we will have to redo it,” Mendrop said. The city was hoping to save a little money and not redo that portion of the sidewalk.

The board voted to approve the contract contingent upon board attorney’s, Tommy Shuler, approval. Shuler gave his approval at the end of the meeting.

Public Hearings

More public hearings were heard on properties that needed mowing or had dilapidated structures.

The Highway 51 North property belonging to Olie McKinney has grown up. Public Works Director Quinn West was given permission to cut the grass. The cost will be levied against the property’s taxes.

The 327 Center Street, property of Karl R. Nelson had been cut before the board meeting and  no action was needed.

Gloria Lee’s, 302 Carruthers Street, Sardis, property has a vacant home standing. West said the house is in bad shape, has no windows and been burned. He also said the lot has grown up and it had been a year since it was last cut. “It is not habitable,” West said.

Fire Chief Mitchell Daugherty said they have to check for asbestos before demolishing the building. West was given permission to look into bulldozing the house and cleaning the lot after Daugherty’s finding. The cost will be levied against the property taxes.

Mary Jo Abraham’s, 421 Crump Street, house has been condemned. It cannot be burned because there are houses on either side of it. West looked into the cost of demolishing the structure, and the expense to haul away the debris, and the cost was approximately $4,000 last year. Permission was granted to demolish the house and levy the cost against the taxes.

Public Comments

Business owner Rebecca van Oostendorph, 306 Franklin St., Sardis appeared before the board to complain about the vehicles speeding down her street and McLaurin Street at all times of day and night.

She also brought before the board the condition of the abandoned old high school building. It is an eyesore, a magnet for trouble, and a place  where people hide, board members were told.

Oostendorph also said when she and others call into police dispatch they are made to feel like they are a nuisance and asked the board if someone could ask the dispatchers to  treat concerned citizens better.

Sardis Mayor Lula Palmer said she had talked to North Panola Superintendent Cedric Richardson about their intentions for the building and he said school officials are discussing the building.

Sardis police investigator Hunter Applewhite addressed the speeding issue. He told the citizens present that if the police are not in the area to catch the speeders,  they can write down the tag numbers and call it in to the police and press charges on them.

Daugherty sits on the E-911 dispatch board and said he will bring up the issue at the board meeting.

Claims Docket

Alderman Tommy Rayburn had a problem with the charges on the docket in particular the MasterCard charge for nameplates for the aldermen during the meetings.

“We never voted on buying nameplates,” Rayburn said. The plates cost $161.

Rayburn was told that office supplies were in the budget and they do not have to bring every purchase before the board.

The claims were $261,576.46 and passed 4-1 with Rayburn voting no.