By Myra Bean

With the Fourth of July holiday approaching, the Town of Sardis has voted to observe Independence Day officially on Thursday and Friday, July 4-5, and all city offices and departments will be closed those days.

The Mayor and Board of Aldermen voted Tuesday in a regular meeting for the closings. The town will host this year’s  July 4th event with activities at Raftes on the Water. The theme is Sardis, Red, White, and Boon. The public is invited to attend.

City Clerk

Mayor Lula Palmer swore in Angela Edwards as the new city clerk after Jeanne Goforth. Her last day was June 7. Edwards has been working as a deputy clerk and is familiar with all of that’s offices responsibilities.

Grants

Engineer David Evans said the town could apply for the Small Municipalities Grant and have work done on Back Street where the Farmers Market is held. He advised the board members to  rehab the street and put in drainage, add two manholes, and pave the parking lot as much as the possible before the grant money runs out.

Evans said he hopes pavement would go to the back of Klyce Hardware Store under that plan. The grant is for up to $150,000 with a 10 percent city match of $15,000.

NCBA-SCSEP

The Board listened to Vanessa Russell and agreed to become a hosting agent of NCBA-SCSEP. The organization places senior citizens 55 and older with hosting agents to work 20 hours per week. They go through a vetting process before being placed.

The company has people at Finch-Henry Job Corps Center and the Sardis Library.

According to Russell, the town would train the participant and keep him/her for one to four years.

Entergy

George Cossar appeared before the board for Entergy to request permission to waive permit request to replace meters, but there is no permit procedure in place he was told. Entergy will be replacing meters for customers with advanced meters which will not need to be read. The information will be computerized and pulled from the office. That will eliminate meter readers and cut down on readers meeting up with dogs and other hazards at homes.

Police Academy

The board gave permission for police officer Kenneth Vaxter to attend the Police Academy at Mississippi Delta Community College in Morehead. The cost is $3,600.

Lagoon

Public Works Director Quinn West was originally set to request to rent sewer equipment for a leak in the lagoon. He reported they had found the leak and corrected the situation. West said he will contact the county and ask them to haul some dirt and rip rap to keep the ditch from washing more.

Dewberry Extended Closure

The Board discussed closing Dewberry Extended off Highway 51 S. which runs between the baseball field and the walking trail. People use that as a cutoff from the apartment buildings located at the west end of the road.

There is a church on the road that has to have access. Palmer said they just need a barrier on the west end. There is concern of the speed that some people drive coming through that area where many youth gather.

There was no decision made.

Edwin Circle Lift Station

The board tabled a motion to transfer $10,000 from the W/F building materials for the DRA Edwin Circle Lift Station project. Bids will be opened Friday, June 28.

Police Surplus

Four non-working police cars were voted to be surplus and put up for sale –  a 2011 Ford Crown Victoria, 2005 Ford Crown Victoria, 2002 Ford Crown Victoria and a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria.

The board’s next meeting is Tuesday, July 2, at 5 p.m.