By Rupert Howell

Sardis city officials tentatively agreed to proceed with an application to upgrade that municipality’s water system in a special meeting held Tuesday afternoon.

Aldermen also approved Police Chief Chris Martin’s recommendation to hire and reclassify several officers in his department.

Aldermen heard engineers with ESI of  of Pontotoc and Tupelo make recommendations of needs and requirements of the water system noting that 45 percent match was possible in some instances to go along with long-term, low-interest financing.

Items discussed  to be included in the application were painting and cleaning of two water tanks, replacing electronic boards and communication controls at well sites and storage tanks, replacing meters and equipment to assist employees with maintaining the water system infrastructure.

After a lengthy presentation and question-and-answer period with engineers Mike Falkner and Nick Gillespie, alderman agreed to proceed with the proposal.

Prior to the utility discussion, aldermen went into executive session to discuss filling positions in the police department.

Chief Martin’s recommendation to move part-time officer James Hawkins to full-time  and officer Ryan Baker from full-time to part-time was approved along with hiring Derrick Harris as a part-time police officer.

The Sardis board of mayor and aldermen regularly meet monthly at 5 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at City Hall.