By Myra Bean

In the Sardis City Board meeting, the board held more hearings for overgrown vacant lots.

The board voted to clean the lots and charge the cost to the land taxes of James Lowe Jr., 312 Dewberry Street; Lamar Trammell, 418 Dewberry St., R.V. Coleman Estate, 416 Dewberry St., and Napoleon and Betty Lofton Jr., 406 Glenmary St., all in Sardis.

The claims docket for $127,880.90 minus $499.04 for a Moore’s Body Shop invoice was approved by the board.

Sardis Librarian Charlene Bradford gave the board a run down of a successful summer reading program. Barbara Evans, assistant regional library director, asked the board to up the library budget in the coming year from $4,000 to $5,250. This is eight percent of the budget.

Building Inspections

Building Code Enforcement officer John McCollum gave an update on five properties he inspected at the request of the board.

He reported that Mike Fudge’s property at 208 E. Lee St., Sardis now has water and electricity and wanted to know if they had the city turn it on. Public Works Director Quinn West said he did not turn it on.

City Clerk Angela Edwards said no one had come to the office to pay the deposit and request that it be turned on. West was designated to check on the status of the property Wednesday, July 17.

Gloria Lee, 302 Carruthers St., Sardis, had requested the board not allow the fire department to use her house for training. McCollum said the house had no plumbing, no electricity, no water meter, and the shell was spray painted. His opinion was it would cost more to fix than to build a new house. Board attorney Tommy Shuler asked McCollum to put his findings in writing and he would present that to Lee.

The 612 Wilson St., Sardis, property owned by Fannie Lewis, was inspected by McCollum and he suggested it be torn down and the grass cut. The board agreed.

The house at 412 Pearl St. and on the corner of Melrose is fixable, according to McCollum. The family had asked for an extension to get it fixed and repaired but the family did not comply. The board told McCollum to get a written explanation of repairs needed and give to Shuler. He will write a letter and give the family a deadline to get the house in order.

Police Department

Investigator Hunter Applewhite approached the board for permission to apply for a Firehouse Sub grant which will grant up to $15,000 for first responder protective gear and medical equipment. There is no match required from the city for this grant. The grants are given out each quarter and the police department can apply each time until it is funded. Once it is funded, they will not be able to apply for another two years.

City Hall Clerks

The board gave permission for the clerks in City Hall to attend BBI training sessions in Flowood.

Water clerk Kim Bruce will attend BBI Training Aug. 12. Payroll Clerk Rosaline Wallace will attend Aug. 15 and court clerk Samantha Hardy will attend Aug. 16.

Hardy will also attend Municipal Courts Clerks Conference Sept. 11-13.

Christmas Pole Decorations

Mayor Lula Palmer asked the board to get on Christmas decorating of the town early by purchasing some pole decorations. Since she did not have an exact total including shipping, she will report back to the board with the financial information for approval.

Playground Equipment

The board also told the Mayor to get exact figures it would cost to buy, install and construct playground equipment near the walking trail on Highway 51.

Palmer reported that she had gotten feedback on people using the walking trail before it is completed. The citizens are very pleased the walking trail is being built.

The board will hold its next regular meetings on Aug. 6 and 20.