The Monday night June 10 Duck Hill Board of Alderman meeting was lengthy and packed with information. The meeting began with a prayer given by Alderwoman Linda Bennett. The Board heard and addressed many concerns from residents and alderpersons alike during this meeting, starting with Richard Robinson Jr., a resident of Duck Hill who lives on the part of Carrollton Street which is soon to be renamed Farmer’s Drive. Robinson expressed his discontent with the name change. He expressed he did not want to have to change his postal mailing address, stating it was more trouble than necessary. Mayor Al White addressed Robinson’s concerns, stating that the Board had already voted on the name change as the majority of the residents on the road showed support for the change. In addition, Mayor White explained that the name change to Farmer’s Drive can help the town apply for tourism funding to better the roads, especially with it being named after a local blues legend, Little Willie Farmer. The mayor read out many support letters, including one from Senator Lydia Chassaniol. He clarified that the entirety of Carrollton Street would not be renamed, only the section of road that splits off going towards the Head Start Center.
The next major point of business involved the organization Pure Royalty reserving the community center for the fourth annual Duck Hill Juneteenth festival. The event will span from Friday night, June 14, throughout the day on June 15. On June 14, the event will begin at 9 p.m. with the Hood Idol Tour and Soundstage in Grenada at Mainstream 179 South Main Street. Saturday the event will kick off with the parade line up at 10 a.m. The attractions of the day will take place at the Duck Hill Recreational Gym. Attractions will include a barbecue cook off, live music, games, vendors, and a basketball game.
The next heavily discussed topics were brought to the Board by Alderwoman Morgan Eskridge. She brought the Board’s attention to issues with culverts throughout town, reporting that she may have found a cheaper alternative to replacing culverts outright for clogging issues. Instead, she suggested using cinder blocks to help filter debris from the water to allow the culverts to drain properly. She also reported an issue with a house on Jefferson Davis where issues with a culvert have caused a residents’ driveway to collapse. The Board also discussed water pipe issues near the junior high building. Alderwoman Eskridge motioned to begin the condemnation process for the collapsing building beside the caboose as well as the old service station, which was seconded by Alderwoman Shernell Everett-Brown and passed unanimously.
For the final issue of the night, Alderwoman Everett-Brown and Board Attorney Adam Kirk discussed a recent change in a gas agreement held between the Town of Duck Hill and Atmos Energy. For many years Duck Hill has had an agreement to receive excess or overflow gas from Atmos, however this is expected to change. Atmos will no longer be supplying excess gas to Duck Hill.
Board Attorney Kirk explained the situation stating, “They have a certain amount that they are provided by Texas Gas - they have a certain allotment and for all these years they’ve needed, and I’m just rounding it here - they measure by a thousand cubic feet - They had, say, ten thousand cubic feet coming in a month and they only needed eight thousand, and so they would give us two thousand. And now they’re saying we’ve got to where we need that extra two thousand, so we can’t let y’all have it.”
Alderwoman Everett-Brown’s main concern was about the change impacting local businesses and in-turn impacting tourism funding and revenue for the town, as residential customers are expected to be prioritized in the cooler months over businesses.
“It’s not detrimental, these people aren’t going to freeze to death out here,” Alderwoman Eskridge clarified the situation.
Attorney Kirk stated that he and Town Engineer Sutherland are still working on negotiations with Atmos on behalf of the town and its service area.
In other news the Board:
• Accepted the docket of claims and minutes for the May meeting.
• Received and accepted the Chief of Police report.
• Received the Public Works report from Town Engineer Joe Sutherland, stating that a contractor is expected to begin work next week at the grove and sewage treatment plant.
• Heard Alderwoman Shernell Everett-Brown’s report that the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to inspect the old school building.
• Heard information from resident Kim Cooley regarding a grant found that would help fund community facilities which may be used to help renovate the old high school building.
• Heard a request for a food truck to be present at the July 4 event. Food truck permit and fees are $250 for the year.
• Heard Alderman Chris Caldwell’s request for cleanup efforts to take place in the field behind the school.
• Mayor White and Alderman Caldwell were designated as the voting delegate and alternate delegate for the Mississippi Municipal League election of the 2nd Vice President, which will take place at the convention during the last week of June.
