Tuesday night, Jerry Flowers adjourned his last city meeting as mayor of Winona. In total, Flowers has served on the board for 28 years – 14 years as alderman for Ward 2 and 14 years as mayor.
On June 8, Flowers lost his bid for re-election to challenger Aaron Dees, who will take over as mayor in July.
“It has been a pleasure serving with you for the last 14 years,” Flowers told the board. “You have been a wonderful board. It has been a blessing.”
Tuesday night was also the last meeting for Ward 4 Alderman David Ware, who has served on the board for 20 years; Ward 3 Aldermen Kelvin Winbush, who has was elected in 2011; and Ward 5 Alderwoman Sarah A. Minnieweather, who was elected in 2017.
The three were also unseated in the June 8 election by Charles Harris, Jr., for the Ward 4 seat, Sylvia Clark, for the Ward 3 seat, and Linda Purnell, for the Ward 5 seat. Incumbent aldermen Mickey Austin and William Travis Johnson ran unopposed in the recent election and will begin a new term in July.
Winbush thanked his fellow board members and said, “This job is not an easy job. I want to thank everyone I’ve worked with from the staff here at city hall to all the city employees. They been there every time for me. I’m hoping God will bless the newcomers and the entire city.”
Minnieweather echoed Winbush’s sentiments, “Y’all have been terrific to work with.”
Austin thanked Flowers and the exiting aldermen for their “years and years of service.”
As a new administration prepares to take office, the current mayor and board of aldermen tied up some loose ends on several ongoing projects in the city.
City Attorney Adam Kirk informed the board that a public hearing is set for June 28 in Montgomery County Chancery Court for the validation of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenue bonds for the Stribling/Empire Truck Sales development project in the amount of $1,500,000. The hearing is to accept any written objections to bond obligation.
The Winona Board of Aldermen, in conjunction with the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, adopted a tax increment financing agreement for the $8 million Stribling development to help fund infrastructure improvements needed for the project.
Tax increment financing allows cities and counties to issue bonds to assist developers in paying for infrastructure improvements needed for construction of a project. The bonds are paid for by future sales and ad valorem tax revenue generated by the new development above what is generated prior to the development.
Also, the board accepted the lowest and best bid for the Montgomery Street paving project. Double S, Inc. won the bid in the amount of $597,900, contingent upon the contractor accepting a change order for the project not to exceed the $500,000 in funds allocated to the project by the Mississippi legislature. To scale back on the project, the city will not include the northern portion of Fairground Street in the project, however, Winona Street Superintendent Tony Palmertree told the board that that portion of street has been included in the overlay project currently underway and funded by the city’s general fund.
The Montgomery Street paving project includes a large portion of Montgomery Street, from College Street to Lamar Street, as well as all or a portion of eight streets in the city – Shirley Avenue, Turner Street, Oak Drive, Lamar Street (the west side from Speedway), Sterling Avenue (north of the railroad track), and a portion of Scotland Road.
The board also approved Flowers to sign the project contract with the USDA for funding to rework the drainage ditch on Greensboro Road near Alice Lane. The project should commence in the coming weeks.
Also in city business:
• Beulah Hammond spoke to the board about flooding of her home and property during the record rainfall on June 10. She said flood waters got into her home due to a drainage ditch near Barron and Dennis Streets was stopped up due to the amount of water draining off the road.
Hammond stated that Flowers and Street Superintendent Tony Palmertree had assessed the drainage problem but the city had not cleared out the drainage ditch.
City Attorney Adam Kirk explained to Hammond that the city is forbidden by law and provide service or make repairs to private property.
Hammond said the city built the ditch 50 years ago, and she thought the ditch belonged to the city. However, Kirk said without a survey or easement showing the city actually owns the property or provides legal permission for the city to do work on the property, the board’s hands are tied.
• The board accepted the resignation of election commissioner Dorothy Washington and hired her as a part-time deputy clerk at Winona City Hall, at the recommendation of City Clerk June Williams.
• The board tabled all new business to assist with the transition of the incoming mayor and aldermen.
• The board voted to allow the Mid-Mississippi Regional Library Commission to take over the expense of the Winona-Montgomery Public Library’s three phone lines and one fax line. The commission requested the change as it works to get improved internet service at the library.
• The board voted to remove the speed bump on Church Street at the request of Alderman Ware. Ware said he was contacted by the resident, who initially requested the speed bump, and asked for the speed bump to be removed.
