On Monday, July 14, prior to the regularly scheduled Board of Aldermen Meeting, Duck Hill officials took their oaths of office at 5:30 p.m. at Duck Hill City Hall. After the swearing-in, the first board meeting of the new municipal term commenced at the regularly scheduled 6 p.m. time. Much business was covered over the hour duration of the meeting. The highlights of the July meeting are as follows.
As the first matter of business, the Board received the quarterly Library Report from Duck Hill Librarian Dena Rainey. Rainey recapped the Library’s programs from June, explaining that of the two outreach programs scheduled for the month, one had to be cancelled due to inclement weather. This program, the Touch-A-Truck program, is expected to be rescheduled in October. She went on to list the outreach programs and events planned for July, noting another popular program the Bingo Extravaganza which is to take place on July 25. In addition, she explained that the Library intends to resume reading at the Head Start Center in August, and even intends to hold a giveaway at the Headstart sometime in November.
The next matter of business was brought before the Board by Anthony Cooley, a born native who has since moved to Texas. He explained that his reason for coming before the Duck Hill Board was due to his interest in investing in the town by starting a truck driving school within the Duck Hill city limits.
“I wanted to present a truck driving school to you guys - try to bring some type of revenue to the town. If we can get it going, I’ll turn around and put what I make off the school back into the town,” Cooley introduced the topic.
He explained that he currently runs a truck driving school in Texas and he intends to transfer all of his licenses from Texas to Mississippi if he is able to garner support for a driving school in Duck Hill.
“My whole goal is to grab the younger community and bring some revenue to the town - try to better the town a little more,” Cooley stated.
Cooley further explained that what he needs specifically from the town to set this project into motion is firstly a letter of support for the school from the Board of Alderman and Mayor. He stated that after this support letter is received he can pass it along through business channels to set the project in motion. In addition, he explained that he would need at least an acre to two acres of public land in the city limits to conduct the school business on. Cooley assured transparency with the Board and the public as the project furthers in development. While Cooley did not have a specific timeline for the project, he anticipates that after Board approval, the school will be operational. After much discussion on the subject, the Board did not take immediate action on the matter, opting to instead further discuss the business at a later date.
As the next matter of business for the meeting, the Board moved on to the appointing of Vice Mayor and department heads. Alderwoman Shernell Brown Everett was nominated for the position of Vice Mayor by Alderwoman Likisha Small. This motion was seconded by Alderman Michael Allen and passed unanimously. Next, the Board approved to reappoint department heads and rehire employees for the town, subject to a standard 90 evaluation period. This motion was made by Alderman Chris Caldwell and seconded by Alderwoman Brown Everett. In the same manner of business, the Board elected Alderman Caldwell as the Mississippi Municipal League Delegate for Duck Hill on a motion from Alderwoman Brown Everett and seconded by Alderwoman Jacqueline Eskridge.
Following this, Alderwoman Small brought a matter before the Board for consideration. She explained that in the wake of the recent March tornados, concerned citizens had donated funds to her with the intention of the funds going to those in need of assistance. She explained that a total of $110 had been donated from multiple sources for this reason. Her request of the Board was to establish a Disaster Relief account for the town in which this money could be deposited. In addition, she explained she had hopes of holding an annual fundraiser for this account starting next year.
“Any account that the town has, it’s gonna be them two - the mayor and the clerk - are gonna have to be the responsible parties. Now, you could do it separate from the town - you can do that and hold the money yourself. But, if you turn it over, I think it’ll have to be an account set up just like [how] every department head has an account. It has to be treated like any other checking account or banking account that we have,” Board Attorney Adam Kirk weighed in on the subject.
Ultimately, the Board did not specify how the account would be handled, if it would be an official town account or handled personally by Alderwoman Small and her choice of one other holder.
For the next matter of business, Alderwoman Brown Everett requested her, Alderwoman Small, and one other individual be responsible for the upkeep of the community house. She explained that she wanted to not only be responsible for inspecting the community house after each rental, but to also be responsible for securing funding for maintenance and upkeep. Alderwoman Brown Everett listed several general updating needs for the community house which she intended to research funding for. The Board moved to allow Alderwoman Brown Everett and Alderwoman Small to inspect the community house after each rental and research funding options for updating the utilities. This was approved on a motion by Alderman Caldwell and seconded by Alderman Allen with all in favor.
In other news the Board:
• Accepted the Docket of Claims, the Minutes from June, 2025, and the Police Report.
• Heard the public works report and received updates on the CDBG project.
• Heard Alderwoman Shernell Brown Everett’s concerns requesting that all department heads attend regularly scheduled Board of Alderman meetings.
