WINONA – The Winona board room was filled to capacity Tuesday night for the regular meeting of the Winona Mayor and Board of Aldermen. While most attended to inform themselves on the goings-on in the city, some spoke to the board regarding specific concerns.
Rev. Dewell Jamerson asked the board about the January closing of the Winona Walmart, specifically why the store closed.
Winona Mayor Jerry Flowers told Jamerson that the decision to close the Winona Walmart was based entirely on an “economic decision by the corporate office of Walmart.” Flowers said any rumors that Winona’s and Montgomery County’s elected officials had nothing to do with the closing.
In fact, Flowers told Jamerson that several years ago, he and Winona Main Street Director Sue Stidham met with a district representative from Walmart and a manager from Winona’s store about building a Walmart Super Center at the Interstate 55 and Highway 82 corridor.
“At that time, they said [building a new store in Winona] would hurt the Grenada store,” Flowers said.
Flowers read a statement sent to him by Walmart spokesman Ann Hatfield: “We would like to thank Mayor Flowers and the Board of Alderman for their long-standing support of the Walmart in Winona. We appreciate the City’s leadership in supporting the continued operations of the store. Our decision to close this store is part of a broader corporate strategy to position the company for long-term growth.”
Flowers said the city was working with Fred’s and Dollar General about better serving the needs of the citizens of Winona with inventory expansion and hiring additional staff. Flowers said Fred’s has already hired some of Walmart’s former pharmacists and is expanding inventory as well to meet the demands of their increase in sales.
Stidham said Fred’s also held a job fair last week exclusively for past Walmart employees with the hopes of finding a place for them in the Winona, Grenada, or Greenwood stores.
Flowers said he is also speaking with representatives from Dollar General.
Bessie Baker asked the board how the loss of Walmart will affect the revenues of the City of Winona.
Winona City Clerk June Williams said April’s sales tax numbers will give the city definite numbers, but they are waiting for sales histories from Walmart to determine how much the city will be affected.
“We have got to buy at home,” Flowers said. “If [a local retailer] doesn’t have something, you’ve got to ask if they can get it. I’m encouraging all the City of Winona to buy at home.
Alice Smith and Sylvia Clark asked the board about code enforcement and clean-up efforts within the city.
Flowers said Winona’s code enforcement officer, Timothy Pearson, recently sent 250 letters to property owners throughout town about various code violations.
Clark told the board the “city was too comfortable,” explaining that citizens need to inform themselves of what is going on at city hall. She cited clogged ditches and “junk” in yards as ways the city have been complacent.
Clark also told the board that an ordinance allowing liquor sales on Sunday is necessary if the city hopes to lure restaurants to the area.
In other city business:
• Calbrina Woods, family readiness coordinator for the Winona and Kosciusko National Guard Armories informed the board that Winona and Kosciusko troops will be deployed to an unknown destination in March, leaving the city on March 5 between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
Woods said she hoped the Winona’s citizens will line up along the departure route to wish the soldiers well.
Woods asked the city if it would provide handheld American flags like it did for past deployments, and Flowers said it would.
“I am appealing to all the citizens to support all our soldiers as they drive away,” Woods said.
Woods said more information of the unit’s departure will be released at a later date.
March 12 will be the unit’s last day in Mississippi.
Woods also asked residents to donate flash drivers for the “Talk to Me” program. The program will allow soldiers to record seven-minute videos saved on flash drives to leave with their families when they deploy.
“It will be quite some time before soldiers will be able to speak with their families after they leave,” Woods said.
For soldiers who did not record a message at the February 4 Family Day in Kosciusko, Woods said they can come to the Winona Montgomery County Public Library from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. to make their recording.
Those wishing to donate flash drives can drop them off at Winona City Hall.
• Winona Water Superintendent Frank Faulkner reported that his crew had repaired 14 water leaks in recent weeks, and many of those were major leaks.
“[The repairs] should help with water pressure,” Faulkner said.
• Winona Fire Chief Brad Mooneyham reported that the department’s newest fire truck has been repaired. The problem with the truck was a faulty fuel pump which was handled under the warranty, Mooneyham said.
• Mooneyham also reported that when Crossroads Small Engine burned in January, a back-up motor for the city’s Jaws of Life was inside the building awaiting repairs. Mooneyham said the city’s insurance nor the business’s insurance would cover the loss of the motor, which is valued at approximately $800.
• The board voted to have City Attorney Ray Baum seek permission to enter the certified area of North Winona Water Association to install a fire hydrant inside the city limits north of Highway 82 on Highway 51. The hydrant will be connected to city water lines, however, the location of those lines are inside the North Winona Water Association’s designated territory.
• The board approved the building plans and a three-foot fire variance for a new retail business coming to Winona.
• Rec soccer signups are underway, according to Winona Parks Director Mike Narmour. According to Narmour, parents still have a week to sign their children up for rec soccer. February 13 and 15 from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m., sign-ups will be held at the Winona Recreational Park, and Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., registration will be taken at Winona City Hall.
• Narmour informed the board that the first Dizzy Dean baseball tournament hosted by the City of Winona will be held February 16 and 17.
