From staff reports

The Louisville Board of Aldermen in their Jan. 18 meeting continued their discussion of a revised waste management pickup schedule and touched on ideas for securing funding to complete a downtown parking lot.

Allen Watts, president of the Main Street Association, appeared before the board to ask that they reconsider the changes made in the city's waste management policies. The plan to provide 96-gallon trash carts, pick up waste once a week and charge for any extra carts needed has concerned many area merchants, Watts said.

"The decisions by your board on this issue can affect public trust and our economic future," Watts said. "These are critical times when we must all support each other with open minds and open hearts.

"Most of our merchants' sales during the year, especially during the Christmas holidays, were short of expectations; therefore, most view this change as added cost when every dollar counts," Watts added.

Watts presented the board with a list of requests from the Main Street merchants, including the scheduling of a town-hall meeting to discuss the issue; the contacting of area merchants by waste management representatives to discuss the prices and services of dumpster services for businesses needing loose garbage pickup; the publication of the city's new waste management policies for two weeks in print and on radio; the allowing by the city of a 30-day moratorium on implementing new waste disposal fees to allow merchants a period of adjustment; and the continuing of the city's search for a better method of collecting solid waste at a more affordable price.

"We all would agree that we must have a clean, litter-free and crime-free community if we want to maintain economic prosperity today and in the future," Watts said. "Providing a fair solution to this problem would help solidify the relationship between city government and business owners."

Watts also presented the board with a copy of a survey sent out to main street merchants. The survey addressed the merchants' waste management needs, including information regarding the waste carts, loose garbage and dumpsters. In addition, Watts attached a copy of the waste management policies of several local cities and towns, including Macon, Ackerman and Starkville, to show how these areas handle garbage collection for their businesses.

The board agreed to the town hall meeting, which will take place at 6:15 p.m. Feb. 1, in the City Courtroom located at City Hall. Solid waste providers Waste Management and Southern Waste Disposal Inc. have been invited to send representatives to this meeting. Mayor Louis Taunton, the board of aldermen and the Main Street Association urge all interested businesses to attend this important meeting.

Ideas for securing funding to complete the proposed downtown parking lot also received attention during the board's meeting.

Phyllis Benson of Golden Triangle Planning and Development appeared before the board to discuss the possibility of applying for additional grants to help pay for the lot. Benson recommended the board apply for grants through programs made available by the Appalachian Regional Commission and the USDA Rural Development Program. Benson said she had discussed the issue with Nick Walters, Mississippi's USDA Rural Development State Director, and he had expressed interest in helping with the matter.

Donna Robertson, tobacco nurse at Fair Elementary School, appeared before the board to request their help in keeping funding available for The Partnership for a Health Mississippi.

The Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi works to keep children away from tobacco use by providing a comprehensive approach that utilizes resources from more than 800 statewide governmental agencies and local organization. Funding for the program, however, is on the chopping block - a new plan by the state Legislature has the money earmarked for use by the Partnership moving into the state's general fund to help cover budget shortfalls.

Robertson asked the board to help keep the program active by writing to legislators, including Gov. Haley Barbour, to let them know how important the program is in keeping children away from tobacco. Letters should request that funding for the program not be pulled, Robertson said.

In other business, the board:

€ Approved payment of $92,150 to W.G. Yates & Sons Construction for the Louisville Utilities water treatment project grant;

€ Approved payment of $63,987.53 to Mississippi Department of Transportation for the city's share of the South Church Avenue bridge project;

€ Approved a refund to Odie Keen for $113.41 for taxes from 1997-2002;

€ Approved the adding of three new volunteer firemen: Robert Eaves, Joseph McCain and Ray Taylor.

€ Approved the deposit of a $128.49 donation from Fred's into the volunteer fireman account;

€ Discussed the Louisville Municipal School District's Shadow Program, effective February 2005;

€ Reviewed the 2004 county fire expenditures; and

€ Discussed a letter of commendation.