Votes at a glance: Jackson council approves claims, grants, contracts and project MOAs

The Jackson City Council approved a package of routine orders, claims and project agreements at its Feb. 11 meeting in Council Chambers. Most items passed with unanimous or near‑unanimous votes after brief staff summaries.

Key outcomes included approval of a municipal claims docket totaling $13,420,195.75; authorization to apply for and accept federal and state public-safety grants; several memoranda of agreement with the Mississippi Transportation Commission for roadway and bridge reconstruction; and contract ratifications for repairs and services.

Highlights and recorded tallies from the meeting's roll call and item votes:

- Claims: Order approving municipal claims totaling $13,420,195.75 (approved by council; recorded as a vote of 4 in favor and 2 opposed during the meeting).

- Payroll: Order approving gross payroll and payroll deduction claims (approved 6-0).

- Lumen amendment (item 9): Order authorizing the mayor to execute an amendment to a service agreement to add two additional pickup locations (recorded as 5 in favor, Councilwoman Clay abstained).

- FY 2024 Edward Byrne JAG grant (item 13): Mayor authorized to ratify application and enter interlocal agreement with Hinds County to use JAG funds for equipment and patrol vehicles (approved 6-0).

- FY 2026 State Highway Safety grant (item 14): Authorization to apply for occupant-protection, DUI enforcement and traffic services funding (approved 7-0).

- Repeal of 08/08/2020 facial-recognition order (item 15): Council approved repeal (see separate coverage).

- Cemetery grounds maintenance contract (item 20): Term bid awarded to Rotolo Consultants Inc. for 12 months with two 12-month extensions (approved 6-1; Mr. Stokes opposed).

- Multiple Mississippi Transportation Commission MOAs (items 21–23): Council authorized MOAs for reconstruction and overlays on Dixie Road, McClure Road and McDowell Road; council discussed 1% modernization/local-match funding source and approved each MOA (votes recorded as unanimous).

- Other ratifications and payments: Orders ratifying payments for training, repair services, and professional services at Thalia Morrow Hall and other city facilities were approved (votes generally unanimous).

Clerk and staff presentations accompanied several items; CFO Fidelis Malenbecker summarized the largest claims. Where staff recommended follow-up or additional information, council members asked for timelines or further detail—for example, CAO Lewis Rice described the modernization fund source for local matches on transportation MOAs, and city attorney Drew Martin provided timelines for demolition and Thalia Morrow Hall compliance work.

Items pulled for discussion or referred to future agendas were noted by the clerk. No formal actions were taken during a closed executive session at the end of the meeting, according to the clerk's remarks.

The council also added a discussion item on litigation matters and recessed into executive session; no votes were taken while in executive session.