Jackson Council approves consent docket, adopts traffic-calming ordinance and accepts Gillig bus contract

Jackson City Council approved a series of routine and substantive actions at its July 15 meeting, including the consent agenda, an amendment to neighborhood traffic-calming procedures and the acceptance of a bid from Gillig LLC for hybrid buses for the city’s JTrain system.

The council approved the consent agenda by a single motion and a 6-0 vote. Among the items enacted was an order approving the municipal claims docket totaling $3,085,547.97. Interim Chief Financial Officer Fidelis Malenbecker read the four largest claims on the docket: Trustmark National Bank, $1,925,943 (general fund); Hormac Corporation, $255,000 (landfill/sanitation) for a boom truck; 4 Seasons Enterprises LLC, $225,000 (CDBG) for Ellis Avenue cleanup; and McInnis Electric, $131,913.87 (State Street signal project). The council approved the claims docket following the item’s presentation.

Council members also adopted an ordinance amending section 118-595 of the City of Jackson Code of Ordinances governing neighborhood traffic-calming procedures. The ordinance was moved, seconded and adopted by a 6-0 vote.

On transit procurement, the council accepted the bid of Gillig LLC and authorized the mayor to execute a contract to supply heavy-duty hybrid diesel transit buses for Jackson’s JTrain system. Christine Welch, deputy director of transit services, said the city currently has a purchase order for two buses this fiscal year and that the Gillig contract is a five-year agreement. Welch said there is more than $20 million in competitive grant funding available to buy buses and that the grants would cover 80 percent of the vehicle cost with the city responsible for a 20 percent match. "This is a 5 year contract," Welch said, "Once you all pass the budget for next fiscal year, that will determine how many buses we are able to purchase during next fiscal year." The order passed 6-0.

Other votes passed without opposition: an order proving gross payroll and payroll deduction claims (claim number 322742); adoption of the Department of Revenue’s uniform assessment schedule for motor-vehicle taxes for 2025–26, with a hearing date set for taxpayer objections on July 29, 2025; authorization for payment of National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives membership dues for the chief of police; and an order allowing the mayor to execute contracts to use 2023 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from HUD for community-safety activities. All these items were moved, seconded and carried by recorded voice vote.

The council pulled one item (item 13) from the agenda for further review and set other administrative matters — including selection of the 2024 audit firm — for future committee consideration.

The meeting adjourned after closing remarks from council leadership.