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Olive Branch extends emergency declaration after ice storm; mayor cites $490,000 in unbudgeted costs
Summary
City officials extended the Jan. 23 emergency declaration to Feb. 17 to allow time to document emergency purchases made during a widespread ice storm; Mayor Adams reported about $490,000 in unbudgeted storm expenses and credited first responders and public works for extensive response efforts.
Mayor Adams told the Olive Branch Board of Aldermen on Feb. 3 that the city had declared a local emergency on Jan. 23 after an ice storm and that staff and first responders mounted a large-scale response that prevented loss of life in the city.
"We declared an emergency on January 23," Mayor Adams said, and later reported, "From a cost standpoint, CFO May and I looked at this this afternoon and it was an unbudgeted about $490,000 worth expenses we incurred in the last 10 days because of this ice storm." He credited police, fire and EMS personnel and public-works crews for overtime and storm cleanup.
City attorney Mr. Dye briefed the board on the legal effect of the civil emergency declaration, saying the declaration "loosens some of the purchasing restrictions" that normally apply and that state law allows the mayor to declare an emergency and have the board review and ratify emergency actions. Mr. Dye recommended extending the emergency through Feb. 17 to allow staff to document purchases and present them for ratification at the next meeting.
On a motion from Mister Wallace and a second from Miss Aldridge, the board voted by voice to continue the emergency declaration until Feb. 17 so staff could finalize documentation and, if appropriate, have the board ratify emergency purchases at that later meeting.
The extension preserves the legal basis for earlier emergency purchases while staff compiles invoices and supporting records for board review.
