Aberdeen board approves ARPA water payments, schedules rezoning hearing and finalizes hires and festival deposits

The Aberdeen City mayor and board of aldermen on Feb. 3 approved a slate of routine municipal business, including payments on two parts of a 2024 ARPA-funded water-supply project, scheduled a rezoning public hearing, completed several personnel actions and approved deposits for performers at the city’s Blue and White Festival.

In the meeting’s most consequential financial votes, the board approved Pay Request Nos. 10 and 11 to Maguire Iron, Inc. for the new elevated water storage tank (Part 1) totaling $159,103.00 and Pay Request Nos. 9 and 10 to Perma Corporation for well-site improvements (Part 2) totaling $154,375.00. Alderman John Cain moved both motions; both passed on roll-call votes.

The board also set a public hearing for March 2, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. to consider rezoning two parcels (108C-28-004-007.00 and 108C-28-004-007-02) from C2 to R3 for applicant Joseph Schrock on Highway 145 North.

Personnel matters included approval to change Servina Baker’s job title from Administrative Assistant to Executive Secretary and the hiring of three certified police officers: Jeremy Lamar Harris (full time, $17/hour), Nathan Eugene Hester (part time, $15/hour) and Carson Monroe Gunn (part time, $15/hour). The board accepted Public Works Director Richard Caradine’s resignation effective Feb. 13, 2026. One proposed hire (Curtis Cunningham) failed for lack of a second.

Several procurement and operational requests were approved: purchase requisitions ranging from visitor-bureau web services to sewer repairs and vehicle parts; the board tabled a $3,798 request for an FRX defibrillator pending further consideration; and it approved a $3,775 contract to upgrade the City Hall camera system (4–1 vote, Alderman Holliday dissenting). The board also authorized an $8-per-pole annual attachment fee for the Aberdeen Housing Authority.

The board approved deposits for performers at the Aberdeen Blue and White Festival, including $6,000 for Marcellus the Singer, $2,000 for E. J. Jones, and $1,750 for James “Super Chikan” Johnson. Several performer deposits were recorded on roll-call votes with Alderman John Cain voting against multiple approvals.

Mayor Johnny D. Stevens invited Tina Robbins to outline Mardi Gras plans: a flyover by the AHS Aviation Academy at 4 p.m., a 6 p.m. parade, food trucks, live music and a canned-corn drive for the March of the Mayors (the city’s stated goal is to collect 1,000 cans). During citizen input Robbins also referenced Senate Bill 2259, which she said would require municipalities to livestream board meetings if enacted; the board did not act on the bill at the meeting.

City Attorney Walter H. Zinn, Jr. told the board that Monroe County had been charging a $100 clinic fee related to inmate care that had not previously been billed; the board tabled unpaid inmate invoices so Comptroller Karen Crump and Court Clerk Shelia James could review them for accuracy before payment.

The meeting included motions to approve standard travel and training for staff, a 10% pay increase for an employee who completed utility line-worker training, and the mailing of privilege-license notices to delinquent businesses. The board adjourned to its next regular meeting on Feb. 17, 2026.

Votes at a glance: Pay ARPA – Maguire Iron (Pay Req. 10–11): approved (unanimous); Pay ARPA – Perma Corp. (Pay Req. 9–10): approved (unanimous); Rezoning hearing set (Schrock parcels): approved (unanimous); Table unpaid inmate invoices pending review: approved (unanimous); Vacation-day make-up for Jan. 26 weather: approved (4–1); Title change for Servina Baker: approved (unanimous); Hires (Harris, Hester, Gunn): approved (majority; some 4–1 votes recorded); Accept resignation – Richard Caradine: approved (4–1); Knight Hawk Security camera upgrade: approved (4–1); Selected festival performer deposits: approved (various recorded tallies).