Aberdeen Board of Aldermen approves ARPA water payments, hires two officers and adopts dilapidated‑property authority

ABERDEEN, Miss. — The Aberdeen Board of Aldermen on May 19 approved a package of payments, contracts and personnel actions tied to the city’s water projects, public works and public safety, and adopted state authority for dealing with dilapidated properties.

In the meeting at Aberdeen City Hall, Mayor Johnny D. Stevens presided as aldermen voted, by roll call, to approve Pay Request No. 13 to Maguire Iron for $19,902.50 and Pay Request No. 13 to Perma Corporation for $114,000.00, both payments listed as coming from the city’s ARPA account for water‑supply improvements. The board also transferred $43,215.50 from the General Water Department budget to pay Tombigbee Contractors for work on the Railroad M & O Depot. Alderman James Ivory and Alderman Jeremy Belle announced those motions; Alderman John Cain commonly made or seconded motions throughout the meeting.

The board approved a renewal quote from The Policy Center, Inc. for the city’s cyber/privacy‑breach insurance, $16,548.00, effective May 20, 2026, and authorized several purchase requisitions for public‑works and water‑department supplies and equipment, including a Scag Tiger Cat II mower ($10,800.00) and cylinder chlorine for the water plant ($14,163.00). These items were approved on roll‑call votes recorded as "Aye" by those present.

Votes at a glance — key actions approved • Awarded handicap‑ramp contract to Med‑Mart Homecare & DME (Pontotoc) for $22,995.00 (motion by Alderman John Cain; second Alderman James Ivory). • Approved ARPA pay requests: Maguire Iron $19,902.50 and Perma Corporation $114,000.00 (motions by Aldermen Ivory and Belle). • Transferred $43,215.50 to pay Tombigbee Contractors for depot work (motion by Alderman Cain). • Renewed cyber/privacy insurance with The Policy Center, Inc., $16,548.00 (motion by Alderman Belle). • Hired Sereniti McMillian and Anna Valladares as full‑time Aberdeen Police officers at $15.00/hr (motions by Alderman Belle; votes recorded in favor by Alderwoman Moore and Aldermen Ivory, Belle and Cain). • Adopted Mississippi Code Section 21‑19‑11 regarding dilapidated properties after closed‑determination (motion by Alderman Cain). • Authorized City Attorney Walter H. Zinn, Jr. to send a letter to Monroe County Solid Waste regarding missed sanitation pickups (motion by Alderman Belle).

Several administrative and personnel items were also approved. The board authorized posting for a Deputy City Clerk, approved reimbursement for aldermen CMO certificates and lapel pins, accepted an ATA contract for electric‑department audit services (not to exceed $27,825.00), and accepted Neel‑Schaffer as the winning RFP for USDOT MARAD/Port Rail Spur and CDBG engineering services contingent on grant awards.

During the mayor’s report, Aberdeen Visitor’s Bureau Director Tina Robbins said downtown Main Street banners were installed and promoted upcoming events including a dedication at the Monroe County Training Academy planned for May 20 and Aberdeen High School’s graduation date. Kathy Setmour reported that the South Monroe County Community Fund awarded $10,000 for improvements to the M & O Railroad Depot, with an award presentation scheduled for June 4, 2026.

Aldermen raised resident concerns about sanitation pickups and property conditions. Alderman Nicholas Holliday and Alderman Jeremy Belle both flagged longstanding problems with Monroe County Solid Waste failing to collect garbage at times; the board authorized the city attorney to notify the county of the issues. During citizen input, Joyce Vasser asked about cleanup of Oddfellow Rest Cemetery and Brenetta Campbell raised concerns about dilapidated homes.

The board approved adding a 2026 GMC Sierra to city insurance ($1,065.00), a $1.00 hourly pay raise for Executive Secretary Servina Baker, and multiple festival‑account payments for entertainers at the Blue and White Festival. The board took cemetery bids under advisement until a May 26 work session and set the next regular meeting for June 2, 2026.

What the record shows and what it doesn’t The published record lists the mayor and six aldermembers as present and records repeated roll‑call votes described in the minutes as "all present voted 'Aye.'" The transcript text alternates between minute‑style entries and presentation notes; it does not include verbatim question‑and‑answer exchanges or extended direct quotations from speakers. Where the minutes record a roll call of "all present," the article reports that outcome rather than assigning an exact numeric tally beyond the names shown as present at the start of the meeting.

Next steps The board scheduled a work session on May 26, 2026, to review cemetery bids and will reconvene for its next regular meeting June 2, 2026.