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Okolona council approves routine agenda items, CDBG pay request and several personnel moves
Summary
The mayor and council approved the agenda and minutes, approved a CDBG pay request and change order, added a local service provider by consent, accepted a waste‑hauler rate increase as a pass-through, donated $300 to the Chamber for Excel, and approved personnel actions including two terminations and one hire pending conditions.
The Okolona mayor and city council approved a series of routine and substantive items during their March 3 meeting, including agenda approval, minutes, grant pay requests and several personnel motions.
Council approved the meeting agenda after additions and corrections were made. The minutes for Feb. 9 and Feb. 3 were approved by voice vote. The city docket of claims was approved with one recorded opposed vote; electric department claims were later approved unanimously.
On grant work, staff presented CDBG pay request #2 ($30,438) and a change order ($138,057.50) for project 1200‑23‑283‑PF‑01 and said the work is grant‑funded; the council approved the request so work can continue under the grant. The mayor noted Blue River is the grant administrator and Suncoast completed prior lining work that is part of the project scope.
By general consent the council added a local recovery/record service ('Archway') to the city list of providers. The council also agreed to route a small community donation ($300) through the Chamber to benefit Excel, a local nonprofit planning a Mardi Gras event for exceptional students.
Staff told the council that Waste Management has increased residential pickup rates (an 80¢ pass‑through for the first container and 48¢ for additional containers). The mayor said the increase is a pass‑through from the hauler; the council discussed pursuing USDA or CDBG funds to acquire a city garbage truck in the future.
Following an executive session (the mayor said no action was taken while in closed session), council members made public motions to terminate two employees for failure to follow policy; those motions were seconded and approved. The council also moved to hire a new employee (Thomas) at $25 per hour on a six‑month probation contingent on drug screening, and approved several hourly wage adjustments for staff reaching new steps in their job progression. The meeting concluded with a motion for adjournment.
The council did not take action on the distillery letter‑of‑support request at this meeting; that item remains open for follow up by staff and the applicant.
