City Beat: Mayor, Alderman meeting for September 23, 2024

By Shaun McInnish, Sr., City Beat Writer, Pelahatchie News

The Pelahatchie Mayor and Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at 6:00 P.M. at Town Hall. Mayor Karl VanHorn called the meeting to order, with Alderman Eddie Jones leading the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance. All board members were present, including Alderwoman Diane Hill, Alderwoman Sandra Harvey, Alderwoman Margie Warren, Alderman Eddie Jones, and Alderman James Harrell.

Residents and Visitors’ Business: 
Although Burt Dupree of Heslep Street was scheduled to speak, he did not attend the meeting.

Department Discussions: 
Reports from the Police, Maintenance, Clerk, and Zoning departments were briefly mentioned, but there were no major updates. The police chief was not present for the meeting.

New Business:
1. Approval of the minutes from the August 5, 2024, regular board meeting. Alderwoman Warren made a motion to approve. Alderman Jones seconded. The motion passed with all in favor.
2. Approval of the minutes from a special board meeting held on Tuesday, August 27, 2024. (Editor’s Note: At this special meeting, the board granted St. Luke’s Church a conditional use permit, allowing them to expand their property with the addition of a new cemetery and approved the town’s 2024 budget. The budget is now available for public viewing at both Pelahatchie City Hall and the Pelahatchie Police Department). Alderman Jones made a motion to approve, and Alderwoman Warren seconded the motion. The motion passed with all in favor.
3. Approval of the unpaid claims docket. Alderman Jones made a motion to approve, and Alderwoman Warren seconded the motion. All voted aye, except Alderwomen Harvey and Hill. The motion passed, 3-2.
4. Approval of a $989.20 payment to Morgan and White Insurance. Alderwoman Warren made a motion to approve, and Alderwoman Hill seconded the motion. The motion passed with all in favor.
5. Approval of an $8,017.57 payment to Blue Cross Insurance. Alderman Jones made a motion to approve, and Alderwoman Warren seconded the motion. The motion passed with all in favor.
6. Approval of a $6,536.27 payment to EMC Insurance for the town’s property coverage. Alderwoman Warren made a motion to approve, and Alderman Jones seconded the motion. The motion passed with all in favor.
7. Approval and ratification of the August 2024 payroll, including $63,603.29 from the General Fund and $24,664.98 from the Enterprise Fund. Alderman Jones made a motion to approve, and Alderwoman Warren seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-2.

Liquor Ordinance: 
Mayor VanHorn asked for a motion to amend the meeting agenda to allow for the board to vote on an ordinance that would allow liquor sales in the town of Pelahatchie. Alderman Jones then made a motion to allow amendment of the meeting agenda, and it was seconded by Alderwoman Warren. The ordinance was then voted on and passed 4-1, with Alderwoman Harvey being the only opposing vote. In the ordinance, Mayor VanHorn said that special zoning rules will apply to the town’s new liquor ordinance, limiting where liquor stores can be in town (liquor stores will have to be in standalone buildings and liquor cannot be sold in gas stations or grocery stores in town). Mayor VanHorn said he worked closely with state officials and Senator Celeste Hurst and Representative Brian Rhodes on this issue, and it has been in the works for over two years. The mayor added that anyone interested in opening a liquor store in Pelahatchie should apply through the state of Mississippi for a liquor license and then apply before the Pelahatchie Board of Alderman for business license and for location approval. Mayor VanHorn said all steps are listed in the actual ordinance itself.

Final discussions:
Alderwoman Hill commented on better ways to communicate the dates of town board meetings (like using a mobile application), Alderwoman Harvey asked about a second bush hog attachment, and Alderwoman Warren and Aldermen Jones and Harrell had no further comments.

Mayor VanHorn reminded attendees that the tax levies would remain unchanged from the previous year. He also encouraged everyone to attend Pelahtachie’s upcoming Muscadine Jubilee on Saturday, September 14, at Muscadine Park. He reminded everyone that the event will begin at 10:00 A.M. and feature live entertainment, food, and vendors.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.