City Beat: Mayor, Alderman meeting for October 7, 2024

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

The Pelahatchie Mayor and Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting on Monday, October 7, at Town Hall. Mayor Karl VanHorn called the meeting to order, with Scott May with SSM Builders leading the prayer 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: 
1. Scott May of S & S Builders of MS (SSM) requested preliminary plat approval for a 45-home neighborhood at 607 College Street in downtown Pelahatchie. He emphasized the need for more homes to keep local families and requested the board’s support to move forward with engineering studies. The proposed development includes 45 lots on 18.35 acres, with homes ranging from 1,650 to 2,000 square feet. Concerns were raised about traffic, watershed impact, and the smaller home sizes. May noted that his proposal exceeds the town’s current R1 zoning requirements. Alderman Jones made a motion to table the decision until the next board meeting and Alderman Harrell seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried.
2. Joe Lane Kelly, owner of Fairway Foods, addressed the board requesting the removal of the old NAPA building from the Heritage District for remodeling into a liquor store. He argued that the store would generate additional tax revenue for Pelahatchie. However, Mayor VanHorn reminded him that the newly passed liquor ordinance permits only one liquor store per three square miles in town. Kelly pointed out that with Pelahatchie’s total area of 5.9 square miles, the ordinance could allow for two stores since it does not specify that they must be three miles apart. The board discussed potential changes to this “three-mile rule,” but VanHorn cautioned against altering the ordinance too broadly. He noted that approximately five individuals have expressed interest in opening liquor stores. Alderwoman Hill asked about the selection process, while Alderman Jones motioned to table the discussion for further consideration, which was seconded by Alderman Harrell and unanimously approved.
3. Renee Buyner was scheduled to speak about a nuisance issue, but she was not in attendance.
4. The fourth and final visitor was Chris Watkins, who came before the board to get approval to open his liquor store, American Spirits, at the old hair salon building located at 309 Second Street. He stated he did not live in Pelahatchie, that he had opened a bank account at one of the town’s  local banks, and that he intended to fully pave his liquor store’s parking lot. He says remodeling construction on the building was started about a year ago and was about 90% complete and if approved it would open in a week or two. He said he already started his ABC application, and his building meets ordinance regulations. He said he opposed another liquor store being opened so close to his store. Alderman Jones made a motion to approve the liquor store as conditional use and Alderman Hill seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried.

Department Discussions:
Pelahatchie Chief of Police Robert MaHaffey asked for the board to approve three donated government vehicles (from the Gaming Commission) to the town of Pelahatchie and Pelahatchie Police Department inventory (which were three 2008 Chevrolet Impalas). One vehicle would be used as a Pelahatchie PD vehicle, one as a Pelahatchie PD backup vehicle, and one marked as a Town of Pelahatchie administrative vehicle. Alderman Jones made a motion to approve. Alderman Hill seconded the motion, and the motion carried. 

There were no discussion items from the maintenance, clerk, or zoning departments.

New Business:
1. Approval of the minutes from the September 3, 2024 regular board meeting. Alderman Harrell made a motion to approve. Alderman Hill seconded. The motion passed with all in favor.
2. Approval of the unpaid claims docket. Alderman Jones made a motion to approve, and Alderwoman Harrell seconded the motion. All voted aye and the motion carried.
3. Approval of a $1,044.70 payment to Morgan and White Insurance. Alderman Jones made a motion to approve, and Alderman Harrell seconded the motion. The motion passed with all in favor.
4. Approval of an $8,010.76 payment to Blue Cross Insurance. Alderwoman Warren made a motion to approve, and Alderman Jones seconded the motion. The motion passed with all in favor.
5. Approval and ratification of payment of payroll for September 2024 with $70,724.03 from the General Fund and $26,352.25 from the Enterprise Fund. Alderman made a motion to approve, and Alderman Harrell seconded the motion. The motion passed with all in favor.
6. Discuss, consider, and vote to amend the 2023 fiscal year budget to actual. Alderman Jones made the motion the approve the motion, Alderman Harrell seconded the motion, and the motion carried.

Executive Session: 
Pelahatchie Chief of Police Robert MaHaffey asked the board to enter an executive session to deal with a Pelahatchie Police Department personnel matter. Alderman Jones made a motion to enter executive session, and Harrell seconded the motion; the motion carried. The mayor, all five aldermen, the city attorney, and the police chief all entered a secured back room where no one else was allowed in at 6:47 p.m. City Attorney Kimberly Banks made announcement of the executive session at 6:48 p.m. Everyone returned into the meeting room at 6:52 PM and the meeting continued.

Alderman and Mayor Discussions:
Alderman Jones said he had heard complaints about the spur at the Brooks Street railroad crossing. A railroad crossing spur is a stub track that branches off from a main track to provide access to commercial or industrial areas. Jones also mentioned that ERCO was still needing donations to carry supplies to storm victims in North Carolina. Mayor VanHorn asked for a motion for approving compliances and Alderman Jones made the motion. Alderwoman Hill seconded the motion, and the motion carried. The mayor also asked for motion to rezone Kenneth Martin’s property from residential to commercial, because the property is currently landlocked. Alderman Jones made the motion, Alderwoman Hill seconded the motion and the motion carried. Mayor VanHorn then asked for a motion to give the development ordinance more clarity on what steps to take to develop anything with developers, but the motion was tabled, and the board meeting was concluded.