Aldermen reappoint attorney, city clerk

The new Mayor and Board of Aldermen voted to retain department heads during their first meeting of the new term last week.

Aldermen voted to retain Robert Thomas as city attorney, Nikki Walton as city clerk and Amy Taylor as city judge.

Remaining as department heads are: Eric Lyons, police chief; Pierce Clark, fire chief; Jay Eakes, building inspector; Rex Sable, streets; Larry McKinney, cemetery; Kevin Wilson, animal control; and, Marilyn Jackson, court clerk. 

Thurman Chunn is working part-time out of retirement directing sanitation department and landfill. That full-time position is open.

The board also voted to retain all current city employees.

Mayor James Young selected Ward 2 Alderman Jim Fulton to serve as mayor pro tempore. He appointed alderman Ward 3 Alderman James Tatum to serve as Streets Commissioner. The board approved both selections.

In other matters, aldermen voted to:

• Approve for the mayor and aldermen to attend MML conference on the Mississippi Gulf Coast July 26-28. The city will pay for registration and travel expenses;

• Approve the payment of $2,597 to Gilmer Electric for work on the Viking Metals project;

• Approve setting a public hearing date for Aug. 3 for rezoning of the property at 620 Columbus Ave. from R1 to R4.;

• Approve hiring Justin Wyatt as patrolman 1st class for the police department. His starting pay is $14.88 an hour; 

• Approve a pay increase for firefighter Scott Clark to $14.88 an hour