City seeks $2.5M bond for paving, parks

By Leslie N. Dees

Sat, May 17 2008

— The Kosciusko Mayor and Board of Aldermen are seeking to pave roads and make improvements at the city parks through a $2.5 million bond issue.
During the Tuesday, March 18, meeting, aldermen Tim Kyle, John Sullivan, Martha Kate Lawrence and Robert Ellis approved to hire the law firms of Butler Snow in Jackson and Dorrill Pettit Crosby & White in Kosciusko to oversee the bonds and an intent resolution to advertise for a public hearing in May.
Alderman Henry Daniel, who opposed the two motions, said he felt like two of the city’s parks (Northside and Aponaug) were left out.
About $500,000, would be put into finishing the soccer complex at Hugh Ellard Park with lights and paving and resurfacing the tennis courts at Jason Niles Park.
Willie Alice “Pie” Kern, board member of Northside’s summer league baseball program, said it was unfair that Northside Park was not included in the bond issue.
Northside Park is currently getting a new baseball field with dugouts and lights.
Mayor Jimmy Cockroft said the City of Kosciusko and James Rasberry of Rasberry Construction would be honored with the Best H.O.M.E. Buyer Assistance Project by Governor's Community Projects of Excellence Awards Program.
Cockroft said that 60 houses have been built in the city with grant assistance.
The board approved the following:
– Bid from Pro-Fire Equipment to purchase the city’s 1987 Pierce fire engine for $10,250.
– Tax abatement for Dickerson Petroleum on their newly purchased property. Dickerson bought the old Atapco Building and plans to move their offices there in the future.
– Accept a bid from Waters Truck and Tractor to repair a trac hoe in the amount of $7,169.
– A three-year contract with Med-Stat Ambulance Services. The monthly fee will increase slightly in October.
– Thomas Auction to sell four pieces of equipment that are currently not used by the city and for them to be removed from inventory.
– A resolution commending Arthur Witt for his hard work and dedication. Witt is retiring from the City of Kosciusko.
– A resolution in support of Tennessee Valley Government’s 75th anniversary.
– Travel for Kosciusko Police Department’s Joe Fulton and Dirk Thayer for training.
– Hiring of Joe Wise to the grounds department and Dana Dickerson as the administrator of the multi-county tobacco prevention grant from Mississippi Department of Health. Larry Brice Cole was approved as a police officer. Cole, who will be sent to the Police Academy, will be replacing James Faulkner.
– Transfer cemetery grounds employee Terrance Fleming to the grounds department where he will lead a grass-cutting crew.
– Claims docket