Meadville appealing NRCS denial of ditch help

Meadville is expected to appeal a decision by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to reject federal assistance in regards to an erosion problem near Pineview Street.

Mayor Lane B. Reed characterized the matter as one of paramount importance because of the threat such continued erosion poses to nearby property and infrastructure.

“I vehemently disagree with (the NRCS decision) for the fact that we have poured rocks, gravel and anything else we can get in there to slow down the erosion,” Reed said during the Tuesday, Dec. 14 meeting of the Meadville Board of Aldermen.

“I have written a letter asking for NRCS to send whoever their appropriate engineer is to take another look at the situation and give us a statement that this is an active erosion problem so we can appeal that initial decision.”

Reed said the town is left with little option but to appeal because he fears some future severe weather event could have the potential to “blow out” the entire ditch located not far from resident Bo Fleming’s house.

“I don’t mind telling you that the NRCS decision is frustrating because we have the potential to eliminate a problem before it can become an even bigger problem and do some significant damage to town infrastructure,” Reed said.

The mayor said he anticipated a visit by another NRCS representative to look at the area in question on Wednesday, Dec. 15 and hoped to get some better news in early 2022.

In other action during the session, the Meadville Board of Aldermen:

• Discussed the town’s inland marine insurance policy coverage, which is expected to be higher than what the municipality had budgeted in its fiscal year 2022 spending plan.

Town Clerk Leslie Thompson said the town usually pays about $978 for such coverage, and this year’s cost will likely grow by about another $1,000.

The coverage addresses things like the town’s 2021 model backhoe, Generac generator and trailer, Kubota tractor, mobile light stand and pipe-cleaning jetter unit.

“The inland marine policy covers this kind of equipment, and the clerk and I are looking for ways to pay for it,” Reed said.

The mayor indicated aldermen could potentially amend the town’s budget at a later date to deal with any increase in coverage costs, and characterized the policy as a must for the town to maintain.

Alderman Bart Jones said he believed the municipality needed the coverage in light of any potential situation that could result in the damage to or destruction of town equipment.

• Approved agreements with BBI for technology software and hardware services for the new calendar year.

The company provides comprehensive support for the town’s payroll and water-sewer billing software and computer systems.

• Formally announced the 2021 Meadville Christmas parade display winners — Franklin Telephone Co., third place; Farm Bureau Insurance, second place; Touch of Eden salon, first place; Bank of Franklin, grand prize.

Rich Scott and 6-year-old Max Scott represented the Bank of Franklin in accepting a certificate from Reed during the meeting.

• Authorized seeking bids for the disposal of a town-owned copy machine, which was declared as surplus property.

• Declared desktop computers from town hall — previously used for water system billing — as surplus property as they have been replaced with new, more modern equipment.

For security reasons, Thompson indicated the hard drives would be removed from the old computers after any information on them has been backed up.

• Spread upon the minutes the acceptance of certificates for advanced board management training for Reed and Alderman and Mayor Pro Tempore Charles Calcote and court clerk training for Thompson.

• Heard a report from Reed on the town’s outstanding infrastructure indebtedness as of Nov. 30, which includes a $15,543.55 balance on a Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality sewer loan and $77,332.55 remaining on a USDA water tank loan.