The Columbia Board of Aldermen held a pair of board meetings in recent weeks, purchasing several needed items while discussing the upcoming fiscal year’s budget.
During its meeting July 15, the board approved a change order for the lift station project near Citizens Bank at the intersection of U.S. 98 and Lumberton Road. The change reduced the cost from $4.1 million to $3,849.866.77, a decrease of $138,127.23.
The board approved a contract modification with the MCWI grant program, reducing the current project cost by $348,979. This removes the metered service lines in the project that are in the Bunker Hill Water Association area. In a previous agreement with the city, the Bunker Hill Water Association agreed to sell some of its service area to the city. They have since decided not to sell the area. However, the city will still provide fire protection service lines to the area.
The board also approved the following:
- The purchase of a 2025 Ram 5500 crew cab truck to use while hauling limbs and debris
- The hire of a part-time police officer
- A pay increase for Lt. Jonathon Martin following the completion of training
- An enhanced training request for two police officers
- The purchase mobile hot spots for police units on a state contract
- A bid publication for a Main Street improvement project to address additional drainage concerns between Church Street and Dale Street
To conclude the meeting, the board also heard from Kenneth Owens about flash flooding on a property he owns located on Jim’s Road and from the Columbia-Marion County Public Library about its proposed 2025-2026 budget.
During a special called meeting July 24, the board discussed is upcoming budget while also approving bids for a new street sweeper and an excavator.
The city received two bids for a street sweeper, and Municipal Equipment, Inc. had the winning bad at $309,000. The city is expected to have the sweeper by the end of the month.
The excavator is a Bobcat E88 from Equipment, Inc., who had the winning bid.
While discussing the budget, the board heard from several department heads about their individual department needs with each being concerned about staying competitive when it comes to paying employees.
Mayor Justin McKenzie reported that the Columbia Police Department, Columbia Fire Department and the street, sanitation, cemetery and building departments have been tasked with comparing the pay rates with surrounding agencies based on comparable job requirements and tasks. McKenzie said the cost of everything has risen over the past three years and the city has maintained its duties while cutting everywhere it could in a concerted effort to not raise taxes.
“Our performance levels have improved,” the mayor stated. “The fire department has increased/improved training, response and reduced the fire rating comparable with some of the best cities in our state.
“The police department has shown improvement, reducing the turnover rate (and incorporating) additional advanced training for administrators, investigators and patrol. (It) added a K-9 unit and began working old cases, resolving some of them already. A good job performance should be rewarded.
“While we have to continue improving our fleet of patrol cars, safety equipment, firefighting gear and equipment to provide services to our residents, the board and I agreed to look into the department administrators’ concerns and try to best meet the needs of our city and its citizens responsibly. We want to be competitive with other agencies and similar jobs. This will help us retain and potentially attract good employees.”
The 94th Annual Summer Mississippi Municipal League Conference was held from July 21 to July 24, bringing about some change for McKenzie. He stepped down from president of the Pine Belt Mayors Association, choosing not to seek reelection, but will now serve as first vice president. He was also appointed to serve on the Mississippi Municipal Workers Compensation Group Board of Directors and will continue to serve on the Mississippi Municipal League’s Board of Directors.
Mayor Angie Ladner of Bassfield was elected president of the Pine Belt Mayors Association to replace McKenzie.
