ELLISVILLE - The Ellisville Board of Aldermen and Mayor Lynn Buckhaults have operated with limited agendas on Tuesday evenings recently as officials work to handle essential items during the coronavirus pandemic.
At their April 21 meeting, the board agreed to authorize the mayor to utilize the city clerk to perform administrative functions normally performed by the Jones County WIN Job Center in the event the governor declares an emergency, and the WIN Job Center is closed. City officials said they normally go through the WIN Job Center in Laurel to handle the hiring of new employees. However, because of the COVID-19, the agency has not been available to assist with this procedure. The authorization will allow the city to handle its hiring process even in emergency situations.
Then, during its last meeting Tuesday night (May 5), the board addressed some personnel matters for the Ellisville Police Department. Police Chief Bruce Russell requested the board’s approval to accept the resignation of Derrick Smith to be effective May 7. Also, the city leaders agreed to hire two police officers, Jeremie Ezell and Jamie Hopkins, on a six month probationary period at an annual salary of $33,567, after they complete one year following the police academy.
In other business this week, the board approved the resignation of Brooke Wildman, a clerk in the city’s Water Department, with her resignation to be effective May 8.
The board also discussed door hangers for reminders for those who have not paid their water bill since February, due to suspension of cutoffs for 60 days due to COVID-19.
In other business, the group agreed to approve the city advertising for Ellisville’ Miss Hospitality for $350. Also, Mayor Buckhaults praised city workers for their assistance with neighboring areas affected by storms. The mayor said he has received positive correspondences from the town of Soso regarding the assistance that the city of Ellisville’s employees provided to the area following the Easter tornado.
“We were just being neighborly,” the mayor said. “They needed some assistance and we just allowed our employees to help out, and they appreciated it.”