The Laurel City Council had several presentations and approved some resolutions this week regarding operations in the City of Laurel.

With a 6-0 vote (Councilman Stacy Comegys was absent); the council approved an agreement between the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the City of Laurel for the acceptance of over $400,0000 in county and municipality emergency relief funds in connection with COVID-19.

With no discussion, the council also adopted an order stating that the City of Laurel was allocated an appropriation of funds for $434,243.69 from the County and Municipality Emergency Relief Funds as a result of COVID-19.

The city applied for these funds and recently received notice that their application for funds has been approved. Mayor Johnny Magee said the money is designed to cover a portion of the city’s expenses for public service salaries during the onset of COVID-19.

“It’s about 40 percent of the cost of the salaries for our police, fire and public service,” the mayor explained. “This is just designed to help the city cover some of the costs incurred due to this virus.”

As a result of the approved agreement, the City of Laurel authorized the city to enter into an agreement with MEMA. Additionally, Mayor Johnny Magee has been authorized to sign the agreement.

The council also ordered the city’s finance director to make all necessary budget amendments to the FY 2021 Budget.

Judi Holifield, executive director of Laurel Main Street, was among the numerous people who updated the Laurel City Council on things happening in the City Beautiful during the council’s meeting at Laurel City Hall.

Also during Tuesday’s meeting, the council conducted public hearings for four pieces of properties in the city to determine whether or not the properties are in such a state of uncleanliness to be a menace to the public health and safety of the community.

Following a presentation from city inspectors, the council voted to proceed with cleaning the following properties:

• Property is located at 2103 Center Avenue belonging to Romas Revell McLain. The property is in Ward Seven.

•Property at 923 Jeffery Drive belonging to Kaul Arvinder. The property is in Ward Three.

In other business, the council set November 3, 2020, as the public hearing date for 13 pieces of properties in the city to determine whether or not the properties are in such a state of uncleanliness to be a menace to the public health and safety of the community.

Public hearings were set to determine “overgrown property status” for:

• Property belonging to Eric Damond Johnson at 16 Marion Drive in Ward Seven.

• Property belonging to Christopher Welch at 2619 North Seventh Avenue in Ward Three.

• Property belonging to Clay Milsap at 2215 North Third Avenue Drive in Ward Four.

• Property belonging to Henry Heidelberg at 1728 N. Joe Wheeler Avenue in Ward Four.

• Property belonging to Annie Moore at 704 East Elmo Street in Ward Four.

• Property belonging to Sam Jackson at 708 E. Elmo Street in Ward Four.

• Property belonging to Vincent H and Sylvester Witherspoon at 1234 South 17th Avenue in Ward One.

• Property belonging to Andrew W. Ishee at 1111 South 17th Avenue in Ward One.

• Property belonging to Faye Cutchens Trustee at 811 West Drive in Ward One.

• Property belonging to Barbara L. Johnson at 1420 Margaret Drive in Ward Seven.

• Property belonging to Rossie Amos McCormick at Capitol Street and Palmer Avenue in Ward Seven.

• Property belonging to Pearline S. Anderson at 1153 Capitol Street in Ward Seven.

• Property belonging to Selvin Cox at 263 Palmer Avenue in Ward Seven.

The council also approved four lot cleaning assessments and approved an application for tax exemption on ad valorem for Dunn Roadbuilders, LLC.

The council also adopted an order establishing a policy that would allow the city to collect 9.42 mils from any requested tax exemption.

In a separate matter, the council also voted to authorize payment to McLaurin Carpets for the purchase and installation of carpet at City Hall. According to the council order, the cost of the project was $27,412.11.

The city board also received several updates from city groups and entities and the council agreed to close out two city projects, the 5th Avenue and 13th Avenue Utility Improvements Project and the Jefferson Street Road Diet and Pedestrian Improvements Project.