A boost in wages for a group of Senatobia Public Works employees and a street improvement continuation plan were approved at a Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday, March 4.
Multiple employees in Senatobia Public Works, including all street department employees, are receiving a raise from $13 to $15 an hour effectively immediately after Ward 3 Alderman Allen “Vashon” Tanksley voiced his support during executive session.
“We need to take care of the people who take care of us and our city,” Tanksley said. “This is our way of showing appreciation for the work they do each day rain or shine.”
Mayor Greg Graves said the raises, which aldermen passed unanimously, are “budget friendly” since one full-time position was recently eliminated in the street department, opening the door to rewarding other employees.
Aldermen agreed the raises are necessary for better employee retention, improving morale and luring potential new employees to the public works department.
Several streets in Senatobia are on an updated list for repairs after Greg Smith from Mendrop Engineering informed aldermen in February approximately $800,000 remains in the budget to complete a project which began in October 2023. That’s when aldermen submitted their original lists for streets in dire need of attention.
A new plan includes repairs to several streets around Senatobia that were missed during the initial round of the project.
The list includes:
Ward 1 – Brewer Drive and Brookside Drive
Ward 2 – Beech Court, Lafayette Street, Tate Street from Heard west to railroad tracks, Heard from Norfleet Drive to Lafayette Street and the intersection of McKie and Robinson Streets
Ward 3 – Scottsdale Street, Penny Cove, Shaker Drive from Southfork Drive to cove and North Marvin Street
Ward 4 – Claire Cove, Miracle Drive from Annandale to Highway 51 and Joseph Drive from Annandale to Highway 51
City leaders also pointed out Camille Street from West Main to Strayhorn Street and the west side of Terry Lane off Brownsferry Road are areas that need attention as well if the budget allows for it.
Aldermen authorized the following items on the consent agenda:
• Minutes from the regular mayor and Board of Aldermen meeting Feb. 18.
• Minutes from the special mayor and Board of Aldermen meeting Feb. 27.
• Docket of claims numbers: 37512-37667 for $5,260,014.30.
• Firefighter Michael Presley to attend 1001/1002 firefighter training at MSFA in Pearl, Feb. 23-April 11 and pay registration and travel expenses.
• Firefighter Bedford Hunt to attend Surface and Swiftwater Rescue Technician at MSFA in Pearl and Columbus Ga., May 5-15 and pay travel expenses (registration is paid
through MS Task force).
• Firefighter Rhett Gilder to attend Rope Rescue Tech at MSFA in Pearl June 9-13
and pay travel expenses (registration is paid through MS Task Force).
• Firefighter Bo Payne to attend Rope Rescue Tech at MSFA in Pearl July 28-Aug 1
and pay travel expenses (registration is paid through MS Task Force).
• Firefighter Ellis Brown to attend Rope Rescue Tech at MSFA in Pearl Aug 18-22 and
pay travel expenses (registration is paid through MS Task Force).
• Captain Travis McDonald to attend HazMat Incident Commander at MSFA in Pearl Aug 25-29 and pay registration and travel expenses.
• Fire Inspector Brevin Holden to attend 2025 MS Fire Investigators Association Spring
Conference in Biloxi March 25-28 and pay registration and travel expenses.
• Evidence Tech Haleigh Liddel to attend Crime Scene Investigations Class in Cullman, Ala., April 7-11 and pay registration and travel expenses.
• Hire Alex Cleavin as a full-time uncertified police officer at P1 rate pending background and physical results.
• Hire Hunter Foster as a full-time certified police officer at P4 rate pending background
and physical results.
• Raises for public works water/sewer employees Bodie Locke and Chris Bradshaw.
• Raises for public works street employees Bernart Taylor and Ricco Orange.
• Raise for public works gas employee Eddie Chambers.
• Raise for public works administrative assistant Karah Knight.
• Terminate employment of public works meter reader for no call/no show.
• Raises for concession stand assistant managers Lucia Booker and Galiea Murguia.
• Mayor Greg Graves to sign agreement with National Water Services for preventative well maintenance for renewal fee of $5,400.
• Mayor Graves to sign documents renewing MOU with Mississippi Wireless Communication Commission.
• Revised site plan for convenience store at Shands Bottom Road/ 740 Interchange.
• One-lot subdivision with 20-foot utility easement final plat for convenience store at Shands Bottom Road/ 740 Interchange.
• City application for FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant number DHS-24-MT-047-00-98 (75/25).
• Declare police unit 916, a 2016 Ford Expedition with VIN 1FM5K8AR0GGA86774, as surplus and dispose of.
• Lowest and best quote of $12,000 from Ladd’s to purchase two used 2022 Club
Car Precedent golf carts for use at BankFirst Yards Sportsplex.
