“I guess we’ll get them some bikes to ride.”
That was the response from obviously frustrated Mayor Greg Graves after the Board of Aldermen chose to amend a six-year-old city policy for take-home vehicles in the Senatobia Police Department.
After several minutes of deliberation Tuesday, Sept. 16, aldermen unanimously agreed to change the guidelines requiring future officers to live inside a 25-mile radius to drive a police cruiser to their residence following a shift. The change does not affect current officers who are grandfathered in.
“The previous plan was put in place for a reason, and it worked,” Graves said. “Why change it?’
Discussions of altering the policy, which has been in place since June 2020 allowing officers to drive a police vehicle home up to 30 miles away, have dominated the last few city government meetings. Alderman Allen “Vashon” Tanksley, who has been adamant about funding cuts specifically in the police department, spearheaded the policy change while the city was preparing its budget for the 2026 fiscal year.
Interim police Chief Blake Warren said the take-home vehicle incentive was put in place by city leaders years ago to recruit and retain officers. He explained the current 24 officers who drive cruisers home are on 24-hour callout and only four of them reside 20 to 26 miles away from Senatobia.
“Senatobia ain’t that bad of a town. It’s not that terrible,” Tanksley interrupted. “I think it’s good, easy living around here in Senatobia myself.”
“Well, we’ve got good law…right now,” Alderman Kevin Dear responded.
Warren estimates the five-mile change in policy would save the city around $60 a month.
In Other Business
Alderman could not reach agreement on a pair of ordinances that have been under consideration and discussed over the last two months.
Senatobia Director of Operations Stephen Hodges told city leaders in August piles of unbagged clippings are washing from streets on city rights-of-way and clogging storm drains during downpours resulting in flooding in some areas. He suggested an ordinance requiring citizens to place clippings in clear bags before sitting them at the end of their yard.
“I went through neighborhoods and saw grass clippings all in the street and right on the edge of the street,” said Aldermen Chris McConnell. “We send our men out there and they try to get them up with a claw and end up shoveling them in 90-to-100-degree heat. I just think they ought to be bagged and that’s what I am asking for.”
But Aldermen Demetrius Garrett disagreed.
“I still think it’s the truck operator,” he countered. “I remember several years ago we never had a complaint on the claw truck about digging into yards or getting the grass up.”
McConnell said there are big divots where the claw truck has repeatedly scooped up clippings in the same spots leaving behind damaged asphalt resulting in crumbling streets. He said if bags aren’t wanted, something else to needs to done to prevent loose clippings being placed on streets.
“That’s what we pay city workers for,” Garrett responded. “Get out of the truck and stop being lazy. I have seen small piles where guys use the claw truck when it would have taken 20 seconds to get out and just throw them over. That’s just lazy.”
Garrett, who operates a lawn care business, said he isn’t against bagging clippings but it’s something the city should have investigated years ago instead of diving into it now and springing it on citizens.
“I still say it’s a lot to do with public works not caring,” Garrett added.
Aldermen agreed to table the discussion and revisit the issue another day.
City leaders also postponed talks regarding a proposed ordinance to fine anyone providing false information on Senatobia School District residency documents.
A state statute is currently in place resulting in a felony charge for offenders who lie to a government agency which carries a sentence of up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000. Aldermen had weeks to contemplate modifying that to a misdemeanor including a $500 fine and/or six months in jail which would be prosecuted in Senatobia Municipal Court.
There was not vote or movement on the motion after several minutes of additional discussion between aldermen. Mayor Graves suggested tabling it and conducting more research before making any decisions.
Aldermen approved the following business items:
• Minutes from the regular mayor and Board of Aldermen meeting Sept. 2.
• Minutes from the special mayor and Board of Aldermen meeting Sept. 9.
• Docket of claims numbers 40003-40145 for a total of $411,793.51.
• Brevin Holden to attend the MS Fire Investigators Association Fall Conference October 21-25, 2025, in Pearl and pay registration and travel expenses.
• City Clerk Katie Harbin and Deputy City Clerk Francis Johnson to attend the 2025 Winter Municipal Clerk Conference in Flowood Dec. 10-12 and pay registration and travel expenses.
• Community Development and Tourism Director Jamie Sowell to attend the MS Tourism Association Governor's Conference in Vicksburg Oct. 1-3 and pay registration and travel expenses.
• Community Development and Tourism Director Jamie Sowell to attend the MML Small Town Conference in Philadelphia Oct. 14-16 and pay registration and travel expenses.
• Promotion of Police Officer LaMorris Hampton to sergeant with pay increase.
• Promotion of Police Officer Hunter Foster to sergeant with pay increase
• Increase pay of firefighters Karm Herzallah, Anthony Saulsberry and Sam Suggs (entered incorrect amount on previous approval).
• Mayor Graves to sign Professional Services Agreement with Owensby Consultants, LLC, for grant writing services.
• Declare a white 2016 Ford F150 with VIN 1FTEW1C85GFB03630 surplus and transfer to Senatobia Fire & Rescue.
• Mayor Graves to sign order to condemn for properties on Scott Street for roundabout project.
• Public hearing for an application to rezone Woolfolk Subdivision – East of Woolfolk Road and North of White Oaks Estates – from AR to R-1 on Oct. 7.
