The Mayor called the first regular July 2006 meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen to order. Present were Mayor Gene F. McGee, Alderman Linda Davis, Alderman Gerald Steen, Alderman Ken Heard, Alderman Kevin Holder, Alderman Scott Jones, City Clerk David W. Overby, and City Attorney Jerry Mills. Aldermen Chuck Gautier and Larry Roberts were absent. The meeting opened with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance.

        The Mayor then recognized Charles Barnett, a Public Works employee, welcomed him home and commended him for his dedicated service to our country during his deployment to Iraq where he served as a part of Charlie Company 1/114 Field Artillery Mississippi National Guard.

        Next, the Mayor recognized and congratulated junior Bianca Knight of Ridgeland High School for being named the first-ever Gatorade National Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year in any sport from the state of Mississippi.

        The Mayor and Board of Aldermen were furnished copies of the minutes from the June 27, 2006 Architectural Review Board meeting ,a list of businesses located in the City and financial statements for the months of April and May.

        The first order of business was the matter of considering the minutes from the June 20, 2006 meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen. The minutes were accepted with no corrections.

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        There next came for consideration the matter of approving Change Order #1 and close out documents for the Library Re-Roof Project. Alderman Steen moved to approve said documents, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibit "A".

        The Motion was seconded by Alderman Holder and a vote was taken thereon as follows:

The Mayor then declared the Motion carried.

        There next came for consideration the matter of reviewing and approving a site plan for a proposed Trustmark National Bank at the intersection of Steed Road and Highland Colony Parkway. Alderman Steen moved to accept the recommendations of the Architectural Review Board and the Community Development Department and approve said site plan. Copies of the recommendations are attached hereto as Exhibit
"B".

        The Motion was seconded by Alderman Jones and a vote was taken thereon as follows:

The Mayor then declared the Motion carried.

        There next came for consideration the matter of reviewing and approving a site plan for the Simoda Building, an office building to be located on Trace Colony Park Drive, off Highland Colony Parkway. Alderman Jones moved to accept the recommendations of the Architectural Review Board and the Community Development Department and approve said plan. Copies of the recommendations are attached hereto as Exhibit "C".

        The Motion was seconded by Alderman Heard and a vote was taken thereon as follows:

The Mayor then declared the Motion carried.

        There next came for consideration the matter of an instrument from Township Land Company to abandon the present sewer easement in exchange for a new easement on a portion of the Purple Creek Sewer Interceptor. Alderman Davis moved to authorize the Mayor to execute the instrument which is to be recorded by the Grantor in the Chancery Clerk’s office in Canton and forwarded to the City of Ridgeland. Copies of documents related to this matter are attached hereto as Exhibit "D".

        The Motion was seconded by Alderman Holder and a vote was taken thereon as follows:

The Mayor then declared the Motion carried.

        There next came for consideration the matter of a request by the Police Chief for budget amendments to enable the purchase of new computers for Court Services. Alderman Steen moved to grant said request, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit "E".

        The Motion was seconded by Alderman Davis and a vote was taken thereon as follows:

The Mayor then declared the Motion carried.

        There next came for consideration the matter of a request by the Police Chief for a budget amendment to transfer certain funds to the Police Department’s Gas & Oil account. Alderman Steen moved to grant said request, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit "F".

        The Motion was seconded by Alderman Holder and a vote was taken thereon as follows:

The Mayor then declared the Motion carried.

        There next came for consideration the matter of a request by the Police Chief for a budget amendment to transfer a check in the amount of $19,566.83 made payable to the Ridgeland Police Department for reimbursement from the DUI officer under the Division of Public Safety Planning grant. Alderman Davis moved to grant said request, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit "G".

        The Motion was seconded by Alderman Jones and a vote was taken thereon as follows:

The Mayor then declared the Motion carried.

        There next came for consideration the matter of a request by the Public Works Director for authorization to re-bid an auxiliary generator for the Hardy Road well site in Madison County. Alderman Davis moved to grant said request, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit "H".

        The Motion was seconded by Alderman Heard and a vote was taken thereon as follows:

The Mayor then declared the Motion carried.

        There next came for consideration the matter of payment of claims. Alderman Jones moved that claim numbers 53987 through 54287 on claims docket dated July 5, 2006 be paid.

        The Motion was seconded by Alderman Steen and a vote was taken thereon as follows:

The Mayor then declared the Motion carried.

        There next came for consideration the matter of adopting an order reappointing Jerry L. Mills of the law firm Pyle, Mills & Dye, P.A. as City Attorney for the City of Ridgeland and the fixing of his compensation. Alderman Jones moved to adopt said order, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit "I".

        The Motion was seconded by Alderman Davis and a vote was taken thereon as follows:

The Mayor then declared the Motion carried.

        There next came for consideration the matter of entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Mississippi Transportation Commission acting by and through the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Transportation regarding the Lake Harbour Drive Extension project. Alderman Jones moved to authorize the Mayor to execute the MOU, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit "J".

        The Motion was seconded by Alderman Steen and a vote was taken thereon as follows:

The Mayor then declared the Motion carried.

        There next came for consideration the matter of a request by the Public Works Director for budget amendments to increase the Public Utilities Fund from $175, 000.00 to $220,000.00 and to reduce in line item 400-650-600 from $50,000.00 to $5,000.00.

        Alderman Davis moved to grant said request, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit "K".

        The Motion was seconded by Alderman Jones and a vote was taken thereon as follows:

The Mayor then declared the Motion carried.

        Alderman Steen moved that the meeting be closed to determine the necessity for an executive session.

        The Motion was seconded by Alderman Davis and a vote was taken thereon as follows:

The Mayor then declared the Motion carried.

        The meeting was closed and discussion followed regarding the necessity of going into executive session to discuss purchase of real property and potential litigation.

        Alderman Davis moved that the Mayor and Board of Aldermen go into executive session.

        The Motion was seconded by Alderman Holder and a vote was taken thereon as follows:

The Mayor then declared the Motion carried.

        The Mayor reopened the meeting and announced that, by unanimous vote, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen were going into executive session to discuss purchase of real property and potential litigation.

        The meeting was then closed and the Board went into executive session.

        After discussion, Alderman Davis moved to authorize the Mayor to negotiate up to the appraised value for properties located at 610 Mallett Street and 207 Holmes Street.

        The Motion was seconded by Alderman Steen and a vote was taken thereon as follows:

The Mayor then declared the Motion carried.

        Alderman Steen moved that the Board come out of executive session.

        The Motion was seconded by Alderman Jones and a vote was taken thereon as follows:

The Mayor then declared the Motion carried.

        The meeting was reopened, whereupon the Mayor informed the public of the action during executive session.

        There being no further business before the Mayor and Board of Aldermen the Mayor declared the regular meeting adjourned.

WITNESS MY SIGNATURE this the _________________day of

_____________________________

Gene F. McGee, Mayor

David W. Overby, City Clerk