Meeting: Council of Governments, a meeting of representatives from different bodies of government on the state and local level. Feb. 11, at Meridian Community College.



What Happened:



• State Rep. Greg Snowden (R – Meridian) briefed COG members on legislative goings-on:

• Snowden said that education will have a solid budget this year, but that he doesn’t believe the budget will be decided until after funds have been set for Medicaid. He said that schools which have lost students will also lose funding under the Mississippi Adequate Education Programs’ per-student funding formula

• Of the upcoming vote on raises for state elected officials, including legislators, which, if passed, would be implemented before the end of term, Snowden said he believes “Nobody will get a pay raise unless the Legislature gets one.” Snowden was speaking particularly of possible teacher pay-raises, and added that he does not support the pay-raise bill. He provided a detailed print-out of his own pay, which showed a gross total of $35,174.10 and a net total of $26,351.07. The pay was a combination of salary as a legislator, expenses and mileage.

• Lauderdale County District 1 Supervisor Hank Florey said the county has had a large number of qualified applicants from all over the country for the newly vacant county administrator position.

• Lauderdale County Superintendent of Schools Randy Hodges said that county schools are looking at the possibility of expanding their vocational curriculum, which they hope will include workforce training and dual credit programs with Meridian Community College.

• Lauderdale County District 3 Supervisor Craig Hitt gave a briefing on the board members’ visit to Washington, D.C., where he said they asked legislators to hurry up the process of building an interchange for the local industrial park.



Memorable moments:



• Marion Mayor Elvis Hudson said he hoped to see a resolution this year to the sewage dispute between the Town of Marion and the City of Meridian, to which Meridian City Coucilman Dr. George Thomas responded: “There’s a real easy way do that. Pay your bill. We’d love to give you a receipt tomorrow that says ‘Paid in Full.’” Hudson almost immediately excused himself from the meeting. The Town of Marion currently owes the City of Meridian more than $270,000 in back sewage fees, which they have unsuccessfully disputed in court.

• Meridian City Councilman Jesse E. Palmer, Sr. reported that he had seen a decrease in undergarments exposed by sagging trousers, which he credited to the cool weather. Palmer proposed a punishment system for young men who fail to pull their pants all the way up in which a first offense would warrant a night-time call to parents, and four repeat offenses would warrant five days of jail time and a $500 fine.



— By Jennifer Jacob

jjacob@themeridianstar