Bill Graham / The Meridian StarThe City of Meridian is looking at upgrading the lighting on 22nd Avenue. 

The Meridian City Council authorized LED street lighting upgrades to the city’s main entranceway during Tuesday’s regular meeting.

The upgrade is planned at the entranceway into the city on 22nd Avenue from the Interstate. The lighting will consist of 35 177-watt LED fixtures.

“This is going to change the face of our entranceway on 22nd Avenue. This is something Mayor (Percy) Bland has been working on for quite some time,” Meridian Chief Administrative Officer Richie McAlister said. “Mississippi Power has been a great community partner to help this happen.”

Initial cost of the lighting is $32,000. McAlister said the lights will be installed within two weeks.

“We will be working to improve lighting on the 22nd Avenue bridge to the Front Street intersection beside the future home of the Mississippi Arts & Entertainment Experience,” McAlister said.

In other business, the council amended a previous resolution and clarified the incentive program for the Meridian Fire Department. Employees previously had to hold an associates degree in Fire Science, but the amended policy opened it up to allow other associate degrees in order to receive incentives.

“This gives us the ability to offer incentives to firefighters to achieve higher levels of education outside of obtaining a fire science degree,”  McAlister said.

Council members also approved an upgrade to the city’s website by Leading Edges Advertising.     

“The new website will have an improved look and will be more inviting and easier to navigate,” Leading Edges managing partner Tony Pompelia said.

Pompelia said the public will have the ability to pay bills online.

The council also authorized submission of a grant application to GameTime for playground equipment. The equipment will go in James Chaney Park. The grant is for $25,000 and meets all ADA regulations.

A grant for $4,900 from the Bureau of Justice Assistance to purchase 7-10 bulletproof vests for the police department was approved. The city must pay $2,450. Individual vests cost $700.

A contract with Volkert Engineering Consultant for work on Highway 80 pedestrian improvements was approved. The grant from the Mississippi Department of Transportation for engineering work was $700,000. Work will include 1.2 miles of sidewalks and will be ADA accessible.

An order authorizing billets for the Parks and Recreation Department was approved. The department will also hire a director of operations, which includes a maintenance and facility manager. An athletic director will oversee new and additional programs as well as other Parks and Recreation opportunities offered such as tournaments and league play in sports offered.

Funding for the athletic director was approved at a base pay of $50,000 and includes benefits. 

The Community Development Department was also authorized to hire two additional building inspectors.

“They are needed to shorten the amount of time it takes to receive certificates of occupancy,” McAlister said.

Public Works was authorized to hire four new positions as part of preparation to answer EPA’s consent decree against the city. Positions include a maintenance manager, two closed circuit television operators and a Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) coordinator.   

The next regular council meeting is scheduled for Nov. 15.