Совет мэрии Меридиана утвердил новый протокол для контроля расходов на командировки

Meridian City Council approves new protocol for council travel Published 8:51 am Wednesday, August 12, 2026 During last week’s Meridian City Council meeting, the council members spent some time discussing a proposal from council member Elliot Brewer regarding the city council’s travel protocol. Council member Dwayne Davis asked what was considered travel? Was it local, in-state, out-of-state travel. Brewer said the purpose of the protocol is transparency. “Anytime we are utilizing travel funds…we need to propose that, we need to put it on a document,” Brewer said. “The whole purpose behind this is just to make sure we are watching all those dollars go out and making that we have some evidence to substantiate why we are utilize those dollars and doing the things we are doing.” Council member Romande Gail Walker asked for more clarification on the proposed protocol. Brewer said it covers anytime council members use funds in the travel budget. Davis made a motion to table the matter as he felt there wasn’t enough clarity on the issue. Walker seconded the motion, which failed 3-2, with only Davis and Walker voting for the matter. Brewer and council members Dustin Hill and Tracey Tims voted against the motion. Tims then read the proposed protocol, and Davis asked why the council was reinventing the wheel on the issue, as these items can already be placed on the claims docket. Ultimately a motion was made to approve the new protocol and the matter passed by a 4-1 vote, with Davis being the lone no vote. In other matters before the council, the council voted to approve: A resolution authorizing an ad valorem tax exemption for Magnolia Steel Company Inc. for five years Accepting fiscal year 2027 154 Alcohol Grant for $60,300.14 from the Mississippi Office of Highway Safety for additional officers to look for impaired drivers. Accepting fiscal year 2027 402 Police Traffic Services Grant for $15,000 from the Mississippi Office of Highway Safety for seatbelt safety enforcement. An order authorizing payment of penalties in the amount of $23,000 to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality assessed to the city from Jan. 1, through Dec. 31, 2025 for a sewer consent decree entered in 2019 for the sanitary sewer overflows. Meridian Public Works Director David Hodge said that since the consent decree the city has invested many millions in replacing and repairing sewer lines throughout the city. An order authorizing sole source of purchase for body cameras and tasers from Axon. Fire Chief Michael Evans said that the order would be for the purchase of body cameras and equipment for the city’s code enforcement officers and fire investigators.