Loans – Aberdeen board of aldermen discusses UDAG loans | Information
ABERDEEN – A reoccurring matter of Nov. 17’s board of aldermen assembly was town’s City Improvement Help Grant (UDAG) program, which started with no motion taken on an utility by Tony Rodgers for $35,000.
This system is meant to offer monetary help for native enterprise startups and expansions.
Ward Four Alderwoman Carolyn Odom requested if there was collateral included in Rodgers’ utility, which she hadn’t seen.
Mayor Maurice Howard mentioned he had the applying in his workplace and collateral was included.
“Mayor, that’s the problem. You always have everything, but we have no knowledge of anything,” Odom mentioned.
Howard mentioned board members knew the merchandise was going to be on the agenda for the reason that earlier Thursday and nobody requested to see the applying.
“We have done this numerous occasions. You approve it contingent on the proof of collateral, and this is what we were expecting to do – the same thing tonight. I’m not going to force it. I’m not going to argue about it, we’re just going to move on,” Howard mentioned.
Later within the assembly, Ward Three Alderman Edward Haynes offered an up to date UDAG request type, which is extra thorough in addressing questions and explaining collateral than the shape town has used. Board members have been favorable of the brand new format.
Howard revisited UDAG dialogue throughout his enter.
“I definitely appreciate the tightening down on the UDAG procedure but I will say we definitely have to create more structure on how we issue these out,” he mentioned.
He mentioned one applicant submitted her request early on for $10,000 for movie tools, however the utility hasn’t been addressed by the board.
“I’m just thinking back to past history when we’ve given $25,000, $45,000, $50,000 and what they put up for collateral was, take beauty equipment like dryers; I’m sorry, but they aren’t worth anything after they’ve been used. We have to pay attention. This is not just free money,” Odom mentioned.
“Actually it is. I’m just being honest. We didn’t have to pay any of the money back. It was a grant,” Howard mentioned.
Odom mentioned she doesn’t need the phrase on the road to be that town is making a gift of free cash.
It was famous throughout the assembly that interviews will start this week for the Aberdeen Electrical Division basic supervisor place.
An agenda merchandise final week was a budgeted $29,465 automobile buy for the water division and a $4,500 annual lease-purchase for a mayor’s automobile. Howard famous an annual $5,000 is budgeted in the direction of his automobile.
Odom and Ward 5 Alderman John Allen requested for the 2 objects to be separated, which Howard refused at first. After dialogue throughout the desk with Ward 2 Alderwoman Woman B. Garth, he break up them into two motions.
Ward 1 Alderman Nicholas made a movement for the mayor’s automobile, however it died because of an absence of a second. The water division automobile was authorized 5-0.
“You have a problem every week approving my mileage but yet you don’t want to purchase a city vehicle that’s in the budget. What do we do about that?,” Howard requested, however he didn’t get a solution from the board.
In different enterprise, the board authorized to promote for bids on two city-owned parcels in Ward 3. Haynes mentioned a resident alongside Glenn Circle has been sustaining the parcels, and she or he requested concerning the correct process of buying them.
Aldermen employed Brenda Wilson as a part-time dispatcher for the Aberdeen Police Division with Odom and Allen voting towards. Each of them mentioned they by no means noticed the job utility.
Jack Hamilton requested for town’s help in repairing three monuments on the Previous Aberdeen Cemetery, which was granted.
Aberdeen Guests Bureau Director Tina Robbins up to date the board on how funds obtained by means of the Tourism Restoration Fund are being spent to advertise town. Along with advertisements in nationwide magazines, Aberdeen shall be featured on digital billboards in Meridian; Tupelo; Corinth; Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Florence, Alabama; and Jackson, Tennessee. A movie manufacturing crew was additionally on the town final week to movie advertising movies for Aberdeen.
She additionally requested for permission to bolt data kiosks for town’s restaurant and service provider guides, which will be up to date. She was granted the okay for areas close to Metropolis Corridor; the intersection of Commerce and Meridian streets; and the Cooperwood constructing, close to the intersection of Commerce and Maple streets.
Haynes mentioned he needs the board to speak to Lisa Clever, who runs a canine rescue, once more on the subsequent board assembly following 9 calls he’d obtained from neighbors within the space in earlier days. She and her supporters appeared earlier than the board Nov. Three following aldermen dialogue in October about complaints.
He mentioned after strolling down the road in entrance of her home, he didn’t really feel snug about among the canine.
“If she’s going to rescue those dogs, I need to rescue those neighbors who are complaining about the noise level,” Haynes mentioned.
Howard mentioned the board had a dialog concerning the metropolis letting Clever use its services. Haynes hopes the board and Clever can discover a decision on the neighbors’ complaints.
“Remember last time [animal control officer] Pedro [Clay] said we didn’t have anything in the paperwork saying you’d can’t have a certain amount of dogs on your property. We also need to make sure we stay legal in the decision we make,” Holliday mentioned.
Additionally throughout his enter, Haynes complimented division heads on working to lower time beyond regulation hours.
Holliday handed alongside the message that if any aged folks all through the city must be checked in on throughout the winter months to name Metropolis Corridor, the police division or him personally.
