The Columbus City Council Tuesday tabled a request to purchase new software for Columbus and Lowndes County E911 operations.
The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors Monday approved a request to purchase the software, with costs to evenly be split between the city and county, pending approval by the City Council.
But, in a 5 to 1 vote, the council approved Ward 5 Councilman Kabir Karriem”s motion to table the matter, pending identification of a funding source; Ward 3 Councilman Charlie Box voted against the motion to table the request.
The software currently in use was given to the city in 2004, noted Columbus Fire Chief Ken Moore, who serves on the E911 board of directors, but has never been upgraded and E911 has no maintenance agreement for the software.
“If the software goes down, they”re going to be using pads and pencils to take E911 calls,” said Mike Bernsen, the city”s chief financial officer, who acknowledged the city has not budgeted for the new software costs, the initial outlay of which would be $18,500. “That”s a scary situation; I don”t see we have any way around (getting new software).”
“I understand it”s a necessity, but we can”t keep amending the budget,” said Columbus Mayor Robert Smith, suggesting the city “hope for the best” and prolong the purchase until the new fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.
“We found (the money) for everything else we wanted to do,” said Box, encouraging the council to approve the purchase. “This is a safety issue.”
“The (existing) software is running, but I can”t promise what it”s going to do tomorrow,” said Moore. “(In the last two years,) several storms have come through and we”ve had to use pen and paper (to record calls).”
Billingsley Monday told the supervisors the software company agreed to spread payment of the software over a three-year period, beginning in the next fiscal year.
Additionally, he reported the software is expected to cost $110,000 total, to be evenly split between the city and county over the three year period, but the city”s chief administrative officer, David Armstrong, Tuesday noted “new numbers” suggest a lower cost would be assessed.
In addition to the larger purchase, the city and county evenly would split about $36,000 in other related costs.
In other matters, the council Tuesday:
n Voted to declare surplus and donate property to the Columbus Cultural Heritage Foundation.
The property, located off Main Street between Rex”s Rentals and the Tennessee Williams Welcome Center, is to be used for an art park; construction on the park must begin within two years or the property reverts back to the city.
Attorney David Sanders, a member of the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau board of directors, noted the park likely would feature at least one fountain and statues of Columbus residents, “who achieved notoriety,” like Eudora Welty, Tennessee Williams, Red Barber and others.
“We”ve been working on this a long time,” he said, adding the park would “create a gateway to the City of Columbus and Lowndes County.” “(It would be) a green space to enhance the gateway.”
The CVB took proposals from several architectural firms and the architecture department at Mississippi State University and expects to choose between two Columbus firms within a month.
“It”ll be a great addition to Columbus,” Sanders said of the park, noting the CVB is “committed to developing” and funding the park. “We think it”ll really enhance downtown Columbus.”
n Was reminded of the 2010 Grilling On the River championship barbecue contest, to be held April 9 and 10 on the Columbus Riverwalk, near Ruben”s Fish House.
Organizer Harvey Myrick said 50 to 60 teams, from many different states, are expected to compete in the event, the winner of which will cook in a national contest later this year.
Additionally, Mississippi products, like sweet potatoes and farm-raised catfish, will be promoted at the event.
n Was reminded volunteers Saturday will be working to clean the Friendly City.
Link”d Young Professionals and Keep America Beautiful are teaming up with the Columbus City Council, area businesses and organizations for an all-day clean-up of Columbus and Lowndes County.
The event begins at 9 a.m. March 20 at the Hitching Lot Farmers Market, in downtown Columbus, where team leaders for groups of volunteers will get items for picking up litter, leaves and limbs in neighborhoods throughout Columbus and Lowndes County.
Volunteers also will be painting fire hydrants, curbs and medians in various locations, and spreading mulch in medians along Highway 182; lunch will be provided for all volunteers.
In addition to volunteers, donations of gloves, rakes, shovels, trash bags, flowers, mulch, gravel and water are needed.
To volunteer or donate items, contact Shasta Nance at the Columbus-Lowndes Development Link — at 662-328-8369 or via e-mail at [email protected] — or your local councilman.
Volunteers also will be picking up appliances for disposal; to arrange pick-up of appliances, call 662-328-4481.
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