Shawana Pace

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

 A woman accused of attacking female with a box cutter turned herself into Columbia Police on Tuesday, Detective al Preston said.

The alleged victim, Angela Pace, claims that the suspect, Shawna Pace, cut her in the arm, neck and thumb, according to Preston. Pace, 20, 804 Church St., Apt. 1, is charged with aggravated assault and has bonded out of Marion County Jail.

 The alleged incident occurred at the corner of Alberta Avenue and Church Street on April 6, Preston said. Jacobs was transported to Marion General Hospital to be treated for her injuries. It is unclear what the alleged fight was over.

A local group that is fed up with the rash of break-ins that has taken place in Columbia plans to address the Columbia Board of Aldermen on Thursday. See this link: The Columbian-Progress – Break ins to be Town Hall topic.

Laysall Pittman

By Josh Mitchell//Informer Publisher

Three city of Columbia employees were terminated by the Board of Aldermen tonight.

City street worker Larry Forbes misrepresented in his job application that he had a driver’s license. Forbes also wrecked a city vehicle, and after the accident once again said he had a driver’s license.

Police officer Ernestine Rios was terminated for failing to obtain her state certification after quitting the Police Academy. Columbia firefighter Bradley Morgan was fired for failing to complete his state examination.

In other disciplinary matters, city street worker Laysall Pittman was suspended for not advising his supervisor that his driver’s license was suspended.

When Pittman returns from the one-week unpaid suspension he will be placed on the ditch crew and put on a non-driver status until his license is renewed. Pittman will also sign an agreement consenting to terms of the suspension and will be fired if he does not uphold the order.

Lucky Jewel McDonald was reinstated as a non-certified patrol officer, and Guy Serrin was hired as a certified patrolman.

The aldermen were in closed session for about an hour and a half to discuss the hiring and firing matters. After coming out of the closed session and revealing the action that was taken against the employees, the board voted to continue the meeting until Thursday at 5 p.m.

The Columbia Board of Aldermen voted to fire two city employees in a closed session.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

The Columbia Board of Aldermen terminated two city employees tonight.

The aldermen were in closed session for about an hour before reopening the meeting to the public and revealing that they fired employees Larry Pace and Vernell Roberts. Pace worked in the sanitation department and Roberts worked in sanitation and streets, according to Mayor Reed Houston.

Alderman Wendell Hammond told the Marion County Informer after the meeting that Pace was fired for leaving work early, and Roberts was terminated for not following his schedule. Their supervisor, Rusty Rowell, warned them several times, Hammond added.

“It’s in their file (that they were warned),” Hammond said. “We even let the lawyer look at it. Before we do anything, we’ve got to have a paper trail.”

Pace and Roberts could not be reached for comment.

In other matters, the Board reprimanded garbage truck driver Brian Conerly. Hammond said the reprimand is basically a warning and was issued to Conerly partly because garbage cans were left turned over in yards.

In another employee matter, Donald Stockstill, who was over the water and sewer departments, resigned. The Informer has not learned the reason for the resignation. Stockstill has been on leave on worker’s compensation for several weeks.

In other business, the aldermen approved the $233,000 bid from T.L. Wallace Construction of Columbia to do street paving in the Sunset Circle area. Mayor Houston noted that a $100,000 grant will help pay for the project, leaving the remaining cost to be picked up by the city. T.L. Wallace Construction was the lower of two bidders on the project.

The Board also took under advisement the city audit. Mayor Houston would not provide a copy of the audit to the Marion County Informer, saying it is not yet a public record because it has not been approved by the Board.

The aldermen also heard the latest sales tax collection figures, which are from January and down 20.4 percent compared to the previous year. The city collected $257,080 in sales taxes in January.

Workers tear up the old street surface so new asphalt can be poured.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

 Construction was under way this morning on the Columbia Main Street paving project as workers milled up the old street surface in preparation of new asphalt being poured.

 Columbia Mayor Reed Houston said the project will improve the looks of Downtown. “It’s going to be a good thing,” the mayor said, adding that it will cost the city little money.

 Federal stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will cover $236,954 of the project, while $94,498 will be paid for with federal surface transportation funds, and the city of Columbia will pay for the remaining $23,624.

A road machine deposits the old street surface into a truck.

The street is being milled down to the old brick surface and will then be covered with 2 inches of new asphalt. T.L. Wallace Construction of Columbia is the contractor on the $355,076 project, and the milling is being subcontracted to Dunn Roadbuilders of Laurel.

 The project begins in front of Sav-on-Drugs on Broad Street and go to Region’s Bank at the intersection of Lafayette Street and Highway 13.

 While the work is taking place, Main Street will remain open, but there will be some one-lane closures. Some sidewalks will also be made handicap accessible as part of the project.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

Following a public records request, the city of Columbia has released the fee schedule for the company that provides the city’s engineering services.

The Columbia Board of Aldermen earlier this month appointed Sean Burns of Dungan Engineering to be the city’s engineer. The Marion County Informer asked the city for a copy of the contract between Dungan Engineering and the city, and Mayor Reed Houston said to file a public records request for the documentation.

The Informer filed the records request and this week the city released Dungan Engineering’s 2009 fee schedule. The fees are apparently the same now as they were in 2009. Jeff Dungan, one of the founders of Dungan Engneering, is the county’s engineer as well.

To see the fee schedule click here: Engineering fee schedule

The Water Plant on Highway 44 North will be one of the facilities that MD Electric will oversee for the city of Columbia.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

 Numerous people have complained that the city of Columbia is paying a local company too much for providing municipal water and sewer services. 

The Board of Aldermen earlier this month approved the proposal from MD Electric LLC of Columbia to oversee the city’s water and sewer plants. The city is paying MD Electric $5,300 a month for the service.

A copy of MD Electric’s proposal was obtained through a public records request filed with the city by the Marion County Informer. To see a copy of the proposal click here: Proposal page 1   Proposal page 2

 Michael McDaniel of MD Electric declined comment.  Mayor Reed Houston said the city did not seek proposals from any other companies to provide the water and sewer services. Law does not require the city to seek bids when it comes to professional services, said Houston.

Houston added that McDaniel was the best person for the job because he has the proper certification. McDaniel is also the city’s electrician and is therefore very knowledgeable of the city. According to Houston, McDaniel operates other small water and sewer systems, though the mayor did not know where.

The aldermen hired MD Electric on a temporary month-to-month basis because the city’s water/sewer operator Donald Stockstill sustained a knee injury in December and is now on worker’s compensation. The mayor said Stockstill was the highest paid city employee, making $52,700 a year.

After benefits are added in, Stockstill’s salary is more than the $63,600 that MD Electric would make per year doing the water/sewer work, the mayor said. The mayor’s salary is $49,000 a year; police chief $42,000 and fire chief $39,000, according to Houston. None of those salaries factor in benefits. Click to continue »

Funds from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will pay for the majority of the Main Street paving project.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

 Motorists will soon experience a more pleasant drive on Main Street in Downtown Columbia thanks to a paving project that is scheduled to begin next week.

The repaving will begin in front of Sav-on-Drugs on Broad Street and go to Region’s Bank at the intersection of Lafayette Street and Highway 13.

The total project cost with construction and engineering is $355,076. Federal stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will cover $236,954 of the project, while $94,498 will be paid for with federal surface transportation funds, and the city of Columbia will pay for the remaining $23,624.

Construction will involve milling down the existing pavement to the brick and covering it with two inches of new pavement, said City Engineer Sean Burns. T.L. Wallace Construction of Columbia will do the work.

Road work signs have already been put up in preparation for the project, and the milling of the street is expected to begin next week.While the work is taking place, Main Street will remain open, Burns said, but there will be some one-lane closures.

Burns urges the public to be patient during the project. Some sidewalks will also be made handicap accessible as part of the project.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

 The Columbia Board of Aldermen last night voted to hire a consultant to put the city’s financial books in better order.

The consultant, Charlie Prince of Magee, will be paid $75 an hour for the work. City Clerk Donna McKenzie said Prince’s pay rate is “a very good deal.”

Alderwoman Cheryl Bourne said the city “desperately needs” Prince’s services and that “his fee is very reasonable.”

Mayor Reed Houston said Prince can give the city “some direction” in terms of it finances.

Prince can review the city’s finances and “see what we can do differently to help with our budget,” said the mayor. Prince will also help the city improve its accounting and help with inventory, according to the mayor.

The mayor emphasized that the city’s “financial house” is in good order currently, and Prince will simply make it better. “We always need to do better,” said the mayor.

In other matters, the board took under advisement a request from the Marion County School District to use the city-owned Expo Center for free. The School District wants the Board of Aldermen to waive the Expo Center fees for the Back to School Bash in August, but Board of Aldermen Attorney Lawrence Hahn said such a waiver might not be permissible under city polices.

Hahn said the city can waive the Expo Center fees for certain groups, such as charitable organizations, public health resources and the city school district, but the county school district might not be allowed such a waiver.

The city respects the Marion County School District and understands the financial plight of school districts these days, said Hahn. Alderman-at-Large Edward Hough suggested that the matter be taken under advisement.

 The Expo Center community room rents for $225 a day, and the arena is $250 a day. The Marion County School District wanted to use both facilities for its event. The Back to School Bash is an event for the staff of the Marion County School District prior to school starting.

The board went into closed session for about 45 minutes to discuss hiring in the Police and Water Departments. When the board came out of the closed session it revealed that it voted to move Lynn A. Phillips from a part time patrolman to full time. The board also voted to move Tyler Smith from being a part time Water Department employee to full time.

Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

 The city of Columbia has broken the law by refusing to allow public access to files at Columbia Municipal Court, according to an attorney with the Mississippi Center for Freedom of Information.

The attorney, Leonard Van Slyke of Jackson, said it “would be a violation of the law to not provide a citizen with a court file…”  

The only way a citizen can be denied access to a court file is if a closure order has been entered by the court to seal the file.

The Marion County Informer requested to see a copy of a court file, but Municipal Court Clerk Pearlie Magee said files are not public record until the defendants have appeared in court.

Van Slyke said Magee is incorrect, and that court files should be “immediately accessible.”

“If there is a charging document filed as a court record, then you are entitled to see it now,” said Van Slyke.

The Informer told Mayor Reed Houston that Magee had denied access to the file. Houston consulted City Attorney Lawrence Hahn, who said the Informer needed to file a public records request.

Van Slyke said a public records request is unnecessary to see a court file. The Informer filed the records request regardless.

Hahn could not be reached for comment.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

Major John Wayne Tolar

The Columbia Board of Aldermen on Tuesday night reappointed former Interim Police Chief John Wayne Tolar to his previous title of major for the next three months.

After the three months are completed May 31, Tolar will be “re-evaluated” by new Police Chief Jim Kinslow.

The Board of Aldermen was in closed session for about an hour before opening the meeting to the public. Tolar will make $37,120 a year as major. Tolar has worked for the Columbia Police department for 30 years and served as interim chief for about three months while a new chief was sought. Tolar applied for the chief position.

The aldermen also voted to allow Kinslow to take his police vehicle out of the county. Columbia Mayor Reed Houston said Kinslow will be allowed to take his city vehicle home with him to Bassfield.

In other matters from the Monday meeting, the aldermen voted to appoint Michael McDaniel with MD Electric of Columbia to temporarily fill the position of water and sewer operations manager.

Former city operations manager Donald Stockstill  is currently on leave on workman’s compensation for a knee injury he sustained. McDaniel will make $5,300 a month in the position.

In other matters, City Clerk Donna McKenzie reported that sales tax collections for December were down 26.4 percent from the previous year. The city received $299,644 in sales taxes in December 2009 compared to $407,073 in December 2008.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

 The city of Columbia on Monday made public the “Employment Requirements” section of the Police Department’s policy manual, which states that all Police Department employees must live in Marion County.

Despite the Marion County residency rule, the city has decided to allow new Columbia Police Chief Jim Kinslow to continue to live in Jefferson Davis County.

To see a copy of the “Employment Requirements” section of the manual released by the city click here: Employment Requirements

After Kinslow was appointed chief, the Informer filed an open records request for the policy manual to determine if Police Department employees are required to live in Marion County.

Last month Mayor Reed Houston said he was unaware of anything in the policies and procedures manual that required Police Department employees to live in Marion County. When the Informer requested a copy of the manual, Houston refused, saying he did not think it was a public record. The Informer then filed the open records request in accordance with the Mississippi Public Records Act to obtain the manual.

After review by City Attorney Lawrence Hahn, it was determined that the “Employment Requirements” section of the manual was, in fact, a public record under state law.

To see a copy of the city’s response to the records request click here: City’s Response

The residency policy was waived for Kinslow because he was the best candidate and does not live far from Marion County, Houston has said.

Over the years, Hattiesburg’s growth has been in a westward direction toward Marion County. Now, more new development is planned in the Bellevue community in Lamar County. According to this Hattiesburg American article, plans are in store for more retail shops and what is being called Mississippi’s largest YMCA.

Lamar County keeps growing | hattiesburgamerican.com | Hattiesburg American.

New Columbia Police Chief Jim Kinslow, left, speaks with Benny Prestridge, center, and Don Scarborough, at the Marion County Development Partnership's "Catchy Friday."

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

 “Police officers cannot function without the public,” new Columbia Police Chief Jim Kinslow said in a speech this morning to the Marion County Development Partnership’s “Catchy Friday” gathering.

“Without public support we’re not going to survive,” Kinslow said. “An informed public is the best asset we can have at a Police Department.”

Kinslow said he needs to instill a mindset in the Columbia Police Department that the public needs to be involved with what is going on in terms of crime.

“If you don’t have a right to know what’s (happening) on your street, who does?” Kinslow asked.

Kinslow added that one of his goals as the new chief is to be “more open with the public” about law enforcement. My office door will be open. If you call the Police Department, you will get a returned phone call.”

The community and Police Department can work together to solve crimes, he said. He noted that when he was with the Hattiesburg Police Department he helped form a Neighborhood Enhancement Team in which law enforcement and the community partnered. The result was that after two years a high-crime neighborhood saw great improvements. Click to continue »

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

Jim Kinslow, center, is sworn as Columbia's new police chief by Mayor Reed Houston as Kinslow's wife, Sheila, looks on.

In front of a crowd of family, friends and law enforcement colleagues, Jim Kinslow was sworn in as Columbia’s new police chief this afternoon at City Hall.

Law enforcement officers from several different counties attended the swearing in to show their support for Kinslow and the Columbia Police Department.

To see a copy of the police chief oath of office click here: Oath of Office

“We’re all in this together,” said Lamar County Sheriff Danny Rigel.

Rigel knows Kinslow from their days working together at the Hattiesburg Police Department, where Kinslow retired as the assistant chief.

Rigel noted that Kinslow already knows the lay of the land in Columbia and many of the people here from his years of being the commander of the Pearl River Basin Narcotics Task Force.

“I think he’s going to do a good job,” said Rigel. “We’re here to support him in any way we can.”

A crowd of friends, family and law enforcement colleagues filled the Board Room at City Hall for the swearing in ceremony.

Covington County Sheriff Ben Ford also attended the swearing in and said Kinslow is an “outstanding leader and individual.”

Kinslow was working under Ford as chief deputy of the Covington County Sheriff’s Office before accepting the police chief position with the Columbia Police Department.

“It’s a tremendous loss to us in our department, but we wish him the best of luck,” said Ford.

Mayor Reed Houston told Ford he was sorry to take Kinslow away form the Covington County Sheriff’s Office. Ford quipped that Houston better not be seen in Covington County.

Houston administered the oath to Kinslow, who had his wife, Sheila, standing by his side.

“It’s an honor for me and my wife for ya’ll to be here,” Kinslow said after being sworn in.

Kinslow, whose first day on the job is Monday, plans to implement “community policing” in Columbia. Community policing is a concept in which the citizens and the Police Department form a strong working relationship.

Kinslow also said he will go straight to work on the rash of burglaries that have been occurring in Columbia.

Others present at the ceremony included Marion County Sheriff Berkley Hall, District Attorney Hal Kittrell, Marion County Chancery Judge Sebe Dale Jr., city aldermen and numerous law enforcement officers. The crowd packed the Board of Aldermen meeting room.