The Greenwood City Council approved a deal Tuesday to bring electric scooters into the city.
Garrett Gronowski, a representative of Bird, a micromobility company based in Santa Monica, California, talked with council members through a Zoom video call.
He explained the details of the scooters, which are battery-powered and travel up to 15 miles per hour. They are activated through a phone application that allows for submission of payment and identification.
The scooters would be operated and treated the same way as bicycles, he said. This was confirmed by both City Attorney Don Brock and Police Chief Terrence Craft.
Gronowski said Bird would hire a manager to deal with the day-to-day management of the scooters, including repair. Bird would pay the manager through a percentage of ride revenue.
A scooter would cost $1 to activate and then an estimated 25 cents per minute to use. There is no cost to the city.
The council passed the resolution approving a memorandum of understanding with Bird by a vote of 5-1, with Ward 6’s Dorothy Glenn casting the no vote. She voiced no objections during the discussion.
In other business:
- Craft said the police have stepped up enforcement of ordinances related to dogs. The department has issued 28 citations in the last month and has hired a second animal control officer.
- Dr. Erin Jacobs Stagner and Portia Collins appeared before the council to promote the newly formed Greenwood chapter of the Optimist Club. Stagner said the club helps children develop to their full potential and cultivate “optimism as a philosophy of life.”
She said the club runs 65,000 events worldwide each year and spends more than $78 million per year in communities.
There are 19 members locally, and she said they are always looking for more.
- Alicia Dallas, president of the Friends of the Greenwood-Leflore Public Library, appeared before the council to promote National Library Week.
“Libraries connect communities to each other,” she said, “and this National Library Week, I would like to invite the public to show their appreciation in support of libraries by supporting their library in person.”
She also said the library will hold an Earth Day celebration on the Yazoo River Trail at 4 p.m. April 22.
- Juanita Coleman, manager of Snowden-Jones Apartments, asked for a donation from the city in support of an Easter event for her complex’s community.
Council President Ronnie Stevenson said a donation from the city was not possible because the council did not have a resolution in writing to consider it. He also said there are potential legal pitfalls in giving city funds to a private company.
“We have to be very careful on how we (use funds) now,” he said. “If we do it illegally, guess what? We all have to pay it back.”
He said that Coleman should solicit private donations instead. Glenn promised a donation, and Ward 1’s Johnny Jennings asked Coleman to put a budget together for her supplies so he can help as well.
- Approved making a $250 donation to the Friends of the Greenwood Chorale. The vote was 5-1, with Glenn voting no.
During discussion, there was confusion about the organization and whether it was eligible, but no representative of the group was present to answer questions.
Ward 4’s Charles McCoy suggested that groups seeking donations should send someone to appear before the council to make their requests.
- Contact Kevin Edwards at 662-581-7233 or kedwards@gwcommonwealth.com.
