A group of U.S. mail carriers appeared before the Greenwood City Council on Tuesday pleading for stricter enforcement of leash laws and dog ordinances.
“I strongly believe that if the leash law was fully enforced back in 2020, there would be no need for me to be standing before you today,” said Doris Barnes Ware, who appeared before the board that year after being attacked by a dog while delivering mail.
This time, she came accompanied by several other mail carriers, including Beverly Reans, the worker attacked by a pit bull two weeks ago in Baptist Town. Reans sat in the audience during the presentation.
“There are so many stray dogs running all over the place, constantly patrolling the streets all day, every day,” said Ware. “We want to feel safe while performing our jobs.”
Pictures were shared of Reans’ injuries, including a gruesome wound to her leg.
“We are asking you, Mayor (Carolyn) McAdams and the council, for immediate enforcement of the leash law,” she said. “Protect us as we continue to deliver for you.”
The plea was not a surprise to McAdams, who addressed the problem of loose dogs in her mayor’s report at the start of the meeting. She said the city is facing a serious issue of non-compliance with leash laws and pit bull ordinances.
She said Police Chief Terrence Craft and Community Development’s Betty Stigler have been informed of the need to enforce the ordinances, including reporting of loose dogs.
“We are going to crack down on this,” she said.
Ward 6’s Dorothy Glenn said that dogs that bite people should not be given back to their owners. Ward 2’s Lisa Cookston said the council should consider revisiting the ordinances to make them more enforceable.
In other business:
- George King and Michael Shaffer of Suddenlink told the council that better efforts will be made to improve communication with the company and increase customer satisfaction. Several members of the council told the pair about complaints they had received about Suddenlink’s service.
City Attorney Don Brock said he sent a letter to Suddenlink last year stating that the company was in breach of contract by not having a physical location and presence in the city. Shaffer said he had not seen the letter or the contract but would meet with the company’s legal team to see how the issue can be addressed.
He said that the transition from analog to digital and the increase of bandwidth capability resulted in “heartburn.” He said that he and King would distribute their contact information and that they should be informed if any of the council members’ constituents have problems that are not being addressed through normal customer service.
He added that Greenwood is under consideration for a new Suddenlink location. He said he would check to find out where customers can drop off or ship their equipment rather than having to travel to the Greenville location.
- Developer Channing Hodges announced that Three Rivers Inn at 900 W. Park Ave. will be torn down and the area cleaned and developed for new businesses, including a McAlister’s Deli.
Hodges said he will front the cost of cleaning the location, which is filled with asbestos and other toxic irritants, and asked the council to approve the project as qualifying for the Mississippi Economic Redevelopment Act.
This will allow sales tax generated from any businesses at that location to reimburse Hodges for the cleanup costs. He said the risk is completely on him but argued the project is a way for the city to generate new jobs and more sales tax revenue while ridding itself of declining infrastructure at no cost.
According to the agreement, for the first six years, Hodges will receive 100% of sales tax revenue to cover the cleanup expenses, with the percentage dropping to 50% at year 10 through year 15.
He clarified that it’s in his best interest that his businesses, and any businesses that join on the resulting lots, be successful so his expenses can be paid off as soon as possible.
He estimated that after the cleanup efforts are approved by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, he can expect to open the McAlister’s Deli in the first quarter of next year.
The council unanimously approved the redevelopment agreement.
Ward 1’s Johnny Jennings was absent from the meeting.
Also Tuesday:
- McAdams said that a sewer on Weightman Street and East Claiborne Avenue had collapsed shortly before the meeting began. The road has been closed off, and repairs are underway.
- The council approved a donation of $250 to the Friends of the Greenwood-Leflore Public Library System.
- Contact Kevin Edwards at 662-581-7233 or kedwards@gwcommonwealth.com.
