Corrected version
The Greenwood City Council approved a 10-year ad valorem tax exemption for 4-Way Electric at its meeting Tuesday.
Angela Curry, executive director of the Greenwood-Leflore-Carroll Economic Foundation, recommended the exemption on behalf of the company.
4-Way Electric has completed a $1 million expansion and added 15 new employees. It has met all criteria set forth by the Growth and Prosperity Act and, according to Curry, is not only a model employer but also a great corporate citizen, involved in community activities.
The vote was unanimous, with Carl Palmer absent from the meeting. The Leflore County Board of Supervisors approved the same exemption for the company last week.
Dr. Montrell Greene, the newly appointed superintendent for Greenwood Public Schools, gave the opening prayer at the meeting and addressed the council and gallery. He said he is excited and pleased to be in Greenwood and hopes to work with the City Council to build upon the success the school district already claims.
Also Tuesday, the council:
• Appointed the Johnson-McAdams firm to provide professional services on the Milwaukee Electric Tool expansion project. Curry indicated that Milwaukee currently has 350 employees and that the project may create as many as 32 new jobs.
• Authorized the purchase of two 2013 Ford Taurus vehicles at state contract price for use by the Greenwood Police Department.
Ward 6 Councilman David Jordan asked Police Chief Henry Purnell how many vehicles the department needed in total, and Purnell replied, “a whole fleet, 10 or 12.” He said that two vehicles would suffice for now.
• Listened to Greenwood resident Alice Robertson, who said her granddaughter had been bullied at Greenwood High School. Robertson had pictures of the assault, which occurred last school year.
Councilwoman Lisa Cookston said this morning that it appeared the child had been cut.
“She had to move out of the state. She’s in Indiana because she didn’t feel safe here,” said Cookston.
Cookston said that although she was sympathetic and urged Robertson to keep investigating the issue, it really wasn’t a City Council matter.
“I’m not a lawyer, and I don’t know the other side of the story, but there’s a problem in the schools if this is happened,” she said. “Young ladies are not known for being this brutal, but I see it more and more. Schools can take some action.”
Cookston said she hoped Robertson would take the matter up with the police or with Juvenile Court Judge Kevin Adams.
• Heard from Dru Morgan, director of the Capps Training Center in Indianola, about the availability of training for manufacturers and an update on the center’s activities.
• Listened to an open letter by Barbara Gray, a former president of the Greenwood School Board, who called the passing over of former Interim Superintendent Jennifer Wilson for the permanent position in favor of Greene a “look-like conspiracy” by Mayor Carolyn McAdams. The council did not respond to Gray’s statement.
• Contact Jeanie Riess at 581-7235 or jriess@gwcommonwealth.com.
