By Shaun McInnish, Sr., City Beat Writer, Pelahatchie News
The July 2026 Pelahatchie Mayor and Board of Aldermen regular meeting was held on Monday, July 6, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Town Hall.
Mayor Karl VanHorn presided and called the meeting to order and Alderman Jones performed the invocation. Alderwomen Diane Hill and Sandra Harvey, along with Aldermen David Gray, Eddie Jones, and James Harrell, were in attendance for the proceedings. The city attorney was absent from the meeting.
Residents or Visitors’ Business: Representatives from Aflac Insurance addressed the board to discuss offering Aflac services to city employees. It was noted that offering these services would come at no cost to the town.
Agenda Amendment and Wastewater Project: At 6:15 PM, Alderman Jones made a motion to amend the agenda to add Hayden Overby, the town engineer from Waggoner Engineering. Alderwoman Hill seconded the motion. and the motion passed with all in favor. The board discussed a change in loan terms regarding the ongoing wastewater project and voted to rescind the offer made during the previous month. Alderman Jones made the motion to rescind the offer, and Alderman Gray seconded the motion, which passed with all in favor.
A subsequent motion was made to award the total base bid, along with alternate #1 and alternate #2 for the project. Alderman Jones made the motion, Alderman Gray seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. Additionally, the board approved items for CDAP and CIF through Delta Regional. Alderman Jones made the motion, and Alderwoman Harvey seconded, passing with all in favor.
Department Discussions:
Police Department: The board discussed and considered a request from the Police Department to use approximately $1,500 in seized funds for the purchase of 500 new uniform patches in bulk for a discounted price. Alderman Jones made the motion to approve the purchase, and Alderman Gray seconded the motion. The measure passed with all in favor.
Zoning: Scott May presented the Edwards Garden Proposal, detailing plans for a new housing development featuring 20 houses. The development will have an entrance off College Street and will be built by S & S Builders. The proposal includes a common retention pond designed to catch and hold water in place. Construction is slated to start as soon as possible, within 30 days. Alderman Jones inquired about groundskeeping, and it was established that getting the grass cut along College Street will be the town’s responsibility. Benchmark Construction is also involved in the project. Alderwoman Hill made a motion to approve the development plans, and Alderman Gray seconded the motion. The measure passed with all in favor.
Ed Little was scheduled on the agenda to discuss a North Avenue proposal from last month, but he was not present for the meeting.
New Business: The board discussed, considered, and voted to approve the minutes from the previous regular board meeting held on June 1, 2026. Alderman Jones made the motion to approve, and Alderwoman Hill seconded the motion. The measure passed with all in favor.
The board discussed, considered, and voted to approve the payment of the unpaid claims docket. Alderman Jones made the motion to approve, and Alderman Harrell seconded the motion. The measure passed with a 3-2 vote with Alderwoman Hill and Harvey voting nay.
The board discussed, considered, and voted to approve the disbursement of a bank draft payment to Morgan and White Insurance in the amount of $950.66. Alderman Jones made the motion to approve, and Alderwoman Hill seconded the motion. The measure passed with all in favor.
The board discussed, considered, and voted to approve a bank draft payment to EMC Insurance for property insurance in the amount of $6,804.32. Alderman Jones made the motion to approve, and Alderman Gray seconded the motion. The measure passed with all in favor.
The board discussed, considered, and voted to approve a bank draft payment to Blue Cross Insurance in the amount of $7,088.66. Alderman Jones made the motion to approve, and Alderman Gray seconded the motion. The measure passed with all in favor.
The board discussed the approval and ratification of the payment of payroll for June 2026, which included $112,968.88 for the General fund and $42,568.80 for the Enterprise fund. Alderman Jones made the motion to approve the payroll, and Alderman Gray seconded the motion. The measure passed with a 4-1 vote, with Alderwoman Harvey voting no.
Executive Session: At 6:24 PM, Alderman Jones made a motion to enter an executive session, which was seconded by Alderman Harrell. At 6:26 PM, Mayor VanHorn announced to the public that the board voted to go into executive session to discuss a police personnel issue.
During the closed session, Officer Colby Morgan was officially promoted to Lieutenant at the Pelahatchie Police Department. The executive session ended at 6:31 PM.
With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned following the executive session.
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