Senior Citizens Center ADA compatibility issues discussed at Greenfield Board

Story by Shannon Taylor, Senior Investigative Reporter

During citizens input, Mayor Cindy McAdams asked if any citizens had something “positive” to say. Frank Gibson came forward and McAdams said, “Yes, sir. The key is something positive.” Gibson said, “Well this is citizens input, and I don’t know what you would consider to be positive.” McAdams said, “Something that didn’t happen last meeting. Positive.”

Gibson said, “A number of people are asking me about the men’s bathroom…” McAdams interrupted and told him that he had already gone over that with Jerica.

Gibson said, “My question to you is two years ago the city redid the lady’s restroom to make it ADA compatible. Did a wonderful job. Now, was your purpose in the men’s room to make it ADA compatible?

McAdams said they did what she thought they should’ve done. “We got the ramp and so forth.” Gibson said that there were no bars on the ramp and the toilet was not ADA compatible.

McAdams said that the toilet was on its way and is currently sitting at public works. Gibson told her that it wasn’t part of the quote.

McAdams stated that she had asked Curtis and he forgot and now they already have it. Gibson said he didn’t understand why the urinal was pulled out and McAdams told him that it was her call to pull it out. Gibson said that they have a number of men that don’t know how to pick up the toilet seat when they use it. McAdams said, “Well, that’s y’all’s issue” and “no one has a urinal at their house.”

Gibson further stated that he didn’t understand why both bathrooms were caulked, sealed and re-painted when the lady’s bathroom was just done and there was nothing wrong with it. McAdams said she told him she wanted it painted.

Gibson said, “I just found it ironic that the one quite came in at $1,999 to the penny of the exact maximum amount the mayor could approve without board approval and getting three quotes. McAdams said, “Well, it probably wouldn’t have been done if you want to know the truth about it. Curtis happened to drop everything to get it done.” Gibson said he wished that they would have completed the ADA compatibility requirements-especially since there are a lot of old men in there that cannot get around. McAdams said they would put the rails up on the ramp.

More comments were made back and forth until McAdams said, “Okay, that’s five minutes. We appreciate it.” Gibson went on and was told that he needed to respect the board and the time it has.

Alderman Kelly Keylon asked why the repairs to the Senior Citizens facility not bid out? “Why wasn’t it done due to our normal course of business, who reviewed the scope of work to be done—what was the process for that?”

McAdams said that she went and tried to take what they told her that they wanted and did it herself. “That’s the blame on me. I was just trying to get it fixed because they were complaining about it.” McAdams said she got Curtis to do it because he was the only one available.

Keylon said, “So was there a reason that we didn’t take that as an opportunity to make the men’s bathroom ADA compliant?”

McAdams said, “Well, I thought it was pretty much when I talked to Curtis about it.” McAdams said that the only thing she foresaw was that they purchased a taller commode and that was an oversight. She also said that they would do the rails. She said two board members wanted a mop sink and paid for that so they could use that for cleaning the floors. “That’s me. Anybody that wants to blame anything, they can blame me for that. I was just trying to get a quick fix.”

Keylon said she understood the need to get it fixed quickly but that she also knew they had an obligation by law to make sure their facilities are ADA compatible. “That’s something that should’ve definitely been addressed when we do the scope of work on that, shouldn’t it?”

McAdams said, “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

Keylon said, “I understand he’s upset and I kind of cut him off, but he did have some valid points about the issues.” Keylon also asked what funding source it came from, and Jerica said it came from the restricted cash.

Another citizen came forward and said she wanted to make an observation that the flags at Veterans Park are very tattered. McAdams said it would be taken care of. Alderman James Pope said that if it wasn’t taken care of that he would take care of it and appreciated it getting brought to their attention.

McAdams said that this month’s city’s sales tax was $31,185.04. That is a drop from the previous month of $8,360.28. State tax for this month was $18,488.87 which was a drop from last month by $4,905.26.

Director Robert Rodriguez from the water and sewer department asked if he had any money left in the budget this year that he wanted to replace the last truck that they read meters out of. He said that he called the people with the state contract, and they told him that they had three trucks coming in and to let them know as soon as possible if they wanted one. Rodriguez said that it was a Ford Maverick, and the cost was $29,000. This would not come out of the general fund budget. The plan is to surplus the old truck they are currently using along with two old bushhogs and use that money to go towards the payment on the new truck. Pope said he saw no problem with it as long he had the money left over in the budget and made a motion to move forward with it. The motion was approved unanimously.

City Attorney Beau Pemberton spoke on the complaint for the 2021 property taxes. He stated that it had been turned in and they’ve had a meeting with Clerk and Master Regina VanCleave. “The track now is to have a tax sale every October for the taxes for the two years beforehand.”

In new business, the first reading of the 2023-24 budget ordinance was held. It was approved by MTAS. This was approved unanimously by the board.

The Yard of the Month will start next month.

The next board meeting will be held May 8 at 5:30 p.m. at Greenfield City Hall.