At its regular meeting on February 13, 2025, the Eutaw City Council agreed to approve Ordinance 2025-2, which raises the monthly stipend of the Mayor and City Council members, effective when the newly elected officials take seats after the August 2025 elections, probably in November 2025.

The ordinance provides for an increase in the stipend for City Council members from $300 per month to $ 800 per month. The stipend for the Mayor is increased from $ 23,000 a year to $26,000 ($2,166.67 per month).
All five councilmembers voted in favor of the ordinance. Mayor Johnson voted against the increase, saying, “I feel the raise is too much especially when we are having financial difficulties and cannot give a raise to our employees.”

The Council also received a report from their Financial Adviser,Ralph Liverman.  In his report, Liverman says to wait with any pay increase to employees until after March 31, which is the midway point of the fiscal year. “At that point, you will have a good estimate of general fund revenues and expenditures and can better decide on employee raises,” said Liverman.
He also comments on plans to raise the stipends paid to councilmembers and the mayor, saying he does not agree to the amount of the raises and warns the council that voters are outraged and may take out their anger at the increases in the next election. Liverman also points to several reserve funds that have not been funded since the beginning of the calendar year.

The Council voted not to approve a travel reimbursement for Assistant Police Chief William Smith for a trip to an FBI training in Rushton, Louisiana in January. The Council was concerned that Smith went on the trip, in a city vehicle, without prior approval. The Council also questioned whether the trip was ‘mandatory’. Mayor Johnson said she authorized Smith to go on short notice because she felt the trip was mandatory and would help strength the city’s law enforcement capacity. Smith was not there to defend his actions and request for reimbursement. Councilman Woodruff said, “We have to make an example of staff who do not follow our policies and instructions. This trip was not authorized in a city vehicle, and we are not sure if it was a mandatory training.

In other actions, the Eutaw City Council:
• Tabled actions on filling vacancies on the Zoning Board, Cemetery Committee and the Airport Authority Board.
• Referred Verna Nickson’s zoning issue to City Attorney Zane Willingham for resolution.
• Accepted for review a report from AVENU Insights and Analytics on their work in collecting sales taxes and Business license fees for the city.
• Approved travel for Sha’Kelvia Spencer and Joe Powell to attend a clerks training in Point Clear on April 23-25; also approved annual dues to the AAMCA for the two clerks.
• Approved annual dues for the Municipal Court Clerks and Magistrates Association.
• Approved quote from Henley’s Air Quality Control for heat pump systems and multi-zone damper system for City Hall.
• Approved payment of n claim of $2,162.76 from Banks and Company for replacement of front window.
• Tabled consideration of Ordinance 2025-3 granting a non-exclusive franchise for Fiber Utility Network Inc. to provide middle mile broadband service to the City of Eutaw.
• Approved request from Nicholas and Akira Spencer for streetlight near their home at 415 Eatman Avenue.
• Approved $1,000 to support the Police Ball and $500 for two tables for the BBCF Sneaker Ball, from DARE funds.
• Approved payment of bills.

Mayor Johnson said that she could not do her job without the support of God, the City Council, her staff of dedicated workers and the citizens of the city.

Council member Valerie Watkins asked when the ditch behind Roebuck Avenue would be scheduled for repair because it floods when it rains. The Mayor said it was on the repair list and staff had looked at it.

Councilmembers reported on their trip to Montgomery for an “advocacy day with the Legislature. They reported on various topics including Medicaid Expansion and other steps to help hospitals stay open.