The Mayor and the Eutaw City Council met for their first regular meeting since being installed and holding their organizational meeting, to consider regular business of the city. All Council members were present except for Carrie Logan, who was attending a training session for new council members.
The Council heard from Jimmie Moore of Meridian Waste Company, which has the contract for garbage collection and disposal in Eutaw and some surrounding jurisdictions. Moore explained the cost per customer has increased by a small account. The Eutaw City Council approved the contract with Meridian Waste and will absorb the increase within the current monthly charge for residents and businesses in the city.
The Council approved the creation of a new position of Administrative Assistant to the Mayor and City Council of Eutaw, which is Ordinance 2025-6. This Ordinance also names Joe Powell to the position of Administrative Assistant. His duties and responsibilities will be to assist the City Clerk in her administrative duties; also, to assist the Mayor and Council in preparing meeting agendas, notices, and correspondence; assist with public record and resident inquiries; and otherwise assist the Mayor and Council in other tasks as assigned. His rate of pay will be $16 per hour and benefits.
The Council approved the salary of Kendrick Howell as Chief of Police at $60,000 annually, which is $5,000 less that the previous Chief Tommy Johnson was being paid. The Council also agreed to a $3.00 an hour increase for SheKelvia Spencer, City Clerk.
An approval of the 2025-26 Annual Budget was tabled, to give the new Mayor and his staff a chance to review and perhaps change some of the staffing, expenses and revenues projected for the year that started on October 1, 2025, and running through September 30, 2026. A Council Work Session on the budget was scheduled for November 18, 2025. A request to purchase a new 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe vehicle was also tabled pending the budget review.
In other business, the Eutaw City Council:
• Approved a request from Mayor Cockrell to enter an agreement with Diversified Computer Software to purchase trackers for all city vehicles and equipment.
• Approved travel, registration and per diem for staff to attend training.
• Approved for Mayor Cockrell to hold a Thanksgiving Dinner for staff and residents.
• Approved reimbursements to staff for necessary small purchases to continue operations.
• Approved Resolution No. 2025-27 for “Use of Social Media” by staff to carry out work requirements.
• Approved rental of city property at $150 a day for K & S Southern Midways to hold a fair in the city at the park adjoining the Robert H. Young Community Center in Eutaw on November 14-17, 2025.
• Approved payment of bills for the city.
At the end of the meeting, Mayor Corey Cockrell said he had received a report from the Water Department Clerk that over $300,000 in late and unpaid water accounts were in the records. The Mayor said, “All residents and businesses in the city must get their water bills in order and paid, including city staff and council members. We should not have to carry so many late and overdue accounts, if we want to improve our city – streets, water and other infrastructure.”