The Choctaw Plaindealer

The Ackerman Board of Aldermen passed a resolution supporting the name change of Ackerman Elementary School to Charles L. Thomas Elementary School.

In the Dec. 2 board meeting, Maria Macon asked the board to support the name change of AES in honor of the late Charles Thomas. She read a resolution that included a biography of Thomas and asked for the board's support.

Macon said as of Dec. 2 she had a petition with 200 names signed in support of the name change and she plans to address the Choctaw County School Board in their Dec. 8 board meeting.

Ward 1 Alderman Willie Miller Jr. asked the board to consider supporting the name change stating he was a student at AES and the said the school used to be an all black school.

"School should have been named after him when it was built. Nothing is named after someone black that has paid their dues," said Miller.

Ward 4 Alderman Dale Reid agreed with Miller, stating he supports the name change and was a student of Thomas and his wife.

Ward 2 Alderwoman Debby Curtis also said she is in support of the change.

Alderman at Large Barney Phelps said Thomas was his teacher after the schools were integrated and supports the change.

Miller made the motion to support the name change of AES with Reid seconding the motion. The resolution passed unanimously to support the renaming of AES to Charles L. Thomas Elementary School.

Also, in the meeting, the board approved to designate Davis Street in memory of the late Alderwomen Sheila Miller and dedicate the new Ackerman Fire Department in her honor.

Another discussion in the meeting was trying to set a policy on Town donations to organizations.

Mayor Dick Cain said the board needs a policy about donating to organizations.

Reid said he would like to see the Town donate to pageants on a state or national level stating the local level would be expensive.

He said a limit should be set for each organization per year and thinks the Town should only support pageants or people from the Town of Ackerman, students of Ackerman High School or graduates of AHS.

Cain agreed saying the Town needs some accountability of who they sponsor.

Ward 3 Alderman George Rooks suggested writing a policy then submitting it to the board for approval.

Joe Griffin, board attorney, said the board could only donate or sponsor an organization if it promotes the Town of Ackerman.

Debbie Boley, Town clerk, said in her research she found that it is legal as long as the Town is being acknowledged, promoting the Town or it is bringing people into the Town of Ackerman.

The board tabled the matter for further research.

In new business, Cain said the First Impression group would make a presentation Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. at Choctaw Count Economic Development Foundation on their observations on the Town of Ackerman.

The Town of Ackerman's Christmas tree was purchased by money raised by students at AES. Cain said the students held a drive-Change for Christmas and raised $444.08. That money purchased the Christmas tree for $200, decorations and ribbons on the light poles near the tree.

Phelps suggested the board putting a sign and dedicating the tree to the students for their hard work collecting money for the tree.

The board approved to erect a permanent marker next to tree for AES stu

In department head reports, Police Chief Rickey Thornton said they wrote 10 tickets for November and is enjoying the two new police cars purchased with a grant.

Mike Brasher, Public Works director, said they spent the month putting up Christmas lights, raking leaves at the city parks and cleaning out streets and ditches.

In other board business the aldermen approved:

€ To reapply for the fluoride system 100 percent grant for the Ackerman water treatment plant.

€ To allow Cain to actively pursue grants for infrastructure.

€ Acknowledged bids received for 2009 bank depositories.

€ Electronic billing to Blue Cross Blue Shield, which is now mandatory.

€ Purchase of trailer for $2,650 to move around the mini excavator. Money is used for the previously approved budget for the mini excavator.

€ Travel for Police Chief Rickey Thornton to Natchez for police chief seminar, Mike Brasher to Tunica for building inspector workshop and Debbie Boley to Jackson for certification.

The next Ackerman Board of Aldermen meeting will be Jan. 6 at 6 p.m. in the boardroom.