The first meeting of September for the Town of Prentiss was held Sept. 5. All five Board members were present. Rudy McNease offered prayer before the meeting began.

Approval of August minutes, claims docket, and water refunds and adjustments were first on the agenda.

JDC Emergency Management Director Jocelyn Ragsdale reported that the funding has been secured for the safe room at the Ronald W. Jones Memorial Complex. A 90-10 grant was awarded to the county with $6,825.60 of the project to be provided federally and $758.40 to be paid by the Town of Prentiss for a total project cost of $7,584.00.

Prentiss Fire Chief Wayne Bass requested that one of the department’s rescue trucks be sold to Clem Volunteer Fire Department. The proceeds of the sale would purchase a used Tahoe for the department and a new battery operated Jaws of Life cutter/spreader combo. This will put a set of Jaws on two rescue trucks in the event of simultaneous emergencies. The sale and purchases were approved.

He also reported that AAA Ambulance has asked to move into the Ronald W. Jones Memorial Complex. The company will pay for any necessary upgrades to the area it will utilize and will enter into a lease agreement with the town.

The city clerk was approved to attend the fall clerk conference in Tupelo in October.

The annual public hearing was held prior to the start of the meeting regarding the town budget and tax levy. The board approved the budget which includes no tax increase.

Also, during the public hearing, three unkempt properties were on the agenda. Letters were sent to all three property owners. Two owners on Lafayette Street reported they would have their property cleaned. One owner on Columbia Avenue did not reply or attend the public hearing. The town cleaned the property and will add the cost to the property owner’s taxes.