Mayor vetoes city council's design firm choice

By By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
Sept. 18, 2002
Mayor John Robert Smith on Tuesday vetoed the city council's selection of Neel Schaffer Inc. of Jackson to design an interchange for the Meridian-Lauderdale County Industrial Park.
The council had approved an order earlier this month to begin negotiations for a new interchange on Interstate 20/59 between the U.S. 45 and Highway 19 exits.
City, county and economic development officials say a new I-20/59 exit would make the industrial park more attractive to business and industry.
In choosing Neel Schaffer Inc., the council had bypassed a five-member selection committee's "top choice" Engineering Associates. Council members voted 4-1 to authorize the city to negotiate with Engineering Associates after the mayor's veto.
Smith said he vetoed the council's order because the city is required to follow state and federal guidelines.
Ward 2 Councilman Mary Perry asked all council members at Tuesday night's meeting if they had read the city attorney's opinion on the matter, which stated that they must approve Engineering Associates.
Ward 5 Councilman Bobby Smith replied, "I've read it and I don't believe it."
Ward 1 Councilman George Thomas said he was told that if the council did not go back and approve the selection committee's top choice "then we'll lose $1 million in funding."