Mount Pleasant City Commissioners made a series of decisions Monday propelling forward several ongoing matters.

The commission approved changes to the 2009 operating budget and city purchasing policy in development of a mini-stimulus package, which would boost the local economy and push future construction projects ahead to this year.

“If you really want to assure that local people are getting the deal, or are getting the money, you have to do two things,” said City Manager Kathie Grinzinger. “You have to not only approve the projects, but you have to do something to the purchasing policy that gives them some assurance that they’ll get the job.”

City staff gave the commission three options. A fourth option was, however, proposed by Commissioner David MaGuire, which first called for the elimination of $1,500 cap on preferred local purchases.

This was something city staff had also recommended be temporarily taken from the policy. MaGuire’s idea additionally adjusted percentage differentials allowed for chosen low bids of a project to 5 percent for in city businesses and 3 percent to in county businesses. This was suggested up from 3 and 2 percent.

MaGuire’s suggestion was approved.

The budget amendment will adjust the version of the operating budget approved last December to clarify the use of $500,000 from undesignated money in the general fund and $100,000 originally budgeted in for new sidewalks. These funds will be dedicated to five types of shovel-ready projects, residents can expect to begin in the coming months.

Projects included the $600,000 mini-stimulus package are a roundabout at the intersection of Main and Mosher Streets, additional parking on Mosher between Main and Court Street, a mini-circle at Mosher and Fancher Street, sidewalk replacements and brand new sidewalks.

Other business

City Commissioners also discussed and postponed decision of approving a contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services for lethal removal of a rising nuisance deer population in southwest Mount Pleasant.

The Southwest Association of Neighbors has reportedly experienced damage to landscaping in personal yards, deer droppings on lawns and several close calls between deer and vehicles.

Incidents have most frequently occurred in neighborhoods surrounding Viets Woods and Chipp-A-Water park.

USDA Wildlife Services, along with Director of Public Safety Bill Yeagley, recommended the city contract the use of sharpshooters to control the deer population.

Two visits from these shooters at $4,000 each would remove 10 to 15 animals.

“I have to tell you, it kind of makes me cringe,” said Commissioner Sharon Tilmann. “Where is the liability?”

Given that any harvest of hired sharpshooters would not begin until the appropriate hunting season roles around, commissioners decided to utilize their time to better understand the issue and to make a decision at a future meeting.

The commission also held a work session during Monday’s regular meeting regarding amendments of the city’s one-day liquor licensing policy.

Discussion over where licenses would be permitted, what events would be granted a license and how these events would be contained, continued from earlier this month.

Commissioners agreed to take applications for a licence on a case by case basis, though the extension of available locations from only Island Park was a different story.

As developed by the Downtown Development Board, the policy was originally recommended to be made accessible to events held any where in the Central Business District.

But proposals of expanding available locations on a city-wide basis appeared.

Yeagley said it was within his comfort level to take it slow in adding more locations because a safety frame of reference in containing alcoholic events is limited to Island Park.

“Any time we try something new, I don’t have that history to fall back on,” he said.

The matter of location was broken down and left for later discussion, whereas the policy was amended to lower the 90-day waiting period for an application to be approved to 60 days.

“I think taking longer than 60 days on anything is ridiculous,” said Commissioner Jeffrey Palmer.

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E-mail the author: Jackie Smith