Tupelo Establishes Economic Recovery Task Force
The Tupelo City Council voted to create an Economic Recovery Task Force to help combat the city’s financial loss from Covid-19.
Economic Recovery Task Force
City board members voted to approve an Economic Recovery Task Force. The group will consist of over thirty people, mostly Tupelo business owners, to help the city with economic recovery from Covid-19. The mayor said that Tupelo and Lee County had a relatively small number of Covid-19 cases for its population, which is proof the measures he set in place had been working.
With several businesses closing due to shelter-in-place orders, many have taken a negative financial impact. Shelton said the goal of the task force will be to lobby to our state and federal leaders for help and support, as well as, coaching local businesses on how to operate safely while dealing with Covid-19. According to the mayor’s office, the program is still being developed and details on exactly what the task force will be doing are still being worked out. Currently, task-force members will serve primarily as advisors to the city and its businesses. Councilman Willie Jennings voiced concerns about some members of the task-force being removed, however, the item passed unanimously.
The following is a list of members of the Economic Recovery Task Force.
Baldwin Morgan
Dr. Charles Bouldin
David Brevard
Dr. Louis Britton
Tillman Calvert
Jay Carney
Kelly Cofer
Chanda Cossitt
David Covinhaver
Kenneth Estes
Robin Haire
Lisa Hawkins
Steve Holland
Blair Hughes
Greg Jarrell
Emily Lauder
Brandi Long
John Lovorn
Mattie Mabry
Eloise Mayfield
Dr. Randy McCoy
Robin McGraw
Lynn Norris
Jack Reed Jr.
Dan Rollins
Jeff Snyder
Dr. Robert Solomon
Shane Spees
Jim Spencer
Ron Stephens
Amy Tate
Patsy Thompson
Jason Warren
Budget Amendment
The council voted to amend the city budget to account for $2,500,000 in projected lost sales revenue. Earlier in the week, Mayor Jason Shelton said the city would have to make cuts. He said that a city-wide hiring freeze is possible, road work and maintenance might be slower moving forward. Shelton also said that the city would stop vehicle purchases.
Summer Sport Program Refunds.
It was decided that the city will refund payments made for summer sports programs. These include baseball, softball, adult softball, and soccer. Officials hope that programs can be restarted as early as June to continue these sports programs.
Due to social distancing several of the council members attended by phone and the public was allowed to watch by livestream.
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