By Bill Short
The Millington Board of Mayor and Aldermen has unanimously approved a written agreement with the city of Memphis to continue traffic signal maintenance services.
Board members took the action during their April 12 regular monthly meeting on a motion offered by Alderman Don Lowry and seconded by Alderman Jon Crisp.
A resolution to approve the agreement states that maintenance of the traffic signals in Millington was originally provided by Memphis Light, Gas & Water.
But, for many years, it has been performed by the Memphis Traffic Signal Maintenance Office without a written agreement regarding services, responsibilities and costs.
Memphis provides similar services for Shelby County’s other municipalities and now seeks to have a written Memorandum of Understanding with each municipality.
The resolution states that Millington has previously received “timely service at reasonable costs,” and it expects the same under this written agreement.
The Memorandum of Understanding has been reviewed and approved by City Attorney Gerald Lawson, and City Manager Ed Haley recommended it for the board’s approval.
Mayor Terry Jones is authorized to execute the agreement.
It states that the city of Memphis will continue to provide traffic signal maintenance services using equipment, materials and supplies available in its existing inventory.
The agreement notes that Memphis will strive to address any maintenance calls from Millington within 24 hours. If it cannot respond within that time period because of maintenance issues inside its own city limits, or other reasons, it will give Millington advance notice.
Memphis will have the authority to cease traffic signal maintenance services outside of its city limits at any time during the life of the agreement. If it decides that it can no longer provide such services outside of the city, it will give Millington at least 12 months’ notice prior to termination of the services.
The agreement also states that Memphis will periodically review the “structure” of the fees it charges for providing the services in order to ensure that the charges “adequately cover” the cost of providing them to Millington.
Memphis will have the authority to adjust the fee structure at any time during the life of the agreement. Millington will be notified about any pending fee adjustments at least six months in advance of new fees becoming effective.
Adjustment of the fee structure will be considered an “administrative change” and will not require a formal amendment to the agreement.
Upon execution by both Memphis and Millington, the agreement will be effective for five years.
It will renew automatically unless it is terminated through written notification by one or both cities.
Each renewal period will not exceed five years, but there will be no limit to the number of renewals unless it is specified in a subsequent renewal agreement.
The agreement can be amended upon mutual consent and formal execution by both cities. And it can be terminated by both or by one, upon formal written notice.
