Selma City employees driving company vehicles home was the biggest topic at Thursday’s City Council Work Session at City Hall.

Selma Mayor Darrio Melton discussed the issue with the Council members present: President Corey Bowie, Councilmen John Leashore, Carl Bowline and Michael Johnson and Councilwomen Angela Benjamin, Susan Youngblood, Jannie Thomas and Miah Jackson. Councilman Sam Randolph was not present.

Thomas wanted a policy drawn up prohibiting city employees’ personal use of company vehicle, especially for law enforcement.

Bowie suggested drafting a letter to City Attorney and Dallas County Probate Judge-elect Jimmy Nunn and he’d give it to Melton.

Nunn and Melton both explained the procedure for the law enforcement driving company cars.

“It’s part of a package deal when police officers get hired,” Melton said. “When an officer has to move on the street, they must move fast.”

“Officers driving cars home has been used as an incentive because the pay is low. It’s a way to attract police officers to Selma,” said Nunn.

Selma City Planning Director Henry Thompson requested the City Council to declare a state of Emergency on the Welcome Center Building. Too much water, mainly from the recent rainstorms, has led to structural damage and bad roof on the building. The building is covered by mildew and excess water, according to Thompson.

“I saw the building and it is in bad shape,” Benjamin said. “It needs to be fixed.”

Thompson is taking bids for contractors until Aug. 17 at 2 p.m. If approved by the Council, he plans to get a bid and have a contractor in place to do repairs by Aug. 21.

Leashore recommended if the cost to repair the building is less than $50,000, they should approve to fix the building.

Selma Firefighter Joshua Favor was presented two plaques after suffering second-degree burns from a structure fire on Aug. 1.

The regular Selma City Council meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.