The Selma City Council’s vote to approve authorization for Mayor Darrio Melton and Finance Director Ronita Wade to sign the Selma Flood Risk Management Study Grant has been put on hold.

Council President Corey Bowie called a last-minute special called meeting originally for 3 p.m. Thursday at the Council Chamber, but some council members didn’t show up because they were nott informed. The meeting was pushed back to 5 p.m. before the scheduled work session.

The five council members present at the time of the vote, Bowie and councilmen Michael Johnson and John Leashore and councilwoman Miah Jackson. Councilwoman Jannie Thomas didn’t vote because she needed time to review the $3 million grant, funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It won’t cost the city anything.

When Councilwoman Angela Benjamin arrived, the council had already voted. Benjamin, Jackson and Thomas wanted an opportunity to review the grant, whose deadline to apply was Thursday.

“I don’t want to make a wrong decision because I wasn’t notified,” Jackson said.
Benjamin said she often advised city planning director Henry Thompson not to bring last-minute grants to the council.

“I’ve told Mr. Thompson not to bring a project of this magnitude to us at the midnight hour,” Benjamin said.

Bowie explained his reasons for calling the abrupt meeting.

“When it deals with public safety, I can call a special meeting,” Bowie said.

City Attorney and Dallas County Probate Judge-elect Jimmy Nunn said a decision on a possible second vote will be made immediately. If the vote stands, the grant advances to the next step once Melton and Wade sign. If the vote is null, the council could vote again.

Leashore said looking into the Riverbank is long overdue.

“It needs to be done and needed to be done for a long time,” Leashore said. “It would be a shame if we don’t act on it.”

The city council meeting will be held Tuesday at 5 p.m. at the Council Chambers.