version of the uh city council hope everybody wore their Kelly Green or version of green today and uh we'll go ahead and get started uh with our agenda I need a motion to uh approve the agenda so moved moved by Mr.

Creel seconded by Mr.

Tisdale any discussion none there being none call for the question all in favor those opposed motion carries mayor's report yeah thank you Mr.

President welcome everyone again have happy St.

Patrick's Day uh see a lot of smiling faces and a little green out there too so um uh do uh you have a few updates but I'd like to ask uh um Judith Brandon to come up and give us a little uh report on the pink ribbon or heart funds pink heart funds excuse me thank you Judith thank you thank you thank you I'm also gonna start two different things one on each side just to kind of look at show up about you for the opportunity my name is Judith Brann I'm the vice president of Pink Heart Funds before I start talking about the reason I'm here I'd like to just ask the council and mayor as well as the attendees in the office how many of you have been affected either personally family wise or good friends with cancer okay I think I can almost complete my talk now it is it's very unfortunate cancer does not go away it has no um loyalty to one person or another it hits almost all of us at some point in time and our organization Pink Heart Funds works directly with patients in the lower six counties of Mississippi we are a nonprofit a 501c3 we um constantly fundraising so I'm here today to ask for some consideration I'll tell you what we're doing I think it's especially especially special here in Valoxi our two biggest events that which is being run by Pink Heart Funds are here in Biloxi.

So what I've passed out is information about who we are first of all we work with men women and children and we work with all cancer patients.

We're not just breast cancer what we do is provide free wigs free breast prosthetics and bras free lymphedema sleeves and our most active um category is financial assistance for those folks who just need a little bit of help for a short period of time we work with the social workers and the nurse navigators at our cancer centers across the coast to make application we we don't have deep pockets we can't take on a lot but what we can do is put out a fire for a moment if you'll think about for example a waitress who works her shifts but doesn't have any long term care maybe she's underinsured or uninsured and she can't work because when you're going through your chemo process it's pretty brutal so what we can do is help with a payment for rent we can help with utilities we can help with a car payment we do not give patients money direct we help pay their bills and there's a very strict process that we go through with the hospitals to make sure that we have our ours covered and our eyes dotted and teeth crossed the two fundraisers that Pink Hearts is driving and the reason I'm calling these two out is we have a lot of people who do fundraising for us and we receive funds from them but we're not necessarily the people that are producing it.

You'll see I'm I passed it kind of backwards on the uh council you'll have one sponsor package for splashing out cancer that will be Saturday April 18th and it's down at Point Cadet Park yeah I'll know where that is it's a 5k run it's also a family walk and a family day we've joined forces with the YMCA out of um orange I'm sorry out of Ocean Springs and Pascagoula for their kids healthy program so we're expecting many hundreds of people in your city which is good it's good for your restaurants and for all of you.

The other organization that we're doing is Saturday September 12th and that is known as out of bounds.

Out of bounds will be held at the Slavonian Lodge and we'll focus on prevention and early detection and with a highlight to men's cancer our speakers and things we'll be talking about that.

It will be more like a ball but it's going to be very informal.

It has a sport theme so y'all come in your shirts and support the teams that you do we'll have games we'll have a band but all in all we are fundraising.

So that's in essence what I'm here to ask is your consideration to do some sponsorship for us.

The other cities along the coast I've already have done presentations I'm having quite successful the pressures on for you guys to uh support us as well and I'm open for questions or comments thank you so you said this is a coast wide organization correct it is.

Okay.

And so you got or uh events you said in Hatterburg Bilexi and in Govort?

No it's all both ocean springs.

Yeah both of our events are here in Biloxi at uh point cadet and at Slavonian lodge.

We're all volunteers that's the other thing I want to say so the money that we raise other than our overhead goes directly to patient care.

Perfect thank you.

Thank you we appreciate the good work that you're doing.

Thank you.

Thank you do you have any questions or anything I'm gonna leave a packet with your clerk so she'll have everything she needs as you discuss it and I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you.

Send out some money thank you Judith appreciate it.

And let me give you a little follow up on I think our cruise ship uh is due to get come back on this Sunday at 1230 and uh leave depart uh Monday at 1230 and there'll be one more trip after that in March and then we'll begin again in uh October weekly through November and December and then I think on into uh 27 so it's pretty exciting I think they had some bad weather the other day and they stayed in port and go forth but uh again it's very interesting I think uh the excitement is there to especially to see a 330 foot boat on that back day uh but uh the uh and I think that concludes my report yeah it does thank you thank you mayor we'll move on to council reports uh we'll start with Mr.

Gray all right thank you um I got a me and Mr.

Marshall had our warr meeting last week Monday or this Monday well no last Monday it turned out good we probably had around 200 people we did a poll and uh on the poll we did it was for millage increase it was raising how how do you want to raise increase revenue for the city millage increase hotel room tax or 2% restaurant tax so we had just wrote yes or no so we had 29 people on millage increase voted yes 97 voted no hotel room tax when 99% 99 people voted yes 26 voted no 2% restaurant tax 58 voted yes 68 voted no so it's just a kind of a poll that we just kind of put out there just kind of see about raising revenue and we'll get on to that I guess there in budget time so it's just something we just wanted to try to put out there to kind of see I mean I would I would say I I would like to if we did a hotel room tax have it where you know a couple of dollars went to parts and rec's equipment money went to uh public safety and some went to uh paving and sidewalk repair because we all know that's our biggest expense that we struggle find the money for and that's my and um get miss Christy Labata a couple questions for you can you give us an update on the sidewalks between Hopkins and Manacke where they put the new polls on on Howard yes ma'am how it so we've been working with Mississippi Power to uh have them pull their wooden poles they were waiting all the other utility companies to get off of those poles before they could pull them we are down to just one or two polls that have utilities left on them we we put pressure on those utilities I I believe it's ATT but don't hold me to that but we push put pressure on them about every two weeks Jody Ewing and my office stays on top of them.

We do know that the new poles are all have also created another um issue uh on the sidewalks with ADA we're trying to come up with a plan uh working with Mississippi power how we're gonna address that once the wooden poles are out of the way.

Okay.

And can you we got item O P and Q as the two um about about we we're closing out two accounts.

Yes yes two projects and we create another can you tell us a little bit about that what's going on with that yes so those are projects that we generally fund um we use our our MIMA our internet use tax money goes into those to fund what we call a repair place contract originally we had them separate because I think we did pay all paving in one and we did um all other type repairs in the other municipal repairs one uh just to keep it straight did that years ago well periodically on these projects that run a long time we close them out and kind of start them over because we have to um we have to keep accounting for that every year every year it has to be audited so we like to close them out and kind of start fresh.

So that was we talked about doing that and that was the initial uh reason why we decided to go ahead and close these and start new ones but then we also decided there's really at this point there's no sense in having two separate projects it's the same kind of money that goes in there.

So uh we just gonna combine them into one close those out and then and then open a new one.

Okay that's all I have for that's where we'll put the internet use tax money okay yeah uh before you go I'm gonna be asking you later about Reading Street so you may want to start looking it up.

Okay.

Okay that's all I have thank you.

Jamie Lee can you give us an update on the signs for the George Lawrence Pavilion and Point Cadet Park we spoke with the sign shop and they have the materials ready to go ready to make it all we need to do now is get a date together that we're looking at doing the dedication and then they can have the sign up ready to go for whenever the dedication day would be um whatever day is good with us as long as we get a little notice make sure it's not booked for a day a weekday of course would most likely be better than a weekend date so um the council wants to get what administration kind of come up with a date let us know we'll look and see if it's available and we can go with it advertise and go.

Okay have we had time to look at the padding at the splash pad we have and what we are going to try to do is we're going to try to block off that playground area um secure it the best we can notice put signs barricades whatever we can to keep people out of that area and we believe that we can get the splash pad back on for Good Friday.

All right thank you um I want to yield the rest of my time to um parents on a mission is she's gonna come up and give us a little presentation tell us about about her mission.

Thank you.

Councilman is and I am the founder of Parents on a mission this parent on admission is dear to me because I have a daughter who has a disability and the challenge that us parents have is that we have nothing in the community for our children and adult children and I find out one is the challenge is my daughter cannot get on the bus because she has to walk all the way to the bus stop but she has CP and she's legally blind.

So I'm asking the councilman and y'all what can y'all do to help us to bring stuff back in the community for us parents who have disabled adult children and children to give the parents some kind of relief because they don't have nowhere no resources at all they have to go to um golf port they have to go to Ocean Spring to take our children which we can have it here in East Biloxi.

This is not question and answer but uh certainly we can direct it to a proper uh channel to get some of your uh questions answered okay yeah but thank you Ms.

Connor that's that's all I have to thank you Mr.

Gray Mr.

Marshall I come back to Mr.

Neal um okay first of all I just want to let everybody know I work seven days a week and this council I work hard for it and the broadwater property uh I went riding around with the code enforcement the police last week and we rode we took pictures and we looked and we looked and as far as homeless people go we ran into maybe four.

And as far as homeless people go, we ran into maybe four.

So the big myth of the the broadwater golf course is full of homeless people is not a true statement.

They're out there but they're not like everybody thinks they are and we met with uh Willy Anderson Jr.

the other day and they're gonna start cleaning that property up in the next couple of three weeks.

So you will be seeing a big change out there shortly and cutting the grass and you know keeping it up like they supposed to and um I just wanted to I just want to get that straight and um Hill Park um I still got a hole out there by the by the pond that needs to be filled in and uh and as far as um to pavilion goes what's good what is the status on the uh on the pavilion where we at on that the looks of it Jamie the graffiti that was on the middle column has been painted over uh the handicap ramp was repaired and what we're looking at now is bringing in the Knights Peter Claver group to go through the go through the pavilion show it up get get the pinches some loose boards strapped down okay get it get it all put back together and then once of course you know using the treated wood we're gonna need to let it dry out a little bit then once it does we're gonna give the whole thing another coat of paint.

Okay let me ask you a question.

Yes sir when when we rent to pavilion or we have a reservation for it do we go out there and would do we put a sign up that says this is reserved because people will go out there like early in the morning and start partying in it.

And then at maybe 12 the people who reserved it they have to just leave or do we put a we don't put a sign up and saying it's reserved do we?

We do not um we haven't we haven't had that problem um in the past believe it or not that we haven't had a call saying oh this group's out here and we can't have our party I think most you know the word is hey we we have this facility rented for such and such event or such and such times and people people leave.

Now if there is an issue they can call dispatch dispatch will go out they'll confirm with our office that this pavilion is rented and they do have rights to that area and then whoever's refusing to leave would I assume chief may be able to you know reiterate on that but they would have to leave because whoever rents and pays for it has first right on it.

Yeah.

Because I went out there Saturday and they were having a birthday party right and I went out and talked to them and I told them who I was and they appreciated it and I said there's only one problem I have is if this is rented which I don't know if it is or not y'all have to leave we've had to leave and I said yeah.

Correct that is that is correct.

And you know Pops Ferry cause way we don't get as many rentals at those facilities as we do at some of the other places.

Yeah um but as far as I know I mean we haven't had that issue in the past but yes they would whoever rented it has the first right for that area.

Yeah and I've seen the splash pad looks good.

Flash pad is done um and the roof on the bathroom was finished yesterday.

Good start there yes sir and then next thing would be putting some more lights underneath and then going into that bathroom and seeing what we have to do.

All right all right all right thank you.

Yes sir and the botta I wanted to ask you something Christie um the the um ditch that was at Hiller Park yes I ask about cleaning yes looks the reason I wanted to be out there when they did it was they went on by the Keisler and did about 30 feet.

Our my our public works somebody did okay let me check on it because I told them that we wanted we have to have you out there so let me let me check on that for you.

Okay because I wanted them to go on the other side all the way to the pond.

Right I'll get you an update all right all right thank you.

That's on my report.

Thank you.

Thank you Mr.

Neil I'm I'm gonna go ahead and knock out my report um got a few things first of all the pop-up uh St.

Uh have to commend Memorial Hospital uh Biloxi, the Chamber of Commerce pulled it out off flawlessly.

Uh the awards were uh given by both the mayor and uh Rick uh to the to the deserving service uh members, service uh to the military and uh uh the nurse of the uh there was a nurse that was recognized in the medical community and uh we also had a first responder uh that was recon recognized as well.

So uh really a nice event, well attended, and it was really good to top off the morning as the mayor uh started off the meeting with.

Um this is uh directed uh to uh public works, Maupus Landing uh reported an issue with a tree, a neighbor's tree falling over the fence.

Um they are chopping it up, moving it to the street.

I told him uh at least I told him what I uh what Christie conveyed to me is that if it's on the street it'll be picked up, if the contractor can't get to it, we'll make other uh arrangements.

They are very appreciative and patiently waiting for that.

Um wanna announce uh a couple of events in uh ward six, uh the Mississippi Chamber of Commerce spoke to uh to them today.

They'll be organizing a networking event at Pops Pizza and uh highlighting that for a lunch uh to invite chamber members and potential chamber members uh for some uh networking.

Uh also Casa is organizing an event at the corner of Pop's uh ferry road and Cedar Lake.

It's much like if you've uh seen Wendy Sweatman uh near the White House.

It's gonna be sort of a similar event to that.

It's a fundraiser.

Uh and please come out and support that.

That's around April eighth, as is the Chamber of Commerce uh networking event at Pops Pizza.

Um another thing I want to talk about is scoreboards at AJ Holloway Sportsplex and walk through some of where we were and where we're at today.

And I'd be remiss if I didn't uh start off by recognizing Janet Kavanaugh for her tireless effort and getting some supporting signatures.

Uh this is very important, near and dear to the parents and fans and coaches and uh teams, and uh we need to try to get it over the goal line sort of so to speak.

So a year ago we cut the ribbon.

Uh March 2025, we cut the ribbon out there at AJ Holloway Sports Plex.

Beautiful, uh new turf fields, uh redid all the soccer fields.

And so there's a question about why didn't we uh include the scoreboards.

Well, at that time uh we were value engineering some of the funding and we figured we'd be able to get a sponsorship uh to take care of the scoreboards.

There the estimated cost is about a hundred thousand dollars uh for ten uh scoreboards.

Um that's where where we uh started negotiations after we opened, we started uh talking to potential sponsors, one being Coke, and uh there was certainly some interest, but we ran into uh a little wrinkle uh because we had an existing uh vendor that didn't have exclusive coke products or didn't think they could meet the threshold of uh minimum uh purchases.

Um those negotiations broke down a little bit.

Um here we are today trying to uh revive that.

I want to commend a c a few people uh that have gotten involved in this process.

Uh certainly the mayor and the administration, but Kevin Felsher uh has certainly uh inserted himself.

Uh two of our uh supervisors, one by the way, is in the audience.

I'd like to recognize Nathan Barrett.

He's sitting back there trying to be incognito, but smile, Nathan.

Uh he's got involved and Dan Quavis uh has also uh is very interested in in seeing us get some scoreboards out there.

So I think very soon uh with the collaboration of of you uh and your efforts and our leaders, I think very soon uh we'll see a resolution to this.

Um we also have a backup plan.

So if this happens to follow through with this $100,000 expense, uh we do have an alternative plan B and we'll hopefully uh pursue that if we can't go with uh you know plan A.

So be a little bit more patient with us.

We love our kids out there.

We love our new AJ Holloway Sportsplex with those uh turf fields and and uh it just looks good and the kids think they're uh major leaguers when you go out there and uh see them participate and play.

All right.

Creel thank you um so we last week we had uh board four meeting we didn't have two hundred people but it was standing room only uh Wayne be good like well y'all need to have two hundred people I'm just so no I appreciate the administration for showing up uh chief I want to uh commend uh your assistant on uh a job well done on his presentation he was very patient and um just to put it out there if you're driving on Pops Free Road um I had a phone call uh from um a resident that said she got a speeding ticket on Pops Ferry Road and if I had any advice I said well slow down is the only thing I could come up with but um she's here I think she's with the audience so I I'll give you uh the the uh specifics that uh assist in chief uh everett gave us so starting Monday at 8 a.m until Tuesday at I think it was 3 p.m.

there were 92 stops with 116 citations on Pops Free Road.

So please watch your speed on Pops Free Road um and with 92 stops obviously make sure you see belts on if you got up to 116 there was more than speeding going on so um check your expiration date on your driver's license so they're out there and in force um and and so we had a lot of great uh information from him um Rick thank you for showing up and giving your report uh Jerry glad to see you feeling better but uh he stood in for you pretty good uh and took the heat he he did well you you may want to get him to sit over there with you for a lot more times and because he he took the he took a few bullets okay no no yeah no but it was good uh I appreciate everyone showing up uh we'll have another one coming up in uh in June and we'll advise on that uh I I'll mention this again next week but Jamie thank you for have uh hosting the Easter egg hunt at soccer fields um that's coming up on the 28th and 29th um out there in ward four we look forward to uh the rest of the city coming out and enjoying uh the Easter egg hunt out there at the soccer fields it'll be nice to get the locks off so thank you thank you for that um also Jamie while I'm speaking to you can update on the uh fence uh on the international fields real quick okay um just to remind uh let everybody know that we will be having the baseball opening ceremonies this weekend this Saturday at 8 30 and also the softball following at 9 30 at the AJ Holloway so come on now um anybody who's interested in you know getting that arm loose and want to throw out a pitch just contact me or Ronnie and uh we'll we'll go for it.

All right.

Some of us plan to that's right USM and and Nichols uh plan out there wear a coat.

So uh so uh you can't I know we were supposed to schedule last week yeah it was it was um something happened I don't know if it was weather material related that the project was delayed but they they're hoping that they can get to it this week and get it fixed.

And it's as soon as it's fixed we're ready we're ready to go with it.

Okay.

Um real quick uh word on the street is uh that you um you're looking for uh uh a new superintendent or can you give us a little background on what you're looking for?

Um we posted uh last week uh recreation superintendent job um for those that didn't know our department has five different divisions underneath it um administration division which I'm part of then you have the parks division which takes care of all the ball fields that uh Brian Thacker's the superintendent the beautification division which does logistics grass cutting things Tommy Seawright's part of then we also have the recreation division which is all of the rental facilities um the Snyder Center different parts the programming um which is currently vacant um and then we also have the aquatics division which which encompasses the pools originally you know we were looking at possibly doing an aquatics person but you know as I've progressed in this position and saw the need um decided to go the recreation route since the recreation division is actually the biggest division within our department um so that's where I believe that that middle manager head of that division somebody that you know can communicate with administration on a regular basis administration being you know in our department um on a regular basis is going to benefit the department you know the most so that position is open I believe at this point we have five applicants um so we're looking you know looking for the best candidate um how long is the position available I mean I like next week next week next week I think the twenty seventh or the twenty eighth one of those days that it actually closes and then hopefully we can get um interviews scheduled soon and then and then and then get moving on that.

So that position is open.

I believe at this point we have five applicants.

Um so we're looking, you know, looking for the best candidate.

Um is the position available?

I mean, uh next week.

Next week.

Next week.

I think the 27th or the 28th, one of those days that it actually closes, and then hopefully we can get um interviews scheduled soon and then and then and then get moving on that.

Um, I feel it's going to be something something that helps.

Like I said, you know, need some little managers to help with some of the day-to-day operations and especially with the recreation side, recreation division being the biggest is where we felt that the greatest need was at this time.

Well, especially with the facility rentals, no doubt.

I think all of us up here can agree, especially this first part of the year with renting uh each each of the facilities you have, any any assistance can help.

And you know, it's it's a blessing in disguise.

I mean, we're seeing more rentals now than we have before, which is good, but you know, we do need we do need to man the facilities and be able to take care of them and in the way we need to present them.

You know, just like at the Hillard Park Pavilion, you know, we need to make sure that we're we're doing the things we need to do interdepartmentally to make sure that these renters are having a positive experience with them.

So now to pick your back off of what Council Glavin said with the scoreboards real quick.

Um I know short-term solution that he referenced was your mobile scoreboards, and from what I understand, the uh Biloxi youth has has purchased one of those uh mobile scoreboards, so they have one, and I believe the cost for to have them at every field in the interim is is I think three thousand dollars.

Is that something we look for short term?

Or when do you foresee us making a decision if we're gonna do we're gonna wait and and get the hundred thousand dollars, or are we going to try and do something short-term to get the season started?

Well, I mean, we want to we wanted this one to be the quote unquote prototype to see how well it it went to see if we have people who were willing to operate them to see if we can get a positive response from that.

You know, it we're looking at using them also with multiple sports.

Could we use them out at the soccer fields?

Could we use them out at the football fields as well so we can, you know, not just use them whenever our leagues demand them, but we could use them throughout the year.

But you know, when it comes down to it, like Councilman Glavin said, you know, you're looking at 100,000 to replace all the scoreboards, the permanent scoreboards at these fields, and these portable ones where you can move and hang and on different places, I think they're around six hundred dollars.

Right.

And they're Bluetooth connected um operate from a phone.

So, you know, they are they are, you know, uh, I guess if you want to call them a temporary fix, it is.

But you know, we'll just have to see where we're at and what type of funding we can get for the the bigger scoreboards.

That may make the operational situation, you know, uh uh in some of these leagues, these some parents who go I don't want to make it an updated for it for everybody in there, but the interface that make it another uh facility or another uh device on the network that everybody's you know inputting the data to.

So it's more than just a school board, not a dedicated school board.

It's a workstation.

So it can be viewed by all.

So it's just some angles we're throwing at them.

Well, no, I get it, but I I I guess my point is is as long as with these uh these signatures is uh how much longer?

It's it's a you know tough question.

We know again, uh uh representative representative uh Felsha has been hustling pretty good with regard to uh Coca-Cola and some of these other ones.

So it's uh you know, in a week or so, I think we'll be a little bit stronger by the next council meeting.

We'll understand where we are with Coca-Cola and then some of the other um considerations about who's gonna run this thing.

Right.

And then in the interim, the uh for example, the email we got today uh from uh Mr.

Sherman was I think they have one of the mobile scoreboards, but it's actually in the equipment office.

They don't use it because they can't they don't want to put a scoreboard up on one field when you don't have them on all.

So I think that's that's an issue as well.

I mean uh if if you have one and you have a championship game, maybe maybe that's something, but at the same time purchasing it and then putting in the case.

We'll get a report by next next council.

Thank you.

Thank you, Jamie.

That's all I have.

Thank you, Mr.

Crub.

We'll move on to Mr.

Tisdale.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um this past Saturday, Briar Field Subdivision again.

Uh there was some event at the Coliseum.

They opened the West Parking lot gate.

Traffic went down Pine Grove Avenue.

Two lanes headed south.

Folks couldn't get out of their driveways.

I had a call from a lady.

This is the second or third time in the past five years.

She couldn't, she couldn't get out of her driveway to go to church.

And I had mentioned this before, maybe two weeks ago, I think.

We could put something up, I believe there to block the gate so that even if the Coliseum opened it, they wouldn't have access to Briarfield, excuse me, to Pine Grove Avenue.

I'm unaware of any agreement with the Coliseum that allows them to dump traffic onto the north end of Pine Grove.

Maybe there is, so there's some research that's needed there.

But this has been going on.

I've been in office 12 years.

This has been going on for 12 years.

Not a thing has changed.

I have a council meeting on March 31st.

I I would assume we'll have some folks from that neighborhood, and I'm sure they'll be asking the question.

Is there any reason we cannot put up just a four-foot fence, a gate really, so that we control access through that neighborhood.

So you have that West Gate to the Coliseum Parking that's opened at will by the Coliseum.

At the north end of Briarfield Avenue, you have uh an exit gate from Grandview Apartments.

When Grandview Drive is blocked, they open that northeast gate to their property.

The additional issues that causes is speeding through the neighborhood.

We put up always stops at several intersections, they run the intersections.

You get the litter from people coming and going through Mercury Lane through that neighborhood to Meson, New Orleans, because the entrance to Meson, New Orleans from Highway 90 has speed bumps.

What they do is they leave through Mercury Lane.

That's the only public access there to the apartments, and I know we can't close that access, but then they use that Mercury Lane to speed through the neighborhood to get to Highway 90.

And to top it all off, if you love or hate short-term rentals, there are now more short-term rentals in that small neighborhood than there are single-family residences.

So having having said that, it's this is just one of a number of issues that really impact the quality of life.

And I'm I'm I would hope that this is at least one issue that we could resolve so that we don't have traffic dumped out.

So this lady who's a senior citizen A can get to church, but also at night when they have concerts at the Coliseum.

Both lanes of traffic are headed south, not just on Pine Grove, but also on Briarfield.

So if you have folks with medical issues at that particular time, there's no way that a fire truck can get to them.

There's no way that an ambulance can get to them.

Surely this is one small thing, and I I've mentioned this the past ten years, off and on.

Surely this is one thing we can do for those residents.

Is this possible?

Can we do this?

Can we make a commitment to pursue it to help these folks enjoy their property?

Yeah, um I'm gonna re I'll research the property issue.

Uh I'd meant to do that, but uh didn't do that.

Didn't write it down enough.

And then uh setting up a meeting with uh the county who controls what the Coliseum does.

And the Coliseum, certainly we can have that dialogue.

And it and it may be, I mean, they have uh I don't go to events at the Coliseum.

A my ears can't take the noise, and I don't boogie like I used to, if I ever boogied at all.

But it it may be that the police, and I know we're hesitant to do this sometimes, that it may be the police, if that traffic's coming out can issue some of those citations that Mr.

Creel's cornering the market on out there on Pops Ferry Road.

Uh and just might put a stop to all of this.

But anything we can do to help those residents, I know they'd be greatly appreciative.

Thank you.

Um the second thing is this past Sunday, been quite a weekend.

This past Sunday, there was a fire uh between Petty Boy subdivision and the enclave subdivision and the railroad tracks.

There's a thin wooded strip.

I don't know, it may comprise from one end to the other a number of acres.

And this is the second time, maybe in the last year and a half, where uh there have been some homeless folks in the woods, started a fire, the fire is out of control.

The issue is that you can't get a fire truck back there.

So it's access to the equipment that they need.

And I I don't I don't know what else we can do to help these people, other than have the property owner at least remove some of these trees to give the the fire department access back there.

I think the last time this happened, maybe a year and a half ago, I believe firefighters were knocking on doors asking residents can we use your garden hose and climb in your backyard to fight the fire.

So and I'm sure these people uh certainly would appreciate anything we can do to help them with their property.

Uh and usually the the police are aware where the homeless uh are staying.

Uh but uh you're aware, and particularly since this is west of the broadborder property, as the broadwater is cleared, most of the homeless move west, is my understanding or my perception.

So we're gonna see them in other areas in West Biloxi that that are heavily wooded, and I noticed that it made the news in Gulfport.

So it's their turn in the barrel on the homeless issue.

We all get a turn.

Don't think it's just Biloxy and Gulfport.

Uh so thank you.

I'd appreciate that if we could do something to ensure that this is minimized uh or doesn't occur again.

The next Ward 5 meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 31st, 5:30 at the Snyder Center, uh, and happy St.

Patrick's Day to everybody out there.

Thank you.

That concludes my comments.

Thank you, Mr.

Tuesday, and Mr.

Schumacher.

Just two short quick things.

Uh the bridge on Woolmarket Road just west of Shriners, still being repaired, but from the sounds of it, hopefully by the end of this week that should be done.

Fingers crossed, but we'll keep you posted, but it looks like the end of the week it should be done, and Shriners and all of Woolwalker Road will be back open.

And secondly, just a quick question.

The uh pop-up on Friday, does Main Street pay for that, or do we pay for that?

Combination of both of us.

We paid some and they paid some.

So about 50-50.

Yes, sir.

Okay.

Good deal.

That's all I have.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Schumaker.

On that, Councilman Shoemaker, that uh every everyone was very pleased as far as we talked to.

I know myself, uh, Councilman Creel, several others, Councilman Nail, um, well, Councilman Gray were there.

So we saw those.

I know Councilman Tisdale was there as well.

So all of the resident or the businesses that we were in reference to had sold out stuff and had a great time.

So I was sick.

I was not able to make it, unfortunately.

But yeah, I did hear it was a good event.

Thank you.

Thank you again, Mr.

Schumacher.

Mr.

Marshall.

All right.

I'm gonna be very quick.

First of all, there's something in my I just got put into my head today.

I don't know if I can get that out of my out of my head.

That's just Mr.

Tisdale doing the boogie woogie.

That's gonna be in my head for a long time.

Uh first Missionary Baptist Church celebrate 180-year anniversary.

They did it at Doris uh Bush Park.

Uh Ms.

Bush was a um well-known uh integral part of the first Missionary Baptist Church.

First Missionary Baptist Church in turn is a well-known and integral part of East Biloxi.

So we're happy that they were able to celebrate our hundred and eighty years.

Congratulations to their pastor, Pastor Uh Eric Dickey, and to all the members.

Uh the next thing is gonna be for um about the parks.

Mr.

James.

Yes, sir.

Okay, you can't tell by the weather today, but we are getting ready for summer and our splash pad.

Um any way possible what we need to do is get it painted and get it refurbished looking fresh for the children.

My personal opinion, I'm against painting splash pads.

Let me tell you why.

The ones that we have painted in the past, put down the shark grip, let the paint, it comes off, gets in the drains, clogs it up.

We have found that leaving it bare concrete does hold up better.

Now, if there's some cracks and things like that, we could possibly repair.

Okay, we have that, yes.

So um, but I am against painting the floor of it.

Um, not to say that we can't, but my my professional and personal opinion is to leave it bare.

We've we've seem to have success with the ones that we haven't painted when you do paint it, even if the shark grip comes out, wet paint or wet floor paint slippery.

Um, since we stopped painting the one at Margaret Sherry, we've gotten far less complaints about kids slipping and falling and hurting themselves.

No, it doesn't look quite done aesthetically, it doesn't, but you know, it's it's kind of you want a pretty splash powder, do you want a safe one?

Um pretty safe.

Yeah.

But um, but no, it's it's so you gotta you gotta somewhat pretty pretty safe.

But um that is my recommendation, but we can we can do it.

Um, but I would I would look against that.

But there are there are other things that we can do to clean it up to make it look better.

Okay, that's what um now we are projected on opening those up in two weeks.

Um, that one included.

You know, uh our grass cutting schedule is beginning very soon as well, so we are limited on time, but we will see what we can do, and if we can get to it, we will get to it.

Yes, sir.

Okay.

So we don't paint it, we will get the fixture, the uh what are the hydrants and all those repainted at least, fixed up screw stuff?

We'll we'll take a look at it tomorrow.

That'll be on the list to go look at and see what we can do.

Yes, sir.

Okay, and how do we come up with that other gate?

The other gate?

Mm-hmm.

Well, I thought the problem may have been solved by shutting the other gate.

Is it no?

We need to be to shut the park down.

Problem is that people just use it as a place to go and meet up and do things that it shouldn't probably be doing.

So I need to be able to shut that park down completely at night.

And two o'clock in the morning, three o'clock in the morning, you know.

I'm I'm old school.

If I was gonna go do something I shouldn't be doing what I'm not supposed to do, I turn my music down, but for some reason, they don't think like that.

So it's boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.

12 o'clock at night.

They're just there, two cars parked.

I don't know how they're talking the music so loud, but it's it's not they're not supposed to be there.

Uh we're also starting to again with the police officer on that.

We they're starting to get people just come back in there and parking again.

So we're gonna be discussing that later.

But if you can work on that gate, I need to be able to shut it down.

I got the guys, we had that meeting, we set up ourselves a little community group.

They're willing to go there and and close the gate and open the gate.

Same way Mrs.

Clara used to do.

Years ago, we had Miss Clara.

She would open the gates, she would shut the gate, she lived right up the street.

And uh Mr.

Griffin, I think it was Mr.

Griffith's mother, but we still miss her.

We miss what she did.

We're trying to find someone else in the community that's willing to, and they got a couple couple of men in the community that said they'll they're willing to do that.

They know the problem, they understand they could help solve that problem.

Now I know when we spoke about that gate last time about how some inadequacies with it.

The problem when we shut that gate at its current state, it will block the wheelchair access to the sidewalk.

We have to be able to keep that open.

So it may also require some curb work, some concrete work to make sure that the path is still ADA accessible on the sidewalk into the road and then back onto the other sidewalk.

Because at the way it currently goes, the sidewalk goes up the street, turns back toward the park through the where the gate would shut, and then the wheelchair drop off is right there, and then it would have to come out and then go back up.

So we would have to look at doing some curb work to put that wheelchair access on the outside of the fence if we block that off, because there has to be access to the public sidewalk.

I'm willing for you to do all of that.

Whatever it takes to get done, that's what we need to do.

I gotta have a I gotta have a uh a park that's safe and clean.

I don't think the people in the middle of the day are going there and putting feces all over in the middle of the day.

I'd be that's happening at night.

And we need to I need to be able for control of that park.

So if that's what we gotta do to make a rearrange to sidewalk, then who would it be you or Mr.

Libate?

I think it'd be a collaborative effort getting with public works and let the engineers go out and look at it and see what they can do.

Right.

Okay.

All right.

I I will appreciate it.

We can you know get working on it.

That gate is not a it's not an option.

It it needs to be done.

We need to have control of that park.

Okay, our community needs to have a new face, need to have a new attitude, and I got people interested in helping.

Let's not discourage them saying the city won't do their job.

I appreciate it, sir.

Thank you.

I apologize.

All right.

We got that building sitting there, the little house in the park.

Yes, sir.

What's the plans?

Plan is to fix it one more time.

Um the KOPC group.

They just got back in the session here in March.

Um I've met with Ms.

Griffin, I believe, and um also the electrician about doing some work out at Hiller Park.

And then we're also looking at doing some work at Beck Park and also at O'Reilly Park with the pavilion there.

Those are kind of the three areas that we're looking at utilizing the resources from that group.

Um Hiller Park was on the top of the list.

Then I think Beck Park will be the next, and then O'Reilly, those are the three spots in that priority, what we're looking at getting fixed.

Right.

As it explained to me, and I could be wrong, but I'm almost sure I'm right.

Uh Miss Clara, who we I just spoke of earlier was was uh Mr.

Griffin's mother.

And I think he was choosing to work in that park out of memory out of the respect for her memory of what she thinks that she had done in the community.

That was her adopted part, and she was the mother of the park.

I'm gonna tell him to tell you a little something.

That's my backyard.

And I remember Miss Clara, you can have uh you can have the roughest, toughest gangster sitting in that park.

When she comes down her street, Elmer Street, Baptist Alley, when she come walking down that street towards that park, whoever was in there playing loud music, who was doing wrong, they stopped, they packed their stuff up, and they left.

And you can no matter how they don't care, they were murderous.

They looked at her, they said, Yes, ma'am.

Yes, ma'am.

And then she controlled it.

That's why he was in that park working.

That's why he chose that park.

Okay.

The amount of work that has to be done on that building goes beyond their scope.

So I'm asking you, do we have a plan?

So they can only do cosmetic things, limited things.

Do we have a plan?

Because that building's in really, really bad shape.

I think that's something we would have to look at once we start getting into the work to seeing exactly what needs to be done, what the scope of work is, and then ultimately, what is it gonna cost to fix it?

We need to have an idea of that and then see if we can plan for it.

Okay, can you call me next week and we'll sit up for time I meet you out there and we'll just meet the engineers who you want to, so we can I can have at least a plan for it.

But we can't leave it like that.

Uh my history is that once you leave something dilapidated, people see like they like you don't care about it, they don't care about it, it just gets worse.

No, and and we do, we know we know there's some repairs that need to be done, and and they are they are they will be done, the ones we can do.

They will be.

Okay.

Thank you, sir.

Yes, sir.

Thank you so much.

Chief.

Mr.

Gray.

Oh no, he's no, he's not done.

Oh, you're not done?

No, sir.

Okay.

Okay.

Continue.

All right.

Uh we got a pack of dogs.

Yes, sir.

And they're just running, they're running too wild and too friendly.

Malays that people are naming them, giving them names.

And I stopped the lady from feeding them uh the other day.

I was passing by.

I said, I hope she's not feeding them dollars.

And showing up, she was feeding the straight dogs.

And I asked her, I say, please don't do that because what's gonna happen?

And I explained to all the bad things about straight dogs.

She said she hadn't thought about like that.

She just thought they might have been hungry.

And I don't know if people are feeding them better than you guys could feed them, but um I do know that if I walk towards them, that's why I walk out of my house, I walk up the street, walk towards them.

They do they like they know who I am, and they they scatter, but other people can walk up to them, and I see in midnight they're barking like crazy, and it's a pack.

And where are we at with getting rid of them?

Well, you we picked up the one last week, and uh the two ACOs go out there in between other calls.

Um the dogs are running off.

They tried the net gun.

That's how they got the one last week.

Um they're gonna still keep going out there in between other calls in the city, and then uh as we talked in the budget, we'll we'll request another ACO to to help with that.

We're also trying to get those uh those GPS dart guns.

Um I'm sorry.

Are they coming in?

Have you ordered them already?

We've not ordered them yet.

We're still dealing with the company.

So we have their other guns, but when you dart the dog, it runs off.

We can't find it then.

Um but these GPS ones will will help us locate them.

Okay.

Uh need to be able to report to that.

That's what I've got.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you, sir.

Wait, wait, no, no, no, no.

No, no, no, no.

One more thing.

Uh this is this is not just for you, but this is also possible for your.

I don't know you want how you're gonna handle this, Mr.

Uh President, but each one of us are getting getting complaints about speeding in our neighborhoods and everything.

Can we do a workshop with the police and I think it's a committee or something that determines how we set up the uh speed bumps and everything.

So we all be on one page, and we if you got a committee, whatever you got, how does that use it work?

So if there's a a traffic complaint, let's say with like uh speeding, certainly you let us know the location.

We have a list, we have to rotate through that list, you know, the city's big and we hit different areas, target different areas like uh councilman creel was talking about um at different times.

Uh and then on that list we have to look and kind of prioritize what areas worse.

Uh as far as the committee goes, the traffic committee you're talking about.

Let's say speed limit needs to be changed or sign needs to be put up or child children at play, you know, anything like that, speed bumps.

You email Craig Ross, and uh he sets up, he'll he'll keep a list of everything.

Then we have the the meeting, usually it's it's close to once a month, and then from engineering us, uh uh Jerry Krill's office and uh uh a few others uh meet.

We talk about the issue.

Um sometimes we decide to do a traffic study, traffic count, traffic enforcement, whatever the issue is.

We as a group, we try to figure out the best resolution.

Um and then from there uh we follow back on it, follow up back on it, see what the results were, and then make a final decision.

I can tell you as far as speed bumps go before somebody even puts in for it because of the the issue of of the city and the cost of the city putting in the speed bumps and or having to tear them up or whatever.

You have to get a petition sign through your neighborhood uh before you even request a speed bump.

What about a stop sign?

Well, a stop sign, you just submit that location to Craig Ross, goes to the committee, we talk about it.

Uh for instance, there's been uh streets where every other four-way had a stop sign, the rest had yield signs or something, for instance.

And then we went through and said, nah, it'd make more sense if there were stop signs at the at each location, or speeding was 35 miles an hour, speed limit was 35 miles an hour, and they requested 25 or whatever it was.

Um so that's what we talk about and decide collectively as a group, what's the best resolution?

Are you against or maybe doing a workshop just on that so we can walk through that process once and for all?

That way everybody would be on the same page, then we'll know exactly what forms what we need to do to get it.

It's an open meeting and you can come.

I think councilman Tisdale's come to a few of them.

I've been to a couple of them.

Mr.

Marshall, uh uh you asked me how to proceed, I'll make one suggestion, and then maybe we move to a workshop if this doesn't work.

Uh Chief, could you get with uh the mayor's office and Rick, maybe bullet point those steps that you uh just outlined, get those to all the council members.

Let's give it, I don't know, three weeks or so, see if it makes a difference.

If it doesn't, maybe after three weeks we come back and say we need a formal, a more formal workshop.

And then I would encourage everyone up here uh if you would attend one of uh these meetings.

There are open meetings, they're very compelling.

That's the next one.

If you like when is your next one?

You have them on Wednesdays or when do you have them?

I'd have to look at the schedule.

I do not have that on the top of my head.

There are Jerry's usually at some of them.

Yeah, they're they're as and yeah, but we need one.

We need one.

Yeah, so we get uh there certainly there's certain things that are more press uh pressing than others.

So we'll get one set up.

But other than that, it's usually we we let it collect a few and then we'll set one up.

All right.

Uh open meetings, is this the first three get in free type of thing and uh probably try to respect that?

So the first three get in free.

So if you send out that invitation, um just be mindful if there's a fourth council member, you may have to skip it and go to the next one or something.

Well, I think if you announce it, then we can do it.

We can all be there.

Uh, you just need to go and do that workshop.

This is something that's just kind of pressing and it's not gonna get any better.

Kids gonna be out of school, teenagers gonna be speeding, they're getting the new license, the new cars.

We're gonna have some problems.

I'll uh I'll get with uh administration, those billet points like you requested, and then we'll get one set up.

All right, thank you so much.

Before you go, why in the meantime?

Uh I've got a few complaints.

One of them I'm gonna address right away.

Is going when you go to Nichols school coming off Division Street, uh, the cars are parked there, people being disrespectful to the car, people didn't be in disrespectful to the kids that are walking from the school and cause your speed on a right there in front of that school.

So can we put an officer there every now and then?

On nickels.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

All right, thank you so much.

This time I I'm through for real on that one.

Uh also I went by the farmers market today and uh talked to some of the vendors.

Uh we were four only four vendors there, the whole market.

I talked to them.

I'm gonna be meeting with them next week.

Um to make sure that if we can possibly find out what they want, what ideas they have, and I like to know that you know maybe give it to more of the council members we can understand what the situation is.

Um I think that it is important that it stays there in the area, and we need to figure out a way we gotta do to make them uh make them not leave.

I believe that announcement I dig the indicates me that the announcement that they're gonna be setting it down, discourage people, and could have been just the cold weather today, but did not they're very much uh not happy with that.

And let me make sure I think I'm through.

Are you?

All right, very good.

Uh Mr.

Gray has another comment.

Um the farmers market, we've been working with them.

We've been working with the farmers market.

We've tried we trying to iron out some details, and since we get everything ironed out, we we'll get with everybody.

That's why we're just trying to get everything ironed out before we bring it up.

That's it.

Um the pop-up event for Friday.

It was a big a big success.

I say it was nice to see all the local businesses out, participating, have people going to Fuji's getting food, coming back over here, uh ventures, bringing food, um the little place up top, 313, or whatever it is.

They they had a booth set up outside, selling drinks.

I mean, that's what that's uh to me.

I believe that's what First Friday should be is to help support these brick and mortar places here.

So it was nice seeing that everybody enjoyed it.

Even people was walking over to the Rue Magnolia shopping down there.

So that's what I believe that's what it's for.

So it's really nice to see a change and and see people on this side supporting the brick and mortar businesses.

That's all I have.

I do have a lot of people.

Mr.

Mr.

Neil has another comment.

I'll come I'll come back to you.

Yes.

I just wanted to tell people in um Greater Beloved Street that I think it's OU Street, Museya Street's gonna be paved this week for sure.

Mr.

Marshall, uh Mr.

Bati, I did mention to you about reading.

Okay.

Uh when you go down to reading in between the school and that those parcels that are backed up to the school, that ditch area down there.

I've got a couple of complaints they want it clean.

Uh they were told that someone one of the neighbors has stopped your crew from cleaning one time, but they lived on the other side of the street, but they want their back area you know cleaned up if it's possible to get down there and do that.

Uh it's a little ditch canal way that leads out to the uh bayou area.

And that's what I'm talking about.

All the lights are empty, but I've been I've been one of those that they complain about I keep make sure they cut their grass and stuff, and that was that would be complained back to me.

So thank you so much.

Thank you, Mr.

Marshall.

I believe that uh now ends uh council reports.

Uh we're gonna move on to uh citizens' comments.

Um the chair along with the city council regards uh this portion of our regular meeting as paramount.

It upholds viewpoint neutrality and gives every resident a voice to share praise, concern, and critique of city actions, policies, and results.

It is a space that is diverse and holds many perspectives to be heard in a way that supports informed decision making for Biloxi and strengthens public trust in our local government.

Citizens' comments are considered a limited public forum.

What does that mean?

It means while the city welcomes a range of viewpoints on matters within the agenda, the city may impose reasonable viewpoint neutral limits on time, manner, and topics to ensure orderly proceedings and protect the rights of all attendees.

The rules of decorum apply to maintain respectful and productive dialogue for all.

Comments are directed toward the chair and the full council, not at individual staff or other speakers.

This helps keep the dialogue constructive and respectful while clearly outlining the roles, responsibility, and accountability within our civic process.

As you prepare to speak, please recall our conduct expectations.

Speak with courtesy, focus on the policy or action and its impact on the community and provide evidence where possible.

Refrain from personal, impertinent or slanderous remarks or any attempt to demean or smear someone's character.

Avoid misrepresentation or false light implications, and speak truthfully to the point with as much factual support as you can provide.

If you have a concern or commendation, present it clearly and respectfully, framed around observed effects, data, or credible information.

When you begin, state your name, your address for the record, and we remain within the allotted time of three minutes.

Our shared goal is to foster transparent constructive dialogue that advances Biloxi's well-being and informs future actions.

Thank you for your engagement in helping us sustain an open, accountable and collaborative environment.

And with that, I'll go ahead and open up uh for citizens' comments.

We'll start on my right, your left.

Ms.

Kavanoff.

I put this on your desk.

I hope I'll have a chance to make a company.

My name is Janet Cavanaugh, and I'm here on behalf of families involved with the Biloxi Youth Baseball.

Okay Holloway Sports Complex.

As you know, I'm a crier because it does mean something to me, and I'm sorry.

I was here a few weeks ago and read a statement about the lack of um operational scoreboards and the PA system.

Again, we love the Astro Turf.

The players are happy.

They just want to be able to see the score.

And since the original letter has come, I have gotten over 33 signatures, and that is from parents, grandparents, coaches, firemen.

I tried to get everybody that would be interested on these.

And I know y'all are working on it, but like this weekend is opening ceremonies, and I know we're not gonna have anything out there, but that's okay as long as I feel like we're working together to do this.

I don't want to stop halfway.

I've never done anything like this before.

I just want it for the kids.

And I did not read my letter.

I'm sorry, but I did give y'all a copy of all the things.

And I do have some people here that are with me.

If they could stand up and show their support.

Thank you to them because they have listened to me for a long time.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else on my right, your left?

Anyone on this side of the room?

Anyone on my left, your right, Mr.

Sylvestra.

Go to you next.

Go ahead and proceed.

Bob Silvestro 181 Iris.

First, I want to say thank you to Mr.

Nell for the Broadwater.

I thought about it an awful lot.

You guys have been arguing or trying to get something done there for a long time before.

I think that it started to get cleaned up because people work together.

It's like when we had a problem with the clinic and Elliott Holmes.

A lot of people came together and cared.

All this fighting, calling people names and doing that, I don't think it's healthy.

Not that you're doing it.

But I just think that you really can.

I mean, and if you have a disagreement with someone, I did.

The mayor was nice enough to let me go in the back room with some people, discuss something with Jerry, you come out, you have disagreements, and then you move on.

And the other thing I wanted to say was that the people that work at Code Enforcement.

We get a lot of, hey, thank you for the policemen, thank you for the fire department.

They do a great job.

We give them the best equipment they can.

But these men and women in code enforcement, let's be honest.

They are enforcing code a bunch.

A lot of people who don't want to clean up their properties.

I think it would mean a lot if you folks just said thank you.

You guys, we appreciate work you're doing.

And the only other last thing I wanted to say was could we get somebody to put a sign up or something, what the Broadwater marina is going to look like when they're done?

A lot of people are asking, and you know, people speculate, and maybe we could have a little picture of what they want.

And one last thing to Mr.

Nell, when obviously somebody got in your craw about you not working.

I see you around there seven days a week.

I want to tell you something.

We had two new homes built in the neighborhood.

And they both went up for sale between 350 and 360,000.

And I said, how did they both sell in two weeks?

And you know the response was?

Oh, now our taxes are going to go up.

So if you make half the people happy, you're doing a good job.

Thank you, everybody.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Yes, ma'am.

Hi, my name is Lizzie Williams, and I live at 575 Jefferson Street.

I have been played with foul water for the last four to five months.

As a Friday this past Friday, the city came out and flushed the lines again.

The lines ran all Friday morning to Monday morning to 6 o'clock.

The street was flooded.

I had to drive all the way through the further street this weekend.

I last time I was here, I called for an investigation of the contractors because the area around the civic center has not done the inner structure have not been done.

And I I do believe that if the infrastructure around this area would be done or they dig a something, I'll water my water in my neighborhood will increase it.

I mean, will be better.

It's not doing any better.

The flushing it is not solving the problem.

I have foul waters, it it stays clean for three or four days.

They have to come out and flush it.

It also returned.

And I don't think I we should have to wait till a bond issue come to get this done so we can have better water.

Thank you.

Anyone else on this side of the room?

Yes.

Okay.

All right.

Good afternoon, gentlemen.

My name is Keisha Bone, and I live at 237 Main Street.

So Councilman Gray mentioned basically bringing revenue in East Biloxi.

And I think one good way of doing that is putting a grocery store in there.

There's a lot of residents, they want a grocery store.

And I know we do have the food giant, and we also have the Lee's International, but the Food Giant, to be honest, it's expensive, and you don't have a lot of the supplies or food that you're looking for at say if you go to a Rouse's or you go to a Walgreens.

And a lot of people that are in East Belux either on a fixed income or they don't have transportation to properly go to, say, a Walmart, so they have no choice but to pay those high prices.

Now I do know that the city does have a lot that is on division and civet that prime for putting in grocery store there.

We just need the extra votes to approve that.

So we have two already.

Now I know when I was a teenager, we did have two grocery stores, but they closed down.

One was a pigleywiggly, one was a Jitney Jungle.

And if we do put a grocery store there, then that's one way where we can bring revenue into East Biloxi instead of like the councilman was saying, he wants to raise the restaurant taxes to you know a lot a little bit here, a lot a little bit there.

But if you do have a grocery store, that's going to be bigger revenue for the residents to spend.

So thank you.

That's something to think about.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Raise your hand to be recognized.

Yes, ma'am.

Um, my name is Zanette Aggregard.

I'm from Ward 2, City of Biloxi, 61 years.

I have a few things, so I'm gonna try to keep it quick.

Mr.

Marshall, on this recreation center that you have made your platform on the beginning of campaigning.

Have you or anyone else asked the residents if that was a severe need?

Because we do have the Crocs Center.

The Crocs Center was built after Katrina.

And my understanding, the City of Biloxi donates or gives in their yearly budget a substantial amount of money to the Crocs Center for those in Ward 1 and Ward 2 that cannot afford the dues.

Not once has anybody talked about the revenue that this rec center might bring in.

I haven't heard that.

And when you borrow money, you have to have an expense report and a profit and loss statement.

Present how we're gonna make revenue off of this recenter.

We make revenue off of the civic center and the community center and some other things.

The other thing, what are we going to do about this building?

I do not understand the process, do not understand it, and I haven't gotten any answers in nine months on what residents are supposed to do when we have things like this happening in our neighborhood, and we can't get answers and we don't know where to go, we don't know who to ask or what department to ask.

Got 25 seconds.

My last thing is.

That's okay.

But you can seek those answers.

Right.

And who is responsible after the vandalism happens?

Thank you for your comments, Mr.

Guard.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else on my left?

Did I miss anybody on my right?

Anyone in the back of the room?

Citizens' comments are now closed.

We'll move on to the policy agenda.

Resolution granting conditional use to allow a tattoo parlor at 1670 past road suites A and B.

Chair will entertain a motion from Ward 2.

Moved.

Moved by Mr.

Marshall.

Do we have a second?

All right.

Seconded by Mr.

Nell.

Discussion.

Mr.

Marshall.

Mr.

Creel.

Yes, sir.

Will this be facing the neighborhood?

Would this be facing the street?

The busy pass row, how would it be facing?

If you're familiar with the shopping center, I think it's called K Plaza that Mr.

Greek is in.

This is the tenant space closest to Pass Road.

The residential structures are actually behind that L-shaped shopping center, and they face the other direction.

So we don't see this being any issue with the residents that are behind that building there.

And uh when it went before Planning Commission, the owners uh said that they only do by appointment.

So it's not like you have a line of people trying to get in there.

They do it by appointment.

Okay, any what any of the tattoo shops in that area?

There are.

There are two others.

There's one a little further east on Pass Road, and then there's one on Iberville in that red strip center that's uh uh kind of across from the mini Mart grocery there.

So there are two, yes, sir.

Are they all conditional youth?

Yes, sir.

They are.

Okay, any police reports, any bad activities going on, any of the penny else in that part of town?

No, sir.

We don't we don't get any complaints about the tattoo parlors.

What about any other parts of town?

Uh no, sir.

Uh I haven't received any complaints.

So you had no complaints about tattoo parlors?

Okay.

Uh it's not going to be a parking issue, is it?

No, sir.

Okay.

That big shopping center parking that's out there in front.

Okay.

Unless they go on pass row, anybody living in that subdivision won't know that that is there.

I mean, when they're coming up to Pass Road, they will be able to see the tenant space.

No, sir.

Okay.

What about the uh the other ones?

Are they they're situated similarly away from the neighborhood, facing away from the neighborhood?

Uh the one that's on Pass Road east of there faces south, and the one that's on Iberville faces east.

Okay.

The um the nine, I think it was nine things that were listed that qualifies it.

Okay.

Can you talk about that?

What's the significance of it?

And it's I was understanding they've been missing a couple of them.

Um well, there's um there's some of the questions that are subjective.

You know, is the is the use going to uh create foul odor?

You know, no, there's nothing about this that creates a foul odor.

Is it gonna create a lot of noise?

No.

These tattoo parlors are usually very quiet.

Uh does it blend in with the is it uh compatible with the neighborhood?

Well, this is right on Pass Road, so it's a commercial thoroughfare through there, and it's actually not in the neighborhood like we talked about before.

So uh planning commission voted 13 to zero to approve it.

They felt that it met the criteria for conditional use.

And another thing about conditional use too that uh I remind y'all of uh is that it's a conditional use.

If we do experience problems, we give them a certain limited period of time to correct those problems.

If they don't, then the planning commission and the council have the right to revoke that conditional use permit.

Okay.

So uh based on that, conditional use meaning that if the if the neighborhood starts complaining about it, all they have to do is bring those complaints, valid complaints to us, and it's up to us to determine whether we just shut the business as the business to pack up and go somewhere else.

That's that's correct.

But uh, this has been misunderstood in the past.

I want to make sure you understand.

We have to give them the opportunity to correct whatever it is.

They don't correct it, then the council has the right to revoke the permit.

Okay.

So that's that's the condition.

In other words, their condition is that as long as you're there and you're not causing any trouble, you're not causing any people's values at homes going down, all those other issues that they can think of, as long as that's there, then you can operate their business.

That's correct.

If you start to violate those, then those conditions, which is a conditional use, then you have to correct it or they would lose your privilege license.

If you receive complaints or if we receive complaints that they're not complying with the conditions, then we would uh put them on notice that we've received complaints and they have X number of days to correct this.

If they correct it, that's the end of it.

If they don't correct it, then I would bring it to the Planning Commission and the City Council with a request to revoke the conditional use permit.

Okay.

Does it um the tax do we make any money off of the city?

We make sales tax off of it just like we do anything else.

I mean, it's a service that they provide.

They are buying uh materials and equipment and things like that, you know, that generate sales tax revenue.

Like a barber shop and a barbershop, a beauty shop, you go to the beauty shop, you buy there.

Yes, sir.

Considered like a personal service establishment, yes.

Okay.

All righty.

Thank you so much, sir.

Mr.

Neil.

Um tattoo parlors, they're normally late in the afternoon, night time.

People go back, get a little bit done, go back next week, get a little bit more done when they get a little bit more money.

Yes, sir.

I've never had a problem with tattoo polls.

I got my first tattoo and I was 14.

That's two things I can't get rid of.

Don't share it.

Please don't share it with us.

So well, uh Mr.

Creel.

So quick question.

Um, the address, is it a pass road address?

Is it a it is a pass road address, yes, sir.

And it's so it's the end suite there is a double suite, so it's A and B.

Okay.

1670 pass road obviously.

So pass road.

All right.

And and just a quick question.

There's no agricultural zoning around or located around this area, is there?

None that I'm aware of, no, sir.

Okay.

So if it needs a conditional use why is it a zoning issue?

It it it's tied the conditional use is tied to the zoning.

Uh not necessarily in this case, but there are some places where we have NB zoning where it may be that the NB faces the residential structure.

And so it gives the Planning Commission to the council the right to uh handle it on a case-by-case basis, you know, that this one is probably I can't imagine this one being a problem, but if it were in one of those other situations where you had those properties with different zonings really contingent to each other, it could be a problem there.

Okay, so the residential area that you said is located behind this, does it have a password address as well, or is it a same vote address?

It faces the other street, it faces the street behind here.

Perfect, thank you.

Okay.

Um Mr.

Quare.

Um LDO, it states that um no tattoo or body pierce establishment should be located in the same block as any property zone right agricultural or residential zoning.

Yes, sir.

Is this in the same block as that?

It is in the same block, but they got a variance that that's part of the variance request that's in your packet.

The variance was approved by the planning commission.

So that issue has been resolved.

Um that was that was the request.

Is it it be allowed on a on a block because there were special circumstances about this one?

So so with the variance, it would Okay, let me ask you this.

Why why do they need a variance on this one?

Because they were on the same block with uh residential property.

So so would it been so with the tattoo polish being on the same block, is there any way what will we have to do to take that shopping center out of the block, I guess.

Shopping center out of the block, I guess.

Is there any way to change that?

Um see what I'm saying?

So it's not.

I mean, because you got all these other businesses, but then you can we rezone that section there.

Well, most of the property along uh Pass Road is either zoned LB or NB, which are actually good zonings for that area, because it takes into consideration that there's residential properties right behind it.

But in this particular case, the argument that was made to the uh planning commission was that yes, there are some residential houses on this block, but they all face the opposite direction.

And a variance, whenever you're but considering a variance, you have to show that there's a hardship that was not created by the landowner.

And so he has a building that's been there since way before the last LDO was approved.

And so he actually has what is considered a hardship for this, you know, to allow this tenant to go in.

And that was the argument they made to the planning commission for the variance, and it it was approved.

So if we approve this, this would just open up the door for more people to come in and try to get variances to try to do different things like this.

Well, we always have people asking for variances, and they're for different reasons, you know.

But uh uh, you know, but those are called quasi-judicial decisions.

So any variance requests that's approved by the zoning board of adjustments and appeals, which is the planning commission serving in a secondary role, that appeal would go to court if someone appealed that.

When the Planning Commission serves as a planning commission, their decisions are a recommendation, and so any appeal from the planning committee would come to the city council.

What what what zoning would they need to do it by right?

They'd have to go to C B, and believe me, the C B zoning would create much more problems for the residential neighborhood than the NB does because you can actually have nightclubs and bars and things like that in that shopping center.

Yes, okay.

That's all I have.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um Jerry, explain the the reason for the variance again, if you can, please.

Uh the variance is because that this property, this property existed, and it's on the same block.

Correct.

It's a residential properties are on the face the opposite direction.

I thank you.

We had we had this sim uh similar case, maybe in the last couple of years, I think two and a half years ago, a little farther east on Pass Road, because everything on either side of Pass Road is on neighborhood business.

But but in this previous case, it was a tattoo parlor also, and it was on the same block as a strip of residential housing.

Yes, sir.

So anyway, my position on that was was that I was not in in favor of a variance for that, and I'm gonna stick with my position on this.

So that's where I stand on the issue.

Thank you.

Mr.

Marshall.

You got some?

Mr.

Creel, go ahead.

Go ahead.

Mr.

Creel, you got something?

Just a quick question.

When was the last time the LDO was updated?

Uh 2010, 2020.

Thank you.

Mr.

Marshall.

Okay.

Uh my question is really do you hold off?

My question is actually want to verify with the police uh, Mr.

Chief.

Do we have any problem in our in this city where you're getting calls about tattoo parlors?

I can't think of one time other than equipment being stolen that we got called to a tattoo parlor, maybe a disorderly person from time to time, but nothing pops in my mind other than one time some equipment was stolen.

You would get more calls about a Burger King almost than a tattoo parlor.

It's a Burger King across the street.

Uh from time to time we'll get called there, but nothing major there either.

Okay.

Thank you, sir.

Uh next question for Mr.

Weaver.

Surprised.

The uh you've been in the military for how long, sir?

37 years, eight months, 17 days.

I mean hours, sir.

A lot.

I'll have to get back with you.

I would assume all those years you traveled to a lot of military bases.

Yes, sir.

I'll throw every military base.

Have you ever seen a military base that did not have any tattoo parlors outside?

No.

It's just kind of a normal thing.

Yes.

Do they have you noticed any of them being rowdy bad causing problems?

Not in this state.

Okay.

All right.

I'm I served in in the Army Reserves and I traveled and I went to a lot of military bases, and it's just normal.

You're gonna look good at every military base you go to, go outside that gate.

You're gonna find a tattoo ball and a pizza shop.

So you got one too, then is that what you're saying?

My mama told me no.

So I I'm I'm I'm from the South, and mama say no because she did don't mean nothing.

I I don't think the tattoo parlor is up for debate or we're talking about it.

It's more of the zoning where it's located and the area of the variance that they're asking for.

It's not nothing to do with the tattoo shop.

I think it would be anything that would be in this variance, is what we're just concerned about.

That's all it's not the tattoo polar itself.

It's nothing to do with the tattoo polar.

That's all I have.

Uh council.

I don't have a tattoo either, so Mr.

Bide.

So if any councilman up here has a tattoo, do they have to recuse themselves?

No.

I I'm sorry, I digress.

Um I do have a couple questions, Director.

So I just want to do you know what my tattoo is?

We don't need to know that.

It says right here I don't want to know.

All right.

I just want to understand what you said earlier.

Out of the 13 uh planning commissioners, how many did you say voted for it and how many against it?

All of them.

All thirteen voted for it.

On this area, and this is uh pass road, correct?

That we're talking about.

So along Pass Road, uh how many conditional use uh approvals are along uh say in a one mile radius or one mile linear stretch in this area?

I don't have an exact answer for you to that, but uh uh I can tell you that the uh the other tattoo parlors that are in this area did get conditional use.

If the way that this uh shopping center is laid out, it's an L-shaped shopping center where the existing uh Mr.

Greek and those back up to those houses at face air, but this tenant space is way up on the front, right at Pass Road.

So the shopping center itself provides a buffer between the tattoo parlor and the houses that face that other direction.

Okay.

You you also I want you to clarify this.

You said that the uh property in question obtained a variance.

Yes, sir.

And again, I want to make sure I understand clearly the purpose of the variance is uh I think I heard you is when it creates a hardship for that property owner.

That's correct.

That's when it's considered to give them a variance, correct?

It gives them the argument for a variance, yeah.

So they argue for the variance and they were approved for the variance, so now they are legal as far as the use of of this property if we move forward.

There's not that it isn't anything that the property is now illegal because of that variance, they become uh eligible for conditional use.

If the city council approves this and I can issue them a business license for conditional use, a conditional use permit.

Okay.

The the chief uh has said that there's been no problems with this type of business, no criminal activity that he was aware of except the uh theft of some property.

Uh so it does doesn't seem like it would increase the risk uh to the community being on pass road, uh a known business corridor uh for this type of business should be uh kind of suitable for this area.

Is that correct?

Yes, sir.

Okay.

All right.

I have no other questions.

Are the owners are the anybody here from the tattoo place?

No.

Okay.

I'm good.

All right.

No other questions?

No other comments.

Chair will call for the question.

All in favor?

Those opposed.

Motion carries four to three.

Next item.

Resolution designated one magnolia tree as a majestic tree located within the city right of way at the southwest corner of Queerens Avenue and Esposito Street.

Chair and a motion.

I'll make a motion.

Second.

Motion by Mr.

Gray, seconded by Mr.

Tisdale.

Mr.

Gray, you have the floor.

I don't know if anybody has rode by and seen this magnolia tree, but it's uh a beautiful tree.

That's that's really good.

Okay.

That's a pretty tree.

There's a bunch of them.

There we go.

One couldn't see the tree for the forest.

Still a pretty tree.

Somewhere.

Can you do it in color?

No.

I think that's a stone.

There we go.

And this this tree is is kind of on the corner of um kind of behind Howard and Porter.

I mean, it's a tall tree.

It put you see all the shade that it puts.

So that's a I wouldn't I would like to see this as a uh majestic tree.

Yes, sir.

That's all I have.

Mr.

Tuesday, you got anything to add?

It's a pretty magnolia tree.

All right, good.

Thank you.

Uh anybody else that want to chime in on the tree and there are two seconds.

Is this the one that blooms?

Does this bloom?

Is this a magnolia that blooms?

Yeah.

Okay.

All right.

No questions.

All in favor?

Those opposed, motion carries unanimous.

Item C.

Resolution designated a live oak tree as a majestic tree located at 622 Bayview Avenue.

Chair entertain a motion.

Motion by Mr.

Marshall.

Second.

Second.

Second by Mr.

Tisdale.

Mr.

Marshall.

We good.

We're good.

Mr.

Tisdale, you good?

You look looks looks like the boogie woogging.

Mr.

Crew, are you good?

Thank you.

I'm all good.

Everybody else good with this?

I'm good.

Call for the question.

All in favor?

Mr.

Free behind the old brick house.

All opposed?

Motion carries unanimous.

Item D.

Resolution to correct a final subdivision plat for the reserve at Marshall Island subdivision.

Chair entertained a motion.

So moved.

Move by Mr.

Creel.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Second by Mr.

Tisdale.

Mr.

Creel.

So this is uh a new subdivision.

Well a new area of houses being built on your way to the causeway.

Uh the area we're uh updating is about 3,000 square foot on either side of the subdivision that was erroneously set aside for commons.

I mean uh city right-aways.

Um they noticed the uh error back in December and have submitted for it to be updated to where this is going to be the entrance uh and it'll be common area for the subdivision right here.

As you're heading towards a causeway right before you make the left, it's the um subdivision right there on the right hand side.

Um very nice subdivision and um the uh entrance is uh gonna be nice as well.

Okay.

Thank you, Mr.

Creel.

Mr.

Tisdale.

Yes.

The Jerry Creel.

If you don't mind, thank you, Jerry.

We uh I've I've never seen one of these come to us before, so I'm assuming it's very, very rare.

It's probably an oversight, but can you it it was what it is is that uh if you look at the drawing that you have, those two little triangular areas right at the entrance in the original uh subdivision plat were actually dedicated to the city.

All this is is a correction to take those two little triangular areas and give them back to the developer so that they can put entrance signs there at the entrance to the subdivision.

So what it is.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Tisdale.

Anyone else?

Any questions, comments?

Call for the question, all in favor?

Those opposed.

Motion carries unanimous item E.

Resolution authorizing facility rental agreement with discipleship 33 ministries and a previous reduction of facility rental fees for the Pops Ferry pickleball courts.

Chair entertain a motion.

I'll make a motion.

All right, by Mr.

Gray, is there a second?

Second.

Second by Mr.

Marshall.

Mr.

Gray, you have the floor.

Is is anybody here with the uh 33 ministry?

Come up and talk.

Jamie.

Can you just I mean I know this program?

I mean, Chief Miller has talked uh highly of this program.

Right.

Um everything, all the information that was brought to us.

This group is is doing a fundraiser pickleball tournament out of Pops Ferry, and any of the proceeds that are made off this tournament will actually go back into the discipleship 33 ministries organization.

So it's it's a fundraiser for that organization.

So they rent a whole pickleball two days, all 12 courts, 50 percent reduction.

Okay.

That's all I have.

Uh I have a question, Jamie.

Uh Mr.

Lee, uh what is your estimated cost for a little small event like this?

What is our cost?

Our cost for a two-day event.

Very minimal because we don't man the facility.

We you know, the pickleball courts at Pops Ferry have a tumbler lock that that we don't have to man.

Um so everything is available to the renter, you know, other than maybe some trash bags or things like that, but they are responsible for taking their own trash and things like that.

So as far as manpower or resources, not unless something happens during the tournament, maybe a uh plumbing issue or something like that, we would be responsible for.

Thank you.

Yes, sir.

Mr.

Marshall?

Uh Mr.

Creel, then your war.

Yep.

Go ahead.

Mr.

Creel.

So, Jimmy, real quick, just looking at the uh exhibits that were attached to this.

Uh Mr.

Arrent, um, he estimated the number of participants at 200 plus.

However, on the security arrangements, the total number of individuals is expected to attend is 120.

Um I'm assuming that there's a cost associated with 120 and there would be an increased cost associated with the 200 plus.

Is that would that be fair to say?

I'm not sure on that with with the PD.

Um, you know, normally, I mean, of course, I don't want to speak for chief by any means, but you know, on a on a event like this, normally the PD will just do an extra parole or something around just due to the nature of the event.

You know, you start getting a lot of people or an outdoor event with alcohol and things like that, of course, you know, police presence.

You know, so it's but how how often do we rent the pickleball courts exclusively like this?

Uh, because I know maybe I could count them on one hand.

Okay.

Is it so so the reduction is two seventy-five and it's the total is five fifty.

So uh that would lead me to believe that it's two seventy-five per day to rent?

Correct.

It's $300 for one day.

Then if you rent it for two days, it goes to $275 per day for the two days.

And then is there a deposit?

There is a deposit.

And that has been paid.

That has been paid.

Yes, sir.

Um there so based on the patrol, are there alcohol uh is there officers that would be dedicated to this area or I I'm just looking at traffic with uh and then the discrepancy, you got 120, then you got 200 plus.

So now you're looking at additional cars coming in and out of that area right there.

Uh no, typically on an event like this, um if there's alcohol involved, he's correct.

Then they have to uh all city facilities, you have to have an officer present.

But in events like this, uh typically we just extra patrol them, uh put it out to the patrol ship that's working, so it's no extra cost to the city.

Uh if it were something that they had to have an officer, then we have we use our off-duty management company, and the renter is responsible for paying the officer.

Okay.

Uh and then Mr.

Arrant has a uh the proposed time is 8 a.m.

to 5 p.m.

However, on the security request, we're at 8 a.m.

to 6 p.m.

So what time would this event conclude do we expect?

I can't answer that, but under normal circumstances, usually the times that they request with us or the times they put on the security forms.

Um it may it may be as simple as the tournament goes from eight to five, then they clean up from five to six, but I really can't answer that question.

Well, I I guess the only reason I'm asking for an answer is simply because you and I both know how well attended those pickleball courts are.

We're displacing the avid pickleballers that are there on a weekend.

Sure.

And and they're going to be looking to play.

So I don't know whether to tell them 6 p.m.

or 5 p.m.

Um I think that's something that I can find out if if if need be, yes, sir.

Okay.

All right, that's all thank you.

Mr.

Tuesday.

Yeah, I just want to clarify my clarify my vote.

I'm not supporting this again.

I've uh sure not approved probably 90 percent of these rental facility agreements.

Yes, just for financial reasons.

Thank you.

Yes, sir.

Mr.

Schubek, nothing.

Any what else?

Yeah, now that's 33 ministry.

They are this I want to say this is a uh sobriety, uh like a rehab for alcohol and and uh and drug and alcohol treatment plant having facility.

So there wouldn't be no alcohol involved.

I hope not.

So I I I would support it.

I mean, this is getting them something to do and getting them off the street.

All right.

There have been no other questions, call for the uh question.

All in favor?

Those opposed?

Two three, two, three, four.

Passes four to three.

So moved.

Moved by Mr.

Creel.

Second.

Seconded by Mr.

Tuesday, Mr.

Creel.

Let's see here.

Um item C.

So this is um our creative way of of um assisting with overtime for for police department.

Yes.

Um appreciate uh took a lot of time, a lot of due diligence, and a lot of sacrifice on your end for you to come up and uh forego these monies, and I think uh uh kudos goes out to you and and Mr.

Weaver for sitting down and coming up with half a million dollars uh in your budget.

So my questions were these large cuts, these large expenditures, for example, other debt principal, the 130,000.

Um are you uh what are we for going in in that area just in 20 words or less?

So we're not foregoing anything.

Um what we did was October 1st, we started looking at everything.

Uh the team did a great job and physically responsible, and we were able to not forgo anything.

We're still getting everything that we but asked for, requested, need and the money was there to be able to move to this account.

Perfect.

Uh and just looking at these real quick, you got machinery equipment rental, 33,000, and then a small tools with 36,000.

Is that something that maybe we're putting off until next year that we don't need now, or is that just gonna go away indefinitely?

No, again, being fiscally responsible.

Let's say they had to buy a hammer for 50 bucks.

No, they were able to find it for 25 bucks, you know, things like that.

So that's where I want to.

That's whether that's so that's more or less savings than foregoing.

Yes, sir.

Perfect.

And then your convention uh and and conference training that is are you are we sending less officers for the training, or how does that still send them to the same schools, uh academies, everything.

Um we're hosting a lot of stuff here in Biloxi at our new training facility, which has helped us out tremendously uh at the end of this year.

This will be our first full year in it, so we'll be able to show the the cost savings there that weren't able to project in the past.

Great.

Thank you again for your efforts on that.

Much appreciated.

And I'm I'm sure your staff appreciates it as well now.

So uh kind of lightens the load on you guys right there.

Um let's see.

Uh so I know it was discussed earlier with um uh real quick on item J.

And it's just a vague question, is a lot of the things that we have put up for surplus in recent um agendas.

Have have we sold anything?

I mean have we do we have uh yeah item J it's just declared surplus.

It's a I know we have done a lot with the police department, we've done some for parks and public work.

So uh it have we have we benefited any on on any of the auctions and and sold and yeah, off the top of my head, I can tell you that um for instance we had two old TIHs, we sold them for twelve thousand dollars.

So did Mike Nale buy one?

But but the whole list I couldn't tell you about, but we have sold quite a bit throughout all the departments.

Yeah, and I and I don't know if we need that update or not, but it would just on a random basis.

If we could say, hey, surplus, if we get you know, we we capitalize on that there.

Um I know we talked about OP and Q.

So um and we brought that up and consolidating.

So 1073 included water and sewer, where 1025 was just mostly for paving.

And so one was citywide paving and the other was municipal repairs to include the water and sewer, correct?

Correct.

So now we're just putting water sewer, municipal repairs, and citywide paving into one.

Correct.

Okay, and then so what we carry over is just the encumbered and the budget available.

Correct.

All right, and that's for all of them.

For the GO for the uh the capital projects and for water and sewer.

Correct.

Okay.

Perfect.

Thank you.

Um okay, so item S.

I just quick clarification from my side.

So it looks like this was denied in 2022, but then there was an appeal.

Yes.

Their preliminary platup leave was denied.

This develop this agreement here is where they needed to do an off-site water line to serve their subdivision.

And we entered into a uh basically this MOU with them because we wanted to upsize the water line to a 16 so that we can get better service, uh better pressure for going up Shorecrest.

And so we came to this agreement where we buy the materials, they'll install it at no charge to the city.

So the only question is I think it's 175,000 that's inflated cost because is there a reason why we didn't buy the materials back?

Well when we entered into the agreement?

Yes, because when we first entered into the agreement, um they discovered there is a gas main crossing.

Well, they knew there was a gas main crossing, but they had a hiccup with the gas company getting permission to cross that gas main, uh one of those high high pressure gas mains.

And so they said, can we hold off because we're not sure what this is going to do?

If they had to bore underneath that gas main, the cost is going to come on much higher.

So we held off at their request because they weren't really sure how it was going to impact the whole project, to be con to be honest at all.

Um the whole project overall.

So that was why we held off on it.

And then I I'm assuming that that money is included and we we have that money that we have that money, yes.

That money that would those projects were consolidating.

We we kind of left some money in there to purchase these materials with that with that money that um that in OP and Q.

Okay.

Um perfect.

That's all.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Mr.

Tuesday.

Yes, on on um the consent agenda item A, I'm just checking the last financial report I had access to.

Um indicated that under community relations that line item, there was $1,500 available.

But in this instance, we're authorizing the expenditure of $2,500.

I don't so we're expending more money than we have in that line item.

But February report, we may have that line item may have increased, I don't know, or maybe it's a typo, or maybe I didn't read it properly.

I'll get back to you as far as on the actual money, but we will move the money over.

This is the same thing that we've done for several years now.

Gotcha.

The only visitor's guide for the city of Biloxy.

Right.

That's what it is.

As we go through this, you see the Biloxi, Main Street, Bay Area Chamber, all of us contribute to that.

So this is the one that goes out to everyone and allow them to have actually a visitor's guide of what's going on with the City of Beluxi.

And I don't have a problem with the expenditure, it's just the numbers and the bookkeeping.

All right.

On um item C.

This is uh this is the police overtime.

I just want to make a comment really.

I know that generally the overtime, just in looking at the numbers over the years historically, runs anywhere from 900,000 a year, maybe to 1.1 or 2.6.

To 2.6, okay.

It's it's a chunk.

And uh uh again, just I'm making a note that we just really need to work with the best figures we have when it comes to working on the fiscal year 27 budget.

Yes, sir.

So anyway, that's all.

Thank you.

I think you're doing a great job, Chief.

Thank you.

Um item I I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

You can just give me a head nod one way or another.

You don't have to get up again.

Um item I this deals with riot rocket front cameras.

I'm assuming these are cameras for the front of the vehicle.

Or yes, sir.

That's the uh they hook into the rocket system, which is basically your network.

Um that's the upfits for our 10 new vehicles.

Good deal.

That's what I figured, but I wanted to be sure.

Thank you, sir.

Um next item is item K.

Uh let's see.

Resolution amending budget recognize uh interest.

All right, the bond, the bond was issued nine years ago.

Right.

Okay, so why are we st we haven't spent this bond money in nine years?

Bear with me for a moment, Rachel.

I just recall Jason Thomas, who may or may no longer be here, but he's not is he hiding behind you, Jane?

Okay.

No.

Okay.

Okay.

I'm just I that comment keeps rattling around in my head that Jason made that we really need to have these funds for lack of the proper term committed to be spent within three years or whatever.

I would assume that applies to these limited limited tax port bonds.

Certain percentage.

A certain percentage.

But there are also where you can extend that.

No.

Once we sit below the 85 percent, then we're good.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is nine years ago we need we needed to have these money with this money we sold the bonds, and yet nine years later, I'm assuming that we would have addressed whatever issues we are going to address.

This is the interest that's remaining.

Okay.

I think it was I think the last invoice was a thousand dollars.

And that was the end of the but we're recognizing the interest that remains in a bank account.

So it's not a matter of holding beyond the holding the principal.

I get that.

Uh do we we just don't have any projects to spend it on in the past, or we what are we hanging on to it for?

I guess what this is this is a bigger question and help me understand.

Because we're talking about a bond issue now, and if we're going to borrow this money, I'm assuming we have a plan to spend it.

We've got a timeline to spend it, and we know what projects we're gonna do.

Well, let me say this.

We're going back to the $14 million bond.

Yeah, we borrowed the other day, you know, years ago for the AG Halloween.

We accrued something like because of the time what we borrowed it for, and by the time we spent it, we accrued interest.

Okay.

Now $14 million, it's about $600,000.

Sure.

Right.

And we didn't recognize it until we finished uh so we had to do a similar thing for about $600,000 of that.

And this is similarly what we what we did, so you got $50,000 residual that we want to put some place else.

Never but interest usually we go until we get very into the deal.

All right.

So gone, then there's that.

Well we're supposed to be spent on the project and now sure.

And in this case, we're talking we're talking about $13,000.

That's correct.

Okay.

So this is this interest is going to be or do we have plans to spend it, or what fund is it going to be, or what line item is it going to be dumped into?

It's going into the port repair project.

Okay, project 1102, port and peer repairs.

I take it that we always have there's always some kind of port or peer to repair.

We got so many of them.

That would be an accurate statement, right?

Okay.

Um next item.

Let's see if we did okay.

Let's look at item in the if I read this correctly and maybe I did not.

But same word.

Are we hiring a driver for a city supervisor?

Am I in that is um our our previous uh temp employee um contracts did not allow for their temp employees to drive a city vehicle.

Well, we have a rare occasion where we might be out working and we need to send a temp employee to go run and get something.

Okay.

And so basically we walk we worked through the issue of that with them.

They can't drive another TIMP employee, they can't drive any other city employees other than a supervisor.

It's a it's an express employment policy, but um they can they can get in a car themselves and like run back to the shop and get more weed eater string or shovel or whatever.

Okay, so we're we're not gonna drive around say Mr.

A bought all day every day in the city bill.

We would love to, but we're not going to today.

Long long drive on the short peer.

All right, thank you.

All right, if if we could look at OPQ and S kind of as a group, in O, we're creating municipal repairs and maintenance, and we're combining P and Q.

We're closing those projects.

And with the transfers, we ultimately end up putting, I think it's about a little less than 1.2 million into project 1127.

That would be accurate.

Correct.

And item S, we're also uh paying that, I guess 175,000 out of project 1127.

Correct.

Correct.

And that is for what we talked about, the waterline, Southern Magnolia Place Sivision.

Correct.

Okay.

And that is not a project that we've talked about as for possibly including into this bond issue, this proposed or generically referred to $18 million bond issue, correct?

No.

Okay.

So we don't do we have any other financial responsibilities for Southern Magnolia Place subdivision?

I know.

That's it.

Okay.

Good deal.

Thank you.

All right.

Let's let's go back to for some discussion on project 1127.

I've been on the council a dozen years and never crossed you explained it earlier, I think, Christy, due to age.

But basically it does make sense to close these projects.

Again, one involved was created in 2017, the other in 2019.

And in uh the one created in 2017, that's going to be Capital Project 1025.

We're moving the balance of that, I think is almost 901,000.

900,00840.

Okay.

Why since we've we opened that project nine years ago, that's bond money, I'm assuming, correct?

It's inner I might have had bond money, some bond money in it, but mainly internet use tax money.

Is there bond monies?

It might be a little bit, yeah.

Okay.

Yeah.

And again, we opened you know this project in 2017, and here we are nine years later.

We still hadn't spent all of that stuff.

Right.

Uh whatever money that amounted to.

But you also said that some of that 900,000 comes from the would that be MIMA, the MIMA check?

The majority of this money in these two is is MIMA money.

That's where we do, we put the MIMA money to do the repair place projects.

Sure.

All right.

So all of this is going to go into these funds are going to go into 1127.

So 1127 is what, just a parking lot for these funds right now?

Yes.

Yeah.

Yes.

Okay.

No, that's that's right.

I get that.

Okay.

I'm trying to take this a step at a time.

So my next question is now that we have roughly uh what almost uh 1.1 million, because we're looking at projects associated with this bond money, perhaps.

We're looking at bond money.

We're looking at uh MIMA funds, Mississippi Infrastructure Modernization Act, and then now we've got another 1.2 million that could be used for some of those projects that we're talking about funding, possibly with that bond issue.

So to keep it straight in my mind and for my colleagues up here, we've got MIMA funds, we're gonna receive those checks.

We've got this pot of money, which is some bond money, old bond money, and some MIMA money.

Are there any other funds besides MIMA dollars and bond money or no?

Is that pretty much it?

I don't think there's any bond left in this.

Okay, there may not be.

And it's it's it's not that big a question.

Could be a few dollars, could be likely not significant.

But my point is with all these projects we're looking at, and we haven't with this bond issue looming, we've really not determined, bear with me.

We've really not determined what projects.

I know the mayor has some projects he'd like to see done.

I know my colleagues up here have projects they'd like to see done.

So we have the possibility of $18 million.

We don't know if we're gonna borrow that much, but we could borrow up to $18 million.

The sources of funding that we have are the whatever bond money we get.

We might only need nine million.

We might need $12 million.

We might whittle that number down to $6 million.

But then we have these other sources of funding and future funding.

And this project $1127, which looks like it would fit the bill for MIMA funds for the most part.

But is is that and that's how I have all this structured in my mind.

Is that is is that accurate?

Let me say something real quick.

This is not future monies.

This is monies that have been collected MIMA-wise that we committed to projects.

Rachel, jump in if you hear something different.

This is money that we've already collected from over the course of years that we committed to some thought of what project we were going to use.

It was MIMA qualified stuff.

So we're just moving that we which we didn't nail down what we could use at.

So this is not future monies.

This is stuff that we've already committed.

We've already got the money's hanging somewhere.

Not the future, not the future uh uh 3.5 six million uh uh a year.

This is only what has already been done that's time to to move and consolidate it to another place.

Right.

Okay.

And I I would also like to add that we haven't always had this this 1.1 million dollars just sitting there.

Um back in December when we finished up the Bay Vista Waterwell project and we were able to move that um MCWI money around, we we transferred 621,000 into this project.

So it wasn't that this money's just been sitting there doing nothing.

We had it allocated in another project that when we discovered it wasn't needed there, it got moved here.

So um it's not again, we're not moving money around.

We're moving the source for a project.

The money was always been in in a MIMA account.

The money's already been there.

You just made the budget for a particular project and drawing interest on the on the depository.

Correct.

Okay.

So now that we have this one almost 1.2 million sitting there in project 1125.

Now it's it's not related to a project, it's related to us.

Okay.

It's a pot of money, but here's my question.

So what projects are we going to spend that on?

Well, that's what we're going to try and determine.

Yeah, usually we use this is repair replaced.

So if we have something that so right now we don't have anything lined up under repair replace to happen.

There are lots of things that could happen.

It's just things like when we have a washout in a road that's a little bit too big for public works to do.

It's it's that money.

Okay.

Right now, there's nothing specific other than the 16-inch water line on Shorecrest.

There's nothing lined up for this.

Understood.

At this moment.

Understood.

Understood.

So my question is then, again, I'm getting to how much money do we need to ask for in this bond issue.

That's that's that's that's what I'm leading to here.

But let me finish, please.

Because we know what projects we'd like to see done in our ward.

I know, Mayor, you've got three or four, I think four type projects.

There are things that you'd like to see done with this money, but we have yet to determine which projects we're going to do and how much it's going to cost.

Once we can determine that, then we can look at the MIMA funds that we will receive, the bond money that we'll be asking for, and then this pot of 1.1 or 1.2 million.

We might use some of that in order to lower the bond money that we have to borrow.

That's the only point I'm trying to make here.

That's all that's all I'm saying.

Respond.

Provided a list.

One uh the first part of the list was 12 point something million dollars worth of MIMA quali MIMA qualified projects in every one of the wards.

And again, the residual of that 12 million was another nine million, which almost you know, a little bit over eight million, which were not qual things for uh projects wouldn't be qualified for that.

That's the list.

I didn't those are things that have been identified.

None of them were my projects, they were all in the in someone's ward.

That's you know, that's how you determine.

What do you want to use?

What do you want to do?

This is not mine, it's yours.

You all decide what you want to do, total it up, it's estimated.

It's also estimated how many days it takes to design it, how many days it takes to deliver.

And that determines whether we have three years or enough money to to use to uh you know pay for the MIMA stuff or even uh uh uh the for a bond, you you have the the timing necessary to to pull it off in in three years, or 85 percent of it in three years.

Those are the projects.

I've delivered that uh you know in spreadsheet form to every one of you.

Pick what you want, total it up.

That's why we go forward.

With all due respect, Mayor, I mean that sincerely.

We want your input on this to say, because we've got a list that totals probably 19 million.

But probably depending on which projects are still in there may have removed it, may be as much as twenty-three million, but what's four million among friends?

My point, my point is that we need to have some dialogue with the administration to select the projects we're going to do to be sure that I don't want to put words in the mouth of any councilman, so that we're all on the same page with how much we're going to borrow, what it's going to be used for, and a timeline that these projects are going to get done.

A plan.

Again, I there are at least 60 projects that have listed out within the gentlemen.

I think we're drifting off toward the budget and bonds and all that kind of stuff.

Let's stay on track with these items.

But um there are these resolutions saying we're going to take money and we're going to place it in these accounts.

That is the decision we got to make if we're going to approve these resolutions or not approve them today.

So let's let's try to let's try to stick to the relevance of of these resolutions, because we can't do anything until we start talking about spending bond money.

That isn't what's before us today.

So that could have been part of your council report or your mayor's report.

But let's let's try to stick within these resolutions, please.

Let me finish one.

I've made my point.

My comments are concluded.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Tisdale.

Yes, Mr.

Mayor.

One more point.

If you look at an accounting entry for this, this is a budgetary move.

It has to do with budgetary uh actions.

It would be a budget uh amendment to uh not moving the money around, just committing the money for this budget.

All right, noted, Mr.

Marshall.

You can go ahead.

Mr.

Tuesday, you finished?

Uh I'm done.

Mr.

Marshall, I'll come back to you.

All right.

Recently it's been a little you know, I'm concerned about the MIMA funds.

Okay.

The MIMA funds that we just with the last disbursement of MINA MIMA funds.

Is this any of that included in this?

No.

Okay.

What is that fund?

Where are those funds at?

They're not budgeted.

They're in an account.

The dollars that back up these forces, the budgetary accounts are still in that account.

They're not budgeted yet.

They don't show up in the budget.

They're still budgeted towards the ones we're trying to move it from one budget to the other.

The money is still there.

We didn't spend it until we were spent it.

Are we talking about the same?

Are we talking about the same MIMA funds?

How long have we had these MIMA funds that you're talking about?

Um off the top of my head, I don't know, but it's not our two or three recent payments that we've gotten.

Do you know how old these MIMA funds?

Yeah.

We get the project budget follows.

Yeah.

I could yeah, I could probably go back and find the last time we did a transfer in of MIMA funds and let you know.

This is what funds to the MIMA funds from this is funds that are tied to budget.

Trying to set up a new air project because by definition, never end.

They're always at large manage.

So we're trying to close out air project.

One clean air project.

No additional funds requested whatsoever, just a transfer into a new project.

But to be clear, those funds that you are transferring are allocated in this year.

What we approved in this budget to be spent, we just don't know when those projects are going to uh pop up, but we know historically we've had to do repair and replace if a water lines break or if some emergency happens, and that's what these funds are intended for and have been budgeted for, to be clear, different from the MIMA funds that have been allocated for something that's in dispute.

Yes, so to speak.

That's right.

Is that clarified a little bit, Mr.

Morris?

27.

Okay, before it, what do we use?

I don't remember off the top of my head what we use before.

Some of these four.

Yes, they do.

They all have multiple sources.

There's some 39 dollars on the money.

Correct.

And then there is the rest of the smile funds for prior.

There's a no addition on the funds.

Okay, now I want to just be clear because I don't understand.

Are we mixing restricted funds?

Like like say the uh did you look detail at this resolution?

The one for 1025.

There are three paragraphs.

There's an object, there's an organ, there's an org, an object, and a project.

That org tells us what kind of money it is, which correlates to what you can and cannot do with that money.

So it's not mixing funds to use multiple sources inside of one project.

That's very common.

It's actually rare that you have a single source project.

What about enterprise funds?

Enterprise.

There's no enterprise funds.

Uh I think there might be some water sewer coming out of but that too is fine because that's segregated.

There's there is so we are putting we are putting enterprise funds with the remaining Miami funds on in one account.

They don't go in one account.

That's why you're seeing these different parts.

They are they're multiple accounts.

That's why you're seeing those sections that say GOB223C.

But they're going to 1127.

Each source has its own individual line items.

So the funds are not co-mete.

Okay.

If you look at the one that's closing 1025, section one.

It's 18,367.

And that is in line item 3C00658 C 1127.

That 3C that isolates it.

The monies are not commingling because they are in different line items.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you.

I'm good.

All right.

Mr.

Creel, just one just clarifying section in.

Uh I mean uh item N on the uh temp.

Um so resolution 5422 had a a price per hour, but we're increasing that.

So was that did that resolution at that $17.39?

Was that for a period of time, or do they just come back to you arbitrarily and increase it from the 17 to the 1739 to 1797?

Uh item in does include a pay raise for your temp employees.

I was just seeing if we were under a contract for a certain length of time at a certain hour per hour, or uh no, I need to check on that because it wasn't supposed to be any increase.

Okay.

Um in hourly rate.

Yeah.

So uh let me I will check on that.

If maybe y'all want to just hold that, ask them to hold that or pull that till we have a chance to look at it.

Item in okay, sure.

Thank you.

I didn't catch that.

We'll get to the table.

All right.

I got I got a qu is anybody else, Mr.

Schumacher.

You got any items?

Anyone had any other items on here?

Item F, it's a hundred thousand dollar expenditure.

It's for control panels for list stations.

Just kind of elaborate on that.

I notice a lot of them are in Ward 6, Live Oak on the Bay, that's by Brody Road, Commerce Park by Santa Maria Del Mar, Loves Truck Stop, by Holly Bluff, Lamey Street, by Pelican Bayou, and then Rue Pop Cali Fox, which is not in Ward 6.

But what are we doing there?

We're upgrading, or they're just getting old or or what?

Yes, we're we're they're getting old.

We're trying to change to new technology.

Um and and also they're just they just are wearing out some of them.

Okay.

So this is what this is the panels that control the station, tell it that the power, tell it when to turn on, when to turn off.

It it communicates back with our SCADA system, which is what what we can look at um on our computers to see how the station's running or if it's down.

Um so we've been trying to.

We have to do a little at a time because you can see they're very expensive.

We have 120 stations.

So before we had a depend on the red flashing light and go turn them off or on manually or something like that.

This this helps us a little bit more with the technology.

Yes, we're we're trying to get to cellular technology where it'll automatically send us text messages and things.

So yeah.

Good.

It's us upgrading.

It's going to take a while, but we're going to get there.

Good job.

Good job.

That's all I have.

Is anybody else uh want to rehash something on the consent?

Kerry, you want you got something?

I will.

Mr.

Creel, would you like to make that motion or yes uh um at the proper time I'd like to make a motion that we table uh consent agenda five in for one week?

All right, we got you.

Second by who?

Second by Mr.

Tisdale.

Any discussion, Mr.

Creel?

Uh none.

Mr.

Tisdale.

Anyone else?

All in favor?

Those opposed.

Motion carries now.

I will call for uh approval of the consent.

We'll get the exceptions uh afterwards.

Um all in favor of the consent.

Do I have a motion for the approval?

For the consent?

Yep.

All right.

It's already been first and second.

All in favor of the consent.

All opposed.

Motion carries exceptions, Mr.

Gray.

None.

Mr.

Marshall.

Come back to me.

Mr.

Nale?

None.

Mr.

Creel?

None.

Mr.

Tisdale?

No on item E.

Mr.

Schumacher?

Mr.

Marshall?

No.

And I have no exceptions.

Thank you, gentlemen.

Code enforcement hearings.

Oh.

Yeah, no, no, no.

I was going to say before he gets started on code enforcement.

Can I make a comment regarding codes of code enforcement?

Yes, I'll go ahead and uh a little bit out of order, but go ahead, Mr.

Creel.

Just real quick.

Uh hey guys, we we need to be kind when we look into these.

Keep in mind when we when he hits this gavel, we send a crew out there and we're paying for this, right?

So looking at the numbers since for a while, we're in excess of about $300,000 that we've not collected in in uh outstanding uh code enforcement uh payments.

So, you know, it gets attached to their tax uh to their to the taxes and their liens, but at the same time collecting from the the counties uh is a is another story.

So I'm not saying we need to be more lenient on how we're doing this, but at the same time, as we're doing it, please take that in mind that we're paying in advance and hoping to get paid back.

So thank you.

Any other comments on the council regarding Mr.

Creel's comments?

So we just let the grass grow and Ms.

Creel's ward cut everything else?

Call Mike Nail.

All right.

All right.

Thank you, General.

Let's get started.

Code enforcements will go ahead and open it up, Mr.

Mr.

Jerry Creel.

Okay.

Item A, 2466 West Beach Boulevard LLC.

Uh this is in Ward 5, and that case has been resolved.

Item B, the estate of Daniel Hanford, 434 at Dyas Avenue.

This is in Ward 1.

This property is still in violation.

Can you tell us the Yes sir?

The structure part of this.

We we got called out there.

Uh the police department.

Uh tip a lot of times what happens is the police will get called to a location and then they'll inform us y'all really need to come take a look at this.

So code enforcement went out there.

The floor is collapsing inside of this building.

Uh they had dogs in there.

Uh I have talked to uh Mr.

Hant Ms.

Hanford and her son, and they are not opposed to it being taken down.

If you'll approve this, it would include involve demolishing the structure and removing the uh uh vehicles that are on the property.

So we're doing a demolition on this property.

Yes, sir.

I rode by there and it's pretty bad shape.

Yep, it is.

And it's more of a hazard than it is anything.

And homeless people are going in and out of it too.

So thank you.

Uh any other comments?

Yeah, I do.

I got one.

Mr.

I'm right, Mr.

Creel.

So if we approve this, we have to pay to you can't go after the people and make them try to tear down first?

Well, what we do, I can tell you these people don't have the means to tear it down.

Uh I've I've known them for a long time.

And uh we've worked with them before to get it done, but it's gotten to a point now where uh it just can't be saved.

So if you put those extra uh assessment uh on there for us tearing it down, then uh whoever buys it or or retains it or buys it has to pay for those extra charges.

That's correct.

That special assessment will be on it.

We recoup it when the property if and when it is is sold.

Yes, sir.

Okay.

What's the timeline?

So typically and typically they will when it gets redeemed, there's interest running on that amount.

So it's true it may take us a year or two to collect it, but we are collecting interest on that special assessment.

All right.

Mr.

Creel?

So uh is no one living in the house now?

No.

Okay.

So do we have estimated costs on how much it would cost to tear this down?

Uh not yet, but if the council approves this, that's what we do.

Anytime there's a demolition involved, Keith has to advertise for bids on a demolition.

If it's just cutting grass, we get the bid, the quotes on it.

But he will advertise it for 30 days and then we'll open open uh sealed bids.

Okay.

And you had made reference uh earlier that um you've dealt with this family before.

Do we know if any, how many assessments we already have on the tax rolls that are uncollected?

On this property?

Yes.

Uh I don't know.

Uh honestly don't know, Mr.

Creel.

But you know we've dealt with them before and they've been in code enforcement.

Yes, sir.

So quite possibly we could have assessments on this property.

It could be now.

Let me just tell you, up until recently, the way that it worked is that uh Michael Janice and I put this together and he actually got it passed through the the state.

Uh in the past, years ago, we would have to fund the money to clean up a property, and then the only time that we ever got our money back was when the property sold.

But when Michael got this passed through the state, it set it up so that every year when someone goes in to pay their taxes, if there's a special assessment on it, they had to write one check to cover the taxes and the special assessment.

Now, something's happened in the last year where there's some confusion over there.

But as far as I know, the policy is still in place over there that the county collects the taxes and the special assessment at the same time.

I think the numbers I'm looking at for 2025, we've collected 20 percent of what's being assessed.

And I mean at one time we were up to almost 90.

That's right.

And now we're we're back down to 20 in 2025.

A lot of times those are going into the tax sale, and then the tax the person who purchases the taxes, there's a two-year period for it has can be redeemed.

So now we we do have trouble sometimes when nobody buys the property and it goes to the state, then the State of Mississippi owns it, and we do then have to wait until they try to sell it or and so there's there's a few like that that the State of Mississippi has that we're still still holding the debt on.

One or more than seven, absolutely.

Yeah, I know I mean 90 and then drop to 56.

I mean, so we're we're on the down, we're heading in the wrong direction with collections.

That's my only common.

The main thing is we're cleaning the property up and we're making sure it's safe and it's not a hazard, and that's important.

And there's a it may be a price tag on it, but we'll have to find you know that common ground.

Any other uh comments on this piece of property?

Uh is there anyone here for the estate of Daniel Hanford uh 434 Daniel?

I'm sorry, Diaz Avenue.

Uh wanna speak.

No one, this case is closed.

Okay.

Item C, Reginald Jerome Lechner et al.

219 Kuhn Street.

This property is still in violation.

And what we have here is just three uh uh junk vehicles that need to be removed.

Is there anyone here to speak on behalf of Reginald Jerome Lechner at all?

219 Kuhn Street?

There being no one, this case is closed.

Item D, Margie C.

O'Neill, 1607 Pringle Circle.

Uh this property is still in violation.

What ward was that in?

Ward one.

Ward one.

This one They were granted a 30-day extension February 10th.

They were.

What happened is uh Miss O'Neill passed away.

Her son contacted us and said that if we would give him 30 days, he would get it cleaned up, and it hasn't been cleaned up.

And it's all all of what you see is visible from the road.

So if the council passes this, we'll get a contractor to clean it up.

Has it been touched at all?

No, sir.

Anyone here to speak on behalf of Margie C.

O'Neill?

1607 Pringle Circle?

There being no one in this case, it's closed.

Item E, saying Van Tran, 680 Swan Lane.

This uh case has been resolved.

All right.

Code enforcement hearings are now closed.

Motion on the routine?

So moved.

Move by Mr.

Creel.

Second.

Second by Mr.

Tisdale, Mr.

Creel.

No comments.

All right.

Mr.

Tisdale?

Nothing.

Any questions by any other council members on the routine?

All in favor?

Opposed?

Motion carries.

Mr.

Tuesdale, you want to?

Yes, thank thank you, Mr.

President.

I'd like us to adjourn in memory of Sarah Miller.

We'll all second it.

Thank you.

All in favor?

Those opposed?

Motion carries.

David.

We're at.

Stop.

Stop.

All right.

Let Taco O Tuesday begin.

So guess what?