Southaven Board of Aldermen Meeting – February 3, 2026
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Southaven Board of Aldermen Meeting – February 3, 2026
The Southaven Board of Aldermen met on February 3, 2026, to approve multiple contracts, resolutions, and reports. Key actions included approving a fire department software contract, a resolution taxing short-term rentals as hotels, a generator project design contract, July 4th fireworks contract, a parks variance, a human trafficking task force MOU, and street beautification projects. The mayor provided a winter storm debriefing and previewed upcoming initiatives.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of minutes from the January 20, 2026 meeting (unanimous).
- IT contract with Unity for internet/phone services (noted for minutes, no cost).
- Fire department contract with Mississippi Medicaid for billing revalidation (authorized unanimously).
- Parks variance for DIC PAC event at Snowden House on April 14, allowing beer service (approved unanimously).
- Personnel document as presented (unanimous).
- Utilities billing link adjustment docket (unanimous).
- Claims docket in the amount of $1,736,960.63 (unanimous).
Discussion Items
- Fire Department Software Contract: City Attorney Nick Manley presented a contract with Image Trend LLC to replace incident reporting software for fire and EMS. Cost: one-time $4,360 and recurring $27,630. Approved unanimously.
- Hotel Tax Resolution: Senate Bill 2805 clarifies that short-term rental facilitators (e.g., Airbnb, Vrbo) are subject to hotel taxes. Resolution authorized mayor's signature. Approved unanimously.
- Facilities Contract with Canup Engineering: $7,000 lump sum to update specs, review bids, and inspect the SPD generator project. Approved unanimously.
- Parks Contract with Argo Entertainment: $40,000 for July 4th fireworks and entertainment at Snowden. Approved unanimously.
- Police Department Human Trafficking Task Force MOU: Authorized participation with Mississippi Attorney General's office for coordination and intelligence sharing. Approved 6-1 (Alderman Jerome voted no).
- Nail Roads Beautification Task Order: Quality Landscaping to provide streetscape design and irrigation for median from Tulahoma to Gatwell Road, funded through city education funds. Approved unanimously.
- Mayor's Report: Thanked all departments for winter storm response; announced DC congressional briefing trip March 18-20 (three aldermen slots, notify Christy Faulkner by 9 a.m. next day); previewed upcoming billboard sign ordinance update; Mike Mullins tribute hall unveiling moved to February 17; Greenbrook signs completed.
- City Attorney's Legal Update:
- Approved record rotation list for police towing (American Towing, Auto Rescue, Choice Towing, Griffet Towing, KE Towing and Transport, Robert's Automotive and Towing). Unanimous.
- Authorized activation of MPO process for two projects: Airways overlay from Nail to Church Road and Getwell Road multi-use trail from Church to Star Landing. Mayor noted trail connectivity from Central Park to Snowden Grove to Star Landing. Unanimous.
- Fire department uniforms: Recommended higher bid of $4,295 per uniform from Emergency Equipment Professionals (EEP) over lower bid of $4,202 from Mid-South Solutions, citing better service and local inventory. Approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- All consent and discussion items were approved except one vote against the human trafficking MOU.
- Claims docket approved for $1,736,960.63.
- Executive session declared for claims against police department, economic development, utilities personnel, fire personnel, public works personnel, and interdepartmental personnel (no action).
Meeting Transcript
Gallagher. Please remain standing after that with a pledge of allegiance led by Alderman Lars George Payne. Heavenly Father, we bless your holy name, and we're thankful that you give us an opportunity to meet. Lord, I pray that you would uh be in our meeting, Lord Jesus, and let every decision come through you, Lord. Lord, I just want to uh pray for the uh Wright family who uh lost a couple of family members, Lord, and just pray that you would uh be with them and see your holy spirit to comfort the family in your name we pray. Amen. One nation individual. First on the agenda this evening is the approval of minutes for the January 20, 2000, excuse January 20, 2026 meeting. Second. We have a motion of Alderman Hook, second by Alderman Payne. During discussion. Hearing none, roll call. Alderman Payne. Yes. Alderman Lewis? Yes. Alderman Hoops? Yes. Alterman Jerome. Yes. Alterman Gallagher. Yes. Yes. That motion carries. Next on the agenda is uh fire department contract with image trend. City attorney, Mr. Nick Manley. I guess Mayor Board, this contract is uh with Image Trend LLC. It's uh it'll replace the incident reporting software that's used by uh the fire department and EMS department. Um it'll also maintain city compliance with the state and allow the city to make eligibility to receive funds through the state insurance rebates that we get on an annual basis. Uh the cost for the software is a one-time fee in the amount of four thousand three hundred and sixty dollars, and there's a recurring cost in the amount of twenty-seven thousand six hundred and thirty. Um they did provide a sole source letter image trend, but also in this situation the software is actually ancillary to the service, so while we also have a sole source letter, it's also ancillary, so it can be approved as presented, uh assuming that's what the board wants to do. Um so tonight just need an authorization and approval uh for the um signature on the agreement and the subscription agreement, which is also been presented and changes have been made uh as re uh requested by the city and this be signed by the police uh fire chief. Second we have a motion of Alderman Hook, second Alderman Payne. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Alderman Payne. Yes. Alderman Lewis, yes. Alderman Hoops, yes, Alderman Jerome, yes. Yes. Yes. That motion carries next on our agenda is a resolution for a definition of hotel for special tax collections provided in Senate Bill 2805. Yes, Senate Bill 2805 was passed uh last year and it amends sections uh 2765 23.1 and 41493 of the Mississippi Code and it clarifies the group the gross proceeds uh or gross income and it reads the term third-party facilitators, um including entities or individuals engaged engaged in furnishing facilitating arranging brokering, providing short-term rentals. They those count as um hotels as far as the levy goes for the taxes that are levied against hotels. Um so tonight need authorization for the mayor to sign this resolution so that it can be used so those can also be taxed as hotels as set forth by Senate Bill 2805 and subject to all the taxes that hotels pay in De Seto County in South Ada. So moved second. I'm sorry, who made the motion? Uh Alderman Flores made uh motion and we have a second Otterman Gallagher. Is there any discussion?
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