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Record of Proceedings

Southaven Board of Aldermen Regular Meeting – June 16, 2026

Mayor and Board of Aldermen — Tuesday, June 16, 2026
BodySouthaven, Mississippi
SessionMayor and Board of Aldermen
DateTuesday, June 16, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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5:17

Everyone, I'm now calling this meeting to order.

5:19

Please stand with us.

5:20

We'll be led in prayer.

5:21

Balderman Gallagher, please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance after that.

5:26

And uh Alderman Jerome, will you lead us in that, please, sir?

5:32

Heavenly Father, we're so thankful for your goodness and your mercies that give us that you give us each and every day, Lord.

5:38

Lord, we thank you for the uh peace treaty that's going on in the uh Middle East, Lord.

5:49

Lord, we love you and we thank you, and we ask you to be a part of our meeting, Lord Jesus, and to influence every decision that's made here.

5:55

In your name we pray.

5:56

Amen.

5:59

Pledge and legions of America.

6:08

Under God.

6:26

So move.

6:28

Second.

6:29

We have a motion, Balderman Hootz.

6:30

Second Walterman Jerome.

6:32

Is there any discussion?

6:34

Hearing none, roll call.

6:36

Alderman did not call in, correct?

6:39

He he did not.

6:40

Okay, thank you.

6:40

Alderman Lewis.

6:42

Yes.

6:42

Alderman Hoot?

6:43

Yes.

6:43

Alderman Jerome.

6:44

Yes.

6:45

Alderman Gallagher?

6:46

Yes.

6:46

Arteman Wheeler?

6:47

Yes.

6:47

Artemis Florence.

6:48

Yes.

6:48

That motion carries.

6:49

And he is uh available.

6:50

He's he can make himself available if needed, he told me.

6:54

So next on our agenda is uh Mr.

6:58

Jim Flanagan with the DeSota County Economic Development Council.

7:05

It looks like a Navy blue coat brigade, so this is not our uniform, but uh tonight uh first off I'd like to thank the city of South Haven for the privilege of serving you uh for 40 years.

7:19

Uh it's been a blessing.

7:21

This is a job of a lifetime, and it doesn't come along too often, but I had the privilege of uh being here and serving you and and just enjoying every minute of it.

7:32

Uh but I can tell you and reassure you that you've got a new team coming.

7:35

This is one of the best economic development teams in the state of Mississippi.

7:40

I'd like to introduce you to Billy Clauser, the new president and CEO, and Trip Gorge, the vice president of business development.

7:48

You're gonna find it to be the most capable team in the state.

7:52

And I can tell you you're gonna see a couple of exciting economic development projects coming your way here real soon.

7:58

And uh again, thank you again for this privilege and for this honor to serve you.

8:03

Thank you, ma'am.

8:04

Thank you very much.

8:06

Thank you for thinking.

8:12

Jim, if you'll stay if you'll stay, I have a few words I like to share.

8:15

Um I just want to uh share this with everyone.

8:18

Um I've worked closely with Jim for 13 years.

8:22

It's a long time.

8:23

I know you've been here much longer than me, uh, but you and I worked on many key projects together, and you were uh we were successful in that.

8:31

And I just want to uh just relay to everyone that may not have uh may not know Jim personally or may not have understood his role in the county.

8:40

Uh but Jim as is the guy who is responsible for being the first contact with large industrial developments, so a lot of the huge uh really all the huge developments that have come to DeSota County over the years, uh you're looking at the man who brought them here.

8:56

Uh he was the one, and they don't just uh drop in.

8:59

I I always kind of chuckle.

9:00

Sometimes I hear people say that developments just show up here and because of where we're located, and I'm here to tell you that's not true.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████████████36%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████████████████31%
Affordable Housing█████████████13%
Economic Development██████6%
Parks and Recreation██████6%
Community Engagement█████5%
Public Engagement███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Southaven Board of Aldermen Regular Meeting – June 16, 2026

The meeting was called to order with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. All aldermen were present except one who was available if needed. The board addressed routine approvals, a significant rezoning for a 330-home PUD, and recognized the retirement of key officials. Unanimous roll call votes were recorded on most items.

Consent Calendar

  • Termination of parking contract with Regions Bank: Approved unanimously.
  • Request to seek bids for Mill Branch roundabout: Approved unanimously.
  • Snowden Grove fence bid: Approved the lowest and best bid from Columbus Fence Company, LLC in the amount of $531,147.50. Unanimous.
  • Resolution for liens: Authorized placing liens and rental assessments for lots cut in accordance with state code. Unanimous.
  • Resolution to clean private property: Authorized cleaning of private properties. No one with financial interest spoke. Unanimous.
  • Task order for landscape enhancement at State Line and I-55 ramps: Approved a task order of $1,024.56 from the tree bank to plant shrubs in front of chain-link fencing. Unanimous.
  • Donation docket: Approved as presented. Unanimous.
  • Personnel docket: Approved as presented. Unanimous.
  • Utilities billing leak adjustment docket: Approved $3,946.10 in adjustments. Unanimous.
  • Claims docket: Approved claims including demand checks totaling $2,538,972.20. Unanimous.
  • Vehicles for hire approvals: Approved Modens Transportation, LLC and Will's Transportation for transportation services. Unanimous.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made during the public hearing for the rezoning of 158 acres. The hearing was opened and closed with no speakers.

Discussion Items

  1. Recognition of Jim Flanagan: Jim Flanagan, retiring after 40 years with the DeSoto County Economic Development Council, was honored by the mayor and board for his work attracting large industrial developments. The new team of Billy Clauser (President/CEO) and Trip Gorge (Vice President) was introduced.
  2. Rezoning of 158 acres for PUD (north of DeSoto Road, between Highway 301 and Horn Lake Road): Planning Director Whitney Cook presented the request to rezone the property for a 330-home PUD with 48.53 acres of common open space, a density of 2.08 dwelling units per acre (low density), and covenants including front yard trees, painted garage doors, and no overnight on-street parking. The planning commission approved unanimously with conditions: a 10% rental cap (reduced from 12%), no concentrated rental clusters, no out-of-state investors, and case-by-case HOA approval for rentals. Mayor recommended an additional stipulation that initial occupancy must be owner-occupied, arguing that rental properties increase crime and burden the city. The developer (builder of approximately 1,200 homes in Southaven) expressed concern about risk if homes don't sell, but after debate, the board voted to add the stipulation and then approved the rezoning unanimously.
  3. Mayor's Report:
    • Fire Chief Danny Scallions is retiring after 34 years with the city (chief since 2018). A larger celebration will follow.
    • Dizzy Dean baseball tournament begins June 25, with approximately 140 teams expected.
    • Independence Day fireworks celebration on July 4 (Saturday).
    • Budget process: department heads submit requests; workshop on August 6 at 9:30 a.m.; public hearing on September 1; adoption on September 15.
  4. City Attorney's Legal Update: Two vehicles for hire applications (Modens Transportation, Will's Transportation) were presented and approved.

Key Outcomes

  • All consent calendar items approved unanimously.
  • Rezoning of 158 acres to PUD approved with two key stipulations: (1) 10% rental cap, (2) initial occupancy must be owner-occupied (motion by Alderman Lewis, second by Alderman Gallagher, passed unanimously after public hearing).
  • Task order for landscaping along I-55 ramps approved from tree bank funds.
  • Board voted to enter executive session for economic development, city planning and development, interdepartmental personnel, and city litigation.

Meeting Transcript

Everyone, I'm now calling this meeting to order. Please stand with us. We'll be led in prayer. Balderman Gallagher, please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance after that. And uh Alderman Jerome, will you lead us in that, please, sir? Heavenly Father, we're so thankful for your goodness and your mercies that give us that you give us each and every day, Lord. Lord, we thank you for the uh peace treaty that's going on in the uh Middle East, Lord. Lord, we love you and we thank you, and we ask you to be a part of our meeting, Lord Jesus, and to influence every decision that's made here. In your name we pray. Amen. Pledge and legions of America. Under God. So move. Second. We have a motion, Balderman Hootz. Second Walterman Jerome. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Alderman did not call in, correct? He he did not. Okay, thank you. Alderman Lewis. Yes. Alderman Hoot? Yes. Alderman Jerome. Yes. Alderman Gallagher? Yes. Arteman Wheeler? Yes. Artemis Florence. Yes. That motion carries. And he is uh available. He's he can make himself available if needed, he told me. So next on our agenda is uh Mr. Jim Flanagan with the DeSota County Economic Development Council. It looks like a Navy blue coat brigade, so this is not our uniform, but uh tonight uh first off I'd like to thank the city of South Haven for the privilege of serving you uh for 40 years. Uh it's been a blessing. This is a job of a lifetime, and it doesn't come along too often, but I had the privilege of uh being here and serving you and and just enjoying every minute of it. Uh but I can tell you and reassure you that you've got a new team coming. This is one of the best economic development teams in the state of Mississippi. I'd like to introduce you to Billy Clauser, the new president and CEO, and Trip Gorge, the vice president of business development. You're gonna find it to be the most capable team in the state. And I can tell you you're gonna see a couple of exciting economic development projects coming your way here real soon. And uh again, thank you again for this privilege and for this honor to serve you. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you very much. Thank you for thinking.

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