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Record of Proceedings

Southaven Board of Aldermen Meeting - July 21, 2026

Mayor and Board of Aldermen — Tuesday, July 21, 2026
BodySouthaven, Mississippi
SessionMayor and Board of Aldermen
DateTuesday, July 21, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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5:29

Now calling this meeting to order, please stand with us.

5:31

We'll be led in prayer by Alderman Gallagher.

5:34

Please remain standing after that for the Pledge of Allegiance that will be led by Alderman Large George Payne.

5:43

Heavenly Father, we love you, Lord.

5:45

And we thank you that your word says that when we ask for wisdom that you'll give it to us generously.

5:52

Lord, we pray tonight that you would give us all wisdom.

5:56

Lord, that uh you would watch over our children who are soon to be headed back to school, Lord, and bless the city of South Haven.

6:04

In your name we pray.

6:04

Amen.

6:07

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

6:13

To the Republic for which it stands under God.

6:18

Indivisible.

6:27

First on the agenda this evening is the approval of minutes for the July 7, 2026 meeting.

6:33

So moved.

6:35

Second.

6:36

We have a motion of Alderman Hoot, second Alderman Payne.

6:39

Is there any discussion?

6:40

Hearing none, roll call.

6:42

Alderman Payne.

6:43

Yes.

6:43

Alderman Lewis.

6:44

Yes.

6:45

Alderman Hoops?

6:45

Yes.

6:46

Alderman Jerome.

6:46

Yes.

6:47

Alderman Gallagher?

6:48

Yes.

6:48

Alderman Wheeler.

6:49

Yes.

6:50

Yes.

6:51

And that motion carries.

6:52

Next on our agenda is the uh resolution for a proposed amendment to the property maintenance code.

7:00

So this is uh well, go ahead.

7:02

Uh Nick Manley.

7:03

Okay.

7:04

And Nick and I will just do this together.

7:06

So this is what we uh had on prior agendas just to kind of brief the board about the purpose of it.

7:12

So basically Nick has put it uh in the proper format, and this is something that uh one of the things that we've uh learned over the years, uh our property maintenance code has been in place since 2014 or 15, and we've added a couple things here and there, and so this is just something that we've noticed that you know really impacts the uh property values of our residential neighborhoods, and it's broken window covering.

7:39

So whether it be blinds or shutters or you know, materials that are placed over windows that were not manufactured to be window coverings, it has a it's a serious detriment to property values in the neighborhoods.

7:52

And so um last time just want to brief you with this.

7:56

I will go ahead and tell you that um I've also put a lot of thought in this.

8:00

Anytime we add an um add an ordinance or especially with code enforcement, you know, we want to you know walk gently with that.

8:08

You know, we don't we want to make sure that we don't do things that are create a hardship for people.

8:13

Um however, we have to balance that in doing things that protect our city and protect our neighborhoods.

8:20

And it's critical for our city that we protect the quality of our residential neighborhoods, and for that reason I am recommending that we uh make this change tonight.

8:33

Second okay, we have motion moderman hoot, second Alderman Payne.

8:38

Any discussion.

8:39

And 2.11, that's where that's what would be added.

8:46

I'll read that again for everybody who may not see it.

8:49

211 interior window coverings, blind shutters or shades that are broken or bent, temporary materials used for permanent purposes, or any other materials not manufactured for the purpose of window covering that are visible from a public street.

9:11

Any other discussion?

9:15

Hearing none, roll call.

9:16

Alderman Payne?

9:17

Yes.

9:18

Alderman Lewis.

9:19

Yes.

9:19

Alderman Hoof?

9:20

Yes.

9:22

Yes.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████45%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████████████████26%
Technology and Innovation████████████████16%
Public Safety███████7%
Budget Equity Analysis███3%
Fiscal Sustainability███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Southaven Board of Aldermen Meeting - July 21, 2026

The Southaven Board of Aldermen met on July 21, 2026, to consider routine approvals, property code amendments, land use permits, and major capital expenditures funded from excess surplus. All votes were unanimous unless noted.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes (July 7, 2026) – Passed.
  • Surplus Police Vehicles – Authorized disposal of seized and decommissioned vehicles.
  • Final Change Order – Church Road Utility Relocation – Deduct of $127,719.56 for I-55 expansion preparation.
  • Emergency Repair – Whitworth Water Plant – Ratified $31,627 repair of shaft and pump to prevent service interruption.
  • Award Bid – Star Landing & Sweeney Road Roundabout – Awarded to Endscore LLC for $767,709.
  • Authorization to Seek Asphalt Supply Bids – To replace expiring Lehman Roberts contract.
  • Bank Plus Amphitheater Contract – Lease for Luke Ryan concert.
  • Authorization to File Liens & Assessments – For properties mowed under city code.
  • Authorization to Seek Mini Excavator Bids – Budgeted item for Public Works.
  • Personnel Docket – Approved as presented.
  • Donation Docket – Animal shelter donations from Silo Grocery and other donors.
  • Utility Billing Leak Adjustment Docket – Approved.
  • Claims Docket – $3,018,651.40 including demand checks.
  • Surplus Copier (Parks) – Asset #5926 authorized for disposal.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No member of the public spoke during the meeting. During the resolution to clean private property, the mayor asked if anyone present had a financial interest in the listed properties; none did.

Discussion Items

  • Resolution – Property Maintenance Code Amendment – Added Section 2.11 requiring interior window coverings (blinds, shutters, shades) visible from a public street to be in good repair; prohibited broken or temporary materials. Staff noted the measure balances property preservation with avoiding hardship.
  • Resolution – Abandoned Property Ordinance Amendment – Allowed Southaven Police Department to petition municipal court (rather than circuit court) for possession of abandoned property not related to seizures or evidence. Example: unclaimed money. Must follow 120-day advertisement period.
  • Planning Item 3 – Denial of Smoke/Vape Store (1715 Main Street) – Planning Commission recommended denial due to failure to meet half-mile distance requirement and conflict with West End district revitalization goals. Applicant had expressed interest in converting to a grocery store but had not provided sufficient details. Denial upheld.
  • Mayor's Report: Street Striping Package – Mayor proposed using $380,000 from excess surplus to purchase thermoplastic striping equipment (up from prior $200,000 estimate due to inflation). Allows in-house striping, improving safety and responsiveness.
  • Mayor's Report: Emergency Server Purchase – Approved $275,000 emergency purchase of a main server (up from earlier estimates due to AI-driven demand). Replacement of 2019 unit; cost rising ~$25,000/month. Funded from excess surplus.
  • Mayor's Report: Fuel Pump Relocation – Authorized $750,000 from excess surplus to relocate city fuel pumps from former East Precinct (land swap) to Freeman Lane near park maintenance. Design by Civilink complete; ready to bid.
  • Mayor's Report – Street Resurfacing Update – City’s $7 million/year program is behind schedule; contractor has not completed list. Assured citizens streets will be resurfaced.
  • Budget Process Update – Budget workshop August 6, public hearing September 1, special meeting for adoption September 8.

Key Outcomes

  • All votes were unanimous with roll call as follows (Aldermen present: Payne, Lewis, Hoot, Jerome, Gallagher, Wheeler, Flores): All ayes on every item.
  • The board entered executive session for discussion of personnel and legal matters.
  • The mayor directed staff to proceed with the street striping package, server purchase, and fuel pump relocation using excess surplus.
  • The planning item denying the smoke/vape store was approved as recommended.

Meeting Transcript

Now calling this meeting to order, please stand with us. We'll be led in prayer by Alderman Gallagher. Please remain standing after that for the Pledge of Allegiance that will be led by Alderman Large George Payne. Heavenly Father, we love you, Lord. And we thank you that your word says that when we ask for wisdom that you'll give it to us generously. Lord, we pray tonight that you would give us all wisdom. Lord, that uh you would watch over our children who are soon to be headed back to school, Lord, and bless the city of South Haven. In your name we pray. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. To the Republic for which it stands under God. Indivisible. First on the agenda this evening is the approval of minutes for the July 7, 2026 meeting. So moved. Second. We have a motion of Alderman Hoot, second Alderman Payne. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Alderman Payne. Yes. Alderman Lewis. Yes. Alderman Hoops? Yes. Alderman Jerome. Yes. Alderman Gallagher? Yes. Alderman Wheeler. Yes. Yes. And that motion carries. Next on our agenda is the uh resolution for a proposed amendment to the property maintenance code. So this is uh well, go ahead. Uh Nick Manley. Okay. And Nick and I will just do this together. So this is what we uh had on prior agendas just to kind of brief the board about the purpose of it. So basically Nick has put it uh in the proper format, and this is something that uh one of the things that we've uh learned over the years, uh our property maintenance code has been in place since 2014 or 15, and we've added a couple things here and there, and so this is just something that we've noticed that you know really impacts the uh property values of our residential neighborhoods, and it's broken window covering. So whether it be blinds or shutters or you know, materials that are placed over windows that were not manufactured to be window coverings, it has a it's a serious detriment to property values in the neighborhoods. And so um last time just want to brief you with this. I will go ahead and tell you that um I've also put a lot of thought in this. Anytime we add an um add an ordinance or especially with code enforcement, you know, we want to you know walk gently with that. You know, we don't we want to make sure that we don't do things that are create a hardship for people. Um however, we have to balance that in doing things that protect our city and protect our neighborhoods. And it's critical for our city that we protect the quality of our residential neighborhoods, and for that reason I am recommending that we uh make this change tonight. Second okay, we have motion moderman hoot, second Alderman Payne. Any discussion. And 2.11, that's where that's what would be added. I'll read that again for everybody who may not see it.

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