Southaven Mayor and Board of Aldermen Meeting - November 3, 2026

The Southaven Mayor and Board of Aldermen met on November 3, 2026, beginning with an invocation by Reverend Andrew Flowers of Apostolate Revival Church and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Alderman Jerome. No agenda or minutes were available; this summary is based solely on the meeting transcript. The board approved appointments, contracts, resolutions, and dockets, and held extended discussion on the proposed indoor tennis facility and capital project financing.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the previous meeting's minutes.
• Approved the personnel docket.
• Approved the utilities billing leak adjustment docket for $5,089.80.
• Approved the claims docket for $5,591,057.76, including demand checks.
• Approved a resolution to clean private property; no one with a financial interest came forward to speak.

Appointments

• DeCrua board appointment: Ray Humphrey was appointed as the city's representative to the DeSoto County Regional Utility Authority, replacing Chris Wilson. The mayor thanked Wilson for his service.
• Planning commission: Chuck Roberts was appointed as the Ward 6 planning commissioner, nominated by Alderman Flores and seconded, replacing Commissioner Brewer.

Discussion Items

• Landscape maintenance revision: The board awarded the full landscape maintenance contract to Michael Hatcher and terminated the other contractor after questions about quality and a high quote. One contractor's quote for interstate work was $83,000, later lowered by $30,000 after questioning. Hatcher's work was praised by department heads.
• OSB Services contract: Authorized the mayor to sign the contract for the police department generator project in the amount of $194,850, as recommended by engineering.
• Surplus property and utilities: Authorized a resolution declaring specified utility department property surplus under state law.
• Snowden Grove Arch sign bids: Rejected all bids because the lowest bid was above the budgeted amount, and authorized rebidding. The project was to be paid with tourism revenue.
• Urban Arc master contract renewal: Approved an updated master contract with the same task-order process, newer rates, and an inspection schedule of two per month during construction.
• Fire and Police Training Facility task order: Approved Urban Arc Task Order 27 for spatial needs assessment, technology review, site analysis, architectural site master plans, and conceptual design services. Funding for this project was described as cash already received in a separate account, not future tax revenue.
• Indoor tennis task orders: Approved two task orders, one with Urban Arc for architectural services for an estimated 9,000-square-foot indoor tennis facility and one with Civil Link for engineering, surveying, geotech, site grading, parking expansion, and water and sewer work.
• Sole source purchase: Approved a resolution for the sole source purchase of Aloha point-of-sale equipment from Hospitality Control Systems for $119,617.61, identified as the only seller of Aloha.

Indoor Tennis and Capital Improvement Discussion

• During discussion of the tennis task orders, the mayor recommended designing for eight indoor courts rather than twelve, saying high construction costs and the use of general fund dollars made a larger facility unwise. He noted the city had about 40 percent debt capacity remaining but was uneasy about a larger general obligation bond.
• The mayor said the eight-court option would need roughly $16 million in general fund backing after using about $11 million in tourism revenue; a twelve-court facility would be substantially more expensive.
• Alderman Flores questioned the mayor's caution, pointed to past successful city park investments, and advocated for a bolder approach, including possibly using future tax revenue from data center development.
• Urban Arc's Brian Bullers said the building can be designed as a modular facility for six to twelve courts; the proposed task order plans for eight courts with an option to reduce to six.
• The board did not make a final court-count decision. The mayor said Raymond James would present a bond proposal in December, and a workshop was planned to discuss roundabouts and the Cherry Valley Park entrance road before that meeting.

Mayor's Report and Other Items

• The mayor reported the West End Retro Run 5K had about 280 runners and was an outstanding event the city hopes to make annual.
• He promoted the Veterans Day luncheon on Wednesday, November 11 at 11 a.m. at the community safe room; reservations are required through Christy Faulkner.
• He cited roundabout data, saying roundabouts decrease intersection fatalities by 80 percent, and discussed a proposed Cherry Valley Park entrance road connecting the park to Highway 51 with a 10-foot pedestrian trail and landscaping.
• Legal update: Approved a copier contract for the court department from RJ Young under the state contract for $9,325 plus maintenance, and approved a task order for the amphitheater.
• The board voted to enter executive session for potential impending litigation, economic development, fire personnel, and interdepartmental personnel, with no action to follow.

Key Outcomes

• All listed appointments, contracts, resolutions, dockets, and task orders were approved.
• The board rejected the Snowden Grove Arch sign bids and authorized rebidding.
• The full landscape maintenance contract was awarded to Michael Hatcher; the other contractor was terminated.
• The indoor tennis task orders were approved, but the number of courts and the final financing method were deferred to a later workshop and bond presentation.