City Council - Regular Meeting

Revenue? Yeah, my wife said she's tired of me looking like a bum. It'd be under that, too. Huh? It'd be under that, too, but it'd be on your report.

Oh, wow. Good.

Everyone ready? Mayor, hold us up. Okay, we're going to go ahead and call the May 19th, 2026 City Council meeting to order. We'll start with a roll call. Ward 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and at large are all present. I'll ask Councilman Lewis to lead us in.

I'll head the prayer. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Lord, we thank you for the opportunity to be here today. As you know, every day is a gift that you've bestowed upon us. We want to cherish that moment, cherish this day, cherish those around us. Let us not take it for granted. Use the tools and abilities and the gifts that you've given us and use them to our best abilities. Allow us to see everything with transparency and judicious eyes. Lord, we want to thank you again for the opportunity to be in here and do everything in your name. In the name of our Father, our Father, our Father in heaven. Amen.

Thank you, Councilman Lewis. Any agenda amendments? move on to announcements may 25th 2026 the city offices will be closed for the memorial day holiday and our next city council meeting will be on june 2nd we do have uh some guests here tonight regarding the depot mural miss beverly

Thanks for allowing me to come again. I'm Beverly Ogden. I'm the chair of the Beautification Committee of the Hancock Chamber. And this project of the depot, as we mentioned before, is a project between the Chamber, the Bay Wave and Garden Club, and the Hancock County Master Gardeners Association. And Jenny Littlefield is the president of the Garden Club. She's here today. And Deb Murray is the president of the Master Garden Club. So I want to give you an update on what we have. I welcome you all to go drive by. We've been doing a lot of work. And the first part is we did the existing flower bed. I'll show you pictures in a minute, which is actually on the left of the depot. I'm always looking from the back, so I'm saying it's the right, but it's the left of the depot. We weeded it, added soil, we planted 14 antique roses and a camellia bush, and we added pine straw. So it really looks... Very nice and textured. On the same side, we did a flower bed adjacent to the depot building. Again, added soil, 12 antique roses, and pine bark. And behind the comfort station, it was very blank, as you remember. We have a very lush and fragrant flower bed. It has four sweet olives, six gardenias, and 18 hibiscus plants. It looked really nice, and we added pine bark. And if you go back, it really has a lot of fragrance. It's pretty. Can we go to the next picture? So this is the bed, existing bed that was on the left. It's mainly weeds. It took us a lot of time. A lot of the people that worked on the garden are here tonight. And then now you can see it's a very structured garden. It looks very pretty. These roses will actually go to four to five feet. They'll be very significant, and they have massive blooms. So it'll be very fragrant and beautiful as it matures. The next one. This is next to the building. You see how plain it is there. Again, we have the roses. Again, antique roses next to it. Again, they'll get four to five feet. And this morning, we actually planted some lyria up to the left of that. So it really looks very full there. And I know you all are worried. We've been watering it every day that it has not rained. So we're going to keep them alive for you. So the next one. And this is behind the comfort station. You see how blank it was there. We've added here the sweet olives and the gardenias. And in the shaded area, probably coming in the next week or two, we're going to have the concrete tables and benches so guests can sit there and enjoy the shade while they wait for the train. Today we were there and 20 people got on going to Mobile and 20 people got on going to New Orleans. So it was a very busy day on a Tuesday. So very impressive. So today we're here to talk to you about the wall that's on the right-hand side there. Can we go to the next? We asked if we could do roses, and y'all didn't want us to do anything in that garden area. And we were going to try to do flowers on the side of the wall, but we were told we couldn't do that as well. So we're trying to think of something to dress up that side. It's so blank. So we had one of our master gardeners, Nellie Straub, she came up with a mural that we could actually paint there. The theme is flowers in Mardi Gras, since it's the Mardi Gras service Amtrak. So we have a proposal we want to show you in the next one. And she's going to be working with muralists and a team that will actually paint this for us if we're allowed to do it. And this is the design that she came up with. Those are Mardi Gras beads in the tree. They'll all be different colors. So today we wanted to see if there were any obstacles for us to be able to do something on that wall to try to decorate that side. There's a bigger picture of it. To decorate that side, since y'all didn't want us to do flowers anywhere on that side of the building. Why not? Because I had to squish it for my PowerPoint.

Mm-hmm.

Thank you, Jenny.

You're welcome. This is what you told me to do.

I did. Thank you.

I only do what I'm told to do.

And actually, the project, the price for this project is going to probably be around $4,000. We're still collecting for, we do, donations can be made to the Hancock County Community Development Foundation through the chamber. And we've collected about $650 donations so far. We're continuing to raise money for this project. Everybody's excited about it. We get a lot of compliments when people stop by from the train station. And we're there a lot because we are planting and weeding, so we are getting to hear those comments.

Before we jump into discussion about the proposed mural, just by show of hands, everyone in the room who helped out with the garden, helped plant it, thank you all very much. That's a great refresher to that area. Now I open it up to any discussion about the mural that anyone may have.

I had a couple comments, and Beverly and everyone in the crowd, I just want to thank y'all again for the beautification. You have to give me your secrets on gardenias, because I'm like, kids to death, and black thumb on those, I can't keep those alive, so you have to let me know how you can do that. Just my stance when it comes to murals on government buildings. if it's a private building I have never obviously it's your private doing what you want and what you want to do a mirror on with the government building my concern there is the council up here it's very arts very subjective right so I don't want to put myself or the council in a situation this is not the denigrate what the current mural suggesting but does that open the door for other government buildings and city buildings for somebody else to come say hey we have a great plan a great idea for another mural so I the way I look at it I would I unfortunately not want to see murals on government buildings for that reason that it's subjective and then that kind of opens up the door and then we have to sit up here and be determined or be judicious on what's appropriate what's not is this you know because it is very subjective so I would just take the stance and this is just me me alone that I would not be a proponent of doing murals on government buildings at this time yeah we were a little left worried because it was the bathroom building but I can see your point it's a wall but that's just one like I said one boat up here I just wanted to let you know my stance on it

and kind of kind of piggybacking off kyle there um you know as far as what what i'd like to see is something that is maybe like a welcome to bay st louis to where it's more like a welcome sign uh rather than a mural kind of i know it's still in that gray area but it kind of kind of goes along with what councilman lewis uh is saying that's kind of how personally how i feel about it maybe just something that says welcome Bay St. Louis versus where you get into that subjective area. But once again, only one person on the council. Anyone else?

I'm in agreeance with both of you gentlemen. I'm not necessarily against having a mural, but I do see where it can cause a problem with it being subjective. We all have our own opinions on art, you know. But if that's something that we do decide to do, I think that we should be proposed with maybe three options or a couple of options, and then maybe vote on what our favorite would be if we do decide to go that road.

Okay.

Artwork is beautiful.

I see your point. We wanted to do a living wall. We wanted to do flowers, but y'all weren't letting us do that. That's what we switched. Our first idea was not murals.

No, I think it was the proximity because of the proximity.

Yeah, but then we also proposed to do a garden against the wall, and we were not allowed to do that as well.

I thought we were okay with that one. Not where the tent was, but against the wall. I know there was some issues about the water supply.

We have the water now, yeah. We did want to do, our first choice was to do a flower garden against the wall, but we were told we couldn't do that. How far would it extend? Not very far. It was right against the building. It's actually in front of the bicycle stand, so it's between the bicycle stand and the building. It would be like a four-foot bed right adjacent to the wall.

I don't know that we...

No, I think it came after. Like when we were talking about getting the people who work in the city, Ronnie and Brian and Doug have been very helpful in digging the gardens for us. And when we asked to dig that one, they were told us we couldn't dig that one.

Is there any plumbing or something maybe? No. Yeah, can we find it?

Because, I mean, my concern was when it was in that area where the tents go up. But, I mean, a couple feet off the building, yeah, I don't think that would be an issue there. Just whatever might be forming.

So you'd be okay with a living garden there? Yeah. We would prefer that, but we're trying to think of something else.

I think as long as it's, you know, it's not.

No, because it's behind the bicycle stand, so you can't even really get back there.

Yeah, I think that would be nice. You'd be in favor of that? Yeah. Personally, I would.

Let's find out from Ronnie.

If there's not water lines there, that would obstruct it.

I think, yeah, that'd be great. We'd like to do that.

Pretty shallow to that hook up on the edge of the main building.

okay let us yeah because the water's working they did get that working for us so that's not a problem for us yeah let us know we would we would consider that option and if something is underneath it i mean i know if we ever had to access it that's when it would tear it up but i mean if it was a raised bed no we could if there's a problem with that we can make it work it just will just tell us what the problem is we can raise the bed if it's a problem and they just dug a foot deep for us for the other one they know the area very well they were very helpful

Okay, perfect. Well, I guess we'll go.

Someone will let us know if that's okay to pursue that.

Sound like a plan?

Yes.

Okay. Thank you.

Well, thank you all very much.

Thank you.

And also, just a reminder to silence all cell phones. and Councilwoman Holmes has left the room. We have no other guests. We will start our first public forum regarding our agenda items. Just a reminder, if you're here to speak about anything for P&Z items, now is the time to do so as well, just because you won't be called up here unless a council member has a question regarding that item. So once we get the sign-up sheet, Okay. Brian Therrell? Therrell. Go ahead. Okay. Thank you very much. Mr. Cliff Rabelais. Councilman Holmes has reentered the room.

Sorry about that, Mr. Cliff.

No, it's okay.

Cliff Rabelais, 702.33. I did sign up for the P&Z items. I think you had two items in particular. The proposed subdivision with the private road on 3rd Street, and then there's another one that I learned about when I went to the P&Z meeting. And some of you I've already spoken with, but I'll talk about the one I think is on Valentine Street somewhere. It seems we had someone who knew that they were supposed to get a variance, knew that they were supposed to get a building permit, failed to do both, and built something and got caught. Those of you who ever dealt with the EPA or OSHA may well be familiar with the legal terms knowingly and willingly, where typically mill managers, which I was one, mill managers, vice presidents and all have the opportunity to go to jail if they knowingly and willingly do something. I think you have a similar situation here tonight on that respect. On the subdivision proposed for 3rd Street, there is a, I actually support it, I will tell you that. I've talked to Mr. Evans-Schmidt, I haven't talked to him recently, but a couple weeks ago. It is a family compound. The neighbors in the area expressed a lot of concerns about drainage in speaking with the developers who I've seen here in the room. I'm not concerned that the drainage will not be addressed. I did bring up the fact that the topo map they have has some misrepresented elevations, which can be straightened out. That's not hard. It's just too obvious. When the FEMA maps and the Bay St. Louis City maps and the roads all match, except the elevations of the land would be seven foot above that, and when you drive by in your vehicle, the land is level with the road. It's not seven feet higher than the road. So they're going to get that straightened out. The other item is the private road. Most of the people are very in favor of that private road. However, the city does, you got a double-edged sword there, and I would ask or recommend that you'll consider if the road is allowed to be private, which I'm not supposed to, that the city retain the right, that If the road is not maintained the city count standards or it ceases to be operated as a private road, the city has the right to take it back over.

and we'll get more into this you know when that comes up but but there is you know based on our own ordinance there's a particular instance of the private subdivision and we can talk more as to if this would because it's a proper to meet that criteria and it's really safeguards as to what needs to be presented by the applicants to ensure really safeguard the city and those around it so I

Yeah, it'll have to be built to all the city specs.

Yeah.

You know, everything. I'm just going to listen now.

Yeah, I mean, so with this.

So what it would be, you know, if one day they did want to turn over, it's no different than any other subdivision division. It'd be built to our specs, and we would be able to take it over at a further time.

But based on our own ordinance, there are specific parameters, what they must meet, because it is going to be considered private, that that should be presented to us so that we can see, I mean, amongst us. Again, if this is the right place, if we want to do this during the time of the P&Z, but it would be safeguards from the city and also those around it. We can get into that more based on our ordinance when that comes up, but that is something that we need to look at.

I would have some questions about when the city would take it over, because it won't Being a private road, you made the point as well that, you know, it's not going to be taxed. So, you know, there's money to maintain that road that we wouldn't be getting, and then all of a sudden we would then be getting that road back.

And it's outlined in here what needs to be, you know, yeah.

Well, when we get to that part, I guess we'll talk some more about it.

And like I said, the developers are here. They may or may not have signed up. I don't know. Mr. Schmidt, if he's here, I have never met him. I only spoke to him on the phone.

And I'm sure we'll have some questions whenever we get there to – to bring them up. And also, I know you mentioned the topo map. I have been told that that will be addressed sometime later on in the process, but also I wanted to touch on the Ballantyne Street. I wanna ask you, because I know you're also chair of the historical, they never came to you, and that would be one that would have had to come to you.

That should have come to a historical commission, and no, it did not. If it did, it came an awfully, awfully long time ago, and no. No, it did not.

While you were here and up there, I figure instead of calling you back up.

Thank you, Jordan. Thank you.

Mr. Sean, or Sean Bolt? Yeah, Burks, there we go.

I'm Sean Burks with J.B. Burks. I'm just here for any questions regarding subdivision on 3rd Street that Mr. Avelay just spoke of.

I don't know if now is the format So so this is if anyone's here wanting to talk about agenda items whenever we get to that specific item If anyone on the council has any questions, we'll we'll call you back. Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you Nobody else is signed up for our public forum. We'll move on to our minutes approval I will call a motion to approve the minutes of May 5th 2026. Do I have a motion motion motion? My counseling Smith do I have a second? Any discussion? Vote the motion.

Aye. Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye. Aye. Aye. Motion carries 7-0. Okay, moving on to the consent agenda. I will call for a motion to, first of all, does anyone have anything they would like to remove or have any questions about on the consent agenda?

No. Okay.

If not, I will call for a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. Do I have a motion? Motion. Motion by Councilman Smith. Do I have a second? Any discussion?

Vote the motion Aye Aye Motion carries 7-0

Moving on to the fun stuff. 7A, we're going to move on to planning and zoning applications. 7A, I will call for a motion to follow planning and zoning's recommendation and approve the application for a variance of 9 foot 1 inches resulting in a 10 foot 9 inch setback to the rear yard to construct a dwelling submitted by James and Mary Olson located at 204 St. George. Parcel 149F-0-0-29-203.000. Sorry about that. It was approved 5-0 at P&Z. Do we have a motion? Motion by Councilman Smith. Do I have a second?

Morning and seconds.

Any discussion?

With this one, they're following the existing footprint, correct? Yes. Okay.

At least that's my understanding. Any other discussion? Is that the motion?

Aye. Aye.

Aye.

Aye. Aye.

Aye. Aye. Motion carries 7-0. Okay, moving on to 7B. I'll call for a motion to follow Planning and Zoning's recommendation and approve the application for special exception to allow an accessory dwelling on a lot under 15,000 square feet, submitted by Michael Fairley, located at 142 Skyline Drive, Parcel 136N-3-42-037. It was approved 5-0. I have a motion. Motion. Motion by Councilman DeSalvo. Second. Second by Councilman Smith. Any discussion?

The discussion is just that. This elevation is playing a factor in this, adding on to it, just because the existing home is so much lower than the new one that there's really no way to make the roof lines match or anything else to add on except just a deck between them.

Yeah, I saw the design. I had to get really creative to make that. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, so. Okay. Any other discussion? Vote the motion.

Aye. Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Motion carries 7-0. Okay moving on to item 7c I'll call for a motion to follow planning and zoning's recommendation and deny the application for a variance of three foot resulting in a two foot rear yard setback and a variance of three and a half foot resulting in a one and a half foot side yard setback to construct a one foot five inch side yard setback To construct an accessory structure submitted by Pete Nuss located at 218 Ballantine Street, parcel number 149N-0-30-112. It was approved 5-0 to deny.

Motion.

Motion by Councilman Smith. Do I have a second? Second. Second by Councilman DeSalvo. Any discussion?

Yes, we hear.

just a couple points to this just to clarify I know it's been said that I think in PNZ that there's there's full neighbor support I think that's misleading spoke to a couple neighbors that it was would immediately impact and they they have issues and concerns with this and object to it you know and looking at this objectively without you know try to look at these cases where it's already been constructed would this be passed if it wasn't currently constructed I look at the side as being the most invasive to the neighbors, which it certainly is. So very much want to scrutinize for many reasons, whether that's an insurance or fire hazard, watershed issues. And so with such close proximity to the sides, I've always really kind of predicated that as being the most invasive to the neighbors, which this is certainly the case here. And Mike, correct me if I'm wrong, this stop work order was issued. Did all the work actually cease at that time? Because there was, of course, there was still construction going on.

As far as I know, it doesn't look like much has been done, if anything.

Do we know the contractor who built this? Because they should know better than contracting and constructing anything without a permit.

They all should.

Yeah. And I look at this as, you know, obviously, is this an undue hardship? No, absolutely. It looks like it's a self-inflicted hardship, knowing that, you know, going around, kind of begging for forgiveness instead of asking permission, going around the barrier, you know, that request. Yeah.

have many concerns on this one and they put an eight foot fence on up to right there is so that would also have to I don't think that had a permit neither okay so that would also have to come down and conform without our ordinance allows which is six feet only okay yeah and I'd like to add something to that Mr. Nuss um sent us a an email and he listed several different properties which are similar to his the only difference is they asked for a variance and got it he never even asked for a variance furthermore My understanding is he put plumbing into the concrete.

I spoke to him. I think he spoke to him before the meeting because I asked him who the contractor was. I didn't get a name. He said he was self-contracting. But he said that they had the plumbing removed. They did? Yeah, that there was concerns about a bathroom in there. Right. But he mentioned that. He said if it comes up, I would...

mention that not that so i would um recommend on this motion that we also add that the entire thing needs to be removed meaning also layer the fence safe offense the concrete the building everything constructed yes all construction needs to be removed if it's if it's denied would that fall into would that be the i mean that would be the result of this or do we need to specify that

I would add it to the motion to follow that recommendation and also to have it removed.

And also, I know Mr. Nuss isn't here tonight. I spoke to him on the phone before I came in. I told him I would give him the courtesy of bringing this up. He said he could change it to three foot if that would change anything.

uh told him i would bring it up to the council and see if that changed and i was on the impression that he had a permit but for some reason this changed from like the left side of the house to the right side or vice versa so it's where he built the home years ago further to the right rather than to the left but this is he's got 18 inches between that building and the fence

That's ludicrous.

And it should have been planned on the front end in the home construction, how to mitigate that very small distance from the side in the original plan so it doesn't necessitate getting a variance.

And also, I think in the very beginning, I watched the P&G meeting and they mentioned that he had a variance when he first constructed the home. And then he changed and built without the variance. Like Councilman Lewis said, he created this.

yeah and that variance expired so yeah so we need to I guess we need to add that to the motion we will amend the motion to include not only following the recommendation to deny but also to remove all new construction

Any other discussion about the motion I motion carries 7-0 okay 7d a motion to follow planning and zoning's recommendation and approve the application for sketch plot approval of allowing a private road once constructed city standards and to include the installation of proper screening between their parcel and romanita street parcels for a proposed seven parcel subdivision submitted by fe and se investments llc located at the 600 block of third street parcel number 149 n-0-30-238.001 it was approved 5-0 have a motion motion motion by councilman smith the other second second second by councilman de salvo any discussion

Yeah, I just have a couple points just to follow up on. In terms of the lot sizes, I think what the smallest lot size, and certainly- Do you want me to call Mr. Burke? Yeah, Mr. Burke. Mr. Burke, you might want to- Yeah, Sean, if you wanted to come. The smallest lot, I think, is around 13,000, 14,000 square feet, so it's not, you know, certainly a lot of sizes. But for me, as I alluded to earlier, you know, this would, in my estimation, meet the parameters for a private subdivision if there's a private road. And based on our own ordinance, it starts at 327.1 as private subdivisions. It does put some safeguards in place that private infrastructure must show on the pledge, clearly identified as private subdivision, and then it goes into the private infrastructure shall be held in common ownership by property owners association and this is no knock I know it's a family this is a family property it's going to be a family compound and I respect that and welcome that but things do change with family if it's their secondary homes there might be an issue to where a family member wants to get out of it or two families want to get out of it and then you look at selling that and then that creates issues to where if this is a private road how are the state parts of the city and so our ordinance addresses that uh you know very well with this private subdivision and that would be private the developer should provide description of the association including its bylaws methods for maintaining the private infrastructure which that would be again does that meet the criteria that we need to make sure that the city's criteria for the private infrastructure and road this association shall be organized by the developer and shall be operated with the financial subsidy from the developer before the issuance of any building permits clear membership and delineation in the association. The members of the association shall share equitable costs of maintaining the private infrastructures. Again, this is just a safeguard should that change. And so what point in the process, Mike, do we, does this necessitate, I'd like to see it on the front end, because once we approve the sketch, theoretically, if there's no other variances needed, it goes straight to, we don't see it again, right? I mean, it's administration give the approval. So I want to have the safeguards to make sure that.

I think, you know, all the roads are being built to our standards. Right. Water's being added, sewer's being added, fire hydrants are being added. I think there's two fire hydrants going on. You might remember more from what I've seen. Everything in there is brought to our standards that we would...

So you've got to comply with all the ADA federal requirements.

Yeah, got to turn around down there, cul-de-sac, whatever, you know, in the end. You've got a left-hand turn, you know, and now I guess like an S to get back to the second half of it instead of... complete four-way corner there. They've met all that. Fire's looked at it. Ronnie's looked at it. Drainage still, you know, make sure they can keep the drainage in the back of it. There's some other in there as well.

But has that been broached? Yeah. Okay, can you elaborate?

So with some of the meetings that we've had, and we've talked with the owners of the property, is our full understanding is we would build, meet all the current city requirements, city standards for a public road, and for public utility however the owner would maintain everything in the event they would ever come back 20 years down the road say hey city will you take over the true to make it public they would have to upgrade it at that point to make sure that all the standards are still better the owners they couldn't we we couldn't take over

But that'll be before it gets to that point, it's going to be up to the standards. It's going to be.

Oh, yes, it's going to be built to standards.

In the initial meeting we had with the clients, they changed the specs to meet Bay St. Louis' requirements for the road. And the reason that it's in the configuration it is is to protect the oak trees.

And then the bylaws would be submitted before they could pull a permit? Correct.

So that would come in the final plot. So they'd have to have the bylaws and the homeowners association and go through our subdivision ordinance and ensure all that is met, just again, to best safeguard that infrastructure.

Sure. But as far as the exact private process, whatever we have to follow, we'll follow. But the intent was to build full standards. And then in the event they would ever want to come back, they have to make sure that it still meets the standards.

And just for point of reference, too, once you subdivide a piece of property, you cannot subdivide that again. Correct. so just want to preface that this is all the attention is all single family homes yeah and could not come back and say hey we're in a split we have one lot we want to put it into because we have another family member wants in on the third street where it's r2 back there that you know they won't be allowed to put duplex there you know it's all single family all the way through that yeah any other discussion yeah i noticed on the sketchbook it says a goat barn

Anybody else notice that? So, well, I know y'all don't notice, Bobby, but I absolutely love goats. So, I'm not sure in... Do you want a penny? I definitely will come by. So, please tell your clients that. It's not theirs?

It's off the property.

Well, I was actually wondering, like, could that be feasible there with it being a subdivision?

Not next to other residents if there's a complaint.

The house that goes, okay.

So, wait, specify where the goat farm is going? Oh.

All right.

Yeah.

Yeah, that's what I was like, wait, okay.

Just send them over to my yard and cut the grass. There you go. That's what they're there for.

All right, any other discussions?

And there was also some concerns about fencing with the cars turning around and shining.

Yes, where the road, it kind of runs in the back of the Tetrix's property. And one of the things that we discussed in the meeting is that we would provide some sort of screening. At one point, we said we would put a fence up. And then the discussion later went on to where maybe we could plant something instead, that maybe they would want that more.

Non-invasive bamboo, two years, that'll be. I'm serious, I've got it. So I'm not going to be able to, I can't see that because it's 12 feet. It's 12 feet tall. It's a good natural foliage. Can you, Sean, I'm sorry.

So they were happy with the discussion? Yes.

yes if if uh if we want to put a fence up for that i mean we can discuss whoever the decision makers are at that time but the the they're definitely willing to put that up thank you i believe the fences foods um with screening yeah so whatever you know that translates to but it does have screening in the motion yes

Sean, I know Cliff alluded to it, and some of the concerns in the area is drainage. I mean, that area does, at this time, it does hold some water. We've done some improvements currently in the process of doing some improvements with the sewage there. Sure. But just take me through the assurances in terms of mitigating the potential runoff and drainage issues and concerns, because it's parallel to a main drain as well. Sure. So just take me through that and kind of what your plan is for the process.

Sure. More or less likely, some of these lot owners might be on Romaneda who might actually drain toward the back. And there's actually a ditch in one portion right now. We're going to maintain that drainage to allow the neighbors to be able to drain through the property the same way that some of them are doing right now. And then where Third Street is, it's roughly around 17 foot elevation. And then as it gets down, the southern boundary is actually a drainage ditch. And that's roughly around a 10 foot elevation. We have about seven feet of fall from the northern portion to the southern portion. So it's just gonna be a matter of us having some swales along the legacy, I mean, or where our drive, where our road is.

And the home's being built slab or being built up?

they're likely gonna be built up would be my guess so I mean that's kind of how I see it

And speaking to the, I know Cliff brought up the topo. Yes. The discrepancy on the.

Yeah, it looks like what happened, whoever done the topo before, it looks like they probably had a boo-boo where they just did a bus, but it was like three feet across the whole thing, four feet across the whole thing. We went just to spot check it. Kind of what Mr. Rabelais was saying, you look at the LIDAR map, that's between 17 and 10. So we actually had a surveyor that did the work to go back out there. It's kind of how we

Okay, they didn't have those final results yet?

No, no, they haven't done that yet. But I think Mr. Ravel is right.

Don't tell him that. No, you've got to make his ego get big. Sorry about that.

I'll know better next time. Any other discussion? Okay, vote to motion.

Aye. Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye. Aye. Aye. Motion carries 7-0. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Item 7E. I will call for a motion to follow planning and zoning's recommendation and approve the application for sketch plot approval for a proposed subdivision submitted by Greystone Development located at 1839 Blue Meadow Road. Parcels 136N-1-37-025.001, 136N-2-42-085.001, and 136N-2-42-085.002. It was approved 5-0. Motion. Motion by Councilman Smith. Do I have a second? Second by Councilman DeSalvo. Any discussion? Vote the motion.

Aye. Aye.

Nay.

Aye. Aye.

Aye.

Aye. Motion carries six to one. Item 7F, a motion to follow Planning and Zoning's recommendation and deny the application for special exception to allow a boat storage and warehouse storage submitted by Joel Lee, located at 3220 Long Pillow Drive, parcel 138H-0-46-019. It was approved four to one.

Motion.

Motion by Councilman Smith. Do I have a second?

second by councilwoman Holmes any discussion I believe we had at one time we had two of them right neighboring the property

Right.

That we approved. And then this applicant actually came in for the same, I believe it was the same property, came in for an RV park. Right. Didn't get it. And now a warehouse storage. My concern is, you know, the construction hasn't started on the other two. I know this really doesn't, this is more, I know it's commercial, but kind of residential construction.

commercial but um nonetheless i don't want personally better use of property than three consecutive yeah but does that put us in a situation where we dictate what you can do in your property if we've allowed prior similar because it is i mean one of the faces denied is proposed both stores and warehouses may not be compatible with surrounding properties but if we have two that are potentially going to be well i think the ones

The ones that we approved, actually, one is on the old Nicholson side, if I remember. Old Nicholson side. And then the other one is on Longfellow 603. This one's the Longfellow, what's the road that runs?

Chapman.

Yeah, Longfellow and Chapman. And it looks like there's a structure on Longfellow and it would be on it. What's the structure? Is that a residence on that parcel?

I mean it's in that area I do agree with I think the comments made that it is around although it's c3 it is around residential or becoming more residential and would like to see that be consistent so I mean I definitely agree with that to where you know again

Yeah, I think those other, the other two that we approved were on the other side, more on the 603. And then this one, if I remember correctly, correct me if I'm wrong, and then this one is starting to get into that residential stretch. I mean, it is zoned commercially, so.

My only concerns are... two but they're the same differently it's in the flood zone so you can't do a whole lot of the property the other thing is that's the worst spot that floods there and i don't want a bunch of boats floating away if people don't pick them up when we have a storm right you know because it that right there when you turn off to that area right there from longfellow to chapman there's a dip in the drainage ditch that runs from the soccer fields and all through there and that's the first spot to flood when we get a storm and that spot is from Longfellow on down Chapman. So, I just wouldn't want a bunch of boats floating around if we got a storm surge there. I've seen the car lot and everything float on 603 before.

I guess one question is also what could they put there by right? Yeah. Instead of this.

I like to see something there. I mean, you're not going to get a full retail store even though it's C3 just because you have to build on pile. Same problem we got at 603. So, there's limited... things you could do with the property most likely. So boat storage may not be a bad one.

Yeah, that's the thing that now I'm thinking about the potential uses of it. Yeah.

Got some nice oak trees on it. Had some. Somebody went for the home on it. Nice little could do either way on that yeah honestly that's what kind of i mean the other two are right right next door there is one one house between it correct the one chapter there's a house across the street on chat and that's a crowd house kind of caddy corner on longfellow that sits off the road they're pretty good ways yeah and then on the other ways down you got probably the line of where you would draw it.

And be a lot of storage units in that stretch. Eight letters. Almost rather than taking up our 90 property though.

The other two, are they within a year of building? Because if they were given that special exception to build, then it's timed out.

It would be, because it was after we were on council. We haven't been on council a year yet.

I'm thinking at least six, eight months into it.

I haven't seen any progress.

No, I don't know if anything's been turned in. I have not heard of anything on either one of them turned in.

some of the stuff i saw i just some of the letters yeah some of the letters um i don't know that would be really a sales tax producing piece of corner to be honest i don't because we turned down the campground already so yeah that's at what point at what point did they well if they could start taxing storage units then we'd be okay yeah yeah right

I mean, it doesn't seem residential is what they're going to want to pursue when they want something.

And I think the downside of the residential, just being honest, that lot's too expensive and not waterfront, but deals with flooding to build a house on it. I mean, you're going to pay flood insurance, you're going to deal with the headaches of flooding, and you don't have the water in your backyard to go in your boat.

So, I mean, that's...

That's what's going to destroy the property from residential, to be honest, in my opinion. But I see it all the time in that area.

I'm not sure how the warehouse part of it would be built up.

True.

Old storage is usually just two, three-sided.

Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

I think you can get by with that in that zoning. Storage units itself are completely enclosed.

Just reading some of those opposition letters, kind of one common thing was concentration of where it is.

I think maybe seeing some get approved, but wanting different –

a different mix of businesses, to use the words. I don't know what, now that I'm sitting here thinking, I don't know what.

Private sector.

Private sector, yeah. I mean, and as far as, you know, demand, obviously they feel there's a demand to try to put three of them. I don't know.

There is, because that one house has it on both sides, I think, if the old Bobinger property was both storage also.

Yeah.

The old palm tree place. Yeah. Yeah. Because that would be on one side of the house and the other side of the house. I'd like to see it producing something rather than sit there.

I guess.

You get more affluent tax off of developed property. Property, yeah.

Now, they would still have to come with a little more than what they have here. Site plan. Site plan and everything. Mm-hmm. At first, I'm glad we have discussion up here sometimes instead of just voting.

We can always table it until July. Give them their full year.

Well, I guess we'll vote the motion to do it this way and see what comes of it and then go from there. All right, so we had a first and a second. To follow the recommendation and deny, I will call for a vote if there's no other discussion.

Aye. Aye.

Nay.

Aye.

Nay.

Aye.

Nay.

4-3. 4-3 it passed to deny.

So they followed P&Z's recommendation, did not? Well, we followed. Okay.

Questions on any, I can't just ask. If they bring something to show for the boat storage or whatever, or how they would do the warehouse. Warehouse. And then bring it back over.

Like the site plan and everything? Yeah, or... I think by that time, it's almost July now.

The bow store, it's just like, say, three sides closed in, so you can't really do it in that area.

That's nothing but the warehouse.

Yeah, I wouldn't want the warehouse, just the bow store.

If they came back with something a little more, it might change something.

All right.

Moving on to project updates, 8A, engineer's report.

All right, good evening. We have two motions tonight that we would like the council to consider. The first one is to move forward with advertising the harbor repairs. This is FEMA number 4576, PW 497. This completes, this would be advertisement for bids to complete the repair to the harbor. So this is the south wall. There's a wall underneath the other pier of wave screen that was damaged. Some damaged parking lot items, some electrical tower items. So this will finish out repairing the harbor from all the Zeta repairs or Zeta damage.

Jason, just to refresh my memory on this, this was put out originally, but we had to retract it. Right, is this the?

Yeah, this was bid. Originally, the bids came in extremely high, so we had to go back to FEMA to request additional funding. And then they did recommend, and I think it's in the best interest of the city, to reject those bids. We only had one bid at the time. And we wanted to coordinate some of these repairs with the Eastfall repairs that Moffitt-Nichols is working on, which is what we've been doing over the past few months. So we finally got that out of the way, so we are requesting authorization to advertise the bids.

I'll make a motion.

We have a motion to authorize engineer to advertise for construction bids for the BSL Municipal Harbor Hurricane Zeta General Repairs, FEMA number 4576DR-MSPW497 by Councilman DeSalvo. Do we have a second? Second by Councilman Smith. Any discussion?

is this it for the zeta repay uh yes ma'am the dredging is currently under construction they completed that work but we're working to close that out and this will be the rest of the zeta repair item from the pw from the hurricane any other discussion jason so with the timing of this should we get the bids in and the time of manner and so like when would we when could we potentially start i mean we're

It's really going to depend on the contractor's schedule.

We do have some tight time frames and deadlines with FEMA. The sheet pile wall on the south end of the parking lot is the main component of this to rebuild that. And so they'll have to get those sheets fabricated from the pre-stressed yard, so there's a time delay on that. But once we get the bids in, we'll be able to evaluate what that schedule is and then proceed from there.

What do we plan to have for it?

I think it's a 180-day contract. Okay. So about six months. Okay.

Okay, any other discussion about the motion?

Aye. Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye. Aye.

Aye. Aye. Motion carries 7-0. Thank you for that. The second action item, this is a change order one. This is to warn paving for the Hurricane Ida road repairs. However, it's not funded through any kind of FEMA funds. We'll keep the funds, if it's approved tonight, segregated separately. But these are for some additional paving of some roads throughout the city The total cost of the change order is $537,607.50. It says right there $500,000 to come from capital project fund.

Explain that again, Jason. So this is a change, so this will not be part of the Hurricane Ida road repair project?

It'll be part of it, but it won't be funded by FEMA. So we'll have to build those repairs separately. So the city will pay for these repairs, but it'll be through the contract with Warren Pavey.

So why are we doing it under the Hurricane Outer Repair Project?

Because they're currently under contract to do the repairs, the paving repairs in Ward 6.

And for the price, too, while they're here, we can go under that and get...

Okay, so potentially that pricing model would change should this not be part of the project? It could, yes, very well. A lot. Is this what we derived out of the SMPDD study? So this is citywide, right? I mean, I think everybody's probably up here in every ward, right? We have streets.

Yeah, it's spread out through the city.

It's 400 block of St. George, Ramanita to Bay Oaks on 3rd Street and follows back to the church area on 3rd Street if I'm not mistaken.

Reserve Street by the soccer field.

Reserve Street by the soccer complex and everything there. Crossroad there where Jack's Firestone is, where they paved the road behind it. It would be on that portion in there, that little shortcut there. It would be Josh Woodard's Montana.

Montana, Minnesota. Washington Street to the bridge.

Washington Street from Chapman to the bridge there.

Dunbar and Felicity. Dunbar, north side of Dunbar. At Felicity, I'm sorry.

Where's the list of the, so I haven't seen the list of what the high priorities are.

Is it the change order if you click on the link?

No, I see the list of the streets, but how do we determine these are the streets that, because a lot, I mean, no offense, There's still a lot in Ward 6 here. I just want to make sure it's equitably shared because this is going to be $500,000 coming from the capital project fund. So I just want to make sure it's equitable between the wards and the necessities in each of our wards. Did this come from SMPDDs?

It's there to look at along with this and just knowing the roads. And, you know, these roads are all on the list that need to be done.

Was this the DBST that was already done that needed to be?

That's included in the Ida Road repair.

That was the improved project for Ida. What would the timeline be to get that final report from SMPDD? Would we be able to get a final report, look at it, and still add on to this order?

I think Ronnie's been in contact with them with their preliminary findings and everything on the road.

But have we been in receipt of and being able to see what what notated what the priorities were in getting that?

We've got those.

They presented this with a map and it showed the different colors. They're going to do the finalization. I was thinking it should have been

But let's see the finalization in the form. Because the council, so I wasn't at that meeting. Nancy and Clay, you were. But other council would want to see what words would necessitate.

Yeah, to my knowledge, it was not finalized. I mean, they gave us. They're finalizing it all up.

Yeah. They had it to where it wasn't finalized. You know, just had to put it all together. But the road that's on the list. You know, it's on the bottom of the list, but the top of the list is bad.

Because I know Ronnie was going through the list and saying, yeah, no, this can wait, that is good.

Do you think SMPDD's report would be ready by the next meeting and we can add, what timeline do we need on a change order to get that same pricing?

Well, the contractor is about 40% complete.

No, we had that in our report. 30-something percent complete, I think, or 44. I remember seeing it.

Yeah, it's in there. Let me just find it. So 33% complete through the contract. and 40% with the contract value. So they're ahead of schedule. So we have some time to wait if you wanted to see how long it would take to get that S&PD report. We've got another couple of months worth of paving before that contract has expired.

I'm not saying that any of – I think all these – looking at these, the streets that are on here, I think they do need to be paved. But I would like to see the ones that kind of compare it. two SMPDDs report, make sure that they're all on there and it's not, I mean, we justify keeping them on here.

Well, we justify Third Street because of the dips and all in it.

Yeah, that one definitely, I mean, I'm pleased that.

Well, they say that's one of the better, not one of the better, but that one. Not rated on the bottom of the road.

But they can drive it. All they got to do is go around that road and see what this is all.

The asphalt itself is still good, but we want to level it up and everything.

I believe there's some residents in this audience that like that road bumping. Those are speed bumps, is what I've been told.

So do you want to table this?

I think we table it, see if we can compare it. I mean, it sounds like it has been compared to the SMPDD report, but just...

to make sure i mean i'm sure it is but yeah you just want to kind of yeah look at it because again third street even though that's interesting that didn't come up on this mpd's report because we all know just anecdotally driving that that's definitely i'm glad to see that's in there but there might be a couple in felba's award or linda that you know just want to give everyone a chance to see what came out of that study and then hey is there an opportunity because that's roughly what seven hundred thousand dollars per award to fix these streets basically you know and what's one of the most immediate areas just want to make sure it's equitably

divided yeah amongst the different wars too yeah i'm looking at these state street but i don't see st george ronnie ronnie can always send us the latest message i'm looking at all these roads i mean they just from traveling around a lot of these do need to be But just for due diligence, see the SMPDD report and compare to it. I think it would be a good choice to do. So I would be good with tabling it until we get that. I just don't want to risk losing the pricing, but if...

I don't think we're going to risk it. Like I said, we have a couple of months left of paving to finish it. They've pulled off to go work in another area. I think they'll be back sometime the first or second week of June. So we've got time if we need to go through the SMPDD report, even if it's just a preliminary draft or something to review. So I think that's probably the wise choice. We can just bring it back once we have that report.

We need to make a motion to table it or just...

Well, yeah, we're going to have to do that because we've already made a motion in a second.

Yeah.

We had a motion in a second on this?

Okay, sorry. Yeah, well, let's just make a motion to table. Okay.

I'll make a motion to table change order one from Warren Paving to Hurricane Ida Road Repair Improvement Project for an additional asphalt paving in the amount of $537,607.50 with $500,000 to come out of the capital projects fund. Do I have a second? Moin and second. One thing, that $500,000 was budgeted.

Yeah, and the plan is to kind of, pursuant to our budget, if we have it there, hopefully we do every year so we can make those continuous street improvements right, yeah.

So I had a motion by Councilman Smith and a second by Councilwoman Moynihan. Any discussion? Vote the motion. Aye.

Aye.

Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Motion carries 7-0.

Okay, ordinance is not, oh, I'm sorry, Jason. Two more, yeah, sorry, two discussion items.

We've been talking a lot about the GRPC projects. We have four sidewalk projects, Felicity Dunbar, I'm sorry, Felicity Suby, Ranch, and Pine Street that are all put together as one project. The total cost of that, or the total amount of federal funds is about $1.8 million. And so we discussed at the last meeting about pulling out Ranch and Pine Street sidewalks by the pool. and proceeding with those projects. The cost of those two projects is about $600,000 total cost, and so in our communication with GRPC, they just need to know what the city wants to do. If we want to go ahead and proceed with activating just those two projects, then we just need to send them a letter stating something. So we wanted to come to the council to see what was the pleasure of the council to proceed with that. The other funds, would go back to the transportation alternatives program. You could reapply for the other projects whenever you feel like that's a good time for you. But we would basically give up those funds to go back into the pipe.

We don't have to give them up now until we decide to give those up, right?

Well, we need to decide what to do with them. If we want to move forward with Pine Street and Ranch, we need to decide that now.

Also, if we want to move with Subie Street as well.

Yes.

And that's what it says and the thing is to

permission to reallocate funds from felicity sube pond and ranch street to pine ranch and sube yeah i think i mean pine and ranch is obviously priority for me i mean felicity would would be nice but pine and ranch is

what i'd like to see i like to see yeah so we'll have those three streets jason also with pine and ranch um did we talk about crosswalks and like

yeah at the last one I need to follow up with GRPC and see what the next steps would be for a school safety there I emailed them well I'll forward you the email and maybe see how we got some crosswalks figured into that to the original application to GRPC it was kind of that whole neighborhood kind of like a safety study from all the way through Highland that's when they just that whole neighborhood yeah School traffic flows through there. School zone's only on part of Byer. So it's kind of where do we extend that to if it needs to be. But anyway, I'll get with you on that.

Okay.

Do you need a motion for that or no?

I think we need some direction to proceed with activating Pine Ranch Subie. And we can draft a letter for the mayor to execute to send to Kenneth at GRPC and that'll get the ball rolling on those three projects.

Okay. I'll call for a motion to... is uh no we didn't amend it in the beginning but uh i will still accept for purpose of getting this to grpc it it would come back to us or is this just going to go yeah so they would they would modify the grant agreement and then it would send that back to the council for approval yeah this is just basically taking to the uh felicity out of the pot out of the project lift

and proceeding with Pine Ranch and Sioux. And then that grant agreement will come back to the city for approval before anything else happens at that point.

Just for clarification for everyone in the audience, this has been an ongoing conversation amongst the council as well as with Jason about what direction. This would just be for them to go out and bring something back to us. It was in the report. I know it wasn't exactly an action item, but to make this action item in order for Jason to execute it. Yeah, but that part will come back to us for approval. So this is just to authorize Jason.

The parts we're moving forward with is still, as far as we're hoping anyway, we won't go to the ground for the same amount of money. It's just we're not going out for all four parts of it now. We're only going out for three of the four.

Yeah, I understand it. We're not, I mean, I still feel comfortable with bringing it to a motion only because we will have further action. It's in the report, even though it's not an action item. I'm good, as everyone on the council, good with making this motion. I mean, I think it's important to get it in because we need to get it to GRPC sooner rather than later. Yeah, they'll have a call for projects soon.

and it doesn't obligate the city to anything you've actually already you've already going through the approval process years ago for the grant application for up to 1.87 million for all four projects this is basically just telling you proceed you want to proceed with just three of the four then they can reallocate the funds and then that grant agreement will come back to the city for approval I'm comfortable with doing it if the rest of the council is I will call for a motion

to approve the activation of Pine Ranch and Subie projects with GRPC. I have a motion. I made a motion and I have a second from Councilman Smith. Any other discussion? Vote the motion.

Aye. Aye.

Aye. Aye. Aye.

Aye, motion carries 7-0. Thank you. So we'll coordinate with the administration on the letter to go to GRPC. The other item for discussion, we brought this up, this is a project that has been on the books for many, many years, maybe close to 10 years. It's Old Spanish Trail Lighting. We reported at the last meeting that the obligated amount is about, federal share is about $500,000. There's some local match in there that gets us up to about $800,000. Our cost estimate, current cost estimate for the lighting, which is from Main Street to the city limits on Old Spanish Trail is about 1.3 million. And so we've got roughly half.

Can you say the total cost?

Yeah, total cost is 1.37 million is what we're estimating.

And what's our responsibility?

Well, this is, so the city's match is, $309,000, and that's what gets us to the $793,000 total project cost, total fund. Jason, why is the match so high on that? Well, so what we figured is when we did buy our drive project, there wasn't enough funds in that bid, so GRPC moved the money from Old Spanish Trail Lighting to cover buy our drive. Well, that left a deficit, $116,000 deficit in the lighting project. So in order to fulfill the obligation to move forward with the lighting project, the city had to commit to those funds being local, added to the local match. So that's why your local match of $310,000 is a lot higher because the project cost is $793,000. You took $116,000 from this project to cover another one, so you had to cover that with local funds.

So if we didn't go forward with this, where would we make up those other funds?

If you didn't go forward, this is one of those things where we can either scale the project back and take it to Washington Street, if that's as far as you could go for the cost, and then do a phase two later on to finish out to the city limits.

And Jason, just real quick, there is wiring, right?

So the conduit, the plastic pipe has been installed. When we did the sidewalk project, there's no wiring or any conductors or anything. So this would strictly be the lighting, and it's the decorative poles that match Main Street Washington Street, Beech Boulevard. So it's going to match all those, and then it would be the wires that connect everything.

I thought we had already ran the wiring.

No, because we didn't know when we'd come back and connect it in, so we just put the conduit in to pull the wire.

Yeah, so we could always come back, wire it.

You could do it in phases. Yeah, you could come and do one section, you know, whatever, however much money you have. You have $483,000 for the federal share. We might be able to modify the program to not cover the entire length and then just maybe break it off at Washington Street would be a natural way to division. And then that way you can come back and do the rest, reapply for the rest of the funds later on. But we do need some guidance from the city on how we want to proceed with it because these funds have been being held up for quite a few years.

Since I was in Florida. Before that. Before that. Three years before that.

I know we have lights.

Probably seven years.

The decorative lighting. So is those poles needed for all of Old Spanish Trail?

Well, that was the concept, and the intent of the original grant application was to match the decorative dollars just to buy the lights, and then you have to install them and everything.

But just prefacing that, this is decorative. We don't have a lighting issue that we're aware of, right? We have adequate lighting.

You would still keep the overhead lights, right?

Yeah. So it would just be in addition to the already added, yeah.

What would the price difference if you went decorative with that type hole but didn't have the Bay St. Louis and that on it? How much would the price drop on that? I mean, I just think that's a bit much.

It's very expensive for those decorative lights. I mean, I could try to get an estimate on what that is. I mean, you've really just taken off. If you want to match the style of lights, you know, then you've just taken off the Bay St. Louis name. But if you want to go with a different type of light picture, and keep in mind that Washington Street right now has the decorative light between Highway 90 and Old Spanish Trail.

Even then, you think, I mean, there's no way Gulf Regional would reallocate or put this back on to cover the entirety? During their call of projects, if we tried to reapply the whole way?

So we're basically at a point where there's not enough money to do the main street to the city limit.

And this goes in a lot of Ward 3 and Ward 4, and again, I'm not negating the fact that this does help enhance the area. But I'd like to see I'd like to see natural gas come to parts of word for they don't have it now before say decorative buttons We've got a lot of residents have been asking for natural gas that we just don't have right now And so I mean there's necessities versus kind of the niceties That still need to get done That's what I agree with that's like the felicity, you know, I think that's a nicety it connects everything and giving that up and

I mean, so we have other priorities, so.

But, I mean, I would like to see a plan in areas of, probably, Linda, you probably have the same issue in Ward 5. They probably have some residents that don't have the ability to have natural gas, right?

Oh, no, it doesn't go down in our area.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So, I mean, I don't know if that's a one-for-one lift, but.

They're putting it together, trying to see where, I guess, impacts come from on natural gas, you know, in areas. I know they've installed it in Shieldsboro. I'm sure the new. Mm-hmm.

And I want to be cognizant of Felber's needs too. I mean, because this, I mean, a lot of this would go in Ward 3. So kind of looking at, okay, what are the greater needs, you know, and how can that be reallocated to ensure that, you know, again, we get some more of the everyday standards of living and Yeah, drainage improvements.

There's some development on Sycamore, too. I know that's coming up that I've been addressed with that's going to need water lines and stuff running that way as well.

I think that's a good point. I mean, conduits run. If we ever want to reapply for this opportunity, we'll be there.

I agree with Mr. Lewis. I mean, we still got a lot of the necessities that need to be built out before we do all the other stuff. Yeah.

I agree.

It's been held up for, this is probably going back six years. This project? Eight years.

We did the sidewalk, I think it's 16, and this was part of it then.

So is there a lighting issue at all on Old Trail?

I don't think so.

Other than the basic street. We have every pole lit up, you know, power poles.

And you guys are actually addressing those, for instance, on the beach. You know, if there's a lighting, I mean, you guys just fixed some lighting, added lighting on the beach between, what was that, St. Charles, kind of St. Charles down to Bay Oaks, or Romanita. Right. So, I mean, as those lighting issues come up, we're able to add those. Yeah. Yeah.

and we were able to go in and do it. Yeah. You know, we run into this. The lights aren't very bright, so we still, you know, on a big road like Old Spanish Trail, we still need all our overhead lighting.

You couldn't rely solely on these decorative lights for the light.

Even on Court Street, look down Court Street. I think every pole on Court Street almost has an overhead light on it, even though we have it. And the beach is very dark. And especially when you get down in front of the church area and all.

Main Street is dark.

That's a pretty wide street. Main Street and 2nd. It would be like an old Spanish trail. It's not bright. You put it too bright, it doesn't shine. The people's houses. Speaking of lighting, this is a different subject, but Mr. Piper will give us an answer on the street lights on 603 and 90 now.

We just got something where they...

They put them up and they were the wrong one. They wasn't as tall. How they screwed that up, I have no idea. That was through Weber, I think it was, Mississippi Power now. So they replaced them. We had the second order and they came in and they replaced those. Now they're in the process of the next, I think it's eight or so, ten, wait on them to come in.

What about buying out the lease though?

That's something we'll look at going into this budget and see what we need to do.

And Jason, I know we're backing up here, but Felicity, what was the match to that portion before? I mean, it's been merged into one now, or will be. You know, do you remember?

I remember from last meeting.

I can go. I don't know.

I had it from last meeting, but I don't remember offhand. I can look it up tomorrow and get it to you. Yeah.

I'm just curious to see what the local.

That was a standalone for that project.

Yeah. Whenever it was standalone, what it was or what it was expected to be. Anyway.

So I got another question. One more, Jason. Are we close on the Ida, Hurricane Ida and FEMA grant? Are we closer to obtaining that? Or where do we stand with that, securing that? The funds from FEMA. That's been secured for the IDA repairs.

That's for the road repairs? Yeah. Yes. We're good. We're done.

We're under construction on that. We've got those. Okay. All right. That's been obligated and that's been secured. Yeah.

Okay. That was a three-point...

Okay, and then last thing, Jason. Ramonita, I know they're on the final stage of the sewage repair, right? They'll return, because I know right in front of John and the Mahoney's, they've got it pretty torn. They take very good pride in their front yard, and I know that's the easement, but it's torn up pretty good. So they'll return that back to its original state? Yes, they will. Okay.

We will ensure that. Okay, all right.

Appreciate that.

Any other questions?

Jason, I have one. The ditch clearing behind 9th Street, I think it is. I know y'all were at 90 recently. Y'all are still coming in that direction?

Yeah, they're working through there.

We got a culvert going in. We're placing the culvert with a box covered on bush logs.

Okay.

And then I think they went in and done some work for Mayor Turner. They're going to finish some of that as well. I think it might be this week.

Thank you.

Anything else for Jason? Thank you. Thank you.

Do we need to fill in the agenda for the next meeting to make a motion to discontinue the Washington Street?

Yeah, I'll get with GRPC and tell them what we discussed and then see exactly what we need to say to move forward with that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, nothing on ordinances. City Clerk's Report. A motion to approve the docket of claims 26-024, dated May 19, 2026, and the amount of $766,029.54. Do I have a motion? Motion. Motion by Councilman Smith. Do I have a second?

Davis, second.

Any discussion?

Just a quick question. Mike, who's certifying the City Clerk's Report?

Dana. Any other discussion? Vote the motion.

Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Motion carries 7-0.

Councilwoman Holmes has left the room at 6.51. I will call for a motion to approve the docket of claims 26-025 special dated May 19th, 2026 and the amount of $116.90. Motion. Motion by Councilman Smith. Do I have a second?

Moin and second.

Any discussion? Vote to motion.

Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye.

Aye. Motion carries 6-0. Councilwoman Holmes has reentered the room at 6.52. Mayor's agenda, anything there? Good. Council business, anyone have anything?

I have been getting increased calls about wildlife. What? Increased calls about wildlife. I guess with the summer, they're coming out. Coyotes, fox, and whatnot. I just want to make sure the city is aware. My understanding, our animal control doesn't handle wildlife, so they have to go through maybe a private company. But I just want to make sure that the city is aware that we're getting increased around Easterbrook.

Alligators?

Not yet.

Oh, you had one in the... Yeah, we had one recently. Okay.

Okay.

Circle of life there, yeah.

Yeah, mine is around Easterbrook and St. Fran.

I go to drive old Joe's Bayou and go look at them right there. Did they catch those, Mike?

What's she looking for? Gator?

Yeah, sure. I said, Craig, we ran into Craig down there, and he was spotlighting it.

So actually, on that note, one of the first things, it was around July last year, right after we got sworn in, one of the first phone calls I had was the coyote issue. I didn't know how to handle it. But maybe adding the newspaper, making people aware. Because actually I called to save you some trouble. I called the wildlife rehab, whatever the, Mr. Holland, I forget the name of it offhand, but called him for some advice. It's their mating season right now. And he told me if you actually catch them or remove them from the area, and you remove too many, it will throw them into, mating season and it will yeah they'll throw them into heat and population will double so I know it's I know it sounds crazy to bring that up but yeah it's it will increase it if they actually start so just be aware the best thing is awareness

Did we get any update from Bob with the final zoning ordinance? Haven't heard anything from him. I'll find out.

I'll email Bob as well. They were compiling a list. I did receive a map kind of with some still working on overlays. He gave me a side-by-side way to look at it side-by-side. Didn't really fulfill what I was looking for, but I'll share it with the council so you guys might be able to use it.

And then just one more item. Lana or John, y'all might need an earmuff clip on this one. It's somewhat around stop signs clips. I don't want to put you in a frenzy here. No, but on a serious note, and I'm not recommending, but Mike, I got a couple of texts on Central and St. Charles again, near accidents. I know that area goes from 35 to 25. I know we still have probably a speeding issue. Can we get the radar down there, a little more presence? And we've done studies. I know we had GRPC that did a study and traffic study and volume. I think we've done it with the speeding and everything with that.

with the light that does all the data for us.

Yeah, and I'm not, I don't know if we need more data, but more of a deterrent or just more presence there, ticketing, you know, that usually sends the message pretty loud and clear if there's a presence there. But again, that seems to be an issue, and there's a lot of, I mean, there have been some accidents there as well. I'm not saying, I don't know if the stop sign is, you know, the remedy there, but certainly, you know, again, if we can have an increased presence and continue to look at that.

Anything else? South side of the highway for Longfellow. The complaints of exiting off the highway.

Going on for 100 years. I know, but... Somebody builds a house there and wants to shut it down.

There's got to be something to deter them or slow them down that we're not...

I feel for but I mean, they bought this lot built a house on it by this rank this deck. Where is it? Right down? In the back? Yeah.

Mexican restaurant.

Do they have a speed bump here?

Kenny's Dental, Pedro's.

A speed bump coming off or something there, you know, on that. Give them a few feet there and put it right there before the intersection. Was that Carwell Bank is right there on that corner, I think?

Right past. It's right past. Yeah, right there.

I don't know. Put that new asphalt down. They go faster now. That's right. That new asphalt.

Well, there is a speed bump on the right. Further down. Between the second and third house from the highway. And they said that one or two cars have actually hit the speed bumps so fast that their spare tire has flung off.

That's right. Load them down.

They never stopped. They kept going. Put the inverted ones in there. We don't have to fix that.

The problem is they exit the highway at 45 miles an hour.

That's what I'm saying, they never get to that highway.

And just stay going that, right there.

You know, that same thing on Washington, same thing on Chapman going the other way, the same exact thing we had. The highway, you know, they get with the PD and get them to hang out in their moor.

Can we put, like, stripe it to where it'll give you the, you know, the rubble? Yeah, could you put that right in the beginning? Okay. just so it kind of gives you that probably within 30 feet rumble strip

There is a dead tree

On Citizen and Old Spanish Trail, it's an oak tree. It's rather tall. We need to take that down. It's in the city right away. Where's that at? On the right-hand side. Also, we have a tree right as you go over.

I'm sorry? On the corner? On the corner. Citizen and Old Spanish Trail on the?

on the right side going toward Main Street. I'll send you a picture. And I can send you a picture of the other one too on web as you just cross over the railroad track. The tree is completely overgrown and it's hanging over the street with vines and everything and it's, I'm afraid that that branch is gonna break off and fall in the middle of the street. But I'll send you pictures of that.

That's it. We'll move on to the second public forum. Nobody has signed up for it. No attorneys report. So no executive section is needed. I will call for a motion to adjourn the meeting of May 19th, 2026. The motion.

One thing. He hasn't had a surgery. Everything went well so far. Thank you for that update.

Motion.

Motion by Councilman Smith. Do I have a second? Second. Second by Councilman Lewis. Any discussion? Vote to motion.

Aye. Aye. Aye.

Aye. Aye. Motion carries 7-0.

Meeting.