Board of Aldermen - Regular Meeting

Second 2026 Board of Alderman meeting is hereby called to order. I'd like to ask Pastor Calvin King, Repairers of the Breach Church, to lead us in invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, which I will lead. Please stand. Pastor.

To please bow for us, pray.

Father, we thank you for this day. We praise you and we give you glory and we give you honor. We thank you for this opportunity to come before you and get wisdom and get direction. We pray now for the leadership, dear God, for all those who are in attendance. We pray for Mayor Adams, dear God, that you give him wisdom and understanding and guidance, and for his council, the people who are supporting him. We pray that they all submit to the will and purpose and the plan that you have for this great city of ours. We call blessings upon this city. We dispatch angels to watch over and protect this city. We thank you for everything that you've done, and for this meeting on tonight, we give you the glory. Now give us the wisdom, God, that we need to make the right decision. Decision that all of your people can live in peace. So therefore, we pray for those who are in authority. And we give you all praise, glory, and honor. In Jesus' mighty name we pray. Amen.

Thank you. Be seated. Thank you, Pastor. Ms. Stewart, would you conduct roll call?

Yes, sir.

Aldridge? Here. Collins? Here. Dickerson? Here. Earhart? Here. Gammage? Here. Hamilton? Here. Wallace?

Here. all present so as the quorum is established uh just a reminder for anyone who may speak tonight this meeting this meeting is streamed live on youtube on the city's youtube channel and also archive for playback and those of us with microphones it should be illuminated to green when we're speaking so that the entire audience can hear what we're saying just as a reminder board you have before you the minutes of the last meeting record schedule meeting on May the 19th 2026. Any questions comments or motions on those minutes. Mister damage motion to approve is there a second. Second Mister Dickerson in discussion. All in favor. All opposed motion carries. Following the agenda we now have Mister Vincent doro of Kalia regional program manager to address the board and present a certificate of accreditation to the olive branch Police Department. And also as a reminder anyone who speaks tonight from the lectern or podium please give your name and address of the clerk can capture that for the minutes.

Vincent Darrow, addresses 111 Butch Circle, Hazel Green, Alabama. Excuse me. On behalf of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Officers, commonly known as CALEA, Commission Chair Colonel Matthew Packard of the Colorado State Patrol, Executive Director Mr. W. Craig Hartley, thank you for welcoming me to present this award to the Olive Branch Police Department. CALEA was created in 1979 when the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Sheriff's Association, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, and the Police Executive Research Forum recognized the need within law enforcement to develop standards to enhance professional delivery of police services to the citizens and communities they serve. CALEA is the only internationally recognized public safety accrediting body in existence, and we serve the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Barbados. The goals of CALEA are to strengthen crime prevention and control capabilities, formalize essential management procedures, establish fair and non-discriminatory personnel practices, improve service delivery, solidify interagency cooperation and coordination, and increase community and staff confidence in the agency. Many agency heads are reluctant to have outsiders review their work and administrative processes while detailing deficiencies they may have. It involves risk. It also requires that the department be open to change and demonstrate they conduct business in a way that meets contemporary law enforcement standards. Chief Garcia thinks otherwise and understands that CALEA accreditation minimizes his agency's exposure to liability, demonstrates accountability to the public, and guarantees professional management practices. In practical terms, With the support of Mayor Ken Adams, the Chief believes it confirms their commitment to excellence in law enforcement. Based on the goals and mission statement of Kali, I can find no better time to present this certificate than a meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen. where we can recognize the hard work that this agency committed toward accomplishing this goal. The certificate itself is just a matted paper within a frame, but it has a much broader symbolic meaning. It clearly represents the agency's efforts to achieve accredited status, thereby demonstrating its willingness to change and effectively address contemporary public safety concerns. It represents a commitment to doing the right thing the right way for the right reasons. It represents adherence to a professional code. Lastly, it represents an ongoing dedication to ensuring the agency's resources are appropriately developed, effectively deployed, and constantly managed, all in the name of a safer city for citizens and visitors. During the previous four years, CALEA staff remotely reviewed the agency's proofs of compliance files. Then on November 3rd through 5th, 2025, a professional assessor visited the police department and reviewed the agency's activities, functional impacts, and management strategies. Using this process, CALEA staff and the on-site assessor determined the agency's compliance with all applicable standards. The assessor also noted that the agency is committed to the intent of the CALEA process and accordingly exemplifies what accreditation represents. During the site-based accreditation assessment, the site-based assessor conducted 29 in-person interviews. Interviews included agency members, members from partnering agencies and associations, members of the community, and members of this governing body. All the persons interviewed advise the Olive Branch Police Department and Chief Garcia are very committed to serving their community with the highest level of professionalism, assuring the needs of their community are at the forefront. One notable comment was from a municipal judge, excuse me, I can't even talk today, who advised that the quality of work within the police department led to a 95% of defendants pleading guilty in this courtroom. That is astonishing. The assessor found the agency's personnel were proud to be members of the Olive Branch Police Department and were reflective of a professional attitude with a high sense of service to the community. At the commission meeting held in Tucson, Arizona, CALEA commissioners reviewed the assessor's report, concurred with the findings, and unanimously voted to reaccredit the agency. This is the agency's fourth award for law enforcement accreditation, receiving their initial accreditation award under the leadership of former chief and now Ward 3 alderman Don Gamage. Now I would like to invite forward Chief Carlos Garcia and the agency's accreditation manager, Captain Jason Oliveira, to receive the certificate. But I also want to note that this cannot be done without the support of you on the dais, the support of the people standing behind me, the chief's command staff, and all of the members of the community. So chief, if you would come up. I'm going to move to this microphone if I can. Yes, you do? Okay. I always like to turn toward the audience because I want to make it a point to you that you have earned this because you support your police. The police department cannot work without you. It has to have the solid backing of the people behind me now, but without you, this cannot be done. Be it hereby known that the Isle of Branch Police Department, having fully demonstrated its voluntary commitment to law enforcement excellence by living up to a body of standards, essential to the protection of the life, health, safety, and rights of the citizens it serves, and having exemplified the best professional practices in the conduct of its responsibilities, is hereby, upon the recommendation of the members of the Commission, awarded this certificate of accreditation, effective on the 21st day of March 2026, and is recognized as an accredited law enforcement agency for a period of four years. It's their fourth award. I'd also like to say that There's less than 5% of the agencies in the United States are accredited. There are only seven in Mississippi at this time, with five of them being municipal law enforcement. You have a lot to be proud of. You have an excellent agency, and it's my pleasure to present this.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Durham.

Safe travels back home. Next item, Mr. Rebecca Treadway, a friend of this municipal body, to talk to us about the latest and greatest on the arc of Northwest Mississippi. She's the executive director, and always a pleasure to have you in here.

Thank you so much. Can I approach and give you? Sure. Well greetings as as the mayor said my name is Rebecca Treadway and I'm the executive director of the ARC Northwest Mississippi we're an advocacy agency for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities here in DeSoto County. Our mission is to help people with special needs of all ages reach their maximum potential by creating events and programs that help them and help their parents connect to services and educate the community about the people that we serve. And I know each year I come here and I tell you that we're having the best year ever and this year I truly, truly mean it. We really are having the best year ever. This summer for the first time, we are not only running our famous Camp Bold, but we're running every single program that we own at the same time. So it's thanks to you and all the things that you do for us that it's made it possible for us this summer to serve 265 campers in Camp Bold, 245 counselors serving with us. We have a brand new program that's at our office on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday called Garden Guardians. That's our first year doing this camp. and it will serve 60 individuals with 25 counselors. And our program on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the office is called Glow and Grow Studio, and that is serving 18 individuals. Then our social clubs, our exercise classes, our art classes, our cooking classes. We have two exciting family events coming with our goal to serve over 1,000 people just in the months of June and July. So we are so excited for this opportunity. And I also wanted to take a second and just fill you in on a couple of interesting stories that tie to Olive Branch that have happened through the course of this year. In January, I received a phone call from a family whose son exited Olive Branch High School in 2025. And even though I had talked with them before and they knew the pathway to get assistance through Medicaid, they chose not to do that, and that's okay. Families can choose that. But then they had a family tragedy happen, and in January they really, really needed the help. They needed their son to be able to go to a day program, and it's a really lengthy process to do it. And I used all of my ties and connections that I could, and I called down to North Mississippi Regional Center, and I called to Medicaid, and I'm happy to tell you that he was able to get into a day program at record time and really, really did help that family. And that never would have been able to happen without the ARC being where it is today to help folks. Another story is one of our clients who was not a successful student in high school. Some people just are not, school is not their thing. And school was not his thing. And he ended up exiting school. He's an adult with autism. And he left when he was 17 years old with his parents' blessing and came to us kind of a broken young man. He just really... kind of had lost his way. And through going to all of our clubs, our social programs, and engaging with us in our job readiness program, two months ago we got him his first full-time job at Hernando Goodwill, where we were shadowing him. We had a one-on-one job coach with him, and they called us two weeks in and said, we don't need that job coach anymore. And so off he goes, and he is successfully on his way into his career. Another family here in Olive Branch who had a son with extreme behavior problems. I know that the resources of our fantastic police department were used at his house again and again and again. And it did take us a little over two years, but this year we were able to help his family get him placed in a behavioral home. at the east part of the state. And that is such a fabulously successful win for everyone. It isn't a drain on the police department. He is in a more successful place where he is living a really great life and the family is able to be more present in the community. So we're so thrilled that that all worked out in the end. And then my final story is about my favorite client, my son Ethan, who exited college this year and finished our job readiness program and took his first full-time job himself working for the county. So super excited and I know personally that Ethan would not be where he is today if it weren't for all of our programs at the Arc. So, and you are a huge part of that. The city of olive branch by supporting us and all the things that we do, not just for Ethan, but for everyone in the community. Thank you so much. Any questions for me?

I don't have a question, just a comment, Rebecca. I remember when Ethan was just a little boy, and you guys started, and I just want to thank you for your dedication, your support, and all your hard work. This is a tremendous job you've done with this program, and I just want to say thank you.

And thank you. Thank you.

Mayor, I would also agree with Mr. Gammage. I believe that you all serve with a heart, and we really appreciate it, and we're happy to have you.

Well, we're so thankful and happy to be here.

Thank you, you always have a great update and I'll let the teacher, my favorite teacher know that Ethan has graduated since my daughter got to teach him when he was very young. So congratulations and best wishes for continued success on this program.

Thank you so much, thank you.

Like an Easter egg hunt over here and I finally won. Mr. Dorr, I'm gonna break protocol a little bit and ask if you'll join me at the microphone. This is a bittersweet portion for the city. Pat Dorr has volunteered and worked tirelessly on our planning commission over the years and would like to share this certificate of recognition to Mr. Pat Dorr. Whereas Pat Dorr has faithfully served on the Olive Branch Planning Commission Board since June the 14th, 2016, whereas Pat Dorr was elected chairman on July the 13th, 2021, And whereas, while serving as Chairman, Mr. Dorr has guided the Planning Commission with strong leadership and integrity, balanced authoritative direction and humility, and promoted active listening to developers and the public. And whereas, Mr. Pat Dorr has been an impartial facilitator in promoting development that aligns with the City's vision, especially as articulated in the Comprehensive Plan 2040, and whereas we greatly appreciate his dedication to the city and commitment to his responsibilities, now therefore I, Kenneth R. Adams, Mayor of the City of Olive Branch and the Board of Aldermen, do hereby recognize Mr. Pat Dorr for his loyal and faithful service rendered to the City of Olive Branch. Witness this date by signature. Thank you, Mr. Pat Dorr. Board, we have the consent agenda item at this time. Mr. Flanagan, we'll address him when he gets here. He had one other stop at another city before he gets to our city. But board, you have the consent agenda items one through 21 in your packet. Basically administrative in nature. If there are no questions or concerns, any motions on this particular consent agenda. Ms. Hamilton, motion second. Mr. Wallace, any discussion? All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Motion carries. Approved as tendered. under planning Commission new business. This is a public hearing date for consideration and action on the motion declaring the condition of the following properties to be a minister, the public health and safety and directing the city staff or contract labor to clean the property forthwith.

I demand before you is a request to consider these six properties for the board's action with regard to the estate concerning public health and safety in the city. At the time the staff report was sent out, this particular piece of property at 9154 College Road had been claimed, as shown on this picture. The grass had been cut at that time. There were a number of other properties that have not been cleaned since then. The grass on a number of them, some of them have been cut. For example, this property at 8020 Camptown Lane, it has since then been cleaned. We have another property at 7156 Lackfield Road. That particular lawn has also been cut. These property are 7120 Oak Forest Drive has also been claimed since the staff report was sent to the board. There are two other properties that have not been attended to. One that is just west of the hospital. This is the hospital at this particular location. This is I-22. This is Chateau Drive. And there is that piece of property in this northwestern quadrant or southwestern quadrant of the Hacks Crossroad or Better Road, Highway 78 intersection that has not been cut. Steve Bush. Seven nine two zero West Sandwich Road. This picture was taken today. It still remains in this particular state. It has not been claimed. Staff therefore proposed a modification of the lease. That is four properties, no action be taken, because they have all been claimed, and that the board declared these B, properties on these B, that owned by Shanoneka Washington and the Olive Branch, MFG Corporation Incorporated declared those two properties to constitute a menace to public health and safety and direct either city staff or contract labor to clean those two properties. That concludes staff's recommendation. Thank you.

Thank you doctor song this being a public hearing item is there anyone here associated with these 2 properties under the the yellow or amber list should make a Washington or olive branch MFG company anyone here to give public comments whether you're the landowner neighbor anyone here to give public comments on these 2 properties. Seeing and hearing non public comments section is here by closed board any questions of staff on these plots or any motions.

Make a motion to direct staff to clean up this visit as a minister public health and safety.

Motion by Mister Hart is your second. Second Mister Wallace in discussion. All in favor. All opposed motion carries on those 2 properties of anyone is associated with this day. No action required they had already met expectation before the board meeting tonight. All business consideration of be it's open May the 22nd 2026 for preservation treatment project. Mister young.

Yes, we open to kids on Friday, May 29th or asking to take those under advisement to come back on the 16th for recommendation.

think we've discussed just a little bit more time needed to evaluate those and to make adjustments. So a board to like to continue those what was the date certain again to June the 16th that the board so inclined to a motion and vote on that. Dixon motion to tables just second miss Aldridge all in favor. All opposed motion carries. Next item consideration of recommendation to prove mugshots June the 13th event. Speak about this in a moment was anyone here on behalf of mugshots come forward Sir to the lectern a podium if you will. Good evening.

Good evening. I'm John Swift owner operator with much out here and I'll branch in and get your address.

Mister Swift for the clerk so home address for the clerk.

That is 7, 9, 1, 5, German to fair and then drive Germantown Tennessee. 3, 1, 3, So our motion is to have a benefit for the iron warriors. It would be a benefit for them. There are three families in need looking to do a silent auction, a live auction. a benefit for them to raise money for those three families. They in the past years have done this in South Haven, Mississippi, but it hasn't been as successful as they've wanted to due to the operator businesses they've partnered with not doing their due diligence and making sure the event was ready to go and having everything all their needs met. So they came to us trying to partner with us and Our motion and request is to have an extension of our patio and maybe a special events request to have beer, alcohol in designated area of the parking that we have already talked to Fire Marshal Jason Coad that if we block off that area, it would not hinder anything that any normal operations.

But thank you for being community minded may I ask what the needs are these families are they driven by the financial fire what type of issues are they so they haven't.

Detailed all the need for me, but his own financial needs that they usually do one family each year, but they're 3 families in need this year so they're spreading it out.

And Mister attorney up. Mister that I assume that call outdoors would be a matter of the call beverage Commission, not the board.

Well, no, sir. Under our local ordinance, particularly for beer consumption, we do have an outdoor festival exemption within the open container prohibition ordinance. So the request that's actually before the board tonight is for approval of that open container waiver or the allowance of open containers as an exception to our ordinance that prohibits open containers.

Thank you and will there be a an adjustment for the noise as well. We have a band outside.

So it would be from the times of 11AM to 5PM so it would not be after hours for late night ordinance.

This is just a one time event.

This is. And if it all went successfully, they would like to try to do a yearly with us. And then if it also did go successful, I would have maybe plans to bring to the board for future events like this to partner with our local communities and high schools. We already do what we call a spirit night where we basically eat good, give back is what we call it. We partner with high schools, chilling teams, the bands and where they kind of flood in the restaurant and we give 10 of our sales to those organizations and my thought is that if we could do the same thing block off that area during football season have like a tailgate saturday partnering with the cheerleaders or the bands of the football team and do that same thing from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. But that would be a separate issue.

I'm pleased that Mugshots operates in Ollie Branch and frequent it occasionally myself. Board, any questions about this event for the 13th?

Mayor, I was just noticing in his letter, he's requested some additional trash cans and metal barricades. Is that a problem that our public works are in?

I think we've addressed that. We wouldn't be able to supply those things. They're going to take care of those themselves. We, our heart would like to do that, but from a legality standpoint, being a private business, we're not able to do that.

Not a problem.

Good question. Any other questions? Is there a motion to approve this event, this one-time request of mug shots?

I'll make a motion for the outdoor festival to go ahead with the outdoor beer that one day.

Motion before the board has been made by Alderman Dickerson is there a second. Second is a solid miss Aldridge second anymore discussion all in favor. I all oppose motion carries best wishes for a successful event.

Yes, sir. Thank you.

He's on the way, I think. Board will take up Jim's later if he makes it in time. If not, we'll take him up the next meeting. Is there a motion to leave record session with the intention of going into executive session for items one through seven?

No. Second.

Wallace Collins. All in favor. All opposed motion carries your motion to go in executive session to discuss a personal matter in the airport department personal matters in the fire department personal matters in the police department personal matter in the planning and building department personal matters in the gas building department personal matter in the water building department and personal matters in the water maintenance department 0 motion to go to executive session for those items so move. Mr. Gambit, motion. Second. Second. Mr. Collins, all in favor? Aye. All opposed? We are in executive session.