[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6279220,"mediaKeyId","2625224-2469adccb1fbc0ce2670051ee23934f1","parentId",2625224,"title","Residents and council press for action on Biloxi encampments, CSX property cleanup","audioSeconds",399,"startMs",3088000,"endMs",3487000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2625224-2469adccb1fbc0ce2670051ee23934f1&start=3088&end=3487","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2625224-2469adccb1fbc0ce2670051ee23934f1/thumbnail_3088000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6279220/Biloxi/Harrison-County/Mississippi/Residents-and-council-press-for-action-on-Biloxi-encampments-CSX-property-cleanup","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279220-694c2da7b4f27008f91583ba190050be/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193610&Signature=GJ73aYZlK3U~WV5mYsPF1-DO5rePmUMzrEg-7IuRdYG4S71LdC2GfbpVL1oGj2riGL4FjWRX5ElH7orNHUPV9~a8V3UGTBZj4QiHcBN~a~megaVS5JOn-5OtRTBoIjLSvzwYvA-GqJTQXmZveVSrTV-lACIECx0kj2sjoNdaHXRLkKCXgUz1hWGDCSnVSuzkomirVRw1c~f-yfdyQnZ66FlAy61DJDcPdFybOokHR0f3Cu5rFHoiB5Fujnf~3J~lxyhXMR4lXiE5RvPKNwi3yFAvrCJ4nYWfOdkW8GiMqZAr~aqNdxc0TVzVKYIwXewVq02fnDKk5pMNc3bgCjfhUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Biloxi","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","Residents and city officials at a Biloxi City Council meeting renewed calls for action on homeless encampments, abandoned tents and litter along rail right-of-way and at Broadwater, and discussed possible cleanups, code enforcement and coordination with CSX.

Several residents described ongoing problems in neighborhoods near the CSX corridor and Broadwater. Bob Silvestro, a resident who said he has worked with neighbors, told the council, “I walked into the woods. I paid some of the homeless. They came out and picked up the trash.” George Eldred, another resident, detailed repeated break-ins, fires and human waste in areas he said are used for encampments.

Council members and staff reported continued cleanup and enforcement activity but said challenges remain. Councilman Glavin said crews had cleared people from a property but that tents and trash remain; Councilman Lawrence and others said they want the city to remove abandoned tents and charge landowners when appropriate. Councilmember Newman said CSX had given a date to clear property but that she doubted CSX would follow through and urged the city to be prepared to act.

Police indicated arrests have been made for trespassing. The chief (not specified) told the council, “We’ve made several arrests, sir. Yes, sir.” The police also said they had not found evidence of large bus drop-offs to a local mission; staff reported Back Bay Mission confirmed it has not received busloads of people, and the origin of some arrivals remained unclear.

Council members discussed options the city can pursue, including code enforcement proceedings, demolition for unsafe structures, increased patrolling of affected properties, and targeted cleanups that the city could bill to property owners. No formal motions or votes were recorded; council members asked staff to continue monitoring, to pursue code enforcement where appropriate, and to coordinate with CSX and other property owners about cleanup and access.

The council also heard from public-works and neighborhood staff about requests to repair streets and do limited paving near commercial properties, and from residents urging a citywide approach to a problem they said impacts tourism and neighborhood safety. Several council members said the issue may require cooperation with regional agencies and service providers as well as local enforcement.

No ordinance changes or funding decisions were made at the meeting. Council members said they would follow up with department heads and the police to report on next steps at a future meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Biloxi City Council Meeting Feb. 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple council members, residents and police described persistent encampments, litter and safety concerns near CSX right-of-way and Broadwater; the council discussed cleanup options, code enforcement and coordination with CSX but took no formal action.","taxTitle","Biloxi, Harrison County, Mississippi","taxId",52209,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6279225,"Biloxi council holds first reading on public-records ordinance after WLOX raises access concerns",1034,2949000,3983000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2625224-2469adccb1fbc0ce2670051ee23934f1&start=2949&end=3983","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2625224-2469adccb1fbc0ce2670051ee23934f1/thumbnail_2949000.jpg","/articles/6279225/Biloxi/Harrison-County/Mississippi/Biloxi-council-holds-first-reading-on-public-records-ordinance-after-WLOX-raises-access-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279225-c002d3224a105f11b41876e398087696/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193610&Signature=YA~F3Z5UbFhpziT55gBVPmpBfhp01xvQ4x9yGOm9NvdpQNk9zUKBVE9euYeKVtF7YD0XVTFI4FTN7v9DXOufqv-SjIFXMOxLHkhSJO374RmSMXP2-WNbkZ2z~sIyf9slPGrj~yIiuSSvtFadIG32LFn8fMb~ApTLPNfN2XIkQvnDrvwuyB02UcNUClqZlR-IfOpD1-1sRqKg~Mljqcxe~d0MgVkjqt3JAt3dGXkKskRk7nBGUzmv3kF0ogndJLLFRO2~U2K7uVQhkU4rU3n-P1aK2p57LWFU7KoXsyqwh4poWSufjl2rLwBWe7cDSUVEt2Ue3GkuawzE5ADYI3k-mA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Biloxi City Council on Monday held a first reading of an ordinance to amend the city code on public records and Mississippi uniform crash reports after a WLOX reporter told the council she feared the changes would weaken open-records timelines.

Natalie Campin, managing editor at WLOX News, told the council the proposed city ordinance “offers no explanation as to why the administration believes changes are necessary, nor does it explain why the city would make changes that contradict the Mississippi Open Records Act.” She urged the council to hold a public hearing before adopting changes that, in her reading, would alter the timetable for responses required by state law.

The proposed ordinance was moved by Councilman Glavin and seconded by Councilman Guynes for a first reading. No final vote adopting the ordinance took place at the meeting; the item will return for further discussion at a future council meeting.

City counsel Greg (City Attorney) responded to Campin’s concerns by noting the city ordinance already incorporates the state law by reference, saying, “This law is already in the statute.” He said the city was revising local text to clean up language and not to remove state deadlines, and offered to follow up with Campin directly.

Campin cited specific provisions and the Mississippi Public Records Act (Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61), and provided the council copies of the statute. She said the state law “sets specific timetables for complying with records requests, which your amendment seeks to remove,” and that the Mississippi Ethics Commission has upheld the Act’s timetables.

Council members asked for clarifications and materials before the next meeting. Dr. Tisdale requested a highlighted copy showing deletions and additions at the next meeting; Greg said the redlined text is available but that staff could prepare a clearer highlighted version. Counsel also said the city routinely meets statutory response periods in practice and gave a recent example of a complex request — “every document between the city and CenterPoint Energy for the last 6 years” — that required more time to estimate and produce.

No change to state law was made at the meeting, and council members framed the discussion as clarifying local language and process rather than supplanting state requirements. The item will return to the council for additional review and possible revision at a later meeting; staff was asked to provide clearer marked-up language for the council and public before the next reading.","The Biloxi City Council held a first reading of an ordinance amending local rules on public records and Mississippi uniform crash reports after Natalie Campin of WLOX urged the council to hold a public hearing and preserve timelines in the Mississippi Public Records Act.","actionData","errors"]

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Residents and council press for action on Biloxi encampments, CSX property cleanup

Biloxi council holds first reading on public-records ordinance after WLOX raises access concerns