Olive Branch aldermen approve multiple contracts, set 35.05 mill tax rate and order one nuisance property cleared

The Olive Branch Board of Aldermen voted on a series of contracts and municipal actions and held public comment on neighborhood drainage and a delayed road project at its second 2025 meeting. The board approved two airport construction bid packages, awarded a water-and-sewer construction contract, approved the fiscal 2025–26 budget and a reduced millage rate, declared one property a public nuisance for cleanup and tabled a final plat request for two weeks.

Why it matters: The board approved multi-million-dollar construction contracts that rely largely on federal and state grant funding, finalized the local budget and tax rate that will govern city revenue for the coming fiscal year, and took enforcement action on at least one long-standing nuisance property — immediate items that affect city infrastructure, finances and neighborhood conditions.

Airport contracts, contractor hearing

The board approved two separate airport construction awards after hearing from Alan Tatum, vice president of Phillips Contracting, who had come to address earlier delays on a local road job that prompted resident complaints. The board voted to accept the base bid of $5,934,665 for the taxiway rehabilitation (phase 2) and separately awarded the South Apron rehabilitation (phase 2) schedule 2 in the amount of $2,884,345. In discussion, Tatum said the project funding is largely grant-supported: “we're only paying 2.5% of this. FAA is paying 95%. MDOT's paying 2.5, and we're paying 2.5,” and described planned spring start dates and a roughly 217–270 working-day contract window from notice to proceed. The board asked the contractor to return with progress updates at roughly the quarter- and halfway points of construction.

Public commenter and contractor Alan Tatum also addressed the board at length about delays on Pleasant Hill Road, a separate municipal road project contracted to Phillips. Tatum described weather, underground utility conflicts and soil conditions that hampered progress and said crews would “put the best of the best crews that I have on this particular project.” Mayor Adam pressed for assurances on timely performance if the board awarded the airport contracts; Tatum said he would begin the airport work in the spring.

Water, sewer and street supplies awards

The board approved awarding the annexation water and sewer East Area Project No. 2 to Trade Construction Incorporated on a base bid of $3,151,929 (recommended as lowest and best by the city engineer). Earlier in the meeting the board also approved staff recommendations accepting the low bids for a group of street-related supply contracts (items described collectively as street supplies for water, wastewater and natural gas) to carry the city through the remainder of the fiscal year and into the next.

Engineering and change-order actions

Council approved task order 4B with Neil Schafer Incorporated (construction engineering and inspection) in an amount not to exceed $317,757 for East Area Project 2. The board also approved a final change order (No. 2) with Lewis Electric Incorporated reducing that contract by $36,077 — decreasing the College Road and Craft Road signalization contract from $203,900 to $167,823 — and authorized final payment for that project.

Public Works complex change order

The board approved change order No. 6 on the contract with A & B Construction adding $114,729.43 to the City of Olive Branch Public Works complex contract to stabilize steep slopes and shoring around the building site; staff told the board the work was removed from earlier bids and the city re-evaluated in-house capacity and determined it was more efficient to have the contractor perform the additional work.

Nuisance properties and neighborhood drainage

Under planning/inspection business, aldermen reviewed a list of properties proposed for nuisance action. Janice Phillips, identified as president of the Park View homeowners association, urged the board to address drainage problems created by collapsed culverts and inadequate outlets that allow water to back onto residents' property and damage fencing. She said the HOA will “reach out to the mayor and see if we can come up with some solutions.” City staff and the city's COO (Riker) told the board they had inspected the area, would coordinate engineering review, and would work with county partners where county infrastructure is implicated.

The board moved to declare 13066 Sanborn North a public nuisance after staff presented photographs showing significant overgrowth, and a motion to order the lot be cleaned carried. Staff recommended maintaining two other properties on the list for further action because of incomplete repairs or continuing issues.

Planning application tabled

A final plat application for Ainsley Point subdivision, submitted by R and H Engineering and Surveying LLC on behalf of Sunset Creek Farms LLC, and proposing a 0.78-acre residential lot at 6602 Hamilton Circle North, was on the agenda but the applicant requested more time to resolve roadway and right-of-way alignment questions. The board voted to table the matter until the September 16 meeting.

Budget and millage

The board approved a proposed millage rate of 35.05 mills — a reduction of 3.45 mills from the previous rate, which staff said amounts to an 8.96% decrease — and then approved the fiscal year 2025–26 budget that reflects that millage rate (budget period 10/01/2025 through 09/30/2026). The millage resolution and the budget packet were described in staff briefing as consistent with earlier budget workshops and the required public hearing.

Executive session

At the end of the public agenda, the board left the regular session and voted to enter executive session to discuss three personnel items (police department and street department) and to consult with the city attorney, citing Mississippi Code as the authority for closed-session discussion.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to approve minutes of the Aug. 19, 2025 meeting: approved (motion by Alderman Hamilton; second by Mr. Collins). - Consent agenda items 1–28: approved (motion by Mr. Wallace; second by Aldridge). - Final plat for Ainsley Point subdivision (6602 Hamilton Circle North): tabled to Sept. 16 at applicant request (motion by Alderman Hamilton; second by Mr. Gamage). - Declaration of nuisance: 13066 Sanborn North declared nuisance and ordered cleaned (motion by Mr. Dixon; second by Mr. Collins). - Street supplies (group of low-bid awards for street/water/wastewater/gas supplies): approved (motion by Mr. Collins; second by Mr. Wallace). - Annexation water and sewer East Area Project No. 2: award to Trade Construction Inc., base bid $3,151,929: approved (motion by Mr. Wallace; second by Alderman Hamilton). - Taxiway rehabilitation (phase 2) — base bid $5,934,665: approved (motion by Mr. Dixon; second noted). - South apron rehabilitation (phase 2) — schedule 2 $2,884,345: approved (motion by Mr. Dickerson; second by Aldridge). - Final change order No. 2 with Lewis Electric Inc. (College Road and Craft Road signalization): deductive change of $36,077, final contract $167,823; final payment authorized: approved. - Task order 4B with Neil Schafer Incorporated for CEI — not to exceed $317,757: approved. - Change order No. 6 with A & B Construction for Public Works complex — additive $114,729.43: approved. - Millage rate 35.05 mills (FY 2025–26): approved (motion and second recorded; vote carried). - FY 2025–26 proposed budget: approved (motion by Mr. Dickerson; second by Alderman Hamilton).

Ending

The board concluded regular business and entered executive session on personnel and attorney consultation matters. Staff and contractors were asked to return with progress updates on large construction projects during the work, and staff said they would continue follow-up with residents on the Park View drainage concerns.