Southaven aldermen approve package of contracts, budget tweaks and project change orders

The Southaven Board of Aldermen approved a package of contracts, budget amendments and construction change orders at its meeting, authorizing purchases and project adjustments intended to support public safety, utilities operations and city capital projects.

The package included authorization for the police department to purchase a small utility vehicle (described in the meeting as a golf cart) under a Mississippi state contract for use at public events. The motion to approve the purchase was made by Alderman Flores and seconded by Alderman Hoots; the item passed by voice vote.

The board approved a municipal court contract with Caliber Public Safety, authorizing two user licenses and access to the Southaven Police Department’s records-management system, with an initial cost reported as $1,050 and a year-two cost of $630. The board approved the contract contingent upon final revisions being made to comply with required terms and for the city official’s signature.

Council members approved multiple Comcast SCADA contracts to restore or update supervisory-control systems at a set of utility sites identified by address. The motion was carried by roll call after a motion by Alderman Gallagher and a second by Alderman Kelly.

A resolution authorizing sanitation assessments — allowing unpaid sanitation costs to be placed as liens or collected with property taxes — was approved after a motion by Alderman Kelly and a second by Alderman Jerome.

The board voted to accept the roads in the Beaumont subdivision as public roads after a staff presentation that the streets were platted for dedication, have a 20-foot right-of-way with approximately 18 feet of pavement, and were, per city engineers, in a condition that did not require immediate repairs. The acceptance makes the city responsible for future maintenance.

A FY2025 budget amendment was approved to update the capital projects fund to reflect the city’s updated capital improvement plan and incorporate state capital grants and proceeds for the Nell Road extension.

The council approved a final change order for neighborhood park improvements with Murphy and Sons that reduced the contract by $77,657, and approved an additional change order for the Gatlert (Gatler) Road widening project that increased the contract by $52,734.89 to cover earthwork, temporary traffic control and striping items the contractor accepted after further review.

Other routine items passed included a special-event permit for the Lucky Dog pub run (March 17, 6–10 p.m.), the utility billing leak adjustment docket, approval of a personnel docket, and a claims docket totaling $2,107,382.89 (including demand checks). Several of these items were approved by roll call; others were approved by voice vote. The mayor and board recessed to an executive session later in the meeting to discuss potential litigation involving the Salem Police Department, economic development, land acquisition and interdepartmental personnel matters.

The approvals are intended to support ongoing operations — from parks and streets work to utility monitoring and court-record access — and to align the FY2025 budget with recently confirmed grants and capital projects.