Tupelo Council declares local emergencies, approves moratorium on gas-related permit fees and several contracts

The Tupelo City Council on a unanimous voice vote on March 2025 approved resolutions continuing local emergency declarations for a natural-gas outage and a severe-weather outbreak, adopted a temporary moratorium on construction-related permit fees tied to the gas emergency, and ratified several contracts and routine items.

The council passed a resolution to continue the declaration of a local emergency for the gas incident "for the lesser of 30 days, until such declaration is discontinued by order of the governing body," and separately approved a resolution continuing an emergency declaration for a recent severe-weather outbreak. Councilman Brown asked that the minutes note the gas emergency was related to Atmos Energy; Councilman Brown said, "If we could put in the minutes on item 18, it doesn't state actually what that emergency declaration is about. I'm assuming this is Atmos gas, emergency." Staff confirmed the resolution packet includes more detail.

Why it matters: the moratorium and ongoing emergency orders aim to reduce financial and administrative barriers for residents and contractors repairing property damaged or affected by the gas service outage. The moratorium applies "up to and until April" to construction-related permit fees owed to the Department of Development Services that were made necessary by the natural-gas local emergency.

Among other council actions, members approved a software-as-a-service agreement with Tyler Technologies Inc., accepted a donation of trees from Bob Marron Nursery for the area south of Fair Park, approved bid awards including Fire Station No. 5, removed aging trailers from inventory to be sold as surplus, approved a change order for Battle Park playground improvements that reduced project costs, rejected the bid for the Tupelo Aquatic Center pool liner replacement, ratified a contract for a phase-3 improvement project described in the meeting packet, and approved minutes and routine items.

The council also authorized Tupelo Police Department officers to use their uniformed service weapon and city vehicle while performing a private security detail for Utmost Energy, and reaffirmed Sherry Davis (listed by the council as "Sherry Davis Arbor" in the meeting) to the Tupelo Public School District Board.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution continuing local emergency (natural-gas): approved (voice vote). Notes: council asked that the record clarify Atmos Energy involvement; resolution text attached to minutes. - Resolution continuing local emergency (severe weather): approved (voice vote). - Resolution declaring moratorium on construction-related permit fees through April for gas-related repairs: approved (voice vote). - Tyler Technologies, Inc. Software as a Service agreement: approved (voice vote). - Acceptance of donation of trees from Bob Marron Nursery (for area south of Fair Park): approved (voice vote). - Bid award for Fire Station No. 5 (bid 2024007FDFireStationNumber5): approved (voice vote). - Removal of two trailers from city assets for surplus auction: approved (voice vote). - Change order No. 1, Battle Park Improvements Phase 2 playground (bid 2024-040 PR): approved; council noted the change order lowers costs by $156. - Rejection of bid for Tupelo Aquatic Center pool liner replacement: approved (motion to reject; voice vote). - Ratification of contract for phase 3 improvement project described in packet (referred to in meeting as "ballot par phased improvement phase 3"): approved (voice vote); packet contains contract details. - Authorization for Tupelo police officers to perform private security detail for Utmost Energy using uniform and city vehicle: approved (voice vote). - Reaffirmation of Sherry Davis to Tupelo Public School District Board: approved (voice vote).

Council members moved and seconded routine items — including approval of multiple sets of minutes, bill paying, and planning- and license-commission minutes — without substantive discussion. Where the record supplied details (for example, the moratorium’s text and the list of properties for demolition and cleanup discussed elsewhere in the meeting), the council motion referenced those attachments.

The council packet contains the full resolutions, bid documents and contract attachments referenced at the meeting. The council chair declared all motions carried on voice votes when no opposing votes were voiced.