Southaven board approves tax exemption, park advertising rates, LED RFQ, $2M street budget boost and other measures

The Southaven Board of Aldermen on Feb. 18 approved a package of routine and project-specific measures, including a Freeport warehouse tax exemption for WSC Solutions LLC, new advertising rates for the Snowden Grove Park video board, authorization to seek qualifications for LED field lighting and a $2 million budget amendment for streets.

The actions, taken during a regularly scheduled meeting at Southaven City Hall, also included approval of a final deductive change order of $18,000 for the Autumn Woods drainage project, ratification of an emergency IT battery purchase, an extension of a full-depth reclamation contract, authorization to solicit bids for street striping, acceptance of a $1,000 donation from Tanger Outlets and routine dockets (personnel, utilities leak adjustments and claims).

Why it matters: The budget amendment increases the city’s street budget by $2,000,000 after additional proceeds from the Mississippi Department of Revenue (MDOR). The RFQ authorization starts the procurement process for LED field lighting at Snowden Grove Park under Mississippi procurement law. The combination of contract actions and bid solicitations affects near-term street and public-works projects.

The board approved a resolution granting a Freeport warehouse tax exemption to WSC Solutions LLC at 710 Venture Drive. City Attorney Nick Manley said the exemption request covers three related licenses and that the application had been recommended by the economic council and approved by the city-county supervisors. The motion to authorize the mayor to sign the resolution was moved by Alderman Flores and seconded by Alderman Wheeler and carried on roll call.

Also approved was a resolution setting advertising rates for the Snowden Grove Park video board. The parks department recommended a standard rate of $300 per month (or $3,000 annually), a 50% discount for 501(c)(3) organizations and churches, and no charge for schools using the board for educational purposes. That resolution passed on a motion by Alderman Flores, seconded by Alderman Wheeler.

City Attorney Nick Manley described the parks department’s request to advertise a request for qualifications (RFQ) — described in the meeting as an RFQ under Mississippi Code § 31-7-14 — to solicit firms for LED lighting work at Snowden Grove Park. Manley said the RFQ must be submitted to the Mississippi Development Authority and advertised in the same manner as bids. The board approved the authorization to advertise the RFQ and confirmed a recommended evaluation committee that would include the mayor, Josh Henry and Scotty Baker.

On public-works business, Dan Cordell requested approval of a final deductive change order of $18,000 for the Autumn Woods drainage project, saying most work is on punch-list cleanup. The motion, moved by Alderman Flores and seconded by Alderman Kelly, was approved by voice vote.

The board adopted a budget amendment to reflect $2,000,000 in additional proceeds from MDOR to the city’s street budget. Alderman Flores moved the amendment, Alderman Wheeler seconded, and the measure passed on roll call.

The city attorney also reported three administrative items the board authorized together: ratification of an emergency purchase of batteries for generator backup for 9-1-1 communications in the amount of $19,874; a one-year extension of the city’s full-depth reclamation contract with Raymond Roberts pursuant to existing contract options; and authorization to solicit bids for street striping after the previous vendor declined to renew. The combined motion was moved by Alderman Flores and seconded by Alderman Wheeler and carried on roll call. Manley said the batteries were obtained under an emergency declaration "so that 9-1-1 communications will work correctly." (City Attorney Nick Manley)

The board accepted a $1,000 donation from Tanger Outlets to the police and fire departments and approved routine personnel and utilities leak-adjustment dockets. It also approved a claims docket that included an amount read into the record as $5,000,136,588.73, which passed on roll call.

Meeting minutes for Feb. 4, 2025, were approved at the start of the meeting. The board later voted to enter an executive session to discuss potential litigation, land acquisition, economic development and personnel matters with no action taken publicly.

Votes at a glance (motions, movers, seconds, outcomes): - Minutes (02/04/2025): Mover Alderman Lars George Payne; second Alderman Jerome; outcome: approved on roll call. - Freeport warehouse tax exemption (WSC Solutions LLC, 710 Venture Drive): Mover Alderman Flores; second Alderman Wheeler; outcome: approved on roll call. - Snowden Grove Park video board advertising rates (resolution): Mover Alderman Flores; second Alderman Wheeler; outcome: approved on roll call. Rates: $300/month or $3,000 annually; 50% discount for 501(c)(3) and churches; no charge for school educational use. - RFQ for Snowden Grove Park LED lighting (Miss. Code §31-7-14 compliance): Mover Alderman Gallagher; second Alderman Kelly; outcome: authorized to advertise; committee named for qualifications evaluation; approved on roll call. - Autumn Woods final deductive change order ($18,000): Mover Alderman Flores; second Alderman Kelly; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Budget amendment (MDOR proceeds to street budget, $2,000,000): Mover Alderman Flores; second Alderman Wheeler; outcome: approved on roll call. - Emergency IT batteries ($19,874) ratification, one-year extension of full-depth reclamation contract with Raymond Roberts, and authorization to seek bids for striping: Mover Alderman Flores; second Alderman Wheeler; outcome: approved on roll call. - Donation (Tanger Outlets, $1,000 to SPD and fire): Mover Alderman Payne; second Alderman Jerome; outcome: approved on roll call. - Personnel docket: Mover Alderman Payne; second Alderman Jerome; outcome: approved on roll call. - Utilities billing leak-adjustment docket: Mover Alderman Payne; second Alderman Jerome; outcome: approved on roll call. - Claims docket (amount read as $5,000,136,588.73): Mover Alderman Payne; second Alderman Flores; outcome: approved on roll call.

The board did not vote on awards or contract awards for the RFQ at the meeting; the RFQ authorization starts the procurement process pending proposals and the evaluation committee’s recommendation.

The meeting record shows limited debate on these items; most actions passed with unanimous or broadly affirmative roll-call votes. The board moved into an executive session later in the evening to discuss litigation, potential land acquisition, economic development and personnel matters.