Mississippi Transportation Commission approves minutes and agenda; hears I-20 traffic mitigation update and routine conveyances, contracts and legal actions

The Mississippi Transportation Commission approved the minutes and adopted the meeting agenda and received staff briefings on traffic backups in an Interstate 20 work zone, several property conveyances and a series of administrative procurement and legal items.

Commissioners approved the minutes after a motion and second, and later moved, seconded and approved the agenda. Staff then reviewed more than two dozen numbered items listed for commission consideration and/or executive‑director authorization, including property conveyances, supplemental construction agreements, a planned environmental assessment for Olive Branch, transit procurements and legal actions.

Why it matters: the items read for action affect local right-of-way ownership, upcoming construction and maintenance authority, transit procurement, and legal enforcement on encroachments along state highways.

Key items presented

- Property conveyances and relinquishments: Staff read items authorizing the executive director to execute quitclaim deeds for surplus right of way, including 1.49 acres along Mississippi Highway 15 in Stone County to an adjoining owner for $7,381 and 2.13 acres along I‑269 in DeSoto County to adjoining owners for $39,831. Staff also presented an item to relinquish portions of right of way to the city of Columbus for local maintenance of relocated roads and to remove specified no‑access limits on Mississippi Highway 182 to allow access to Moore Creek Road.

- Olive Branch environmental assessment: Staff said the draft environmental assessment with a preferred build alternative for Pleasant Hill Road in Olive Branch — widening from two lanes to a four‑lane boulevard — will be forwarded to the Federal Highway Administration for approval and a future public hearing.

- Construction agreements: Staff presented two ratification items authorizing district engineers to execute an additional $250,000 of class 1 and class 2 supplemental agreements for two projects: I‑10 widening from Diamondhead to County Farm Road (UEP Stockstool LLC) and a mill-and-overlay of about 4 miles of MS 15 in Jones County (Dunn Road Builders LLC).

- Transit procurements and training: The commission heard a request to concur with a Department of Information Technology Services procurement of the Black Cat system from Panther International (doing business as Panther International) for the public transit division for a three‑year term not to exceed $552,790.88. Staff also presented approvals for driver drug and alcohol training by Samantha Harper of Harper Transportation LLC (cost not to exceed $750 for that class) and for Mississippi Public Transit Association’s annual conference, with MDOT’s cost not to exceed $15,000.

- Vehicle disposals and license‑reader memorandum: Staff noted that certain vehicles operated under Sections 5310/5311 programs have been disposed of following Federal Transit Administration property‑management procedures. The commission also reviewed an item authorizing a memorandum of understanding with a local agency for placement of permanently mounted law‑enforcement devices (automatic license plate readers) on state right of way.

- Accounts payable, payroll and salaries: Staff presented accounts‑payable warrants totaling $145,934,065.91 for the periods cited and a payroll docket described as “not to exceed the sum of $5,000,000 plus statutory withholding, state match, fringe and employee authorized deductions.” Commissioners also ratified and approved commissioners’ and the executive director’s salaries and expenses totaling $17,580.52 for the periods listed.

- Legal actions and contract amendments: Staff asked the commission to authorize the office of the attorney general to commence proceedings against Woodrow Mohammed and any other necessary parties to remove encroachments from Mississippi Highway 552 in Jefferson County. The commission was also asked to approve a second amendment to a legal services contract with Mitchell McNutt & Sams, P.A., increasing the contract maximum by $7,500 to $27,500 and extending the term to August 31, 2027.

I-20 work-zone backups and response

A commissioner raised recurring backups and accidents in an I‑20 work zone near the Flowers Interchange that the commission has been monitoring. Staff said they identified several causes for delays, including time required to remove wrecked vehicles, and reported they have asked the contractor to provide a dedicated wrecker service while work is underway. Staff said the Mississippi Highway Patrol has provided “blue lights” to help manage queueing and that additional message boards have been deployed to notify drivers. Staff said they will meet again in about a week to review the effectiveness of those changes and provide a further update to commissioners.

Meeting procedure and next steps

The commission opened the meeting with routine check‑ins; prayer and other ceremonial remarks were part of the opening but were not substantive items for commission action. After the staff presentation of the numbered items, commissioners approved the agenda and concluded business; staff indicated the next scheduled meeting conflicted with Veterans Day and the date will be moved.

No individual roll‑call vote tallies were recorded in the transcript for the majority of the listed items; the transcript records the motion and approval of the minutes and the motion and approval of the agenda. The other numbered items were presented to the commission for authorization or concurrence by the executive director or other offices as described in the staff presentation.