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Biloxi council approves amended budget, confirms appointments and several resolutions
Summary
Biloxi City Council approved the fiscal‑year budget as amended, confirmed multiple director and commission appointments and passed a set of consent items including a contracted garbage‑fee increase and a facility rental fee waiver (6–1). Council also moved unspent bond proceeds into a port/pier capital project and created a lighthouse‑pier fund for planning.
The Biloxi City Council on a regular meeting approved the city’s fiscal‑year budget as amended and confirmed a series of personnel appointments and routine resolutions. The council also moved bond proceeds into a port repair account and established a new capital project to plan for a rebuilt Lighthouse Pier.
Councilman Jamie Creel moved to approve the budget amended; his motion was seconded by Councilman Tisdale and the chair declared the motion carried. Mayor Andrew Fofo Gillich said the city is beginning the year with a roughly $12–13 million beginning balance, and staff estimates the ending balance will be in the “$500,000–$600,000 range” if revenues meet projections.
The council unanimously approved an ordinance to amend garbage collection and disposal fees that staff described as a contractual pass‑through negotiated by the Harrison County Utility Authority. "This is contractual; it's a pass‑through fee," the administration said. The measure passed on second reading with no recorded opposition.
Appointments approved included the confirmation of Michael Leonard as the Ward 3 representative to the Biloxi Civil Service Commission and the formal appointment of Jamie Lee as director of Parks and Recreation. Council also confirmed an appointment to the public‑works director role and approved Mayor‑identified county board assignments.
A resolution to waive facility rental fees for a chamber event at the Frank Gruidge Center passed 6–1 after Councilman Tisdale said he opposed waivers given the city’s tight finances. The chair recorded the vote as "6 to 1; motion passes." Council members who spoke in favor framed the waiver as support for a local military‑community event at Keesler Air Force Base.
Finance staff told the council they will recognize roughly $715,000 of previously unallocated bond proceeds (plus approx. $380,000 of interest) into port repair accounts and simultaneously create a capital project to seed work on the Lighthouse Pier. Staff said the city faces time limits on spending some bond proceeds and must move funds into projects that can proceed quickly.
The council approved the consent agenda with exceptions noted and recorded individual exceptions and recusals for several entries. After routine business, the council adopted a moment of remembrance motion related to a nationally reported school shooting; the final voice tally was 6–1 in favor, with one councilor opposing.
The council scheduled first‑reading items, including a zoning map amendment for 287 Iroquois Street, to return for subsequent votes and public input.
