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Biloxi council approves Make‑A‑Wish fee waiver, backs senior program and keeps city newsletter mailings
Summary
The council approved a full facility fee waiver for Make‑A‑Wish (6‑0 with one abstention), agreed to continue mailing the B News newsletter through the budgeted year, approved a reduced/no fee arrangement for East Biloxi Seniors, and adopted several consent items including infrastructure projects and a skate‑park management arrangement.
At its regular meeting the Biloxi City Council approved several resolutions and consent items spanning community services, communications and capital projects.
Make‑A‑Wish: Council approved a full waiver of Biloxi Civic Center fees for Make‑A‑Wish events. The motion passed with six members voting in favor and one abstention; the council recorded the result as "Motion carries 6‑0 and one abstained." The waiver covers the published rental rate and ancillary fees shown in the meeting exhibit.
East Biloxi Seniors: Representatives Joyce Battle and Angela Griffin asked the council to reduce or waive Gruich Center rental fees for their monthly third‑Thursday luncheon (the organization said attendance has grown to about 300 seniors). The mayor and council supported the request and approved a fee reduction to help keep programming local and accessible.
City newsletter (B News): After public remarks and a staff presentation showing strong resident preference for mailed copies, the council directed administration to continue mailing the monthly B News newsletter through the current budgeted year to give staff time to pursue advertisers and alternatives; staff reported about 26,000 households receive the mailed newsletter and early survey responses showed a clear preference to keep mailed copies.
Other actions and items: The council approved a resolution renaming two roadway sections on Keesler Air Force Base to Cyber Boulevard and Innovation Drive (applies only inside the base), recognized Main Street's management role for a MDOT‑adjacent DIY skate park (Main Street to assume formal maintenance responsibility), and advanced several infrastructure and FEMA‑related design items on the consent agenda. A proposed traffic‑signal grant for Matsey and Pops Ferry to serve a planned upper‑elementary school was discussed; the council authorized application but noted timing, traffic counts and matching‑fund questions remain.
Why it matters: These votes affect community services for seniors and nonprofits, public communications to residents, and local transportation planning tied to school construction. The Make‑A‑Wish waiver and senior program are examples of the council prioritizing local nonprofit and senior services in 2026 budget planning.
What comes next: Implementation steps include confirmation of waiver costs and any equipment fees (Make‑A‑Wish), administrative follow‑up on mailing options and advertiser outreach for B News, and staff coordination on the traffic‑signal grant match and subsequent traffic‑committee review.
Provenance: topicintro SEG 1685, topfinish SEG 2050
