Florence board approves contracts, trainings, budget items and hires police officer

The Florence mayor and board on Oct. 21, 2025, met at City Hall and unanimously approved a series of contracts, training authorizations and budget items, and—after an executive session—hired a new full‑time police officer, according to the meeting minutes.

The board authorized Mayor Trey Gunn to sign close‑out documents for the STP–Eagle Post Road overlay project and approved a contract change order for the Phase II Eagle Post Road sanitary sewer additions (MCWI #255‑2‑CW‑5.5, Change Order #4) increasing the contract by $78,928.62, on City Engineer Tim Parker’s recommendation. The motions carried unanimously.

Also on City Engineer and departmental recommendations, the board approved several public‑works contracts: AJ Construction, Inc. for a 6‑inch asphalt base repair at Church and Main streets ($7,700); Precision Spray Foam of Mississippi to insulate the 50x40 public‑works shop ($6,825); and Apex Electric LLC to install a spider‑box electrical system on Earl Clark Street ($7,129.32). In each case minutes note the approved vendor was the lowest of the bids received.

The board approved routine administrative items including Budget Amendment #3 (final for fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2025), the list of business privilege licenses issued during that fiscal year, and the mid‑month claims docket. The board also approved a $175 annual membership payment to the Mississippi Building Officials' Association.

For training and emergency preparedness, the board authorized sending Mark Hester, Chief Brad Burns, David Myers and Tyler Hayes to Sigma Chemical Spill Response training in Pearl, Miss., on Nov. 6, 2025, at a registration cost of $135 each, and approved Chief Burns' attendance at the 2025 Winter Educational Conference in Oxford, Miss., Dec. 9–12, 2025 (registration $375 and allowable related costs under state law).

City Attorney Bobby Lingold recommended and the board authorized Mayor Gunn to sign an agreement between the City of Florence and the Florence Volunteer Fire Department covering Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2029. The minutes record that motion as carried unanimously.

The board moved into executive session to discuss a police‑department personnel matter. In executive session, on a motion by Alderman John Banks seconded by Alderman Mason Herrin, the board voted to hire Alexis Gooden as a full‑time police officer at $21.06 per hour, starting Oct. 29, 2025, pending a successful background check and drug and alcohol testing. The recorded vote listed Alderman John Banks (Aye), Alderman Brian Grantham (Absent), Alderman Mason Herrin (Aye), Alderman Kyle Martin (Aye) and Alderman Brent Sistrunk (Aye).

The board returned to the regular meeting and adjourned at 7:56 p.m.

Votes at a glance (selected items): • Hire Alexis Gooden as full‑time police officer — motion: Banks; second: Herrin; outcome: approved (recorded: Banks Aye; Grantham Absent; Herrin Aye; Martin Aye; Sistrunk Aye). • MCWI Change Order #4 (Eagle Post Road sanitary sewer additions) — motion: Banks; second: Martin; outcome: approved; increase $78,928.62. • AJ Construction, Inc. — 6" asphalt base repair downtown — approved; $7,700. • Precision Spray Foam of Mississippi — public works shop insulation — approved; $6,825. • Apex Electric LLC — spider‑box electrical system on Earl Clark Street — approved; $7,129.32. • Florence Volunteer Fire Department agreement (Oct. 1, 2025–Sept. 30, 2029) — authorized for mayoral signature. • Training: Sigma Chemical Spill Response (Nov. 6, 2025) — four staff approved; $135 per registration.

Next steps: Alexis Gooden’s hire is contingent on a successful background check and drug/alcohol testing; the mayor was authorized to execute the listed project close‑out and agreement documents. No other votes were recorded as failing or tabled.