Florence mayor and board approve vehicle financing, infrastructure work and fee changes

Mayor Trey Gunn and the Florence Board of Aldermen voted Oct. 7 to approve lease-purchase financing for new police vehicles, several construction and equipment contracts and a revision to the city's building permit and inspection fees. The meeting opened at 6:30 p.m. at Florence City Hall and adjourned at 6:55 p.m.

Chief of Police Brad Burns recommended accepting Community Bank's 4.00% lease-purchase quote for police vehicles, which the board approved by motion of Alderman Mason Herrin and second of Alderman Grantham. The board then authorized Mayor Gunn to sign a Lease Purchase Agreement with Community Bank pending review by City Attorney Bobby Lingold.

City staff presented a string of procurement and construction items that the board approved: a $22,750 award to Delta Constructors, Inc. for water-main improvements at White Street and Main, a $23,900 contract to Bowers Painting, Inc. to replace flooring at the Community Center, and authorization to purchase a 2024 F-150 crew cab for the Parks Department from Pine Belt Auto Group at $46,155. The board also approved Southern Air Services, LLC at $14,300 to replace the board-room HVAC.

On infrastructure projects, the board approved Pay Request #2 to A.J. Construction for $60,116.03 for the Eagle Post Road overlay (LPA project), and later approved Pay Request #1 to Thornton Construction Company, Inc. for $131,230.53 and Contract Change Order No. 1 for $60,298.67 for sanitary sewer additions and force-main replacement tied to the Hwy. 49/Eagle Post Road projects. The minutes record that Alderman Mason Herrin briefly left the meeting and did not participate in the sewer-related votes; those items were carried by unanimous vote of the members then present.

Administrative actions included setting two public hearings for Nov. 4, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. (one for a variance request by Russell Hickey Jr., 609 Southern Oaks Drive, and one to consider a technical correction to the city's Zoning Ordinances), authorizing Mayor Gunn and City Clerk Linda Wigley to sign the Municipal Compliance Questionnaire for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2025, and approving placement of an ad in the Rankin County News to recruit a water/sewer supervisor.

The board adopted a Board Order amending the city's building permit and inspection fees on the recommendation of City Attorney Bobby Lingold, approved the claims docket and accepted the minutes of Sept. 16, 2025. Mayor Gunn adjourned the meeting at 6:55 p.m.

Votes at a glance: - Lease-purchase financing for police vehicles (Community Bank, 4.00%): approved; motion by Alderman Mason Herrin, second by Alderman Grantham; unanimous among members present. - Authorization for Mayor to execute Lease Purchase Agreement (pending attorney approval): approved; unanimous among members present. - Delta Constructors, Inc. ($22,750) for water-main improvements: approved; unanimous among members present. - Bowers Painting, Inc. ($23,900) for Community Center flooring: approved; unanimous among members present. - Pine Belt Auto Group ($46,155) for Parks 2024 F-150 crew cab: approved; unanimous among members present. - Southern Air Services, LLC ($14,300) for board-room HVAC: approved; unanimous among members present. - A.J. Construction Pay Request #2 ($60,116.03): approved; unanimous among members present. - Thornton Construction Company Pay Request #1 ($131,230.53) and Change Order No. 1 ($60,298.67): approved; Alderman Mason Herrin was recorded as absent for these sewer-related votes and later returned without participation; motions carried by the members present. - Set public hearings for Nov. 4, 2025 (variance and zoning technical correction): approved; unanimous among members present. - Board Order amending building permit and inspection fees: adopted; unanimous among members present.

The next scheduled public hearings on Nov. 4, 2025 begin at 6:30 p.m., per motions set during this meeting.