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Florence board approves budget amendments, multiple contracts and hires police officer
Summary
The Florence Mayor and Board of Aldermen on Oct. 21, 2025 approved final FY2025 budget amendments, awarded several public-works contracts, authorized training travel and hired a full-time police officer in executive session. Most motions passed by unanimous vote; one contract change order increased a sanitary-sewer contract by $78,928.62.
Mayor Trey Gunn called the Florence city board to order Oct. 21, 2025 and the board approved a series of budget, contract and personnel actions that the city clerk and department directors had recommended.
The board approved Budget Amendment #3, the final amendment for fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2025, and accepted the list of business privilege licenses issued during the fiscal year, both on unanimous votes. City Clerk Linda Wigley presented both items to the board.
Street Director David Myers recommended three vendor awards for local infrastructure and facilities work. The board approved a $7,700 contract to A J Construction, Inc. for a 6-inch asphalt base repair at Church and Main Street, awarded a $6,825 contract to Precision Spray Foam of Mississippi to insulate the 50-by-40 public works shop, and approved a $7,129.32 contract to Apex Electric, LLC to install a spider-box electrical system on Earl Clark Street. Each procurement was accepted as the lowest and best among multiple quotes and carried by unanimous vote.
City Engineer Tim Parker presented two project items. The board authorized Mayor Gunn to sign close-out documents for the STP–Eagle Post Road overlay project. The board also approved MCWI change order #4 for the Highway 49 Eagle Post Road sanitary sewer additions — Phase II, increasing the contract by $78,928.62; that motion passed unanimously.
On administrative and training matters, the board approved a $175 annual membership payment to the Mississippi Building Officials' Association and authorized sending Police Chief Brad Burns to the Winter Educational Conference in Oxford, Miss., Dec. 9–12, 2025 (registration $375 plus allowable costs). The board also approved sending Mark Hester, Chief Brad Burns, David Myers and Tyler Hayes to Sigma Chemical Spill Response training in Pearl, Miss., on Nov. 6, 2025 (registration $135 each and allowable costs).
City Attorney Bobby Lingold advised approval of an agreement between the City of Florence and the Florence Volunteer Fire Department covering Oct. 1, 2025–Sept. 30, 2029; Mayor Trey Gunn was authorized to sign the agreement. Motions on both the agreement and the other items were carried unanimously.
The board entered executive session at 6:45 p.m. to discuss a police personnel matter. In executive session, upon recommendation of Police Chief Brad Burns, the board moved to hire Alexis Gooden as a full-time police officer at $21.06 per hour effective Oct. 29, 2025, pending successful background and drug/alcohol testing. The hiring motion carried with Aldermen John Banks, Mason Herrin, Kyle Martin and Brent Sistrunk voting "Aye"; Alderman Brian Grantham was absent. The board returned to the regular meeting and adjourned at 7:56 p.m.
Votes at a glance: A J Construction, Inc. — award $7,700 (lowest quote) — approved, unanimous; Precision Spray Foam of Mississippi — award $6,825 — approved, unanimous; Apex Electric, LLC — award $7,129.32 — approved, unanimous; Mississippi Building Officials' Association membership $175 — approved, unanimous; STP–Eagle Post Road close-out authorization — approved, unanimous; MCWI Change Order #4 (increase $78,928.62) — approved, unanimous; Florence Volunteer Fire Department agreement (Oct. 1, 2025–Sept. 30, 2029) — authorized signature, approved, unanimous; Budget Amendment #3 (FYE 9/30/2025) — approved, unanimous; Sigma Chemical Spill Response training attendees (Nov. 6, 2025) — authorized, unanimous; Hire of Alexis Gooden as full-time police officer (effective Oct. 29, 2025 at $21.06/hr) — approved in executive session, vote recorded: Banks Aye, Herrin Aye, Martin Aye, Sistrunk Aye, Grantham Absent.
The meeting record lists the items and supporting quotes from vendors and notes that all listed procurements were evaluated as the lowest and best of the quotes received. No dissenting votes were recorded on the public items.
