Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Florence board approves police vehicle financing, construction pay requests and a fee change; sets two Nov. 4 public hearings
Summary
At its Oct. 7 meeting the City of Florence board unanimously approved Community Bank financing for police vehicles, multiple construction contracts and pay requests for road and sewer work, adopted a board order changing permit/inspection fees and set Nov. 4 public hearings on a variance and a zoning technical correction.
The City of Florence Mayor and Board met Oct. 7, 2025, at City Hall and unanimously approved a package of financing and contracts covering police vehicles, water and sewer work, facility repairs and an amendment to building permit and inspection fees. Mayor Trey Gunn called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.; Aldermen Grantham, Herrin, Martin and Sistrunk were present (Alderman Banks was absent).
The most consequential action was the board’s approval of Community Bank’s lease-purchase financing for new police vehicles at an interest rate of 4.00 percent, the lowest of four bids received. The board also authorized Mayor Gunn to execute the Lease Purchase Agreement, pending review and approval of the documents by City Attorney Bobby Lingold.
Other contract and procurement approvals included: awarding Delta Constructors, Inc. $22,750.00 for water main improvements at White Street, Main Street and Seventh Day Road; approving Bowers Painting, Inc. for Community Center flooring replacement at $23,900.00; and accepting Pine Belt Auto Group’s quote of $46,155.00 for a 2024 F150 Crew Cab for the parks department. The board approved Southern Air Services, LLC’s $14,300.00 quote to replace the 6-ton heating/air unit in the board room.
City Engineer Tim Parker presented and the board approved two pay requests tied to capital projects: Pay Request #2 to A.J. Construction for $60,116.03 for the Eagle Post Road overlay LPA project, and Pay Request #1 to Thornton Construction Company, Inc. for $131,230.53 for the Hwy. 49 Eagle Post Road sanitary sewer additions — Phase 3 project. The board also approved Thornton Construction Contract Change Order No. 1 in the amount of $60,298.67 for that sewer project.
The board set two public hearings for Nov. 4, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.: one to consider a variance requested by property owner Russell Hickey Jr. for 609 Southern Oaks Drive, and a second to consider a technical correction to the city’s zoning ordinances.
The board adopted a board order amending building permit and inspection fees for the City of Florence as recommended by City Attorney Bobby Lingold. The claims docket and the minutes of Sept. 16, 2025 were approved. With no further business, Mayor Gunn adjourned the meeting at 6:55 p.m.
Votes at a glance (all motions recorded as carried unanimously unless noted): - Approve Community Bank lease-purchase financing for police vehicles (Community Bank 4.00%): mover Alderman Herrin; second Alderman Grantham; tally: yes 5, no 0, absent 1 (Banks). - Authorize Mayor to execute Lease Purchase Agreement pending attorney approval: mover Alderman Martin; second Alderman Sistrunk; tally: yes 5, no 0, absent 1. - Award Delta Constructors $22,750.00 for water main improvements: mover Alderman Martin; second Alderman Sistrunk; tally: yes 5, no 0, absent 1. - Award Bowers Painting $23,900.00 for Community Center flooring: mover Alderman Sistrunk; second Alderman Martin; tally: yes 5, no 0, absent 1. - Approve Pine Belt Auto Group $46,155.00 for parks pickup truck: mover Alderman Martin; second Alderman Sistrunk; tally: yes 5, no 0, absent 1. - Set public hearing (Nov. 4, 2025, 6:30 p.m.) for variance (609 Southern Oaks Drive, Russell Hickey Jr.): mover Alderman Grantham; second Alderman Sistrunk; tally: yes 5, no 0, absent 1. - Approve signage for Rankin Rowdy's at 15 Jackson Circle: mover Alderman Herrin; second Alderman Martin; tally: yes 5, no 0, absent 1. - Approve Southern Air Services $14,300.00 for board room HVAC: mover Alderman Sistrunk; second Alderman Grantham; tally: yes 5, no 0, absent 1. - Approve Pay Request #2 (A.J. Construction) $60,116.03 (Eagle Post Road overlay): mover Alderman Grantham; second Alderman Herrin; tally: yes 5, no 0, absent 1. - Approve Pay Request #1 (Thornton Construction) $131,230.53 and Contract Change Order No. 1 $60,298.67 (Hwy. 49 sanitary sewer additions — Phase 3): mover Alderman Grantham; second Alderman Sistrunk; tally: yes 5, no 0, absent 1. - Authorize Mayor and City Clerk to sign municipal compliance questionnaire for FY ending Sept. 30, 2025: mover Alderman Sistrunk; second Alderman Martin; tally: yes 5, no 0, absent 1. - Place ad to recruit water/sewer supervisor in Rankin County News: mover Alderman Martin; second Alderman Herrin; tally: yes 5, no 0, absent 1. - Set public hearing (Nov. 4, 2025, 6:30 p.m.) to consider technical correction to Zoning Ordinances: mover Alderman Martin; second Alderman Herrin; tally: yes 5, no 0, absent 1. - Adopt board order amending building permit and inspection fees: mover Alderman Grantham; second Alderman Herrin; tally: yes 5, no 0, absent 1. - Approve claims docket and minutes of Sept. 16, 2025: mover Alderman Sistrunk (claims), mover Alderman Martin (minutes); both seconded and approved; tally: yes 5, no 0, absent 1.
What’s next: The board will hold the two public hearings on Nov. 4, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. for the variance request (609 Southern Oaks Drive) and the proposed technical correction to the city’s zoning ordinance. Several ongoing capital projects (Eagle Post Road overlay and the Hwy. 49 sanitary sewer additions — Phase 3) remain active with recent pay requests and a contract change order now on record.
