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Florence mayor and board adopt budget, ordinances and multiple routine motions; police hire approved in executive session
Summary
At its Sept. 16 meeting the Florence board approved the proposed fiscal-year 2026 budget and salary schedule, adopted an ordinance regulating retail hemp sales, entered a nonexclusive franchise with Contact Network Inc. d/b/a In Line, authorized grant applications for a Williams Road sidewalk and bridge (committing a 20% local match), approved several vendor quotes and payments, and voted to hire a police officer in executive session.
The Florence mayor and board met Sept. 16 and approved a slate of administrative and policy items including adoption of the proposed fiscal-year ending Sept. 30, 2026 budget and the FY 2026 salary schedule.
Other actions recorded in the minutes included: adoption of a resolution opposing public and private school choice programs; adoption of an ordinance enacting regulations for the retail sale of hemp; approval of a nonexclusive telecommunications franchise agreement with Contact Network, Inc., doing business as In Line; authorization for the city engineer to apply for Transportation Alternatives funding for a Williams Road sidewalk and pedestrian bridge (the board adopted a resolution committing a 20% local match if the project is selected); and authorization for the mayor to send a conditional-release letter to AJ Construction regarding the Eagle Post Road overlay project.
The board approved several procurement and payment items: Utility Constructors, Inc. was authorized to locate a leaking water service assembly at 714 Tatum Drive for $7,845 (lowest of two quotes); Lane Line, LLC was approved to stripe Lewis Street for $8,200 (lowest of two quotes); Brandon's Concrete, LLC was approved for $4,800 for Community Center concrete repairs; and Bowers Painting, Inc. was approved for $4,866 to prep and paint Community Center walls. The minutes also record approval of a home-occupancy privilege license for B&B Septic (owner Michael Burkes), permission for Florence High School and Discovery Christian School to hold homecoming parades (Sept. 23 and Oct. 3, respectively), and authorization to send Court Clerk Melissa McCue to court clerk training in Oxford with city payment of allowable costs.
In executive session the board, on Chief Brad Burns' recommendation, voted to hire Antwan Gibson Sr. as a full-time police officer at $21.06 per hour effective Sept. 17, 2025, pending successful background and drug/alcohol testing. The board returned to open session and adjourned at 7:01 p.m.
Most motions recorded in the minutes carried by unanimous or recorded five-aye votes. The minutes do not include extended debate or public comment on the listed items, nor do they provide operational details (such as cost breakdowns for the sidewalk project, exact locations for license-plate reader installation, terms of the telecom franchise, or staffing start-date formalities beyond the conditional hiring language).
