Florence board approves budget amendment, several contracts and hires police officer

The City of Florence Mayor and Board met Oct. 21, 2025, at city hall and approved a slate of routine municipal actions including the final fiscal‑year 2025 budget amendment, multiple public-works contracts and training authorizations, a contract with the Florence Volunteer Fire Department and the hiring of a full‑time police officer.

The board voted unanimously to adopt Budget Amendment #3, final for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2025, on the recommendation of City Clerk Linda Wigley. The meeting record notes the amendment was presented as the final adjustment for FYE 09/30/2025; the minutes include an attached copy of the amendment.

Public-works and facilities contracts were awarded to the lowest bidders after staff recommendations. Street Director David Myers recommended AJ Construction, Inc. for a 6‑inch asphalt base repair at Church and Main Street; the board accepted AJ Construction’s low quote of $7,700 over higher bids from Pavepro ($11,300) and AAA Asphalt Paving ($12,616.65). The board also approved awarding Precision Spray Foam of Mississippi $6,825 to spray‑foam the 50×40 public works shop, and authorized Apex Electric, LLC to install a spider box electrical system on Earl Clark Street for $7,129.32; both awards were recorded as the lowest and best of the quotes received.

City Engineer Tim Parker asked the board to authorize close‑out documents for the STP—Eagle Post Road Overlay Project; that authorization carried unanimously. Parker also recommended approval of MCWI Contract Change Order #4 for the HWY. 49 Eagle Post Road Sanitary Sewer Additions—Phase II, increasing the contract by $78,928.62. The board approved the change order unanimously; the minutes record the change-order amount and list it as an increase to the contract in the meeting record.

On legal and intergovernmental matters, the board, following a recommendation from City Attorney Bobby Lingold, authorized Mayor Trey Gunn to sign an agreement between the City of Florence and the Florence Volunteer Fire Department covering Oct. 1, 2025 through Sept. 30, 2029.

Training and membership items were also approved. The board authorized Chief Brad Burns to attend the 2025 Winter Educational Conference in Oxford, MS, Dec. 9–12, 2025, with the city paying a $375 registration fee and allowable costs. The council also approved sending Mark Hester, Brad Burns, David Myers and Tyler Hayes to Sigma Chemical Spill Response training in Pearl, MS on Nov. 6, 2025, at $135 per registrant. A $175 payment for annual membership dues to the Mississippi Building Officials' Association was approved as well.

Administrative matters carried by unanimous votes included approval of the mid‑month claims docket, the Oct. 7, 2025 meeting minutes, and the list of business privilege licenses issued during FYE 09/30/2025.

The board entered executive session at 6:45 p.m. to consider a police‑department personnel matter. In executive session, Chief Burns recommended hiring Alexis Gooden as a full‑time police officer at $21.06 per hour, to begin Oct. 29, 2025, pending successful background, drug and alcohol testing. The motion to hire (mover Alderman Banks; second Alderman Herrin) carried with four ayes; Alderman Brian Grantham was recorded absent. The board returned to regular session and adjourned at 7:56 p.m.

The meeting record includes posted work session and meeting notices and attached copies of the budget amendment and privilege-license list. No public comments or citizen testimony are recorded in the minutes for this session.