Florence board adopts FY2026 budget, approves street and park contracts, OKs police hire and two license-plate readers

Mayor Trey Gunn called the Florence mayor-and-board meeting to order Sept. 16, 2025, and the board moved through a series of routine municipal actions, adopting the fiscal year 2026 proposed budget and salary schedule and approving multiple contracts and applications for local infrastructure projects.

The board voted to authorize Mayor Gunn to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Mississippi Department of Transportation Commission to place two Flock automatic license-plate readers in the city, on the recommendation of Chief Burns. The motion carried with Aldermen John Banks, Brian Grantham, Mason Herrin, Kyle Martin and Brent Sistrunk recorded as voting aye.

City Engineer Tim Parker was authorized to submit applications to the Central Mississippi Planning & Development District and to the Mississippi Department of Transportation Alternative Project program for a Williams Road sidewalk and pedestrian bridge, and the board adopted a resolution committing to a 20% local match if the Transportation Alternatives project is selected. The body also adopted a resolution certifying no known legal impediments to completing an MDOT Transportation Alternatives Program project in Florence.

Street and park repairs and service calls were approved after staff recommendations: a $7,845.00 contract to Utility Constructors, Inc. to locate a leaking water service at 714 Tatum Drive; an $8,200.00 contract to Lane Line, LLC to stripe Lewis Street; $4,800.00 to Brandon's Concrete, LLC for Community Center floor repairs; and $4,866.00 to Bowers Painting, Inc. to prep and paint Community Center walls. The board approved these payments and contracts by unanimous votes.

The board also approved several community-event and land-use items: permits for Florence High School's homecoming parade (Sept. 23, 2025) and Discovery Christian School's homecoming parade (Oct. 3, 2025); a home-occupancy privilege license for B&B Septic (owner Michael Burkes) at 612 Lexington Drive; approval for First Baptist Church to construct a van storage facility as requested by architect Kenny Oubre; and a paint-color update for The Glossary Salon at 123 Main Street.

On the legal and regulatory side, the board adopted an order to enter a nonexclusive telecommunications franchise agreement with Contact Network, Inc., d/b/a In Line, and adopted an ordinance enacting regulations regarding the retail sale of hemp. The board also approved sending Court Clerk Melissa McCue to training in Oxford, Miss., and approved the mid-month claims docket and the Sept. 2, 2025 minutes.

The board convened in executive session to discuss a police-department personnel matter and, in executive session, voted to hire Antwan Gibson, Sr. as a full-time police officer at $21.06 per hour beginning Sept. 17, 2025, contingent on a successful background check and drug and alcohol testing. The recorded vote on the hire showed five ayes. The board later authorized the city attorney to notify Maintenance Systems, Inc. that the city is opting out of its contract and authorized a conditional release-of-maintenance letter to AJ Construction for the Eagle Post Road overlay project.

Votes at a glance (recorded tallies where provided): - Memorandum of Understanding with MDOT for two Flock license-plate readers: Banks/second Herrin — Ayes: Banks, Grantham, Herrin, Martin, Sistrunk (5-0) — carried. - Florence High School homecoming parade permit (Sept. 23, 2025): Grantham/second Banks — unanimous — carried. - Discovery Christian School homecoming parade permit (Oct. 3, 2025): Herrin/second Grantham — unanimous — carried. - Home-occupancy privilege license for B&B Septic, owner Michael Burkes: Banks/second Sistrunk — unanimous — carried. - Increase utility inspection fee from $50 to $100: Herrin/second Martin — unanimous — carried (board directed City Attorney to prepare board order). - Van storage facility for First Baptist Church (architect Kenny Oubre): Sistrunk/second Grantham — unanimous — carried. - Paint color update for The Glossary Salon (123 Main Street): Martin/second Herrin — unanimous — carried. - Contract to locate leaking water service ($7,845.00): Banks/second Herrin — unanimous — carried. - Stripe Lewis Street contract ($8,200.00): Banks/second Sistrunk — unanimous — carried. - Payments for Community Center repairs ($4,800 and $4,866): Grantham/second Martin; Herrin/second Sistrunk — unanimous — carried. - Authorize applications for Williams Road sidewalk/pedestrian bridge and adopt 20% match resolution: Sistrunk/second Grantham; Grantham/second Banks (resolution) — recorded ayes: Banks, Grantham, Herrin, Martin, Sistrunk (5-0) — carried. - Resolution certifying no known legal impediments for MDOT project: Banks/second Sistrunk — recorded ayes: Banks, Grantham, Herrin, Martin, Sistrunk (5-0) — carried. - Adopt FYE 09/30/2026 proposed budget and salary schedule: Grantham/second Sistrunk; Martin/second Sistrunk — recorded ayes: Banks, Grantham, Herrin, Martin, Sistrunk (5-0) — carried. - Resolution opposing public and private school choice programs: Sistrunk/second Banks — recorded ayes: Banks, Grantham, Herrin, Martin, Sistrunk (5-0) — carried. - Nonexclusive telecommunications franchise agreement with Contact Network, Inc. d/b/a In Line: Sistrunk/second Banks — recorded ayes: Banks, Grantham, Herrin, Martin, Sistrunk (5-0) — carried. - Amend/renew School Law Enforcement Officer agreement with Rankin County School District: Grantham/second Banks — unanimous — carried. - Send Court Clerk Melissa McCue to training (Sept. 10, 2025): Grantham/second Banks — unanimous — carried. - Adopt ordinance regulating retail sale of hemp: Sistrunk/second Banks — recorded ayes: Banks, Grantham, Herrin, Martin, Sistrunk (5-0) — carried. - Approve mid-month claims docket and minutes of Sept. 2, 2025: Grantham/second Herrin; Sistrunk/second Martin — unanimous — carried. - Hire Antwan Gibson, Sr. as full-time police officer: Banks/second Herrin (executive session) — recorded ayes: Banks, Grantham, Herrin, Martin, Sistrunk (5-0) — carried. - Authorize city attorney to send notice to Maintenance Systems, Inc. that City is opting out of contract: Grantham/second Banks — unanimous — carried.

What this means and next steps: The board’s adoption of the FY2026 proposed budget and salary schedule sets the city’s spending plan for the coming year. If selected, the Williams Road Transportation Alternatives application would require a 20% local match. The conditional release-of-maintenance, franchise agreement and contract opt-out items direct staff to complete follow-up actions (letters, notices or contract execution) as authorized by the board. The hire of a new police officer is contingent on completion of pre-employment checks.

Proper names and key dates referenced in board actions are included in the meeting record; where the minutes list but do not detail a document (for example, the attached proposed budget), those documents were noted as "copy attached" in the minutes and are not summarized here.

The board adjourned at 7:01 p.m.