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Gluckstadt aldermen approve park grant, budget amendment, road-paving increase and a suite of administrative measures
Summary
At its May 12 meeting the Gluckstadt Mayor and Board of Aldermen approved a $2.3 million Blue Cross & Blue Shield Foundation grant for a new City Park playground and fitness area, amended the FY26 budget to move a MOSTF grant to a new fund, approved a paving contract increase, extended a temporary fireworks discharge window and carried routine agreements and personnel actions.
The Gluckstadt Mayor and Board of Aldermen on May 12 approved several measures affecting the city’s budget, capital projects and personnel.
The Board voted unanimously to accept an approximately $2.3 million grant from the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation to fund about 27,000 square feet of playground and fitness equipment at City Park and authorized the Mayor to sign the grant agreement. City staff described the project as a combined playground and fitness area to be funded through the award.
Separately, the Board adopted a resolution to amend the FY26 municipal budget to transfer Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund (MOSTF) grant funds and matching amounts from the general fund into a newly created grant fund and bank account, and to account for School Resource Officer revenue and Police Department budget adjustments.
Public Works staff reported an increase in bid pricing for asphalt effective April 1 that raised the cost of the Gluckstadt Road paving and overlay project from $472,221.15 to $509,970.00. The board approved the contract amendment and noted the project will be paid from the city’s $750,000 state legislative allocation rather than local capital outlay funds.
The Board also approved an agreement with AMS Collection Services for collection of delinquent municipal court fines and fees; legal counsel advised the contract complies with state law and permits the collection agency to add fees as allowed by statute while the city would receive the fines collected under the cited terms.
On an Old Business item, the Board temporarily extended the permitted fireworks discharge period for the Independence Day 2026 holiday to July 3–5 after hearing from applicants who requested alignment with the state-authorized sales period. City legal counsel reviewed applicable state authority during the discussion.
City personnel matters included adoption of amendments to the leave accrual policy to allow additional vacation accrual after three years of service (rather than five) and a separate accrual schedule for Police Department employees working 12-hour shifts; sick leave accruals and the six-month probationary period were left unchanged.
The Board authorized the Mayor to sign a support letter for Madison County’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant application for intersection improvements at Highway 51 and Yandell Road and approved staff’s submission of an ExxonMobil Good Neighbor Grant application seeking $5,000 for a gas monitor for the emergency command trailer.
In closed session the Board accepted the resignation of Public Works Crew Leader Damey Kelly-McElroy, appointed Christopher Luckett as Interim Crew Leader for six months (no salary change), and accepted the terms of a memorandum of understanding related to a possible Bear Creek property transaction; each action was announced in open session following the executive session.
The meeting included several ceremonial items — the promotion of K9 Officer Eric Huff to sergeant (the Mayor administered the oath and he was pinned by his father), and proclamations recognizing Presley Merkich’s athletic honor, Law Enforcement Appreciation Week (May 11–17) and National Municipal Clerks and Deputy Clerks Week (May 3–9). The Board adjourned after completing the agenda.
