Diamondhead City Council adopts zoning rules for utility cuts, approves police salaries and ratifies local emergency

Diamondhead City Council on July 20 approved a package of ordinances and resolutions that set new rules for street utility cuts, established police department salaries and positions, accepted donated easements and ratified a local emergency tied to recent flooding.

The council adopted Ordinance 2026001, described by the mayor as establishing procedures to ensure entities that cut and excavate city streets have the competence and resources to restore surfaces with less intrusive, more durable and cost-efficient methods. The vote was carried on a roll call during the meeting.

Council also approved a resolution to set salaries for Diamondhead Police Department employees, effective Sept. 1, 2026, and a motion to create and revise job descriptions for patrol officer, police sergeant, investigator, assistant chief investigator and police clerk positions. City Manager, during the manager’s report, said the goal is to have a full force in place by Sept. 1 with county assistance as needed.

The meeting included adoption of a resolution accepting donated drainage and utility easements for parts of Diamondhead Unit 10 Phase 2 from multiple donors; adoption of a new police badge and logo; and approval of standard operating procedures for the police department. The council also approved claims DKT233934 through DKT233953 totaling $180,467.67.

Council moved to ratify a proclamation of the existence of a local emergency for flooding and severe weather related to Tropical Depression 2, effective 12:00 p.m. on July 20, 2026. The proclamation was presented and the motion to ratify it was approved.

Why it matters: the ordinance addressing utility cuts aims to raise standards for road restorations and reduce repeated resurfacing work; the police salary and position changes are intended to stabilize staffing as the city transitions policing operations this fiscal year; the emergency proclamation enables the city to access emergency procedures and potentially to seek reimbursement or disaster assistance.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of 07/07/2026 meeting minutes: motion carried (mover: Shepherd; second: Harwood; outcome: approved). - Ordinance 2026001 (zoning ordinance on utility cuts): approved on roll call (outcome: adopted). - Resolution to accept donated easements (parts of Diamondhead Unit 10 Phase 2): approved (outcome: adopted). - Resolution establishing police salaries effective 09/01/2026: approved (outcome: adopted). - Motion to create police positions and revise job descriptions: approved (outcome: approved). - Motion to adopt police insignia and logo: approved (outcome: approved). - Adoption of standard operating procedures for Diamondhead Police Department: approved (outcome: approved). - Ratification of proclamation of local emergency for flooding (effective 07/20/2026 12:00 p.m.): approved (outcome: ratified). - Claims docket DKT233934–DKT233953 ($180,467.67): approved (outcome: approved).

What’s next: several adopted items take effect in coming months (police salaries on Sept. 1); staff will proceed with implementing the new positions and standard operating procedures and will pursue the administrative steps tied to the emergency proclamation.

Attributions: The City Manager presented the staffing and operational proposals during the city manager’s report; the mayor presided over motions and roll-call votes.