City of Wiggins Board of Aldermen Recap | November 3, 2026
Tuesday, November 3, 2026 · 5:00 p.m. · Wiggins City Hall
Sundee Williams left when the board went into executive session near the end of the meeting.
The full board was present until Alderman Brittany Harris left at 6:29 p.m.; votes after that time were 4-0. Items taken up after the reporter left are listed under “Outcomes Not Observed.”
At this meeting: The board awarded $146,378.00 in emergency sewer line repairs to Gulf Coast Solutions, LLC, raised residential and commercial trash rates by $1 on a 4-1 vote, approved a $9,210 energy-efficient lighting quote for the Ferris O'Neal Senior Center along with a Mississippi Power agreement and acceptance of $7,439 from Stone County EDP, approved a $5,000 SMPDD grant agreement ($2,500 now and $2,500 only if the grant is awarded), set 2018 as the leave start date for an employee with a break in service, declared the Fire Station's Generac generator surplus, approved hiring a full-time firefighter, and tabled the tobacco and homeless/panhandler ordinances and the drug test policy. The board also heard from the city attorney that the new municipal court software fee does not require an ordinance, and heard a debate over whether the Senior Center may cook meals.
The meeting was called to order. An invocation was given and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Opening Business
IV. Consider Approval of November 3, 2026 Agenda. The board amended the agenda to add a Premier lighting quote under SMPDD and to add hiring a senior-bus driver under City Clerk. Motion: To approve the agenda as amended. Passed.
V. Consider Approval of Minutes: Special Meeting: October 13, 2026 & Regular Meeting: October 20, 2026. Passed.
VI. Consider Approval of Docket of Claims: November 3, 2026 (20492 thru 20642). Passed.
VII. Consider Approval of Payroll: October 23, 2026 & October 30, 2026. A board member asked whether the move to a 28-day work and pay period is complete (police are on it, fire is following) and why overtime appeared on the October 9 and October 23 pay dates, when the 28-day overtime threshold is 212 hours. A department head said the employee had worked many hours early in the month; the police answer was to follow within a day. Passed 4-1 (Alderman Jared Harris opposed).
Citizens’ Comments
VIII. Citizens’ Comments (3 minutes per topic). Eagle Scout project. A Scout from Troop 18 asked the board’s approval to paint the outside of the restrooms at Reynolds Field, offering the labor, ladders, drop cloths and extension tools. He needs paint and rollers and asked to be connected with the people who oversee the restrooms for the color and the 5-gallon paint. The presiding officer said it sounded good; the work could take up to six months depending on weather, and a parent will bring a supply list. For information; no vote.
VIII. Citizens’ Comments (3 minutes per topic). Resident complaint. A resident who moved to the city about two years ago said a neighbor repeatedly calls police about alleged neglect of her dogs and blows a vehicle horn while passing. The police chief said officers have witnessed the horn blowing, that the dogs bark when provoked and are not violating city ordinance, and that officers sat two hours without hearing barking. Whether the behavior amounts to harassment is a legal question for the court; police will send the neighbor a letter this week to stop and take it further if she does not respond. For information; no vote.
Old Business/Tabled Issues
IX.a. Tobacco Ordinance. City Attorney Sean Courtney said the ordinance is back the way the board wanted and will be presented for adoption next. Copies will go out for comment, and Courtney will take it to county attorney Tom Matthews for final form. Motion: To table. Tabled 5-0.
IX.b. Homeless/Panhandler Ordinance. Motion: To table. Tabled 5-0.
IX.c. Drug Test Policy. The city attorney provided a copy of the policy and an acknowledgment each employee will sign. The policy needs 30 days’ notice before final adoption so employees can ask questions. The police department is already set up with the hospital and is waiting on the final policy to launch. Motion: To table. Tabled 5-0.
IX.d. Board to consider award of Emergency Sewer Line Repairs to Gulf Coast Solutions, LLC in the amount of $146,378.00. The contractor was contacted about the price and agreed to it, and was described as known for good prices. Motion: To accept the bid. Passed 5-0.
IX.e. Vacation Policy. The board discussed when leave accrual starts for an employee who returned after a break in service. Timesheets showed he did not work during his three months part-time, and his leave was rolled into the new system. Motion: That the start date for leave be 2018 because of a break in service. Passed 5-0.
New Business
X.a. SMPDD – Senior Center. SMPDD representatives answered board questions about running a senior center meal program. Meals are $4.16 each, with a 20-meal daily minimum; the city pays for meals not served, except a meal delivered to a sick client, and the number can be adjusted day to day. Seconds are allowed but no take-home meals except delivery to someone sick, and the program serves people 60 and older. Requirements include food-safety certification, an AED, background checks and a fire inspection, and no stoves are needed because the center would not cook; SMPDD offered site visits to other centers. Attendance has averaged 7 to 10 lately, and Alderman Damian McKay said it is worth a try but will need help to succeed. For information; no vote.
Premier lighting quote – Senior Center LED lighting. Added to the agenda by amendment, under SMPDD. The $9,210 quote is reimbursed $7,439 by Stone County EDP, and a $1,771 rebate covers the rest. Motion: To accept the Premier quote for energy-efficient lighting at the Senior Center for $9,210. Passed 5-0.
X.b. Consider approval of Mississippi Power Agreement for lighting at Ferris O’Neal Senior Center. Passed.
X.c. Consider approval to accept payment from Stone County EDP for lighting at Ferris O’Neal Senior Center. Stone County EDP will pay $7,439, and the board heard the project would cost the city nothing and pay for itself in about 3.6 years in maintenance and electricity savings. The purchase order was scheduled so the work starts Friday and finishes before Monday. Passed.
X.d. Consider approval of C Spire Service Agreement for 120 Davis Ave. (water department). The water department’s current internet connection is unreliable and is used for email and 811 locates. A board member could not find the agreement’s term in the acknowledgment and the installation cost was unclear; board members described poor internet around town. Passed.
X.e. Trash Rates. Motion: To raise trash rates for the CPI: residential from $18 to $19, commercial from $35 to $36. Passed 4-1 (Alderman Damian McKay opposed).
X.f. AVS Streaming – Rachel Bonney. The board heard an update on live-streaming meetings: a device that sits centrally and rotates 360 degrees to whoever is speaking, with a small microphone at each seat. The vendor will bring a demonstration and send a quote, and a laptop may also be needed. Asked whether it can push to YouTube, the vendor did not say. For information; no vote.
Departments
Land Code Administrator
XI.a.i–ii. Seymour Engineering; Donovan Scruggs. The department heads called and could not attend. No presentation.
Police Department
XI.b. Police Department. No report.
Fire Department
XI.c.i. Consider approval to hire a full-time firefighter. Motion: To approve hiring a full-time firefighter, pending completion of a physical and background check. Passed.
XI.c.ii. Consider approval to declare the Fire Station’s Generac generator as surplus property and authorize its disposal in accordance with applicable regulations. The board heard that repairing the generator would cost more than it is worth. Passed.
Safe surrender (“baby box”) update. Not on the printed agenda. The box is operational, and a blessing needs to be scheduled. For information; no vote.
Public Works
XI.d.i. Archie Gray – Water & Sewer. The board heard Gray would be out two or three days. No presentation.
XI.d.ii. Cassandra Arrington – Street Department. Asked whether she had anything to report, she had nothing. No presentation.
Senior Center
XI.e.i. Geralda McLendon. McLendon gave the board a sample SMPDD application and paperwork samples. She reported spending $627.19 on food over 48 days, with about seven people attending the day before. When she asked attendees whether they would still come without a meal, nearly all said yes. For information; no vote.
Cooking at the Senior Center. Not on the printed agenda. Raised under the Senior Center report. An alderman said cooking at the center breaks the law and the program’s rules, and that when the city moved from its former contractor, Crown Care, to keep the center open, the understanding was activities only, with SMPDD providing meals. McLendon said she had told the board she would cook only for a while, that daily paperwork and a background check for serving would be required, and that she cannot cook and run activities both. The city attorney said the city would have to jump through hoops to cook. Alderman Damian McKay reprimanded McLendon for cooking and directed that cooking stop. No vote was taken.
Fish fry request. Not on the printed agenda. Raised under the Senior Center report. McLendon said a fish fry is planned for November 12 at $10 a plate and asked about permission. The cooking would be outdoors, and the board discussed food-safety certification. No decision recorded.
Municipal Court
XI.f. Municipal Court. The board reviewed the OmniCourt case-management contract: an $18 fee per offense pays maintenance, the city pays $9,499 one time for software and training, and a $599 monthly minimum means the city owes the difference if collections fall short. The contract was approved earlier but has not been signed, and the mayor is to sign it. Asked whether an ordinance is needed, the city attorney said no, reading state statute 21-23-7 as capping assessments at $50; the city’s current $25 plus the $18 stays under that. The board also discussed moving data off the current system, Delta, and heard the city owns its data. For information; no vote.
City Engineer
XI.g.i. Public Hearing on changes to the Sewer Facilities Plan. The public hearing was opened and closed with no comments. The engineer will finalize the plan and submit it for review so any state revolving fund money can be received. Motion: To open the public hearing; to close the public hearing. Hearing opened and closed.
XI.g.ii. Board to consider approval of professional services agreement with SMPDD for preparation and administration of SMLPC grant in the amount of $5,000. SMPDD will prepare the application for $2,500 and, if the grant is awarded, administer it for another $2,500 paid at close-out. The agreement must run through the city, and an award notice is expected in December or January. Motion: To approve the agreement: $2,500 for the application and $2,500 for administration if awarded. Passed 4-0.
Airport bid opening. Not on the printed agenda. The bid opening for the airport project is next Thursday; the engineer will report more at the next meeting. For information; no vote.
Highway 29 bridge replacement. Not on the printed agenda. The engineer spoke with MDOT today and said the two are on the same page. MDOT approval is needed before the water and sewer project can be bid early next year, and one water and sewer contractor is to work at the same time. For information; no vote.
Elevated sewers project. Not on the printed agenda. A temporary easement has finally been approved and needs federal sign-off. The plans and specifications package then goes to MDOT for approval, and the city hopes to bid at the start of the year. For information; no vote.
CCTV sewer map. Not on the printed agenda. The map for the sewer-line camera inspection is finished and will be delivered so inspections can be scheduled on roads planned for paving. For information; no vote.
FEMA / Storm Arthur. Not on the printed agenda. An overview is in the board’s packet. The city holds a biweekly conference call and an administrative call, a FEMA meeting was set for Thursday, and second-round site visits are set for November 17. The engineer said sewer projects are unlikely to receive much; drainage is mixed because the city must prove conditions before the storm. For information; no vote.
Congressionally directed spending. Not on the printed agenda. The next round of applications is expected in January, and the board should start thinking about priorities. For information; no vote.
Sewer generator and Grinder purchases. Not on the printed agenda. A board member asked about the generator in the sewer system; the engineer said specifications are being prepared and nothing has been done yet. Work by Grinder, the contractor that attended the last meeting, will be over $5,000 and require specifications, and purchases over $75,000 require formal procurement. For information; no vote.
City Clerk
XI.h.i. Campus Benefits. The clerk asked whether to move benefits service to Campus Benefits or stay with the current broker. Onboarding would start now but nothing changes until the April rollover; there is no contract, only a letter from the mayor assigning the new agent, and a board member asked to see it. Passed 4-0.
Conference hotel block. Not on the printed agenda. The hotel block for the January 12–14 Mississippi Municipal League conference opens Thursday. For information; no vote.
Hire a senior-bus driver. Added to the agenda by amendment. No discussion or action was observed.
Aldermen/Mayor
Trash rate reconsideration. Raised under Aldermen/Mayor. Alderman Damian McKay said costs are rising everywhere, including utilities, the county and the sheriff, and suggested revisiting the trash rate increase. Another board member said the city cannot be a charity, that the rate was built into the revenue estimate during budget workshops, and that it is an enterprise fund. McKay said it came up quickly and is a small amount, and withdrew the request. No vote taken.
Miles Avenue. Not on the printed agenda. An alderman asked the street department to add base material and packing to Miles Avenue, saying part was patched today but still has holes. The mayor said every ward has the same requests, and the alderman relayed a resident’s traffic concern. For information; no vote.
Executive Session
XII.a. Executive Session – City Attorney Sean Courtney. The city attorney said the board should first determine the need for a closed session. The reason for the session was not confirmed, and the reporter left the room. Motion: To go into closed session to consider executive session. Passed.
Aldermen/Mayor: Recess until Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., the next regular meeting