City of Wiggins Board of Aldermen Recap | October 6, 2026

Tuesday, October 6, 2026 · 5:00 p.m. · Wiggins City Hall

Sundee Williams left before the board took up its non-public session near the end of the meeting. Items taken up after that point are listed under “Outcomes Not Observed.”Wiggins aldermen OK a cannabis dispensary variance, set Senior Center hours, name a public works director, and vote to apply for a state grant.

At this meeting: The board approved a variance and conditional use for a cannabis dispensary at 571 Joyce Evans Drive, Unit B, approved a First Baptist Church variance and site plan, set Senior Center hours of Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., voted to apply for the state's small-municipality grant program, named Archie Gray public works director, passed a motion on the municipal attorney and municipal judge positions, hired two police officers and donated a retired patrol car to the New Augusta Police Department, approved a tapping fee schedule limited to the cost of equipment, voted to continue with Bigfoot Consulting for debris hauling, accepted FIT Disposal's dumpster quote, voted to give a city staff member access to the city's Facebook page and remove former employees as administrators, and tabled the tobacco and homeless/panhandler ordinances.

Opening Business

IV. Consider Approval of October 6, 2026 Agenda. The board first amended the agenda to add railroad crossings (under Aldermen/Mayor), a Stone County utility bill, dumpster quotes, the hiring of Nick Freeman as a full-time police officer, the donation of a retired patrol car to the New Augusta Police Department, and a Food Mart beer permit. Passed 5-0.

V. Consider Approval of Minutes: 

Public Hearing: September 10, 2026 

Regular Meeting: September 15, 2026 

Paving Workshop: September 23, 2026 

Special Meeting: September 25, 2026. 

Passed5-0.

VI. Consider Approval of Docket of Claims: October 6, 2026 (20099 thru 20364). Passed 4-1.

VII. Consider Approval of Payroll: September 18, 2026, September 25, 2026, & October 2, 2026. Passed 5-0.

VIII. Citizens’ Comments (3 minutes per topic). Tricia Eubanks told the board about fall events running through December: family movie nights (the next on Friday, October 9), a cruise-in for antique cars, motorcycles, Broncos and Jeeps, socials, and a bike night on October 17 hosted by a bike club from South Mississippi. She said roads would need to be closed only for movie nights and that the events do not require police. The board then took a vote; its subject is not confirmed from the record. Passed 5-0.

Old Business/Tabled Issues

IX.a. Tobacco Ordinance. Tabled 5-0.

IX.b. Homeless/Panhandler Ordinance. Tabled 5-0.

IX.c. Tapping Fees. The updated fee schedule presented to the board added labor and machine time (a minimum of four hours) on top of the equipment. Board members said water and sewer employees are already paid to do this work as part of normal operations and that the fee should cover the meter and fittings. Motion: To approve the updated tapping fee schedule limited to the cost of the equipment, not the machine and labor. Passed 5-0.

New Business

X.a. Senior Center – Rachel Bonney & Stone County EDP. Alderman Bonney told the board that Layla Essary was unable to attend to discuss what the Stone County EDP is willing to do for capital improvements, and that the EDP is looking for projects. Bonney said she had sent Essary an updated lighting list, and that new lighting would cut the power bill by about $170 a month, enough to repay the cost of the new lights in roughly four years. Other ideas raised were a new sign, for which prices were being gathered, and an automatic door.

The board also talked through how the Senior Center’s meals would work if the city partners with SMPDD. The program sets a daily meal count, and the city would owe for any meals that go unserved, while any people beyond that count would not get a meal. Sign-in sheets show attendance anywhere from about 8 to 37 people a day. Board members also raised the need for a food-safety-certified person to serve meals, low attendance on Fridays, and renaming the building so it can be used for events, with the Senior Center remaining its primary purpose.

A woman who spoke from the audience asked the board not to close the Senior Center or take away the food. She asked whether the county’s $20,000 for the center was being released, and said she heard the center was being cut to three days with no meals while the county’s money was in the budget. She said it was hurtful to see “Senior” taken out of the building’s name. “Our taxes were paid,” she told the board, and she described seniors as being “brushed aside.” She said every county around Stone County has a senior center, and that in her opinion the board is taking “a whole lot away from seniors.” Alderman Bonney told her that keeping the center open is the goal, that the board is trying to correct a budget problem, and that any cuts might not be permanent. The resident added that “when you take something away, very seldom you ever get it back.” She questioned whether the center needs a director, saying two people had run it for years without one.

The mayor said the Senior Center is about $800,000 in the hole. Sundee Williams, publisher of WigginsMS.com, asked how that squares with the center’s budget and fund balance for the year. She read the budget as about $39,000 (personnel, supplies and contracts) and the fund balance as $20,966.60, and asked whether the board’s position was that the Senior Center is responsible for the $800,000. Alderman McKay answered that the shortfall built up over many years of year-end overspending and that he does not trust the older books and said they are starting from here and moving forward. He said he would not be in favor of closing the center and the current budget would keep the center operating.

Williams also asked what it costs to run and operate the Senior Center, saying that figure is not reflected in the budget, and said the board was asking residents to accept cuts in hours or services without all of the information. No operating cost figure was given in the record.

For information; no vote.

X.b. Consider approval to complete and submit the PA-1 (Designation of Applicant Agent) form to MEMA. The form designates the city’s applicant agent for FEMA disaster funding. Passed 5-0.

X.c. Consider approval of the following beer permits: Walmart, Parker’s, Mi Pueblo, Keith’s, Piggly Wiggly, Extra Mile, Jr Food Mart, Dollar General, Rio Grande, Dandy Dans, Circle K, Sippi Steve’s, Donco (Chevron), Sleepy Bear. These are renewals. A board member asked whether every business in the city was on the list. Passed 5-0.

Departments

Land Code Administrator

XI.a.i. Seymour Engineering. The report covered the police station building. A roofing contractor and an architect have been consulted, and the engineer said he is not sure the roof is the source of the problem. A mechanical contractor reviewed the HVAC system that afternoon, and a proposal for a test-and-balance is expected in about two weeks; humidity and a moldy smell may trace to the HVAC system. Repairs to both the roof and the HVAC may be needed. For information; no vote.

XI.a.ii.1. The recommendation to the Board of Aldermen is for the approval of the variance/conditional use to permit a cannabis dispensary at 571 Joyce Evans Drive, Unit B. The planning commission recommended approval. The city has no cannabis ordinance in place, so the request was handled as a variance and conditional use. The applicant was present. Motion: To approve the variance/conditional use for a cannabis dispensary at 571 Joyce Evans Drive, Unit B. Passed 5-0.

XI.a.ii.2. The recommendation to the Board of Aldermen is for the approval of the variance for First Baptist Church of Wiggins. The variance allows removal of a landscape strip around the parking lot. Downtown lots leave little room to expand, and relocating was not considered an option. The planning commission recommended approval. Passed 5-0.

XI.a.ii.3. The recommendation to the Board of Aldermen is for the approval of the Site Plan contingent upon the stormwater and other requirements of the ordinance or Engineering/Planning being satisfied for First Baptist Church of Wiggins. The revised stormwater plan meets the 10-year standard but not the 25-year standard, which was described as about the best an infill project downtown can do. The church has been given a permit to begin initial demolition. Passed 5-0.

West Elmer property update. Not on the printed agenda. A board member asked for an update on a property on West Elmer that the city has pressed to clean up. The owner’s family sent photos showing steady progress, but work appears to have stopped, and the structure has no roof. The land code administrator will contact the family this week; if there is no progress, the city could move ahead with demolition. He will report back. For information; no vote.

Police Department

XI.b.i. Consider approval to utilize the $5,000 in the animal control fund to have the animal control truck painted and striped. The animal control position was cut in this year’s budget, and patrol officers now respond to vicious-animal calls. The truck has no lights or PA and is unmarked; the department wants it outfitted like the patrol units so officers can respond and back up a partner. The $5,000 was donated years ago, and staff could not determine when or for what purpose; the money has remained in its own bank account rather than being moved to the general fund. Passed 5-0.

XI.b.ii. Consider hiring Hunter Phenice as a full-time patrol officer. Phenice is not yet certified. He would start at $19 an hour and move to $20 once certified, train through the end of the year, and attend the police academy in early January. Passed 5-0.

Hiring of Nick Freeman as a full-time patrol officer. Not on the printed agenda. Freeman previously worked for the department; the deputy chief asked the board to rehire him full-time at $20 an hour. Passed 5-0.

Donation of a retired patrol car to the New Augusta Police Department. Not on the printed agenda. The department’s last Crown Victoria has been parked as a backup unit since the new cars arrived. The deputy chief asked the board to donate it to New Augusta, a small department with a limited budget. Passed 5-0.

Fire Department

XI.c.i. Consider approval for Ronni McBride to attend Hazmat Tech 1 October 5-23, 2026. The course started the day before the meeting and is covered by a grant. Passed 5-0.

XI.c.ii. Consider approval of resignation of Wade Beesley. The item cleans up a personnel record after the budget process; the resignation is effective September 30. Passed 5-0.

XI.c.iii. Consider approval of the lowest and best quote for a skid unit to be purchased with grant funds from Grant No. D26AP00366-00. Two quotes were received. The lowest is about $200 over the grant amount because of freight. Passed 5-0.

Public Works

XI.d.i. Archie Gray – Water & Sewer. Asked for an update on the lead service line inventory, Gray said the Rural Water Association is expected to begin it in November. This was taken up later in the meeting, during Aldermen/Mayor items. For information; no vote.

XI.d.ii. Cassandra Arrington – Street Department

XI.d.ii.1. Consider approval of Raymond Hatten III resignation letter. Passed 5-0.

XI.d.ii.2. Consider termination of Stanley Calloway. Passed 5-0.

XI.d.ii.3. Consider termination of James Shade. Passed 5-0.

Municipal Court

XI.e. Municipal Court. Board members discussed whether an ordinance is required for the municipal court’s new case-management system, OmniCourt, which the board approved at its September 1 meeting; that approval noted the per-ticket technology fee would need a city ordinance. A board member said an Attorney General’s opinion had been cited in support of one but that he had not been able to find it, and that the statute itself makes no reference to an ordinance. Another member read the statute the same way. A follow-up email asking for the opinion or an example was planned. For information; no vote.

City Engineer

XI.f.i. Board to approve Pay Estimate #3 (FINAL) for G&L Tank Sandblasting and Coatings, LLC in the amount of $41,931.25. The water tank project is complete. A speaker noted that the work was routine maintenance paid for by the city, not a school bond issue, and asked that this be made clear to the public. Passed 5-0.

Engineer’s project report. Not on the printed agenda. City Engineer Ryan Tice reported on several projects:

• The airport FBO building is being advertised, with bids around November 12. It is funded in part by $250,000 in grants, including one from MDOT. Plans call for removing an old trailer from the site.
• The Highway 29 bridge water and sewer replacement is waiting on information before it can be advertised.
• A public hearing on the revised Highway 49 sewer facility plan is set for November 3 at 5:00 p.m. during the regular board meeting.
• The elevated sewer line repair project has been advertised. About 13 plan holders are signed up, and bids open next Thursday at 10:00 a.m. The engineer will bring a recommendation to the board’s following Tuesday meeting. For information; no vote.

Citywide paving and drainage packet. Not on the printed agenda. Board members received an 11-by-17 packet listing every road overlay and paving request by ward. Roads total about $2.7 million, more than the board has set aside; citywide drainage improvements total about $918,000, much of it covered by the city’s FEMA requests. Some projects are highlighted as FEMA-eligible. Board members were asked to review their wards and prioritize; lower-priority projects could be advertised as alternates in case bids come in under the estimates. Everything still has to be designed, and the engineer said a workshop could be scheduled if the board wants one. For information; no vote.

Small municipality grant application. Not on the printed agenda. Tice described a $10 million statewide grant program open to any Mississippi city. Applications rank higher when they pair the grant with matching funds, so the city’s paving and drainage projects, including a collapsed drainage line under College, could be tied to work already funded through other programs. The application is due later this month, and the only added cost would be engineering fees the city would pay for the paving projects anyway. Motion: To apply for the small municipalities and limited population counties grant programs. Passed 5-0.

FEMA and MEMA. Not on the printed agenda. A Teams meeting with FEMA and MEMA on the city’s storm reimbursement requests is set for Tuesday, October 13, at 10:30 a.m., and FEMA is expected to visit and review projects in person afterward. The engineer said reimbursement varies by project: about 75% for roadways, 100% for some work, and mitigation funded from a separate source. He urged the city to prepare for a possible Category 2 storm and said emergency watershed protection funds may be available for other drainage problems; board members were asked to report any they see. For information; no vote.

Main Street Revitalization grant. Not on the printed agenda. Tice told the board that the city’s application was turned in on September 11. For information; no vote.

Chancery court candidate. Not on the printed agenda. George Schmidt, a candidate for chancery judge, introduced himself to the board, described his legal and municipal court experience, and asked for votes in the November 3 election. For information; no vote.

City Clerk

XI.g.i. Consider acceptance of Heather Anderson’s resignation letter. Passed 5-0.

XI.g.ii. Consider approval for reimbursement to T. Allen for insurance in the amount of $199.36. Passed 5-0.

Budget raises. Not on the printed agenda. The clerk asked whether raises approved in the budget should take effect with the first full pay period of October and be handled through department heads. For information; no vote.

Aldermen/Mayor

XII.a. Mayor – Senior Center. The board had approved the Senior Center continuing through September 30. The mayor asked what the board wants to do from there: hire someone, use volunteers, or continue as it is. A training session on the meal-program paperwork was set for Monday, involving the volunteer at the center, the city clerk and SMPDD, and would take several hours. Board members said they want SMPDD to come to the next board meeting and for the contract to be agreed before any training begins. One member said he is not opposed to the contract but wants to know more first.

Board members raised several questions about the terms. One said SMPDD’s contract requires participants to be 60, while the building’s own contract set the age at 55, and that the city would go by its own rule. Another described the paperwork each senior would complete: an application and a questionnaire, with an interview, turned in to SMPDD before the senior could take part, including a person coming for the first time. A minimum meal count of 20 was also stated. A board member explained that the city would set a number of meals per day. If the contract called for 40 and only 8 people came, the city would owe for the unserved meals at about $4 per meal; if 42 came, the two over the count would not get a meal and no meals could be taken home. A member said the terms had changed from what was first presented, including the earlier statement that the city would not be charged for the food, and said the board should invite SMPDD back to answer questions before ending the arrangement. The board also discussed that serving meals would require a food-safety-certified person, possibly with a second employee to run activities.

Current hours were stated as Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and a member noted the change to Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. had already been planned for when meals began. Moving to four days leaves Fridays open for rentals. 

Motion: To set Senior Center hours as of October 6 at Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Passed 5-0.

XII.b. Mayor – Rubbish Disposal. The Street Department presented a quote from Dick O’Neill of $4 per cubic yard (24 cubic yards would cost $96) to haul debris. The city’s current contractor, Bigfoot Consulting, has hauled for the city for about 14 years under an existing contract that can be extended. Discussion covered the distance to each disposal site, whether the lower quote met permit and insurance requirements, and procurement rules. A first motion to continue with Bigfoot until the other hauler could be verified was withdrawn. 

Motion: To continue with Bigfoot Consulting. Passed 4-1. Alderman Jared Harris voted present.

Roll-off dumpster quotes. Not on the printed agenda. Waste Management quoted $525.41 per 30-cubic-yard roll-off; FIT Disposal quoted $473.50 plus a fuel surcharge, bringing it to about $503. FIT Disposal’s was the lower quote. 

Motion: To accept FIT Disposal quote. Passed 5-0.

XII.c. Mayor – Railroad crossings. Not on the printed agenda. The board heard that MDOT is looking at upgrading railroad crossings at Pine and College. To proceed, the city must clear debris and remove a flower bed at Pine and build a curb or safety barrier at College to protect the crossing equipment from vehicles, at the city’s cost. MDOT decides which crossings go first based on traffic counts, each upgrade could cost about half a million dollars, and work is about two years out. The board was also told closing a crossing could bring an incentive. 

Motion: To agree to remove the flower bed at Pine and construct a safety curb or barrier at College. Passed 5-0.

XII.c. Mayor – Attorney. 

Motion: To name Sean Courtney municipal attorney, with the municipal attorney and municipal judge positions addressed in the same resolution, as a city employee eligible for benefits, including participation in the city’s insurance. Passed 5-0.

XII.d. Jared Harris – Docket Claim. Harris voted no on the docket claim and said on the record that he objected to a $24,000 payment to the city’s former attorney for work on the 2026 bond issue. The sequence in the record: on August 18 the board approved paying the attorney $150 an hour plus filing fees for additional work tied to the bonds; an invoice for 1% of the bond proceeds followed.

XII.e. Jared Harris – Social Media Management & Policy. Board members discussed who holds administrator access to the city’s Facebook page and said the city should put out more information because many residents get theirs there. Whether department heads such as the fire and police chiefs should be able to post directly was left for the policy. 

Motion: To give the City Clerk access, remove administrators who no longer work for the city, and bring a social media policy back to the board for approval. Passed 5-0.

XII.f. Jared Harris – Procurement for water meters. Because the purchase is well over the $75,000 threshold, it must go through formal procurement. The specifications can name the type of meter the city prefers, but vendors may submit an approved equal for review. 

Motion: To allow Tice Engineering to work with Archie Gray to spec out the water meters for formal procurement. Passed 5-0.

XII.g. Jared Harris – Public Works Director. The motion places Archie Gray, previously over water and sewer, in charge of both the water and sewer and street departments. 

Motion: To make Archie Gray public works director. Passed 5-0.

XII.h. Jeanette Jackson – Trunk-or-treat road closure. A request was made to close a road for First Baptist Church’s trunk-or-treat on October 25. 

Motion: To close the road at First Baptist Church for trunk-or-treat October 25 from 3:30 to 7:15pm. Passed.

Outcomes Not Observed

The following were taken up after the Williams left. A printed agenda item is not an outcome.

• Non-public session: The police chief said he would request an executive session at the end of the meeting for a personnel matter. 
• Aldermen/Mayor: XII.g. Adjourn Until Tuesday October 20, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Being the next regular scheduled meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.