Development News for Columbus, Mississippi
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2nd City Council Meeting - Media
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
City Approves MOA for $380,000 Mississippi Main Street Revitalization Grant
The City Council approved a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for a Mississippi Main Street revitalization grant totaling $380,000. The city is committed to matching $95,000 of this amount. The grant funds are designated for wayfinding signage in downtown and improvements to intersections at 5th and Main, and 2nd Avenue North and Main. An additional MDOT grant is anticipated for further intersection improvements. The city will act as the conduit for the funds, as they cannot be directly sent to Columbus Main Street. The grant agreement from the state is expected soon, with a 30-day period for review upon receipt. The council also discussed the funding match, noting that the county has agreed to match $30,000, and further contributions will be sought from the CBB board. The city's portion of the match is currently $65,000, with previous council approval to use use tax funds for street improvements.
Fire Department to Purchase Four Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) Packs with Grant Funding
The council approved a request to submit a four-county grant to purchase four Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) packs for the fire department. These packs are essential for providing life-saving air to firefighters who become incapacitated and need to be extracted. The total cost for the four packs is $8,800, with no cost-share involved. The motion was approved with a 5-0 vote.
Two Certified Entry-Level Firefighters Hired
The council approved the hiring of two entry-level firefighters, pending successful completion of pre-employment physical exams and drug screenings. The document notes that these two firefighters are already certified, which is considered a significant step for the department. The hiring was approved with a 5-0 vote.
Firefighters Sworn in as Reserve Police Officers to Gain Arrest Powers
The council approved the swearing-in of four reserve officers from the Fire Department as auxiliary police officers. This will grant them arrest powers necessary for arson investigations and special events, and allow them to attend relevant training courses. The officers will need to maintain state-mandated continuing education hours.
Council Authorizes Sale of Surplus Municipal Property
The City Council approved a resolution declaring certain municipal property as surplus and authorizing its sale. This follows previous council approval to declare the lot surplus but not authorize the sale itself. The resolution outlines the process for selling surplus real property, including publishing the notice of sale three times (May 28, June 4, June 11) and then receiving bids. A new provision allows the city to contact the highest bidders if identical bids are received, allowing them to submit their best offer by June 16th. The council can then award the bid or reject all bids on June 16th at 5 p.m. The approved notice of sale includes changes made to the publication dates and the process for handling identical bids.
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