The Biloxi City Council this afternoon will consider a measure by Acting Mayor Kenny Glavan that will create the “Biloxi Brigade,” a group of Keesler volunteers that will help revitalize parks in the city.
The resolution is one of nearly two dozens meausres the City Council will review during a 1:30 meeting this afternoon at City Hall. Also on the agenda: a request by Biloxi Police Chief John Miller to restore $211,000 of the $364,000 in overtime funding that had been cut from the Police Department budget.
The “Biloxi Brigade” movement, suggested by Public Affairs Officer MSgt. Brian Lamar of the 403rd Training Wing’s Hurricane Hunters, would initially involve as many as 30 Keesler volunteers who would perform painting and pressure washing at three parks: Mark Barhonovich Memorial, Penzoil-McManus and Tanglewood.
Parks and Recreation Director Sherry Bell will oversee the work, with support from the city’s Public Works Department and materials from Harrison County.
In the Police Department overtime issue, staffing for special events this fiscal year has seen the department spend 73 percent of its overtime budget, with several summertime events scheduled to take place before the new budget year begins Oct 1. During budget sessions, Miller had said the overtime budget was based on a five-year average and could not absorb a $346,000 reduction.
See the complete agenda and supporting documents
News and notes
Farmers Market: The Charles R. Hegwood Biloxi Farmers Market, on Howard Avenue in the shade of the I-110 overpass, opened a new season this morning. Â The market is open each Tuesday and Thursday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. To print a flyer, click here.
Bulldog baseball: Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College announced Monday that the Bulldogs baseball squad will play as many as a dozen doubleheaders at MGM Park between February and April 2016 while a new baseball stadium is built at the community college’s Perkinston Campus. To see photos from the announcement at MGM Park, click here.
Eye on Katrina: Bill Capo, the WWL Eyewitness News reporter who’s reported on New Orleans issues for an astounding 35 years, dropped by the “Katrina +10” exhibit at the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art on Good Friday to file a report for New Orleans audiences. To see his story as it appeared on WWL, click here.
Indian Nation run: Biloxi Public Schools has announced that its Indian Nation 5K & 1 Mile Run will be conducted Saturday, April 25 at 9 a.m., beginning front of City Hall. To sign up now, click here.
