Biloxi saved nearly $3 million for city and county coffers Tuesday with the refinancing of $28 million in debt that had been incurred years ago to widen and improve Caillavet Street, Back Bay Boulevard and Popp’s Ferry Road.
The City Council unanimously approved Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich’s proposal to move the bonds from variable rates to a new interest rate just below 3 percent.
“It’s all a matter of timing, and these are some of the lowest interest rates we’ve seen in 30 years,” Gilich declared. “It’s the right time to restructure debt and free up money for other initiatives and improvements without impacting tax rates.”
The new financing will save Biloxi alone about $180,000 a year in interest payments for the remaining 10 to 12 years of debt payments.
Added Gilich: “I’m also hoping that we’ll be able to refinance what remains of $104 million in debt at the Harrison County Utility Authority, so we can see savings districtwide.”
See the fine print
It’s your chance to meet Saints Hall of Famers
Saints fans young and old have a chance to meet a who’s who of Saints lore this weekend: Rickey Jackson, Morten Andersen, Bobby Hebert, Deuce McAllister, Dalton Hilliard, Vaughan Johnson, Jim Dombrowski, Tyrone Hughes, Joe Johnson, Michael Lewis, Derland Moore and Jim Wilks.
It’s the inaugural Saints Hall of Fame Weekend, with a golf tournament Friday at Fallen Oak Golf Club, and then on Saturday at MGM Park the Saints Kids Experience training camp from 10 a.m to 1 p.m., and the Saints Hall of Fame Road Show in the stadium beginning at 6 p.m.
Those interested in participating in the golf tournament, Kids Experience or Hall of Fame Road show can buy tickets online now or call Main Street Biloxi at 228-435-6370.
Incidentally, fans attending the Road Show on Saturday evening will be able to interact with the players, getting autographs and photos, and bidding on several unique silent auction items autographed by Saints head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees. The Lombardi Trophy the Saints won in Super Bowl XLIV and other special mementos from the Saints Hall of Fame will be on display during the Road Show at MGM Park.
The Saturday morning camp is $10 per child, ages 6-15, and is limited to the first 500 at each of two sessions: 10 and 11:30. Adult tickets are $15. Tickets to the Road Show are $20 adults and $10 children. Tickets can be purchased at the MGM Park box office or through Ticketmaster, which charges additional fees.
See the event flyer
Reserve tickets to the Kids Saints Experience
Reserve tickets for the Saints Hall of Fame Road Show
And you can take home sideline passes, Saints memorabilia
Saints jerseys and helmets signed by head coach Sean Payton and Drew Brees, and two club level tickets and two sideline passes for the Aug. 26 preseason game against Pittsburgh in the Mercedes Benz Superdome are among the items being offered in a silent auction Saturday night during the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame Road Show in MGM Park.
The event begins at 6 p.m. and includes displays of Saints Hall of Fame mementos through the years. More than 24 Saints stars of the past and current Saints players will be in attendance to sign autographs, take photos and interact with the crowd. The Lombardi Trophy presented to the Saints after their victory in the 2010 Super Bowl will also be on display.
“Saints fans of all ages will enjoy the opportunity to meet some of their heroes through the years and create their own memories with autographs and photos,” said F. Cliff Kirkland, who is producing the event on behalf of the City of Biloxi. “The players will interact with the audience for at least two hours and during that time everyone will have a chance to bid on auction items like a Schechter Saints guitar signed by Brees and Payton, a signed Cam Jordan game jersey and even a team-signed New Orleans Pelicans basketball.”
NFL Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson and fellow Superdome Ring of Honor star Morten Andersen headline the list of players participating.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children, and are available at the MGM Park box office and through Ticketmaster.
