“As 2015 draws to an end, I take this opportunity to thank the hundreds of City of Biloxi employees for all their hard work and dedicated service to our citizens.
“Since becoming Mayor in May, I’ve gained an even greater appreciation of the job performed by our staff because of their professional response to the challenges I’ve presented them.
“With the support of our City Council, the Administration has aggressively pursued new directions in economic development, infrastructure improvements and municipal operations.
“We opened the new stadium ahead of schedule. We settled our BP claim and helped form a unified local government pursuit of our fair share of the State’s Economic Damages settlement. We initiated a Coastwide effort to expand broadband services in a timely and affordable way. We brought together all the stakeholders and refocused their attention on a critically-needed Division Street gate to Keesler Air Force Base. We demanded changes in the widely disruptive and oft-delayed completion of the $355 million infrastructure project. We met with our two Senators and the entire Mississippi Congressional delegation to advance Biloxi’s agenda. We also met with our Governor, our Lieutenant Governor, our Secretary of State and our local legislators to solicit their help in serving and protecting Biloxi’s interests.
“As 2016 arrives, I can assure you we will only work harder for Biloxi and her citizens. We have begun laying the groundwork for new development across the city and we have formulated plans to address some of Biloxi’s lingering neighborhood problems.
“We will be challenged again in 2016 and we will respond as Biloxians have always responded, with diligence and determination.
“Thank you, Biloxi. And Happy New Year!”
–Mayor “FoFo” Gilich
East Biloxi infrastructure work: A third complete
Infrastructure work at the eastern tip of the Biloxi peninsula, that area bordering Oak Street north of the CSK railway, is 85 percent complete, according to the latest report from the city’s Public Works Department.
The report, which provides a snapshot of work completed through Nov. 25, shows that 33 percent of the overall work is done in the area east of I-110 and north of the CSX railway, a project that covers 55 miles of city streets. The report uses pay requests from contractor Oscar Renda to gauge the amount of water, sewer and storm drain lines that have been installed, along with asphalt placed.
See the neighborhood-by-neighborhood progress reports
On Tidelands and the vision for the future
With the upcoming legislative session just around the corner, Mayor Gilich opined the other day on Biloxi’s vision for the Tidelands trust fund and the city’s goals. Biloxi, the mayor says, wants to see Tidelands funds used to make strategic economic development investments along the city’s waterfront, with public boardwalks and paths linking areas of shops, restaurants, new and expanded marinas, open-air pavilions, and, as a result, achieving the ultimate goal of the Tidelands program: better public access and engagement on the waterfront.
Read the mayor’s thoughts on Tidelands funds
News and notes
Holidays:Â Non-emergency municipal offices in Biloxi will be closed Thursday and Friday for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
The week that was: The Biloxi Fire Department responded to 128 calls last week, while the Biloxi Police Department handled 2,586 calls for service. To read the details of the calls, click here.
