Biloxi’s newly established tax-exemption program will see its largest request next week when developers of a proposed Hilton Garden Inn on west beach seek tax incentives.
The measure is one of nearly two dozen issues scheduled to come before the City Council during their meeting Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 at City Hall. Also on the agenda: agreements with Harrison County to improve roads in the Bent Oak and West Oaklawn Road areas, and a measure to begin removing the destroyed fishing bridges on Back Bay and Point Cadet.
The Hilton project, believed to be a $12 million investment, has been in the works for more than three years. It would see a seven-story, 142-room hotel constructed on an L-shaped lot just west of Rodenburg Avenue north of U.S. 90, across from the Sharkheads Souvenir Shop, where owners received a property tax-exemption weeks ago.
“This is what this program is about — making thing happen in Biloxi,” said Mayor A.J. Holloway. “I encourage all developers looking to build in Biloxi to take part in this program. We’re not promising everyone that they will be granted a full exemption on their city property taxes, but we’re encouraging new or rebuilding businesses to look into this program. We want to help you open for business in Biloxi We want to help make things happen.”
For background on the tax program, click here.
Annexation, yes, annexation, on agenda yet again
Biloxi’s corporate boundaries could grow slightly — on paper — on Tuesday through annexation, but it’;s not a new annexation case. Mayor A.J. Holloway will be asking the council to approve a measure that updates the city’s geographic boundaries based on the recent annexation case with D’Iberville.
The court, in its final ruling, tweaked Biloxi’s victory to include about an acre more on Mississippi 67 across from D’Iberville High School. D’Iberville, of course, is appealing the case.
Holloway also will ask the council to award a $9.4 million contract to W.C. Fore Construction Co. to remove concrete remnants of the Old Back Bay and Point Cadet fishing bridges and place the rubble on the Katrina reef south of Deer Island. The FEMA contract includes more than $270,000 in state funding to see the concrete moved to the reef.
Also on the agenda: the re-appointment of Sherry Bell as acting director of the Parks and Recreation Department, and a measure to extend IP’s parking lot variance — limestone or gravel instead of concrete or asphalt — for an additional two years. The lot covers 14.2 acres and comprises 84 parcels.
To see the complete agenda and available resolutions, click here.
