Walmart on council agenda again Tuesday

The proposed new Walmart in west Biloxi will move a step closer to construction when the Biloxi City Council is expected to approve the final plat approval for retail giant’s 21-acre site west of Edgewater Mall next week.

The Walmart issue is but one of nearly two dozen measures on the council’s agenda for Tuesday afternoon. The meeting, which begins at 1:30 at City Hall, is open to the public.

With approval in hand, Walmart will begin closing on the sale of property and present the city its construction plans.

Walmart is expected to begin construction at its C.T. Switzer Sr. Drive site, midway between Eisenhower and DeBuys, on June 1.

Agenda: To see the complete agenda and available resolutions for the council meeting, click here.

News and notes

Weekend preview: The Coast Coliseum opens its annual crawfish festival this weekend, and there’s a boatload of entertainment throughout the city, including a bird show and fair at the Gruich Biloxi Community Center in east Biloxi. To see the whole lineup of entertainment, as compiled by the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau, click here.

Webcasting: Mayor A.J. Holloway spoke about water bills during the Ward 5 meeting this week at the Donal M. Snyder Sr. Community Center. You can hear a recap on this week’s City Desk program. To listen to the 15-minute program, click here.

New buffet: The public will get its first glimpse of the Palace Casino Resort’s expansion Monday morning when the Point Cadet venue opens its new buffet. Other parts of the $45 million project — which totaled 67,000-square feet of new construction and the renovation of 43,000-square feet — will be rolled out in phases beginning in June.

U.S. 90 lighting: MDOT contractors have been installing underground wiring and are close to installing new lightpoles in the stretch of U.S. 90 between Caillavet Street and Porter Avenue. Contractor B&B Utilities is expected to wrap up the $165,000 project May 31, according to MDOT, and maintenance of the lights will then be turned over to the city, which already maintains all U.S. 90 lighting in Biloxi.