MonthlyCurrent

May Summary

A safe Jamboree, a stronger spring of community engagement.

The Moss Point Police Department closed out a busy May with zero serious incidents across two full days of River Jamboree on May 1st and 2nd. Officers worked the riverfront alongside Parks and Recreation, Fire, and Public Works to keep the largest celebration in the city's history safe for residents and visitors alike.

Beyond Jamboree, we continued the community engagement work that began with our March Meet and Greet at City Hall and Operation Safe Streets at the riverfront in April. Building trust through visible, consistent presence is the standard we are holding the department to.

Residents who want to engage directly with the department or request an officer at a neighborhood event can reach our office at (228) 475-1711 or through cityofmosspoint.org/police.

May Summary

Sound the Alarm continues. Smoke detectors installed across all five wards.

Moss Point Fire responded to 96 calls in May, including twelve emergency medical assists in support of AAA Ambulance Service and an active festival presence at River Jamboree across both days. Average response time across all calls held at 4 minutes 38 seconds.

Our Sound the Alarm partnership with the American Red Cross continued through the month. We installed and tested smoke detectors in homes across all five wards at no cost to residents. Residents who still need a detector installed can request one through our office at (228) 475-1300. Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire roughly in half. We will keep installing them as long as residents keep asking.

Fire Prevention Week is in October, but planning begins now. Churches, schools, and neighborhood associations interested in a station tour or a safety talk this fall can contact the Fire Department through the city switchboard.

May Summary

Eastwood Drive water main restored. Lift Station 19 rehabilitation underway.

Public Works crews completed the Eastwood Drive water main repair carried over from April. Service was fully restored to all affected households within the working window, and follow-up flushing in the days after kept the line clean. We thank the residents of Eastwood Drive for their patience during the work.

The Lift Station 19 Rehabilitation and Sewer Improvements project, advertised for bid earlier this year, moved into the contractor-selection phase in May. Lift stations are the unseen backbone of a sewer system. Replacing aging pumps and controls now is what keeps us out of emergency repair territory later. Updates as work begins on site.

Residents who need to report a pothole, a downed limb, or any street or drainage concern can do so at report.cityofmosspoint.org. Reports route directly to Public Works and are tracked from submission to resolution.

May Summary

2.4 million gallons treated. The accurate billing initiative keeps moving.

Our treatment plant processed 2.4 million gallons of water for Moss Point residents and businesses in May, all of it meeting or exceeding state and EPA standards. No boil-water advisories were issued during the month.

The work the Mayor has been talking about on The River City Chat continued in May: replacing aging water meters, identifying leaks before they reach a customer's bill, and making sure every household pays for the water they actually use and nothing more. This is unglamorous, multi-year work. It is also how a city rebuilds trust in its utility one household at a time.

Residents with a question about a bill or a suspected leak can reach the Utility Department at (228) 475-0300. The first thing to do if you suspect a leak is to read your meter, wait two hours without using water, and read it again. If the number changed, call us. We will help track it down.

May Summary

River Jamboree, Peewee Baseball, and the first full season at Gautier Street.

The busiest month our department has ever had. River Jamboree took over the Downtown Riverfront for two days, the Trash Pot Cookoff drew the crowd it always does, the inaugural Moss Point Idol Competition lit up the main stage, and we kept the schedule running across both days without a missed beat. The expanded format is here to stay.

At Gautier Street Ballpark, Peewee Baseball wrapped its first full season on the rebuilt field. The transformation that happened back in February with the Biloxi Shuckers, Home of Grace, Cannon Nissan, Ski Heating & AC, Pep Street Wings, and Turf Masters set the stage. The kids and the families that filled the stands made it real. Improvements that carried into May:

• Safety yellow fence top protection installed by the Biloxi Shuckers crew
• Professional grade grey vinyl windscreens with Moss Point branding in the outfield
• Fresh dugout paint and murals by Cannon Nissan of Moss Point
• Foul poles, landscaping, and bases installed by Turf Masters

Special Olympics Mississippi Area 12 Track and Field Games returned to Jerry Alexander Stadium earlier this spring. We were proud to host. Plans for summer programs at the Library and the riverfront are firming up now. Watch cityofmosspoint.org/parks and The Monthly Current for details as they release.

May Summary

Flood resilience work continues. CDBG planning advances. Housing stays the priority.

The River City Flood Ready Initiative kept moving in May. The rain garden and drainage system installed near Kreole Elementary School performed through the heavy rains earlier this spring, holding water on site and keeping a normally-flooded stretch of street clear. Our long-term science partnership with the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve continues to shape that work, alongside Mississippi Alabama Sea Grant, the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Indiana University, and Mississippi State University Extension.

The neighborhood-scale stormwater park north of Rose Drive remains in active design. That neighborhood has lived with persistent flooding for years. The park is built to capture and slow stormwater before it reaches the streets and homes that have borne the worst of it.

Our Five-Year Consolidated Plan keeps four priorities at the top of the list: housing rehabilitation, new affordable housing, sanitary sewer, and drainage. The 2024 Annual Action Plan continues as the current operating document for those investments. We also continue coordinating with state partners on the Mississippi Housing Recovery Program for residents still rebuilding after prior storms.

Residents with questions about housing assistance, flood resilience resources, or the Five-Year Consolidated Plan process can reach the Community Development office at (228) 474-2345. To learn more about flood resilience projects across the city, visit rivercityfloodready.com.