CITY OF HATTIESBURG NEWS

City of Hattiesburg Awarded T-Mobile Hometown Grant

City of Hattiesburg Awarded T-Mobile Hometown Grant

Hattiesburg, Mississippi — The City of Hattiesburg is proud to announce its selection as one of the 25 cities nationwide to be awarded T-Mobile’s Hometown Grant. The City was awarded a generous $50,000 in funds, which will go toward the restoration and renovation of Vernon Dahmer Park. The funds will be used to refurbish and enhance the playground at the...

City Council Accepts Bid For Timberton Park Complex Rebuild

City Council Accepts Bid For Timberton Park Complex Rebuild

Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Tuesday, March 5, 2024, the Hattiesburg City Council unanimously accepted the bid for the Timberton Park Softball Complex, authorizing Mayor Toby Barker to begin executing the contracts to move forward with the restorations. This move follows seven years of wrangling with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which included multiple appeals, rescinded allocations, an arbitration case before...

Mayor Gives Update on Water Bills and Water Meters

Mayor Gives Update on Water Bills and Water Meters

Hattiesburg, Mississippi – Recently, Mayor Toby Barker gave an update on water bills and water meters during his weekly “Five Ways to Be Engaged” video. In addition to the update, the administration will present a plan to change out meters for the city at Monday’s City Council work session.

Important Notice: Possible Receipt of Duplicate Water Bill

Important Notice: Possible Receipt of Duplicate Water Bill

Hattiesburg, Mississippi – Due to a software error by our third-party printing company, Hattiesburg residents may receive a duplicate water bill in the mail for the most recent billing cycle. The duplicates were mailed on Feb. 14, 2024, to those along Route 1, affecting approximately 7,000 customers. If you receive a duplicate or reprinted version of the most recent water...

City Announces Safe Roads Hattiesburg Initiative

City Announces Safe Roads Hattiesburg Initiative

Hattiesburg, Mississippi – To prioritize the safety of our residents and visitors, Mayor Toby Barker announced the launch of a safety action plan for Hattiesburg’s transportation system. This initiative, called Safe Roads Hattiesburg, was made possible by a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant that the city received through the U.S. Department of Transportation. Once a safety action...

Mayor Announces Chief Financial Officer for the City of Hattiesburg

Mayor Announces Chief Financial Officer for the City of Hattiesburg

Hattiesburg, Mississsippi – On Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, Mayor Toby Barker announced Malcolm Berch as the Chief Financial Officer for the City of Hattiesburg.   Berch has worked for the city for nearly four years, most recently serving as interim chief financial officer. During that time, he was utilized in various departments, splitting most of his time between the Water...

Mayor Gives Update on 7th Anniversary of 2017 Tornado

Mayor Gives Update on 7th Anniversary of 2017 Tornado

On the eve of the 7th anniversary of the 2017 tornado, Mayor Toby Barker and the City of Hattiesburg extend condolences to affected families and offer an update on two of the public facilities that were damaged during that tragic event: Timberton Park and Fire Station 2. Status of Timberton ParkBids have been opened and currently await FEMA approval to...

City Seeks Public Input for 2024 RAISE Planning Grant Application

City Seeks Public Input for 2024 RAISE Planning Grant Application

Hattiesburg, Mississippi – The City of Hattiesburg has launched an online survey for Hattiesburg area residents to provide feedback regarding the challenges of east-west travel inside the city. This questionnaire will be used as part of the city’s application for a planning grant under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) program. If awarded,...

Hattiesburg and Community Partners Give Mardi Gras Season Preview

Hattiesburg and Community Partners Give Mardi Gras Season Preview

Hattiesburg, Mississippi – Today, Mayor Toby Barker and city officials gathered at City Hall to announce several events for the upcoming Mardi Gras season. The 2024 festivities promise to be more vibrant and memorable than before, with new traditions and events being added to this year’s itinerary. A glimpse of the 2024 Mardi Gras event calendar includes: Krewe of St....

Mayor Toby Barker Announces Next Chief of Police

Mayor Toby Barker Announces Next Chief of Police

Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Monday, January 8, 2024, Mayor Toby Barker announced the appointment of Hardy Sims to serve as the next Chief of the Hattiesburg Police Department. Under Barker’s administration, he will lead the department of more than 150 officers and civilian employees. This decision comes shortly after current Chief Peggy Sealy announced her retirement in December. Sims has...

City of Hattiesburg Launches Public Engagement Phase for a Proposal Involving Technology for First Responders

City of Hattiesburg Launches Public Engagement Phase for a Proposal Involving Technology for First Responders

HATTIESBURG, Miss., – During the January 2, 2024, meeting of the Hattiesburg City Council, Mayor Toby Barker gave a presentation to the council to introduce three technology initiatives for the city’s first responders: drone-supported assistance for both fire and police, as well as camera-assisted support for the police department regarding ticketing school zone violations and uninsured drivers. The first phase of the...

Hattiesburg’s Top Cop Announces Retirement

Hattiesburg’s Top Cop Announces Retirement

Hattiesburg, Mississippi – After 36 years of service to the City of Hattiesburg with the Hattiesburg Police Department, including three as the City’s first female police chief, Peggy Sealy has announced her retirement for the end of January 2024. “This role has been more than an honor,” said Sealy. “When my career began in the early 1980s, I fell in...