Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Tuesday, September 6, the City of Hattiesburg held its annual budget hearing in which the administration presented a $140.4 million budget recommendation for the Fiscal Year 2023 to be reviewed by the Hattiesburg City Council. “This budget recommendation makes significant progress on infrastructure and employee pay while maintaining a structurally balanced general fund for a third...
CITY OF HATTIESBURG NEWS
Mayor Barker Appoints Director for Urban Development
Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Thursday, September 1, Mayor Toby Barker announced Wiley Quinn as his director appointment for the Department of Urban Development. As the director, he will lead the following five divisions that fall under Urban Development: permitting, building inspections, code enforcement, community development and planning. Quinn has been acting as the department’s interim director since January 2022. “Wiley...
Marshall Ramsey Slated for Keynote Speaker at Hattiesburg’s 9/11 Ceremony
Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Sunday, September 11, the City of Hattiesburg will observe the 21st anniversary of 9/11 with a memorial ceremony to honor lives lost during the attacks at the World Trade Center site, the Pentagon and aboard Flight 93 in 2001. The ceremony will feature a special keynote by Marshall Ramsey, Editor-at-Large for Mississippi Today. For decades, Ramsey...
Multi-Phased Infrastructure Improvements Announced for Midtown Hattiesburg
Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Thursday, August 25, Mayor Toby Barker was joined by State Senator Chris Johnson, State Representative Missy McGee, Ward 3 Councilman Carter Carroll and Ward 1 Councilman Jeffrey George to announce multi-phased infrastructure improvements for Midtown Hattiesburg. This includes a comprehensive water and sewer project, increased stormwater capacity, traffic calming measures and investments in walkability. The water and...
Community Development Launches LeadSAFE Hattiesburg
Hattiesburg, Mississippi – This week, the City of Hattiesburg’s Community Development Division launched its newest initiative – LeadSAFE Hattiesburg, a program that aims to protect children and families from lead-based paint (LBP) hazards through safety training and lead-abatement. The program is funded by a $1.6 million lead-hazard reduction grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development that was...
City of Hattiesburg Passes Golf Cart and Low-Speed Vehicle Ordinance
Hattiesburg, Mississippi – During the August 16 meeting of the Hattiesburg City Council, a new ordinance regulating golf carts and low-speed vehicle usage on city roads was approved. The ordinance requires that all golf carts and low-speed vehicles operated on public roads within the City be registered through the City Clerk’s office. The ordinance will take effect in 30 days,...
Hattiesburg, Convention Commission and Local Partners Announce Plans for Jaycee Park & Kamper Park
Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Wednesday, August 3, Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker was joined by leadership with the Hattiesburg Convention Commissioners, Hattiesburg Public School District, Hattiesburg City Council, Forrest County Board of Supervisors, Visit Hattiesburg, Hattiesburg Optimist Club and other local partners to announce future plans for two city parks, specifically the relocation of Cameron Field to Jaycee Park, as well...
Hattiesburg’s First Draft of Golf Cart Ordinance Available for Review
Hattiesburg, Mississippi – During the August 1 Work Session of the Hattiesburg City Council, the first draft of an ordinance regulating golf carts and low-speed vehicle usage on city roads was presented by Ward 1 Councilman Jeffrey George. The ordinance, as currently drafted, requires that all golf carts and low-speed vehicles operated on public roads within the City be registered...
Hattiesburg Launches Survey for Feedback about ARPA Funding
Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Monday, August 1, the City of Hattiesburg launched a survey to provide residents with an outlet for feedback on how American Rescue Plan Act funding will be spent. The survey is accessible online at https://bit.ly/hburgarpa_survey or by calling the Mayor’s office at 601-545-4501. “Funding from the American Rescue Plan Act presents a real opportunity for cities...
Hattiesburg City Council Receives FY 2021 Audit
Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Thursday, June 30, the Hattiesburg City Council met in a special called meeting to receive the Fiscal Year 2021 audit, completed by Topp, McWhorter, Harvey, PLLC. This financial audit will be the seventh audit completed since 2017, three of which were completed within the first 17 months of Mayor Toby Barker’s first administrative term. “I am...
Hattiesburg Announces $500,000 for Sidewalk Expansion on West 4th Street
Hattiesburg, Mississippi – Late Wednesday afternoon, Mayor Toby Barker was joined by Congressman Steven Palazzo, Councilman Jeffrey George and representatives from The University of Southern Mississippi to announce a $500,000 budget allocation for the expansion of an 8-ft multi-use path along West 4th Street. This expansion picks up at the corner of the North 38th Avenue pathway completed in 2020...
Community Design Forum Set for Longleaf Village in the Avenues
Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Thursday, June 16, the City of Hattiesburg will host an open forum for the Longleaf Village in the Avenues, a master plan project for the North 25th and 26th Avenue corridors between Hardy Street and West 4th Street. The meeting will take place at Parkway Heights United Methodist Church (2420 Hardy Street) and is a come-and-go...