CITY OF HATTIESBURG NEWS

Your Penny at Work: Hattiesburg Breaks Ground on Duncan Lake Trail Extension

Your Penny at Work: Hattiesburg Breaks Ground on Duncan Lake Trail Extension

Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Monday afternoon, Mayor Toby Barker was joined by Ward 2 Councilwoman Deborah Delgado and several Parks and Recreation employees to break ground on the Duncan Lake Trail Extension. The project, which extends the current walking trail at Duncan Lake to cover the backside of the 17-acre lake, will serve cyclists, walkers and joggers with an 8-foot...

Hattiesburg City Council Unanimously Passes FY 2021 Budget

Hattiesburg City Council Unanimously Passes FY 2021 Budget

Hattiesburg, Mississippi – With a unanimous vote by the Hattiesburg City Council, the Fiscal Year 2021 budget was passed during a special called meeting on Tuesday, September 15. It is the City’s first structurally-balanced general fund budget in 10 years. The $59 million general fund budget, presented to the council the week before, highlights the following: Investment in infrastructure. For...

City of Hattiesburg Hosts 9/11 Ceremony

City of Hattiesburg Hosts 9/11 Ceremony

Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Friday, September 11, the City of Hattiesburg joined the Hattiesburg Fire Department and the Hattiesburg Police Department to host its annual 9/11 Ceremony. Special guests included Major General (Retired) Larry Harrington, who delivered the keynote address, and John Eze Uzodinma II, Southern Miss alum who played the national anthem by violin. The ceremony also included remarks...

Hattiesburg Project Receives Major Boost from U.S. Department of Transportation BUILD Grant

Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Thursday afternoon, U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., in coordination with U.S. SenatorCindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss. and Representative Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., released the news that Hattiesburg is the recipient of a $13.22 million BUILD grant from the Department of Transportation – which will support the construction of an overpass over the western portion of Hall Avenue (https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/9/wicker-hyde-smith-palazzo-guest-announce-16-02-million-for-mississippi-road-improvements). This...

Your Penny at Work: Ribbon Cutting for East 8th Street Courts

Your Penny at Work: Ribbon Cutting for East 8th Street Courts

Hattiesburg – On Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Toby Barker and Ward 2 Councwiloman Deborah Delgado were joined by Pastor Carlos Wilson and Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church members to celebrate the completion of the East 8th Street Courts, a shared-use project funded by the 1¢ Parks and Recreation restaurant and hotel/motel tax. The courts, which are well-lit, fenced and provide access to...

Hattiesburg Reaches Settlement with Federal, State Governments Over Wastewater System

Hattiesburg Reaches Settlement with Federal, State Governments Over Wastewater System

Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Wednesday, August 26, the City of Hattiesburg entered into a consent decree with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to significantly reduce sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) and to improve the overall operations of Hattiesburg’s sewer system.  The consent decree – a 16-year improvement plan – accompanies a lawsuit...

Hattiesburg Renews Franchise Agreement with 95.6% Approval

Hattiesburg Renews Franchise Agreement with 95.6% Approval

Hattiesburg, Mississippi – Today, residents voted to renew the City of Hattiesburg’s franchise agreement with Mississippi Power for another 25 years. The agreement was approved by voters with a 1307 – 59 margin, totaling 95.6% of the vote in favor. This agreement allows for the city to continue receiving 3% of gross revenues generated from residential, commercial and industrial accounts...

Hattiesburg Announces $1.4M Water Improvement Project for East Jerusalem Neighborhood

Hattiesburg Announces $1.4M Water Improvement Project for East Jerusalem Neighborhood

Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Monday, Mayor Toby Barker was joined by Ward 2 Councilwoman Deborah Delgado to announce a $1.4 million water improvement plan for the East Jerusalem neighborhood in Ward 2.  This project will upgrade the water lines throughout the East Jerusalem neighborhood, with the core objective set to replace undersized water lines – that are 1” and 3”...

Hattiesburg Receives $1.8M Federal Grant for Hub City Transit

Hattiesburg Receives $1.8M Federal Grant for Hub City Transit

Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Thursday, Mayor Toby Barker was joined by Ward 1 Councilman Jeffrey George, Ward 4 Councilwoman Mary Dryden, Ward 5 Councilman Nicholas Brown, city administrators and community members to announce a $1.8 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration to improve accessibility for Hub City Transit.  This on-site announcement followed a release by U.S. Senators Roger Wicker...

Hattiesburg Sets Franchise Agreement Special Election for August 25

Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Tuesday, August 25, the City of Hattiesburg will hold a special election for the renewal of its franchise agreement with Mississippi Power. This agreement allows for the city to receive 3% of revenue generated from residential, commercial and industrial accounts. Without it, the city will only receive 2% of generated revenue – and only from residential...

August 5 – Daily Update

During today’s briefing with Mayor Toby Barker, he went over several reopening plans for our area schools, universities and colleges.   This information is as of TODAY, and could change. If you have specific questions, we encourage you to reach out directly to your school district for more information. Each website (with plans) can be found below.   Hattiesburg Public...

Hattiesburg Fire Department Secures Class Three Rating

Hattiesburg Fire Department Secures Class Three Rating

Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Thursday, July 30, Mayor Toby Barker and the Hattiesburg Fire Department announced its upgraded fire rating, from a Class 4 to a Class 3.  On February 3, 1998, the City of Hattiesburg and Hattiesburg Fire Department received a Class 4 fire rating from the Mississippi State Ratings Bureau. This rating has been maintained for 22 years,...