Mayor Reflects on 2006!

By: Lucedale Mayor Dayton Whites

In the year 2006, the City of Lucedale was able to carry on financial operation within the appropriated budget and with monies received.
It was good in that City business was carried on in a business like manner with the Board of Aldermen and the Mayor working together in a progressive way for the good of the City, its citizens and those working for the City of Lucedale.
During the year 2006, all Departments have made significant improvements with purchases of needed equipment to make our City run more efficiently. All City employees (except Judicial Branch and Mayor and Board of Aldermen) received raises with considerable adjustments in the salaries of the Policemen and Fire Department employees.
The Mayor, Board of Aldermen and employees have attended all meetings possible in order to qualify them to do the best job for which the City pays them. Informational meetings were attended when projects that might involve the future City of Lucedale were to be discussed.
2006 was a post Katrina recovery year .Lucedale did well in seeking and getting all available monies from insurance, FEMA, MEMA and other agencies to repair hurricane damage and to make significant improvements in the Lucedale Police and Fire Department buildings.
A Hazard Mitigation Plan for the City was written with the assistance of SMPDD. The development of this plan started prior to Katrina and was continued in February 2006. This Plan is vital for a community to receive federal funding.
Re-surfacing the streets in our City continues to be a budget priority for the City Fathers. An additional $154,000 was spent on street improvements this past year. This is the largest amount in the City's history. Our Police Department patrol cars now have in-car cameras that record activities in which our patrolman are involved. Such as traffic arrests, etc. Our patrolmen will soon carry and be qualified to use Taser guns. Bulletproof vests were purchased for the police officers and a natural gas generator was installed for the police and fire building. The Fire Department has new air packs for our fire fighters.
The Public Works Department has a new generator for use at the new waterwell and sewer lift stations and one for general use around the City. Also, a new chipper for the recycle center was purchased with City and grant funds. Grant funds also provided for new sewer lift stations and sewer rehabilitation on Beaver Dam Road.
Both of our City water tanks were refurbished and painted this year through grant and City funds.
In our City Park the Iraqi Freedom Memorial was completed and George County's fallen soldier Shaun Cooley was remembered. Beautification projects move forward in the City Park. Approval of grant monies from Pat Harrison Waterway will allow additional surface water drainage improvements to be made in the Park.
With help from Singing River EPA, Mississippi Power Co., and a grant from the Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks, Lucedale was able to provide lighting and fencing for the soccer complex. With the help of Beat 4, all streets in the recreational complex were resurfaced.
All City owned buildings were made smoke free this year .
The City of Lucedale continues to support our Boys and Girls Club by contributing $10,000 each year. Lucedale was approved for a grant for a new senior citizens bus. A Homeland Security grant was received to purchase an ice machine and containers. The plot locations in the Magnolia Cemetery are now computerized.
Several new vehicles were purchased through our Police Department and Public Works.
All in all I feel very good about the improvements and accomplishments made by the City of Lucedale in 2006 and look forward to 2007.
Business is Lucedale is good with 32 new business license issued.
It is my plans, with the help of the Aldermen's approval to present a hope list for the year of 2007 at our February Board Meeting.