The Hattiesburg City Council meetings held on Monday and Tuesday evenings played host to presentations with promise of improvements for the Hub City. A public hearing was held to discuss the state of several properties within the city limits as to whether they were in a state that could risk the health and safety of the community.
Not only in this week’s public hearing, but in each public hearing held for determining the safety of these cases, a common factor is that many of the dilapidated properties are owned, at least in part, by tax sale companies. In a very condensed summary, these companies purchase unpaid taxes on properties. The owners of those properties are then responsible not only for the unpaid taxes but also whatever interest the company adds. If those taxes and interest are not repaid, the companies then have a stake in the ownership of the property without the responsibility of possessing the property.
When the original owners of the property either pass away or move on, those companies still hold their claim to tax deeds, which complicates the process of quieting the deed for those who would inherit the property. The properties then often sit in a state of disrepair and often become nuisances due to blight, pests and vagrants. Because nothing about the process is illegal, the burden often falls to the neighborhoods or city to maintain the property while the case rests in real estate legal limbo.
During Monday’s work session, the council also heard a presentation on tax abatement cost reviews, which summarized the tax abatements of the companies that hold ad valorem exemption and both their direct and indirect impact upon the communities as a result of their employees living in the community.
The council also heard a proposal, presented by the Area Development Partnership (ADP), which would establish two central business districts- one in the area of Broadway Drive and West Pine Street and the other on Hardy Street leading into downtown. Establishing these central business districts would aid with the revitalization efforts downtown by incentivizing the locations for businesses.
James Moore also presented on the progress that has been made through Opioid Settlement funds, and an additional story will follow on his efforts next week.
Additional business conducted at the city council meetings is as follows:
-Adoption of ordinances declaring the following properties to be in such a state as to be a menace to the health and safety of the community: 403 Miller Street, 509 Buschman Street, 721 Mobile Street, 1100 Deason Avenue, 1113 Scott Street, 1715 River Avenue, 38 McCall Street, 112 Wisteria Avenue and 3006 Prince George Road
-An ordinance to amend the Hattiesburg Land Development Code to allow “crusher run,” a mixture of limestone and granite with an angular nature which allows the stones to compact and lock in place, as an approved hard surface for use in the historic districts was remanded for the presentation of the ordinance to the Historic Conservation Commission
-Adoption of an ordinance for a zoning change from a B-2 zoned property to a R1-B zoned property located at 702 West 7th Street, which was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission on January 7
-Acceptance of the Planning Commission’s recommendation to approve a preliminary plat for a major subdivision to be known as “Rawls Avenue Development” for properties located at 702 West 7th Street
-Adoption of a resolution authorizing the submission of an application for the National Railroad Partnership Program/Federal State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program for the Norfolk Southern rail spur improvements as well as downtown Hattiesburg at grade mobility and safety planning
-Adoption of a resolution authorizing the submission of an application for the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Program for planning activities associated with roadway capacity projects
-Approval of a release of lien for the property located at 124 Chambliss Drive assisted under the Community Development Housing Rehabilitation Grant Program
-Approval of an agreement between the city and Clearpoint Engineers for civil engineering services related to the sidewalks along South 20th Avenue
-Approval of a memorandum of understanding funding agreement with the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund for award in the amount of $312,825- the city will provide a match of $1,321,688 for a total project cost of $1,634,513 to fund the Gordon’s Creek VFW Pathway
-Approval of a lighting agreement with Mississippi Power Company for additional lighting on Vernon Street for a monthly increase of $9.06 per month
-Approval of a change order for the Hattiesburg Community Arts Center Renovation project to reduce the contract amount by $2,300 bringing the new contract amount to $388,700
-Approval of the purchase of a property located at 118 Saucier Drive in the amount of $127,000 plus closing costs
-Acknowledgement of proposals received on January 16 for the Hattiesburg High Infrastructure Project Phase II and acceptance of the proposal of Shows, Dearman and Waits, Inc.
-Authorization of submission of a grant application to the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security Highway Safety Grant Program for police traffic services in the amount of $21,500
-Authorization of submission of a grant application to the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security Highway Safety Grant Program for police department alcohol countermeasures in the amount of $105,263.96
-Ratification and confirmation of the mayor’s reappointment of Bernard Green to the Southeast Mississippi Community Investment Corporation for a term to end on December 31, Jerome Brown and Morgan Willis to the Forrest County Industrial Park Commission for a term ending on Feb. 3, 2031
-Approval of the entire routine agenda including the claims docket
