Chris Atherton

The Board's agenda addressed several key matters, beginning with tabling a Homestead Exemption reimbursement request pending further information from the petitioner. A significant action was the approval of Amendment #1 to the Legal Services Agreement on a month-to-month basis for $5,000.00. The Director of the Fairgrounds provided an update on booked events for 2026 and growth of their social media presence. A public hearing was held regarding zoning case file 2512HC180, which was tabled for further information from the Zoning Director. Multiple consent agenda items were approved, including acknowledging receipt of the Parks and Recreation contract for January 2026, designating a clerk to receive bids for Beach Vending Site Rentals, and spreading various department reports upon the minutes, such as those from the Purchasing Department and Sheriff's Office for January 2026. The Board approved various financial orders, including reimbursements to the Road fund, correcting inventory records, approving mileage reimbursement, and approving petitions for increases and decreases to the 2023, 2024, and 2025 Property Rolls. Change Order 3 was approved for the ARPA / MCWI Firetower Sewer Project, granting a 90-day time increase without cost change. Final plats and related documents for Cable Bridge Acres Subdivision and The Village at Spring Hill Subdivision, Phase 2, were approved, contingent on specific conditions. The Board approved authorizing an RFP for a Mass Notification Service and concurred with the Planning Commission on zoning map amendments for Case Files 2601HC011 and 2601HC021. Personnel changes, including a new hire, transfers, and corrections to retirement dates, were approved. The Board adjourned the February 2026 term in the Second Judicial District following an executive session to discuss Road Department personnel matters.

The Board of Supervisors meeting included discussions and actions on several items. Key discussions involved approving a Memorandum of Understanding with Mississippi State University for the Bayou Bernard restoration grant, approving a sublease agreement for office space between Coastal Family Health Center and Coastal Hearing Center, and taking under advisement a proposal from i9 Sports-Gulfport regarding reduced rental rates for Espy Soccer Fields to support youth sports scholarships. The Board also adopted an order requesting the relocation of Veterans Service Offices from Keesler Air Force Base and Naval Construction Battalion to more accessible locations, following a report from the County Veterans Affairs Director regarding veteran accessibility challenges. Furthermore, the Board approved a variance to allow a 47-foot tall billboard, approved the issuance of several Beach Event Permits, acknowledged receipt of various facility usage logs and fees from the Adult Detention Center for December 2025, and approved the execution of several agreements including a Sub-Award Agreement Modification with MDEQ and a Berth Lease Agreement between the City of Biloxi and the Sheriff's Department. Consent agenda items included approving mileage reimbursements for Coroner's Office and Public Defenders Office employees, acknowledging the receipt of various lease agreements for the Fairgrounds, and authorizing asset disposal for the Sheriff's Office. The Board also tabled a Change Order for the ARPA Menge Avenue Sewer System project.

The Board addressed numerous items, including discussion on the Harrison County Comprehensive Plan and the acceptance of RFPs for a new plan. The Board reviewed an Outdoor Civic Advertising proposal for trash bins along the Sand Beach and took the matter under advisement. Two public hearings were held concerning zoning map amendments and conditional use permits; one for a request to change zoning from A-1 to E-1 for a manufactured home was denied on appeal, and another for a request to change zoning from A-1 to R-1 for a 53-lot subdivision was initially denied on appeal but subsequently reversed by a Board Order. Key actions included approving the engagement letter for Advisory Services with Municipal Advisors of Mississippi, Inc., approving the Consent Agenda, approving various rental agreements and travel requests, and authorizing the purchase of five new fire trucks for $2,245,000.00. The Board also approved multiple change orders for various ARPA projects, including sewer and water system upgrades. Personnel changes, including new hires, status changes, and retirements/resignations for the Road Department, Fire Services, Zoning, and the Sheriff's Office, were noted. The Board authorized advertising for bids for Beach Vending Site Rentals and approved an RFP for Record Storage Services after rejecting initial bids. The Board entered Executive Session twice to discuss a Notice of Claim and potential litigation regarding storage records, and also to discuss qualifications of Road Department candidates. Finally, the Board approved payment of numerous claims and expenditures, including substantial payments for renovation and infrastructure projects.

The meeting involved the organization of the Board of Supervisors for the new term, including the election of the President and Vice-President. Key actions included approving the employment for the year 2026 for the Board Attorney, County Administrator, Comptroller, County Engineer, Purchase Clerk, and Personnel/Human Resource Director, as well as all existing county employees. The Board tabled an accident claim from La'Chonda Halbert for insurance recommendation. The Board also held hearings and adopted orders regarding zoning matters: denying an appeal and affirming a Planning Commission decision related to a height variance for a development in Henderson Point, and subsequently denying an appeal and affirming a decision to approve a zoning map amendment and Conditional Use Permit for a multi-household development in Henderson Point.

The meeting addressed numerous agenda items spanning Old Business and New Business, primarily involving zoning map amendments, variances, and conditional use permits. Key actions included the denial of a variance request for a billboard height increase (Case File 2509HC123). New business consisted of several zoning changes: approval recommendations for rezoning to R-2 for property combination (Case File 2510HC139); approval of a variance for a deck setback (Case File 2510HC140); approval for a private access easement (Case File 2510HC141); approval for a subdivision and placement of a manufactured home (Case File 2510HC142); approval recommendations for rezoning to E-1 for subdivisions (Case Files 2510HC143 and 2510HC145); denial of a variance request for setback requirements in the I-2 district (Case File 2510HC144); approval recommendation for a subdivision into 5-lots for new home sites (Case File 2510HC145); approval recommendation for rezoning to E-1 to build a house (Case File 2510HC146); one item withdrawn by the applicant (Case File 2510HC147); approval recommendation for rezoning to C-2 for a permanent food truck business (Case File 2510HC148); denial of a request for a 79-lot residential subdivision (Case File 2510HC149); approval recommendations for a 15-lot subdivision (Case File 2510HC150); and a motion to deny a request for a 53-lot residential subdivision (Case File 2510HC151).