McComb, Mississippi Development News
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City of McComb Work Session | Tuesday, July 21, 2026 | 5:30 PM
Published: Jul 21, 2026
City Grapples with Blighted Properties, Ordinance Enforcement Challenges
Discussions revolved around managing abandoned properties and enforcing city ordinances. Henry from Code Enforcement detailed the process for addressing properties like the one at Nebraska and Fifth, which had a squatter but is now being handled. He also discussed the Community Apartments property, where damage to the building has caused delays in renovation and required re-working federal loans and insurance claims. The owner has promised to install barricades, but timelines are uncertain, leading to potential citations. Board members expressed frustration with the slow pace and lack of accountability, emphasizing the need for stricter timelines, fines, and liens. The code enforcement process was identified as a bottleneck, with challenges in getting repeat offenders to appear in court and owners lacking funds for repairs. Demolition liens are often not recouped. The discussion highlighted issues with overgrown yards, abandoned vehicles, and junkyards on private properties, particularly in East McComb, negatively impacting property values. A suggestion was made to establish a 'zero tolerance' policy and a list of citations issued for these violations. Board members also questioned the process of bench warrants, as individuals with outstanding warrants are not always picked up. The need for a city-wide cleanup plan and potentially a serial investor to redevelop blighted areas was emphasized. The board discussed the possibility of using city public works to cut yards and charge owners, creating a revenue stream. A volunteer citizens committee for a city cleanup plan was announced for July 23rd.
Library Seeks Funding, Highlights Technology Upgrades and E-book Expansion
The Bank Aid Mitt Walk on Library System is seeking funding for the next fiscal year. Kelly Miller presented highlights including the grand reopening of the Alva Center library, securing an LSTA grant for new technology, and expanding outreach to nursing homes and the public. Despite state-wide library numbers being down, Macomb's library saw over a thousand new visitors from May 16th. Challenges include the cost of e-books, which are not subscription-based and incur a charge per checkout, leading to a downgrade in service from $25,000-$30,000 per month to a more manageable cost. The library has joined 'Cloud Lead' through Plato Library, offering over 700,000 e-book titles through a cooperative system. Budget projections were presented based on the current mill rate of 0.79%. While typically asking for increases, the library is requesting to keep funding equal due to the city's current financial obligations. Ms. Miller mentioned discussions about the millage rate and how it's applied to the library's funding, suggesting a need for a deeper dive into revenue allocation.
Severe Flooding at Pine Street and Dyson Drive Intersection Prompts Investigation into Drainage Issues
The board discussed flooding issues at the intersection of Pine Street and Dyson Drive, and also at Higgins and Anwood. Select Woman Tony reported that the Pine/Dyson intersection flooding is severe, breaking the road and necessitating detours, and that the issue was not present 10 years ago. Eric from Public Works confirmed that drainage dishes are clean but believes the underlying problem is undersized drainage, similar to the Donald Heights issue. He suggested solutions could be explored, but it's not a simple fix. The possibility of using a camera to inspect the drainage lines was discussed, with a request for a ballpark figure to rent equipment. The board also briefly mentioned a separate flooding issue at Higgins and Anwood. The discussion touched upon the RCS grant, which could apply if erosion is proven to be caused by rain. The need for a camera for wastewater plant inspections was also mentioned in relation to budgeting.
City Finances Reviewed: Expenditures Ahead of Revenue, Unbudgeted Costs Highlighted
The Board of Mayor and Select Women reviewed the city's financial status through May 30th, with Controller Valerie Curtins presenting the findings. Citywide revenues collected were $16,981,400 against a budget of $24,000,000 (70.7%), while expenditures were $21,252,921 against a budget of $25,239,916 (84.2%). Two budget amendments were noted: $12,000 for elections and $200,000 for the Hotel Motel Fund. General fund operations were generally on track, though City Administration, Traffic, and Elections departments exceeded their budgets. City Administration's overages were primarily due to unbudgeted legal/consulting fees ($381,000, including BDO and Booker T. Camper) and liability insurance ($196,000). Traffic expenditures exceeded the budget by $51,000 due to street light electricity costs ($212,000 against a $150,000 budget). The Elections department exceeded its amended budget by 160% due to special election costs. Capital projects (street paving, training depot, Delaware Avenue overlay, Donna Heights Swim Project) account for the expenditure variance. Bank accounts were reconciled through June 30th, except for the trust account. The city's total bank account balance was over $9.2 million as of May 30th. The board also discussed a $55,000 invoice from Booker T. Camper for auditing services and a $661 invoice from Harris for services, with plans to place them on the agenda for payment. A significant overspending of $552,000 to date on correcting financials was noted, with $100,000 of it being a budget amendment, and the City Attorney advised caution regarding the use of modernization funds for these corrections.
Enhanced Downtown Patrol Proposed to Boost Public Safety and Address Concerns
Chief Perry presented a proposal for enhanced public safety services in the downtown district, including a dedicated downtown unit with officers on foot, scooter, or bicycle patrol. This proposal aims to fulfill the city's agreement regarding security in the leisure district and increase visibility. The plan includes proactive enforcement operations focusing on traffic, alcohol compliance, public intoxication, and crime prevention. The Chief emphasized the importance of inter-agency partnerships, noting cooperation with state highway patrol, Pike County Sheriff's Department, FBI, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, planning and permits, and the fire department. Concerns were raised about potential harassment and ensuring human rights are protected during enforcement. The Chief outlined identification methods for public intoxication and unlawful gatherings, emphasizing that an unlawful gathering becomes an issue when individuals refuse to obey a lawful order. The proposal is included in the budget, and the Chief requested support, noting the need for funding for officers and technology. He also mentioned a five-year plan to assign an officer to each ward and improve recruitment efforts, despite current background check delays. The discussion also touched upon issues in residential areas regarding large gatherings and parking, and the need for patrols in all five wards. The city attorney cautioned board members against discussing budgetary matters if they have a potential conflict of interest and reminded them that they cannot direct officers' day-to-day operations. The Chief also provided statistics for the Macomb PD for June, including 11 non-violent felony crimes, 5 felony property crimes, 2 officer-initiated felonies, 8 violent felonies, 0 murders, and 26 total felony cases. There were 161 total shots property incidents, and 178 court services citations issued, with $41,200.58 collected from tickets. 99 arrests were made. The Chief requested a weekly email report instead of a monthly written one.
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The McComb News archive
City of McComb Board Meeting | Tuesday, July 14, 2026 | 5:30 PM
City of McComb Board Meeting | Tuesday, July 14, 2026 | 5:30 PM
City of McComb Special Call Meeting | Friday, July 10, 2026 | 5:00 PM
City of McComb Special Call Meeting | Friday, July 10, 2026 | 5:00 PM
City of McComb Work Session | Tuesday, July 7, 2026 | 5:30 PM
City of McComb Work Session | Tuesday, July 7, 2026 | 5:30 PM
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