Please note that this post contains affiliate links and any sales made through such links will reward MageeNews.com a small commission – at no extra cost to you.
The Magee Board of Aldermen met on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 for a regularly scheduled meeting. Dr. Bill Bennett opened the meeting with a prayer, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
There were no public comments.
The agenda was approved.
Mayor Mark Grubbs expressed gratitude to the Co-Lin Welding Program for the fabrication work they did on the new basketball goals for Marvin Jackson Park.
“They did a really good job,” he said.
Grubbs said a water main on 12th Avenue had broken Tuesday morning. The city issued a boil water notice for the area from 12th Ave SE to 1st St SE. Service has been restored, and Grubbs said he hope the boil water notice can be lifted in the next couple of days.
The public works department has begun pot hole repair throughout the city.
The mayor reminded the public that limb pickup runs daily and encouraged citizens to call City Hall if they have limbs that are not picked up for two or three days. He also reminded the public that leaves and limbs cannot be mixed with debris. According to Grubbs, the debris truck runs on Thursday and Friday each week.
“Don’t mix it with household garbage or appliances or whatever,” he said. “It’s got to be separate.”
The new back-stop net for the high school baseball field at the Sportsplex has arrived and should be installed in the next few days.
Forrest Dungan of Clearpoint Engineers told the board a decision needs to be made concerning EWP (Emergency Watershed Protection) Program grants. The locations in question include a ditch on 4th Avenue behind Peoples Bank and McDonalds and on Big Creek between 1st Avenue and Lake Circle, where a sewer main is exposed.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service of the US Department of Agriculture (NRCS) administers the program, which offers technical and financial assistance to help local communities relieve imminent threats to life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms and other natural disasters that impair a watershed.
Brett Duncan of Prince CPA said the two projects are unbudgeted, which is cause for concern.
“To be prudent, I would do one of them,” Duncan said.
Dugan said the two projects are “lumped together” in the grant agreement, but he will find out if they can be separated.
To qualify the program, an area must receive 4″ of rain in a 24-hour period, so it is not always open or available.
Though the grants are reimbursement grants, Duncan explained that the funds must be expended before reimbursement, and the city might have to outlay $350,000 in as little as 45 days.
“The water fund doesn’t keep that kind of cash in it at the moment,” Duncan said.
The city might have to do interim financing if the board decides to do both projects, he said.
Dungan told the board he would find out if the grant agreement can be changed to include only one of the projects.
The minutes were approved.
The board approved the following special event applications:
- Easter Picture Day at Marvin Jackson Park – March 29 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Community Prayer Gathering at Ural Everett Park – March 30 from 6-7 p.m.
- Community Easter Egg Hunt at the Jimmy Clyde Sportsplex, sponsored by First Baptist Church – Saturday, April 4 at 9 a.m.
- Pentacost Fast of Trumpets, Last Day of Unleavened Bread at the Civic Center
- First Baptist Church Student Ministry Dill and Chill Pickleball Tournament – March 29 from 5-7 p.m.
- The Magee Chamber of Commerce Carnival May 7-9
- The White McNair Family Reunion at Marvin Jackson Park on July 4.
The Claims Docket was approved with the removal of item 136-244, which was a duplicate.
Branch Manager Alice Green of the Magee Public Library and CMRLS Assistant Director Brenette Nichols appeared before the board to give an update on the library.
During the 2025 fiscal year, the Magee Public Library had a total attendance of 12,394 at its 374 programs. The total number of patron visits for the year was 20,410, and the library has a total of 12,585 registered library card users. It’s total circulation for the year was 27,816.
The city of Magee had invested $14,784 in support the library, which in turn provided $563,975 in value for the community.
“That means that for every $1 invested, residents received over $38 in return,” Nichols said.
Public Works Administrator Tim Bray told the board that crews would be working to fix potholes on Thursday and Friday this week.
The board approved the low bid of $20,116.20 from Dixie Waterworks in Laurel to replace a culvert on 5th Avenue SE. The city ditch has been washing part of a resident’s yard away.
“It’s a safety hazard for them,” Bray said.
The board approved $556.04 to pay for a hotel for the chief’s conference, which will be held June 6-9 at the Golden Nugget.
The city’s new zoning director Evan Jones gave the board a brief update on potential businesses coming to Magee.
He and Jim Ball also discussed a sign that has been proposed for a business in the Downtown Historic Preservation District. In that district, signs are limited to 20sf. The sign in question is 32sf, and an existing sign, which was approved by a previous zoning administrator, on an adjacent building is also 32sf. The board asked the zoning commission and historic preservation commission to look into the situation and make suggestions.
The board approved the low bid of $19,214 from from Higgins for the air conditioner at the Civic Center and library.
The board approved a motion to reconsider the original bids for painting at the Sportsplex, as well as a motion to rescind the vote on the original bids. Finally, the board approved the low bid of $14,400 from Debbie and Jerry Thompson for painting at the Sportsplex.
Joey McNulty appeared before the board, representing the airport commission, to ask the board to approve an application for a grant from the MS Department of Transportation that would provide funds to build a new hangar at the airport. The cost for the hangar would be approximately $700,000, and the city would be responsible for $350,000 of that amount. Alderman Suzie Bourn recused herself for the discussion.
McNulty said there is a company that would like to move its operations from Laurel to Magee, and the lease for use of the new hangar would pay for the cost. The company would house 2-4 planes, including a couple of jets, and would purchase fuel from the airport as well. In addition, the company would have 5-8 employees. McNulty also said another company is also interested in leasing space in the hangar. The board approved the grant application.
Brett Duncan explained to the board areas of the financial report that might cause some concern.
“We are not over budget,” he said. “When I see brackets, I investigate.”
He addressed the number of overtime hours, explaining that though the total number of hours seems high, the number of overtime hours outside of scheduled hours is actually much smaller.
The board approved amending the budget to designate $250 to the Magee Chamber of Commerce for the America 250 celebrations.
Alderman Allyson Berch thanked the city’s cemetery committee, saying the work they have done “looks wonderful.”
“We have a wonderful committee,” said Alderman Sue Honea.
The board entered executive session.
