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From YouTube: State of the City 2017 full presentation
Description
Here is the full length of Mayor Andrew "FoFo" Gilich's State of the CIty presentation, including opening and closing remarks from the podium, and a 21-minute pre-recorded video. The mayor made the presentation Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017 during a Biloxi Bay Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino. For details on his presentation, visit www.biloxi.ms.us/sotc-gilich-lays-out-solid-vision-for-biloxi/
A
B
Mayor
andrew
gillich
was
elected
mayor
of
biloxi
in
a
special
election
in
may
of
2015.
mayor
gillich
was
born
and
raised
in
biloxi,
the
son
of
andrew
m
gillage
senior
in
jacobina
sequal
gillage.
Our
mayor
was
taught
the
value
of
hard
work
and
dedication
as
a
stock
boy
in
the
family,
grocery
business
food
land.
As
a
can
catcher
in
his
grandparents
seafood
factory
seacoast
and
as
a
deckhand
on
the
pan
american
clipper
excursion
boat.
B
B
He
first
entered
the
computer
field
in
1968,
while
also
continuing
related
postgraduate
training
in
programming
system
analysis
and
operations.
Research
before
returning
home
in
1972,
he
worked
at
control
data
corporation
and
johnson
space
center.
In
houston.
He
worked
as
a
scientific
programmer
at
ingleshipbuilding
before
opening
his
own
software
company
golf
south
analytical
in
1983
in
biloxi.
B
His
business
was
the
first
high-tech
business
in
biloxi
and
he
eventually
served
customers
in
nearly
40
states
across
the
nation.
His
clients
included
more
than
50
of
the
largest
public
school
districts
in
the
country.
Also
among
his
clients
in
1980
was
the
city
of
biloxi,
where
he
computerized
the
city's
accounting
and
financial
tracking
systems.
B
A
A
C
D
Year
hosting
the
affair
this
year
again
wow
it's
been
12
months
that
whole
2016
just
went
by
like
a
flash.
It's
been
amazing
an
amazing
year.
Now
I've
got
about
five
or
six
of
my
family
tables
down
here,
and
I
include
keystone,
that's
another
part
of
my
family
and
for
simonia
lodge,
so
we
you
know
they
know
when
to
applaud.
When
I
do
that,
but
it's
it
is
a
you
know.
It's
a
great
pleasure
and
great
honor
for
me
to
stand
here
and
talk
about
the
city
we
love
so
much.
D
I
would
like
to
express
also
special
thanks
to
the
members
of
the
city
council
for
working
with
me
and
giving
them
credit
for
the
things
we've
been
able
to
accomplish
over
the
last
20
months.
I
see
my
good
friend,
billy
hughes
here
and
we've
done
some
great
things
together,
billy
and
we
will
do
some
great
things
together.
So
I
thank
you
and
you
know,
biloxi
got
bored
together
can
make
something
happen.
C
D
As
a
matter
of
fact,
I
think
in
in
march,
sometime
billy
and
I
are
gonna-
maybe
sing
a
duet
or
lip
sync,
a
duet
for
the
boogie
nights,
the
lynn
meadows,
fun
fundraiser,
so
we're
gonna.
I
don't
know
too
many
songs
from
the
80s
billy,
so
I'm
gonna
have
to
you
know
you
have
to
tell
me
what
bg's?
What
are
we
gonna
do,
but
it's
it's
great
I've
been
asking.
You
know
many
times.
What's
it
like
being
mayor?
D
Well,
it's
been
non-stop
a
surprise
a
day,
and
it
would
be
a
surprise
if
there
wasn't
a
surprise
again.
It's
the
intensity
is
about
what
I
expected,
but
the
volume
is
so
much
more,
but
that's
what
we
signed
up
for
again,
it's
like
being
the
ceo
of
a
holding
company
of
eight
multi-million
dollar
companies
with
you
know,
with
the
theme
and
but
actually
there's
one
that's
355
million
that
we
work
with
and
we
struggle
with
every
day
again
coming
from
the
computer
background,
it's
also
like
an
operating
system.
D
You
know
a
computer
can
only
do
one
thing
at
a
time
it
an
operating
system,
is
sort
of
the
master,
control
of
job
flow
and
allocation
of
resources
and
and
those
kinds
of
things.
So
it's
sort
of
the
we're
acting
like
an
operating
system,
but
every
operating
system
has
what's
called
an
interrupt,
stack
and
interrupt
stacks.
Are
those
things
that
happen
that
if
you
do
do
not,
you
know,
prioritize
and
handle
them?
The
whole
ball
game
stops
so
again
in,
in
my
mind,
those
components
in
every
operating
system
is.
D
D
D
Before
we
go,
I
wanted
to
stop
and
recognize
my
buddy
mike
leonard,
a
little
story
about
mike
about
five
months
ago.
I
talked
to
him
and
his
wife
into
coming
back
home
to
become
biloxi's
chief
administrative
officer
he's
got
that
biloxi
thing
he's
been
a
lifelong
friend
to
me.
We
graduated
from
notre
dame
high
school
together,
he's
a
graduate
of
the
united
states
naval
academy,
retired
military,
colonel,
a
successful
private
sector
consultant
who
was
enjoying
his
kids
and
his
life
and
living
in
jacksonville
florida,
but
he
was
just
what
biloxi
needed.
D
D
D
Many
of
our
hotel,
amusement
properties
were
old
and
were
in
a
state
of
disrepair
so
to
revive
tourism.
The
city
and
business
leadership
developed
the
biloxi
waterfront
master
plan
in
1988.
The
point
cadet
marina
was
completed.
The
europa
star,
landed
and
biloxi's
journey
to
economic
recovery.
Slowly
began
that
modest
gaming
vessel
that
traveled
12
miles
out
on
its
cruises
to
nowhere
was
the
origin
of
what
we
have
today,
a
multi-billion
dollar
casino
resort
industry.
D
It
employs
thousands
and
attracts
millions
of
visitors
to
our
city,
in
fact
5.7
million
visitors
per
year,
and
we
intend
for
that
number
to
grow.
Biloxi
has
enjoyed
25
years
of
success
and
economic
vitality,
and
now
is
a
major
gaming
destination.
We
are
on
the
threshold
of
even
greater
things
to
boldly
move
forward.
D
Some
major
initiatives
are
already
in
place
and
within
reach,
build
waterfront,
boardwalks
and
amenities
from
one
end
of
our
city,
to
the
other,
make
ultra
high
speed
internet
available
and
affordable
for
all
construct,
a
new
main
gate
at
keesler
and
the
boulevard
leading
to
it.
Complete
infrastructure,
rebuild
projects,
roads
and
drainage
in
all
parts
of
our
city
daily
amtrak
service.
D
D
I
envision
the
day
when
we
have
boardwalks
from
de
bees
road
all
the
way
to
point
cadet
and
around
back
bay,
with
access
to
municipal
piers
for
excursion
boats
like
the
pan
american
clipper,
to
take
visitors
to
barrier
islands
or
deer
island
or
just
sightseeing.
I
see
walkers
runners,
cyclists
and
boaters,
enjoying
an
array
of
waterfront
recreation
and
restaurants
serving
up
our
fresh
local
seafood
dishes
against
the
backdrop
of
our
beautiful
beaches
and
sunsets.
D
We
are
part
of
the
gulf
coast
rail
work
group,
established
by
congress
with
help
from
senator
roger
wicker.
It
has
been
recommended
to
congress
that
we
restore
passenger
rail
service
from
new
orleans
to
orlando.
Biloxi
has
secured
250
000
from
the
southern
rail
commission
to
help
build
a
new
platform
to
accommodate
the
new
service.
D
D
We
have
taken
a
leadership
role
in
establishing
the
gulf
coast
broadband
initiative.
It
currently
is
comprised
of
12
of
the
15
city
and
county
governments
in
the
coastal
counties
through
the
construction
of
a
redundant
fiber
optic
ring.
The
goal
is
to
timely,
deliver,
affordable,
ultra
high
speed
internet
connectivity,
one
gigabyte,
upload
and
download
universally
across
the
coast.
D
The
need
for
this
connectivity
is
there
and
is
required
by
the
next
new
generation
of
business
opportunities.
That's
at
home
and
at
work.
The
gulf
coast
broadband
initiative
has
already
spurred
new
fiber
construction
across
the
coast.
There
is
some
private
sector
rollout
of
one
gigabyte
download
service,
but
not
yet
one
gigabyte,
upload,
universal
and
affordable.
Our
efforts
have
led
to
a
500
000
analysis
funded
by
the
bp
settlement
money
for
this
broadband
initiative.
D
One
of
our
initial
targets
upon
taking
office
was
to
deliver
a
new
keystroke
main
gate
at
division,
street
and
forest
avenue.
The
new
gate
will
provide
easier
and
more
secure
access
for
thousands
of
base
personnel
and
visitors
and
also
we'll
create
an
economic
development
corridor
from
the
vision
street
exit
off
of
I-110
westward
to
the
new
gate.
The
project
has
already
secured
10
million
in
funding
pledges
from
the
state
of
mississippi.
Thank
you,
governor
bryant.
D
D
We
are
working
to
establish
a
homeless
servicing
center
in
biloxi,
which
will
assist
people
in
transitioning
to
housing.
Look
for
an
announcement
in
the
first
quarter
of
this
year.
We
already
have
myriad
agencies
helping
hundreds
of
homeless
in
parts
of
our
city,
but
to
solve
this
issue,
we
need
to
centralize
and
better
coordinate.
D
The
homeless
issue
is
not
exclusive
to
biloxi.
Every
vibrant
city
in
the
country
is
wrestling
with
how
to
solve
it,
but
I
know
we
can
do
it.
We
have
shown
that
it's
because
of
the
teamwork
and
dedication
of
a
number
of
local
agencies
that
my
friend
gulfport
mayor,
billy
hughes
and
I
were
among
a
handful
of
leaders
recognized
by
the
white
house
for
implementing
a
process
to
virtually
end
veterans
homelessness.
D
Of
course,
when
you
mention
infrastructure,
everyone
thinks
one
thing:
the
challenge
we
have
in
east
biloxi.
The
genesis
of
the
problem
we
inherited
is
not
as
important
as
how
we
address
it
to
relieve
the
stress.
The
first
thing
we
did
was
to
get
temporary,
paving
on
the
main
thoroughfares
in
the
55
miles
of
torn
up
streets.
Next
thing
we
pushed
the
contractor
to
establish
milestones
that
must
be
met.
Just
about
all
the
new
water
system
is
complete.
D
The
sewer
system
is
making
progress
new
storm
drains
as
well.
You
see
permanent
pavement
going
down
on
the
eastern
portion
of
the
project.
Now
today,
I
stand
before
you
to
say
this
year,
you're
going
to
see
entire
blocks
paved
at
a
time.
The
temporary
inconveniences
that
have
become
a
way
of
life
over
the
past
24
months
are
going
to
turn
into
permanent
improvements
that
will
be
here
for
generations
to
come.
I
drive
the
same
streets,
you
do,
I
see
the
problems
and
we
are
taking
action.
D
Some
say
why
don't
you
just
fire
the
contractor
and
sue
the
design
engineers
because
of
the
time
wasting
and
costly
change
orders?
It's
not
that
simple.
Within
the
limits
of
the
2014
contract,
we
are
controlling
the
things
we
can
control,
we're
doing
the
things
that
we
can
do
and
they're
having
an
impact.
D
D
According
to
the
contract,
each
item
that
the
contractor
submits
for
payment
is
checked
by
our
program
management
team.
Then
it
moves
forward
for
payment
by
the
city.
Then
the
application
for
reimbursement,
along
with
the
canceled
check,
go
to
meme
and
fema,
where
they
recheck
the
contract
items.
After
all
of
that,
we
get
reimbursed
it's
a
real
process.
Cash
flow,
intense
things
could
get
easily
clogged
up
in
may
2015.
D
When
I
took
office,
biloxi
was
awaiting
about
16
million
dollars
for
infrastructure
work
that
was
performed.
We
began
meeting
with
mima
and
fema
bi-weekly
at
city
hall.
Those
face-to-face
meetings
were
successful.
I'm
happy
to
say
today
that
what
we
are
owed
is
about
seven
million
dollars
now
contractors
get
paid
as
they
expected.
This
is
an
ongoing
process.
D
D
What
we've
done
and
what
we
continue
to
do
is
set
the
stage
for
significant
growth,
growth
and
tourism,
jobs
and
opportunity
and
enhanced
quality
of
life
in
the
past
year,
with
margaritaville
and
the
new
hyatt
place
leading
the
way
we've
seen
nearly
500
new
hotel
rooms
come
online
in
biloxi,
that's
an
eight
percent
increase
in
one
year
when
you
look
at
others
in
the
works
laquita,
the
hilton
garden
inn
the
watermark
and
margaritaville
phase.
Two.
We
have
more
than
700
new
rooms
in
the
pipeline
for
opening
in
the
next
18
to
24
months.
D
D
D
D
That's
the
big
picture,
but
let
me
tell
you
what
we've
been
doing
on
a
daily
basis
to
provide
those
quality
of
life
services
that
you
expect
and
deserve.
The
biloxi
police
department
is
comprised
of
191
employees
128
sworn
officers
every
day.
Our
men
and
women
in
the
biloxi
police
department
are
working
to
keep
biloxi
a
safe
and
friendly
city
in
my
presentations,
especially
to
our
young
biloxians,
and
when
our
officers
are
present,
I
remind
them
that
these
officers
will
literally
lay
down
their
allows
for
you.
D
D
The
biloxi
fire
department
is
comprised
of
179
employees,
168
sworn
firefighters.
Our
fire
department
provides
us
with
the
lowest
fire
insurance
rating
in
the
state.
It's
true
we're
only
one
of
three
cities
in
the
state
with
a
level
three
rating
that
saves
every
homeowner
and
business
on
their
fire
insurance
premiums.
D
D
Also,
this
past
year
the
department
hosted
the
88th
annual
southeastern
association
of
fire
chiefs
leadership
conference.
This
was
a
distinct
privilege.
It
was
the
first
time
for
the
conference
to
be
held
on
the
gulf
coast.
It
brought
over
300
fire
chiefs
from
across
the
southeast
to
stay
and
enjoy
biloxi.
D
The
department
also
obtained
over
600
thousand
dollars
in
grants,
which
enabled
the
hiring
of
12
new
firefighters,
allowing
the
department
to
meet
the
national
fire
protection
association's
recommendation
of
having
15
firefighters
on
the
scene
for
every
structure,
fire
and
fire
alarm
call.
This
year,
two
new
fire
stations
are
being
designed
which
will
further
strengthen
the
city's
fire
protection
and
response
times
in
the
north
biloxi
and
wool
market
areas.
D
Safety
is
vitally
important
when
you
consider
the
growth
being
seen
everywhere.
In
biloxi,
the
community
development
department
issued
permits
totaling
nearly
80
million
dollars.
Last
year.
That's
49
million
in
commercial
development
and
30
million
in
residential
last
summer,
margaritaville
opened
its
doors
at
the
site
of
the
former
casino
magic.
What
an
attraction
373
rooms,
a
host
of
restaurants,
a
450-foot
lazy
river
and
the
family
entertainment
center-
that
includes
a
40-foot
two-story
volcano
rock
climbing
wall,
a
sky
trail
ropes
course,
and
the
nation's
first
indoor
zipline
roller
coaster.
D
D
Currently,
work
is
underway
on
the
watermark
154
room,
all
suites,
12
million
dollar
investment
at
the
site
of
the
former
santa
maria
del
mar
apartments
and
the
blind
tiger
and
woody
roadside
grill
are
nearing
completion
on
the
beach
golden
nugget
is
designing
its
new
salt
grass
restaurant
to
open
on
point
cadet
this
year.
You
will
also
see
the
multi-million
dollar
hotel
and
amusement
park.
Expansion
of
margaritaville
take
place,
as
well
as
the
construction
of
a
municipal,
pier
on
point
cadet
for
the
return
of
the
ship
island
excursion
back
to
biloxi
over
in
the
port
division.
D
We
saw
the
reconstruction
of
the
boardwalk
surrounding
poincadette,
marina
and
the
resurfacing
of
the
biloxi
small
craft
harbor
parking
lot,
repairs
to
sherman
kanan
back
bay.
Fishing
dock
will
begin
this
year
and
will
introduce
wi-fi
at
the
small
craft
harbor
in
the
point.
Cadet
marina
parks
and
recreation
department
saw
growth
with
the
installation
of
a
new
playground,
boardwalk
and
kayak
launch
at
hiller
park,
as
well
as
a
new
splash
pad
at
the
sun
kiss
recreation
area.
A
joint
effort
with
harrison
county.
D
D
D
The
public
works
department
responds
public
works,
crews
spent
thousands
of
hours,
removing
almost
1800
yards
of
sand
and
debris
off
us-90
and
maintain
rights
of
weight.
Double
the
length
of
the
mississippi
river
construction
was
also
seen
throughout
the
department
with
the
reconstruction
of
the
cemetery
fountain
park
and
restrooms
at
the
old
biloxi
cemetery.
D
Our
infrastructure
work
will
move
south
of
csx
railway
and,
as
I
said
before,
you're
not
going
to
see
the
massive
disruption
we've
seen
in
the
past.
In
fact,
it's
going
to
be
more
like
you
saw
in
the
work
we
did
on
the
final
leg
of
four
lane
cops
ferry.
Road
engineering
is
also
continuing
to
do
the
leg
work
on
the
extension
of
pops
ferry
road
to
us-90
sidewalks.
D
On
ct,
switzer
drive,
sewer
insulation
on
wool
market,
road
between
shriners
boulevard
and
lorraine,
road
and
in
the
larkin
subdivision,
we're
all
complete
residents
in
the
holly
bluff
and
cedar
lake
areas.
This
year
will
see
the
completion
of
city
sewer.
The
improvements
will
begin
on
the
pops
ferry
causeway
and
on
sidewalks
on
raynor
and
jackson.
Streets
overseeing
the
city's
legal
task
is
the
legal
department
where
peter
abide
replaced
gerald
blessey,
who
is
now
helping
with
key
city
economic
development
issues.
D
In
the
past
year,
our
legal
department
secured
two
million
dollars
in
rent
money
that
had
been
inadvertently
withheld
by
the
state
and
the
economic
development
division
initiated
the
sale
of
surplus,
real
property
that
put
an
extra
1.2
million
dollars
into
the
general
fund.
The
department
also
composed
the
new
ordinances
for
the
go
cup
districts
and
the
waterfront
design
standards
for
all
of
the
day-to-day
work
of
our
city
departments
and
divisions.
D
We
also
rely
on
a
number
of
successful
partnerships
to
ensure
your
quality
of
life.
Keesler
air
force
base,
which
marked
its
75th
anniversary
this
past
year,
continues
to
demonstrate
why
it
has
been
recognized
as
one
of
the
best
bases
in
the
air
force
coast.
Transit
continues
to
provide
affordable
and
dependable
transportation
for
residents
and
visitors.
D
Today,
the
biloxi
housing
authority
provides
safe,
decent,
affordable
housing
to
over
1700
families
at
10
sites
and
it
subsidized
homes
across
the
city.
This
past
year
we
saw
some
leadership
changes
bobby
hensley,
who
has
served
us
so
well
as
director
retired
and
helen
worthy
stepped
in
as
the
new
executive
director.
D
I
would
be
remiss
if
I
failed
to
note
the
passing
of
a
longtime
housing
leader,
a
community
advocate
and
someone
I
considered
my
friend
and
a
friend
to
our
city,
mr
delmore
p
roberson.
I
should
also
point
out
that
right
around
the
same
time,
we
lost
another
genuine
hero.
Former
mayor
businessman,
philanthropist
jeremiah
o'keefe.
D
One
of
the
most
important
partners
is
our
biloxi
public
school
system.
Construction
is
on
track
for
our
7th
and
8th
graders
to
enter
a
brand
new
biloxi
junior
high
school.
This
august,
the
state-of-the-art
facility
offers
51
classrooms,
a
fine
arts
wing
and
the
latest
in
stem
technology
and
science
labs.