►
From YouTube: State of the City 2016
Description
See Mayor Andrew "FoFo" Gilich's inaugural State of the City address, delivered Feb. 16, 2016 during a Biloxi Bay Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino.
A
Mayor
Andrew
gillick
was
elected
mayor
of
Alexei
in
a
special
election
in
May
of
2015
mayor
gillet
was
born
and
raised
in
Biloxi,
the
son
of
andrew
m
gilles
senior
and
jake
avena
segal
Gillick.
Our
mayor
was
taught
the
value
of
hard
work
and
dedication
as
a
stock
boy
in
the
family,
grocery
business
foodland.
As
a
can
catch
on
his
grandparents
seafood
factory
Sea
coast
and
the
deckhand
on
the
pan-american
clipper
excursion
boat.
He
learned
discipline
and
leadership
at
a
young
age
as
a
graduate
of
Gulf
Coast
military
academy.
A
He
also
graduated
from
Notre
Dame
High
School
in
Biloxi,
in
1965
and
from
the
University
of
Houston
in
nineteen.
Seventy,
where
he
earned
a
degree
in
mathematics.
He
first
entered
the
computer
field
in
1968,
while
also
continuing
a
rillo
read:
postgraduate
training
in
programming
system
analysis
and
operations,
research.
He
worked
at
control
data
cooperation
in
Johnson,
Space
Center
in
Houston
for
returning
home
in
1972
as
a
scientific
programmer
at
ingalls
shipbuilding
for
opening
his
own
software
company,
Gulf
self
analytical
in
1983
and
black
sea.
A
His
business
was
the
first
high
tech
business
in
Biloxi
and
he
eventually
serve
customers
in
nearly
40
states
across
the
nation.
His
clients
included
more
than
fifty
percent
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
system.
Oh
and
one
more
thing,
I
mayor
likes
to
be
called
fofo.
As
we
all
know,
nearly
everyone
in
Biloxi
has
the
nickname.
He
was
tagged
with
this
as
a
young
toddler
because
of
his
affinity
for
Jack
and
the
Beanstalk.
A
B
B
D
But
before
I
get
started
it
so
many
people,
it's
almost
like
you
know
a
family
reunion,
and
so
many
great
organizations
and
and
I
want
to
recognize
babe,
Mayor,
Bill
use
and
my
partner's
at
the
Harrison
County
utility
authority.
Today,
I
don't
know
if
they
were
mentioned
earlier,
but
welcome
everyone
and
leadership
from
keister
field,
all
our
partners,
every
every
organization.
But
let
me
say
something
first.
D
D
D
D
D
C
C
D
D
Our
lap
and
the
things
that
will
be
placed
on
our
plate
as
we
go
forward.
We
keep
in
mind
the
lyrics
in
that
fleetwood.
Mac
song,
don't
stop
thinking
about
tomorrow.
Don't
stop
it'll
soon
be
here,
I'm
going
to
step
away
just
a
moment
and
like
the
mood
like
the
movie
Oz
Wizard
of
Oz
pay,
no
attention
to
the
man
behind
the
curtain
and
I'll
join
you
again
in
about
31
minutes
for
a
few
closing
remarks.
Thank
you.
D
Hello
biloxi,
thank
you
for
joining
me
today
for
the
state
of
the
city.
To
put
it
into
one
word:
the
state
of
our
city
is
strong
and
getting
stronger
every
day.
I've
been
your
mayor
now
for
39
weeks
and
one
day
some
days
have
been
longer
than
others,
but
I've
enjoyed
every
one
of
them.
It's
an
honor
and
a
privilege
to
be
the
mayor
of
my
hometown.
My
goal
is
to
make
Biloxi
the
best
city.
D
It
can
be
to
always
do
what's
best
for
Biloxi,
to
appreciate
our
long
and
colorful
history
to
terras
the
hard
work
and
values
of
our
parents,
grandparents,
great-grandparents,
to
instill
those
values
in
our
children
and
grandchildren.
Finally,
to
make
sure
the
name
Biloxi
and
everything
it
stands
for
lives
on
for
many
generations
to
come.
We
have
real
challenges
before
us,
but
we
will
meet
them
together.
D
Biloxi
has
been
around
for
more
than
300
years.
We
observed
a
300
17th
birthday
just
last
week.
We
have
an
obligation
to
not
only
preserve
the
unique
qualities
of
our
heritage,
but
to
embrace
the
future
while
honoring
the
Biloxi
we
know
and
love.
We
owe
our
thanks
to
many
past
leaders,
leaders
like
a.j
Holloway,
who
led
us
through
many
challenges
in
recent
decades,
but
today
is
a
new
day.
I
stand
before
you
to
say
that
we
are
on
the
threshold
of
great
accomplishment
and
even
greater
opportunity.
We
must
put
Katrina
in
the
rearview
mirror.
D
We
can
and
will
do
that
we
have
a
vision
for
Biloxi
that
involves
each
of
you
in
spirit,
cooperation
and
commitment.
I
want
our
5.6
million
visitors
a
year
to
talk
more
about
the
new
Biloxi,
a
blood
seated
cherishes
and
promotes
its
history,
its
culture,
its
diversity
and
a
Biloxi
that
offers
its
residents
an
authentic,
unique
quality
of
life
and
visit
us
a
first-class
experience
that
will
have
them
coming
back
again
and
again
and
spinning
our
message
across
the
country
and
beyond.
Today.
D
I
want
to
touch
on
some
of
the
plans
that
will
enable
us
to
that
vision.
We
took
office
may
18
2015
we
hit
the
ground
running.
In
fact,
you
could
say
we
had
a
double
play
right
away.
First,
there
was
the
issue
of
getting
MGM
park
open
and
bringing
the
shockers
home.
The
team
played
on
the
road
for
its
first
55
games
while
the
stadium
was
being
constructed
and
we
were
facing
costly
penalties.
D
If
we
didn't
get
the
stadium
ready
for
play,
we
brought
all
the
partners
together,
open
the
stadium
and
did
that
without
any
significant
additional
cost
to
the
city.
Our
first
game
was
june
six
two
months
ahead
of
the
scheduled
august.
Opening
next
up
was
the
BP
settlement.
We
sell
off
our
coast
best
4.9
million
dollars
and
we
got
the
most
money
for
the
city
and
the
Biloxi
public
schools.
Early
on.
We
visited
our
congressional
delegation
in
Washington
to
help
our
cause.
D
About
the
same
time,
we
began
meeting
with
our
state
representatives,
our
state
senators
and
our
municipal
colleagues.
Across
the
coast
we
shared
one
clear
message:
there
was
a
new
leadership
in
Biloxi
we're
going
to
be
progressive
and
we're
going
to
stand
up
for
Biloxi
we're
going
to
work
with
our
neighbors
to
promote
the
entire
coast.
I
say
we
because
I
could
not
do
this
alone.
One
of
the
first
things
I
did
was
to
assemble
in
economic
development
team
headed
by
city
attorney,
Gerald
blessey,
the
former
mayor
former
legislator
and
former
Coast
housings
are
for
haley.
D
D
Gerald's
suggestion
replace
4.1
million
of
our
BP
settlement
into
a
perpetual
economic
development
security
fund
to
provide
revolving
loans
for
cash
flow
and
to
incent
new
businesses
right
away.
The
City
Council
accepted
my
recommendation
to
use
this
fund
to
pay
off
2.7
million
dollars
and
owned
loans
saving
interest
in
improving
my
financial
condition.
We
dared
to
dream
big
and
we'll
earnest
in
our
effort.
We
have
developed
a
plan
for
waterfront
revitalization
and
economic
development,
too
aggressive
pursuit
of
tidelands
funds
in
other
state
and
federal
monies.
D
We
know
that
Biloxi
is
the
engine
driving
the
tidelands
train
last
year,
revenue
for
the
Thailand's
funds
was
over
10
million
dollars.
Biloxi
was
responsible
for
eighty-four
percent
of
that
revenue
and
only
received
six
hundred
eighty
thousand
dollars
in
return.
A
fair
investment
of
Thailand's
funds
in
Biloxi
would
be
used
for
large-scale
waterfront
development
projects
to
expand
tourism,
create
jobs
and
produce
even
more
revenue
for
the
tidelands
fund.
In
pursuit
of
that
goal,
we
have
submitted
to
the
state
and
a
legislative
delegation
tidelands
projects
that
totaled
nearly
15
million
dollars.
D
We
can
create
more
jobs
and
growth
here
in
Biloxi
and
more
opportunities
for
everyone.
If
the
state
reinvest
in
our
waterfront
make
no
mistake,
we're
not
looking
to
shortchange
any
of
our
neighboring
cities
over
the
years.
Thailand's
money
generated
in
Biloxi
has
built
boat
ramps
and
peers
from
Los
point2
waveland
I'm
glad
to
help
do
that.
Biloxi
is
a
tourism
leader
not
only
on
the
coast
but
throughout
the
state,
and
we
need
to
develop
more
and
new
amenities
to
expand
and
secure
our
tourism
base
in
the
expanding
and
competitive
marketplace.
D
For
too
long,
some
state
leaders
have
thwarted
the
coast
through
a
divide-and-conquer
strategy.
They
play
one
or
more
of
us
against
the
other,
to
change
that
I
work
with
my
fellow
mayors
to
establish
more
regular
forums
to
bring
together
local
government
leaders
from
all
three
Coast
counties
discuss
this
common
concern
to
work
together
on
a
consensus
agenda
on
key
issues
like
high-speed,
affordable
broadband
expansion
and
state
BP
economic
damage
monies.
D
Our
collaboration
has
already
gained
the
attention
of
the
state
leaders
and
forged
a
new
dynamic
of
cooperation
and
shared
endeavor
that
strengthens
our
profile
and
reach
I
envision
a
day
when
anyone
anywhere
in
biloxi
can
turn
their
computer
and
have
an
instant,
affordable.
Ultra
high-speed
access
to
the
Internet,
we
are
aggressively
pursuing
that
vision
to
assure
the
entire
Mississippi
Gulf
Coast
is
able
to
compete
with
the
rest
of
the
country
and
high-tech
applications
that
enhance
every
aspect
of
our
lives.
Doctors.
Appointments
can
be
made
from
the
comfort
of
your
home.
D
Businesses
can
download
and
upload
information
in
seconds
instead
of
minutes
or
hours.
Public
Safety
can
respond
faster
with
more
focused
resources.
Education
can
more
easily
transition
from
the
classroom
into
the
home.
This
new
internet
capacity
will
attract
new
businesses
and
expand
those
we
have
now
Biloxi
and
the
Gulf
Coast
will
be
recognized
as
a
21st
century
community.
D
On
the
cusp
of
innovation
and
ingenuity,
10
about
15
cities
and
counties
have
signed
up
for
the
Gulf
Coast
broadband
initiative,
Governor
phil
Bryant
said
15
million
dollars
of
the
state
money
was
available
and
we
should
use
it
to
build
a
middle
mile
of
this
high-speed
fiber
optic
backbone.
Our
plan
is
to
operate
that
fiber
optic
ring
and
have
private
enterprise
take
it
to
last
mile,
through
our
homes
and
businesses,
we
must
have
high-speed
internet
connections
in
a
timely,
affordable
and
redundant
fashion.
D
D
With
our
colleagues
across
the
coast,
we
started
an
initiative
that
implores
the
state
legislature
to
commit
at
least
eighty
percent
of
our
750
million
to
the
local
governments
of
the
three
coastal
counties
where
the
oil
spill
had
a
direct
impact.
We
believe
that
a
hundred
percent
of
that
money
should
come
to
the
coast,
but
we
are
realist.
The
state
government
has
a
budget
shortfall
and
other
community
leaders
elsewhere
want
a
share
of
those
millions.
D
We
stood
together
to
tell
the
state
there
were
sympathetic
to
their
position,
but
the
lion's
share
should
be
invested
on
the
coast
and
because
we
have
not
yet
been
made,
whole
redevelopment
here
will
give
a
return
on
investment
to
the
state
that
would
be
recurring
and
be
far
greater
than
a
one-time,
shoring
up
of
infrastructure
and
other
areas
of
the
state
in
Biloxi.
We've
also
proposed
more
than
100
million
dollars
in
waterfront
projects.
That
could
and
should
be
funded
with
BP
and
restore
act
funds.
D
We
have
a
unique
opportunity
to
turn
an
environmental
disaster
into
unprecedented
front
development.
We
can
spur
economic
growth
while
honoring.
Our
history
is
one
of
the
nation's
premier
sea
food
producers.
We're
only
asking
for
what
is
fair
competition
can
be
tough.
For
example,
the
Mississippi
Department
of
archives
in
history
recently
announced
its
grants
for
2016
22
grants
were
announced,
10
were
awarded
north
of
jackson,
totally
1.28
million
11
were
awarded
for
central
Mississippi
for
1.5
million
in
one
grand
for
150
thousand
dollars
was
awarded
to
only
one
of
six
coastal
counties.
D
D
We
have
the
sangha
theatre
in
dire
need
of
rehabilitation
and
renovation.
One
of
our
legislators
tells
us
that
there's
always
a
lot
of
horse
trading
that
goes
on
in
Jackson.
I
don't
mind
that
as
long
as
we
get
a
few
horses,
what
are
we
doing
about
it?
We
are
pursuing
opportunity
to
help
restore,
not
justice,
anger
but
all
I
downtown,
including
repopulation
and
retail
expansion,
and
we're
pursuing
other
available
monies
for
various
enhancements.
D
Last
year,
our
fire
department
work
with
the
federal
programs
office
to
secure
a
million
dollar
grant
for
a
new
ladder
truck
this
new
truck
replaced.
A
20-year
old
ladder
truck
on
fire
department
also
worked
with
senator
Cochran's
office
to
obtain
a
1.2
million
dollar
grant
that
pays
for
12
new
firefighters
for
two
years
we've
taken
steps
to
ensure
more
than
we
formed
an
interdepartmental
grants
committee
that
meets
weekly
to
identify
and
aggressively
pursue
public
and
private
grants
of
every
type,
and
we
are
succeeding.
Take
the
Biloxi
school
district
because
it
Biloxi's
record
for
academic
achievement.
D
Our
school
district
was
awarded
a
five-year
million
dollar
grant
from
the
department
of
defense.
This
grant
will
allow
our
school
leaders
to
provide
the
further
support
for
our
military
students
and
Families.
It
will
enhance
science,
technology,
engineering
and
mathematics
opportunities
stem
within
the
district.
Let's
not
forget
in
the
past
few
years,
our
school
district
is
home
for
three
national
Blue
Ribbon
Schools
and
we're
recognized
for
a
wide
array
of
advanced
placement
classes
and
rich
curriculum.
D
2015
was
also
a
great
year
for
Keesler
Air
Force
Base
keishla
Medical
Center,
ranked
in
the
top
10%
of
the
nation.
It
was
one
of
the
only
20
sites
in
the
country
to
use
the
latest
coronary
stent
technology.
In
March,
the
Keesler
Air
Show
and
open
house
hosted
170,000
visitors
on
the
base,
a
huge
success
for
our
community.
More
than
100
distinguished
visitors
and
support
staff
arrived
from
bases
all
over
the
country
for
the
senior
leader
conference.
D
It
highlighted
this
premier
installation
and
our
local
community
2016
promises
to
be
another
banner
year
after
years
of
inaction
on
the
new
keesler
main
entrance
gate
at
the
west
end
of
division
street,
we
brought
together
the
stakeholders
and
focused
on
developing
a
unified
plan.
Today,
the
multi-million
dollar
gate
is
finally
in
the
pipeline.
Thanks
to
the
help
of
our
friend
senator
Cochran
and
wicker
in
the
state
of
Mississippi
keishla
Medical
Center
also
is
in
the
midst
of
a
three-year
74
million
dollar
renovation
set
for
completion
in
2017
and
a
joint
land.
D
You
study
is
helping
determine
solutions
to
land
uses
that
may
impact
you
slur
the
Biloxi
Housing
Authority
continues
its
great
work
before
Katrina.
The
Housing
Authority
served
779
total
families
the
day
after
Katrina
it
served
about
202.
Today
it
serves
more
than
1,800
families.
We
have
ten
public
housing
sites
encompass
about
1140
units,
and
there
are
about
seven
hundred
and
one
section.
D
Eight
units,
including
those
that
serve
veterans
I,
want
to
also
thank
the
Housing
Authority,
the
Biloxi,
VA
and
other
homeless
advocates,
who
brought
us
positive
national
recognition
and
attention
for
our
work,
with
virtually
ending
homelessness
for
veterans.
We
have
more
work
to
do
in
the
area
of
homelessness.
We've
tackled
that
problem
by
identifying
and
soliciting
outside
developers
interested
in
public
and
private
partnerships
to
create
more
affordable
housing,
especially
for
our
seniors.
D
In
November
ghost
transit
rolled
out
five
new
state-of-the-art,
hybrid
electric
buses,
these
new
buses
are
quiet,
comfortable
and
a
twenty
percent,
more
fuel-efficient
than
a
diesel
bus.
They
are
clean
and
green
coach
transit.
Also
installs
solar
powered
bus
stops
and
even
automated
fare
boxes
that
collect
data,
coach
transit
even
unveiled
a
new
app
to
let
customers
know
when
they
can
expect
their
bus
to
arrive
at
any.
Stop
I
appreciate
the
work
being
done
by
all
of
our
city
departments
and
employees.
They've
had
another
great
year
of
accomplishment.
D
Our
Biloxi
Police
Department
last
year
had
at
forty-five
percent
arrest
rate
on
a
sign,
felony
cases,
which
is
better
than
twice
the
national
average
and
fifteen
percent.
Over
the
past
two
years
they
handle
the
opening
of
MGM
Park,
a
new
nighttime
naughty
girl
parade
the
Neptune
parade.
Both
of
these
events
went
off
without
a
hitch.
At
the
same
time,
department
handled
126,000
calls
for
service
road.
D
21,000
traffic
tickets,
responded
to
20
846
accidents
and
made
7300
arrest
in
the
only
three
percent
of
those
arrests
required
force,
which
is
a
testament
to
the
department's
professionalism
and
training.
A
fire
department
has
seen
a
number
of
milestones
in
the
past
year.
For
the
first
time
in
history,
the
fire
department
achieved
a
class
three
rating,
one
of
only
three
in
the
state.
This
means
we
had
the
highest
professional
standards
and
the
lower
insurance
costs
for
homes
and
businesses.
D
In
the
past
three
years,
members
of
our
Fire
Department
completed
more
than
31,000
hours
of
training
another
first.
The
department
has
also
reached
the
National
Fire
Prevention
association's
mandate
for
having
15
firefighters
on
the
scene
on
every
first
alarm
fire.
Despite
all
these
accomplishments,
we
still
had
a
fire
fatality.
Last
year,
the
first
in
several
years
as
a
result
of
fire
department,
launched
your
attention
to
fire
prevention.
D
Firefighters
installed
more
than
a
thousand
new
smoke
detectors
in
300
homes.
We
also
made
more
than
4,000
fire
safety
inspections
in
the
past
year.
At
the
same
time,
the
Department
responded
to
more
than
6,400
calls
for
service
nearly
40
300
of
those
calls
being
emergency.
Medical
calls
I
want
to
thank
chief
Joe
bony
and
his
group
of
firefighters,
who
volunteered
their
time
in
communities
that
have
seen
their
share
of
disaster.
We
all
know
the
importance
of
help
after
a
major
disaster,
our
firefighters,
on
their
own
time,
help
in
the
aftermath
of
superstorm
sandy.
D
There
were
in
Oklahoma
in
the
wake
of
the
deadly
tornadoes,
and
a
few
weeks
ago
they
were
in
central
Mississippi
at
the
small
Three
Forks
community.
Let
me
tell
you
a
quick
story
about
the
impact
of
this
work.
A
chief
bony
suggestion,
City,
Council
and
I
donated
a
surplus
fire
truck
to
Three
Forks
community,
which
lost
everything
when
our
people
drove
the
truck
to
the
Three
Forks,
a
local
businessmen
up,
there
told
their
chief
that
they
would
pay
to
have
the
Three
Forks
name
put
on
the
truck
their
chief
said.
D
Well,
we're
going
to
leave
the
name
Biloxi
on
the
front
and
we're
going
to
paint
god
bless
above
it
this
year
in
July,
chief
bony
and
the
Biloxi
fire
department
will
be
hosting
the
88th
annual
conference
of
southeast
and
Fire
Chiefs
will
have
500
Chiefs
in
town.
The
subject
of
the
conference
will
be
something
our
people
are
very
familiar
with
dealing
with
disaster.
A
Community
Development
Department
issued
permits
totaling
more
than
eighty
six
million
dollars
last
year.
That's
57
million
in
commercial
development,
28
million
in
residential
development.
We
are
slowly
regaining
our
pre
strong
population.
D
We
saw
the
salad
Mookie's
open
at
the
town,
green
and
three
new
reference:
the
reef,
beach,
bums
and
Baja
beach
to
open
on
West
Beach
Bacchus
opened
across
from
them
Jim
Park,
the
state
rating
Bureau
says
we
have
one
of
the
best
community
development
departments
in
the
state
and
the
feds
say
we're
doing
an
outstanding
job
in
managing
our
floodplain.
This
is
vitally
important
to
those
6,000
property
owners
in
Biloxi
who
paid
lower
flood
rates.
Because
of
our
efforts.
We
took
major
steps
this
year
to
help
reduce
the
risk
from
future
flooding.
D
All
new
construction
in
Biloxi
must
be
built
to
a
hundred
year.
Flood
event,
this
is
a
huge
step
from
the
25
years
standard
we
had
operated
under
for
generations.
This
means
we're
being
responsible
as
we
grow
the
city
and
will
be
in
a
better
position
when
the
next
storm
comes.
Our
Parks
and
Recreation
Department
has
always
prided
itself
on
being
innovative
and
all-inclusive.
In
previous
years,
we
counted
the
department's
challenger
league
for
those
with
disabilities.
D
We've
talked
about
the
disc
golf
course
at
Hilla
park,
and
now
the
hot
new
sport
is
pickleball
in
the
simplest
of
terms
it's
a
mixture
of
tennis,
badminton
and
ping-pong,
and
it's
popular
among
seniors.
Last
year
we
converted
a
tennis
court
to
a
pickleball
and
we've
seen
two
hundred
pickle
ballers,
and
we
expect
300
this
year,
I
like
to
think
our
Parks
and
Recreation
Department
is
about
fun
and
innovation.
D
But
it's
about
numbers-
and
I
like
to
say
numbers
are
my
friend,
the
department
handled
958
special
events
encourage
snyder
business
and
civic
center's
at
hillier
park
and
at
Point
cadet.
There
were
more
than
75,000
visits
to
the
Snyder
Center
last
year,
15,000
in
the
pool
at
the
natatorium
and
7500
at
the
Snyder
pool
our
seniors.
Luncheon
and
special
events
saw
more
than
4,400
participants
in
our
farmers.
Market
observed
its
40th
year.
D
We
had
more
than
2,100
youngsters
in
our
youth
leagues
and
more
than
500
kids
took
swim
lessons
and
other
200
world
when
our
swim
teams,
that's
a
lot
of
numbers
and
a
lot
of
quality
recreation
time
for
our
residents.
This
year,
our
Parks
and
Recreation
Department
will
host
the
state
seniors
games,
it
used
to
be
held
in
Clinton
and
they
detract
three
to
four
hundred
athletes.
D
That's
what
we
drew
for
our
local
seniors
games
now
that
the
state
gains
have
been
moved
to
Biloxi
and
we're
qualifying
site
for
the
national
games
and
we're
drawing
from
seven
to
eight
hundred
athletes
from
across
the
state
and
as
far
away
as
California
and
Alaska.
They
know
the
name
Biloxi
and
they
know
the
quality
of
experience
they
will
have
here
since
taking
office.
I
directed
our
Parks
and
Recreation
Department
and
Public
Works
to
clean
up
highway
90.
Some
people
make
question
whose
responsibility
highway
90
and
it's
medians
are.
D
But
in
my
view,
it's
our
front
yard
and
needs
to
look
like
our
front
yard.
A
cruise
edged
and
shape
the
meetings
a
couple
of
times
last
year
and
a
few
weeks
ago
we
rented
equipment
to
help
us
pick
up
the
same
blown
from
the
beach
that
had
been
in
parking
bays
and
turning
lanes
for
months
moving
forward.
D
Our
goal
is
to
sit
down
with
them
done
in
Harrison
County,
to
see
how
we
can
together
keep
highway
90
looking
the
best
it
can
we're
going
to
do
our
part,
but
I
think
the
taxpayers
deserve
a
coordinated
and
well-planned
team
effort
on
highway
90.
Our
public
works
department
is
also
coordinating
the
widening
of
Popp's
Ferry
Road
you're,
going
to
see
this
final
phase
from
Cedar
Lake
eastward
to
the
Iberville
open
this
summer.
D
It's
going
to
be
a
milestone
occasion
for
Popp's
Ferry
Road
motorist
you'll,
see
the
road
that
looks
like
a
boulevard
with
four
traffic
lanes,
separated
by
16-foot
wide
center
median.
It's
going
to
be
safe
and
efficient.
I
know
this
may
be
cold
comfort
for
those
who
live
on
the
peninsula
in
these
Biloxi,
but
our
public
works
department
spend
5
million
dollars
to
do
paving
work
on
49
streets,
make
concrete
repairs
27
more.
D
Another
important
aspect
of
our
city
services
is
our
public
harbors
and
marinas
Larry
stablish,
who
manages
our
harbors
and
marinas
likes
to
say
he
manages
a
floating
apartment
complex
and
it's
a
big
one.
To
consider
this.
We
have
86
commercial
vessels,
214
recreational
vessels,
we're
full
at
the
commercial
docks
and
at
the
sherman
Canaan
back
bay,
docks
we're
at
ninety
percent
during
the
summer
months
at
the
small
craft,
Harbor
Point
cadet
is
about
fifty
percent,
but
that
swells
to
nearly
seventy
percent.
D
D
D
D
What
I
can
tell
you
today
this
work,
north
of
the
CSX
railway
in
East
Biloxi,
is
a
three-year
contract
and
it
began
in
august
of
2014.
We
have
another
19
months
to
go:
we're
going
to
continue
to
stay
on
everyone
to
do
everything
we
can
legally
to
keep
these
roads
passable
and
to
complete
this
project.
D
Here's
something
else,
I
can
tell
you
when
this
work
moves
south
of
the
CSX
railway,
it's
going
to
be
a
whole
new
ballgame,
my
ball
game.
We're
not
going
to
see
anyone
come
in
and
tear
up
miles
of
streets.
It's
going
to
be
controlled,
it's
going
to
be
supervised
and
it's
going
to
be
orderly,
but
make
no
mistake.
It
is
major
construction.
It
will
be
inconvenient,
I'm
sure,
we'll
hear
some
complaining
and
speaking
of
complaining,
let
me
tell
you
about
a
group.
I've
worked
to
meet
with
every
single
week
since
I
became
mayor.
D
It's
what
I
call
the
wool
market
planning
commission.
It's
a
group
of
residents
from
that
area
who
want
to
know
what
the
city
is
going
to
do
for
them
and
I'm
familiar
with
the
issues
in
world
market.
I
know
that
the
city
must
live
up
to
its
promises
to
address
the
needs.
The
City,
Council
and
I
have
commissioned
a
broad
analysis
of
the
water
sewer,
drainage
and
fire
needs
in
war
market.
We
will
have
a
master
plan
shortly.
D
We
are
also
working
on
issues
in
the
meantime.
Just
last
month,
we
move
forward
with
design
work
for
major
drainage
improvements
on
the
east
side
of
wool
market
road.
This
year
we
expect
to
be
moving
forward
with
the
18-month
construction
project.
Finally,
let
me
address
another
important
issue:
city
finances.
In
fact,
in
nearly
all
cases,
our
taxes
and
fees
are
the
lowest
on
the
coast
and
maybe
the
lowest
of
any
city
of
our
size.
D
But,
as
mayor
Holloway
said
in
his
latter
years
in
office,
the
surplus
that
we
had
from
gaming
is
gone.
We
are
healthy,
but
not
wealthy.
Our
annual
police
and
fire
budget
was
about
5
million
a
year
before
gaming.
Today,
twenty
years
later,
the
annual
budget
for
police
and
fire
is
31
million
dollars.
Half
of
our
58
million
opera,
a
budget
in
the
advancements
in
public
safety
have
not
only
benefited
our
quality
of
life,
but
help
reduce
our
insurance
costs.
D
I
also
like
the
idea
of
having
the
lowest
water
sewer
and
garbage
rates
of
any
city
around
the
state
tells
us
that
we
cannot
provide
any
service
for
a
fee
that
does
not
cover
the
cost
to
the
city.
It
cost
us
almost
seventeen
dollars
a
month
to
pick
up
your
garbage
and
Biloxi
was
only
charging
you
ten
dollars
a
month.
That's
not
good
business.
Our
credit
rating
will
suffer
and
we'll
spend
hundreds
of
thousands
of
dollars
in
interest
payments.
That's
why
we
just
adjusted
those
rates
and
we
still
have
the
lowest
rates
on
the
coast.
D
D
One
of
the
reasons
I
ran
for
mayor
is
to
help
this
brand.
We
call
Biloxi.
We
built
that
van
over
300
years,
it's
known
around
the
world,
hard
work,
hospitality
and
culture
are
our
trademarks.
I
role
is
to
protect
and
promote
that
authentic
and
unique
brand,
not
only
for
new
residents
and
new
businesses
and
new
opportunities
before
our
children
and
our
grandchildren,
so
they
will
enjoy
the
same
Biloxi,
a
better
Biloxi,
the
one
we
all
love
and
call
home.
C
D
A
few
more
things
to
say,
but
I
do.
Thank
you
for
again
once
for
your
attendance
and
and
a
couple
of
things,
I
need
you
help
this
thursday
at
11
21,
an
Amtrak
passenger
train
will
make
a
stop
in
Biloxi
near
the
CTA
transit
center.
Around
ray
north
street
it'll
be
the
inspection
tool
for
a
possible
passenger
rail
service
from
New
Orleans
to
Bay,
st.
Louis
to
gulfport,
to
Biloxi
and
pad
Pensacola
and
points
beyond.
D
D
D
D
That
zone
and
those
benefits
will
be
around
that
five
mile
radius
too.
So
we're
excited
about
that
in
merits.
Pushing
forward
to
to
have
a
lot
of
programs.
I
think
it
keeps
the
field
we
just
talked
about
at
keesler
excuse,
my
kids
said:
don't
call
it
keishla
field
Danny,
it's
Keesler,
Air,
Force,
Base,
but
I-
understand
in
talking
with
the
folks
of
merit,
there's
some
opportunity
for
keesler
and
their
medical
center
to
work
with
the
robotics
components
that
we
have
at
Mary
health
and
we're
excited
about
that.
D
So,
together
again,
we'll
have
state-of-the-art
and
services
that
you'll
be
proud
of,
and
then
how
about
all
that
developing
Popp's
Ferry
Road?
You
know
the
expansion
being
concluded
very
shortly,
walmart
in
normal
view
apartments,
but
you
know
how
about
the
new
Biloxi
high
blood
see
junior
high
school,
getting
ready
to
open
in
2017.
D
Two
other
things
that
I
want
to
mention
that
in
a
pipeline
and
they
tie
into
our
past
and
tie
into
our
future
we're
working
with
Commissioner,
Tom,
King
and
m
dot
on
the
US
highway,
90
pedestrian
crossover.
You
know
from
MGM
park.
The
design
is
going
to
be
00,
Biloxi
old
school.
It
will
bring
you
back
and
you're
going
to
love
it
today,
we're
also
working
with
the
scream
out
of
family
and
expect
to
establish
a
daily
Ship,
Island
excursions
from
and
to
to
and
from
Biloxi
everyone.
D
Everyone
remembers,
those
boat
rides
on
the
pan-american
clipper
and
the
paying
American
and
how
much
fun
did
you
have
on
the
beaches
and
in
the
surf
or
chip
island?
For
me,
it's
special
I
grew
up
with
the
screw
metal.
Family
and
I
really
grew
up
as
a
deckhand
in
the
ninth
grade
and
worked
all
the
way
to
a
junior
in
college
when
I
married,
my
wife,
so
that
was
the
summer
job.
That
really
means
a
lot
to
me
and
it's
something
that
we
need
to
bring
back
to
Biloxi.