JANUARY 2021

INSIDE THE FLAGSHIP CITY

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF PASCAGOULA

MAYOR'S MESSAGE

As we finish 2020, it's good for us to look back and review some of this City Council's accomplishments in the past year. I'll separate them into four categories:
1. Quality of life:

*Completed sports complex and began hosting
tournaments.
*Hired an Athletic Director to coordinate youth and
adult sport programs.

*Lobbied CSX to change the midday railroad
interchange to nighttime.
*Received $300,000 in Tidelands grant money for Point Park improvements.
*Received $450,000 in Tidelands grant money for Lighthouse Park improvements.
*Established plans and funding for easier access to River Park from Highway 90.
2. Beautification:
*Weekly cleaning of Highway 90 bridge.
*Created maintenance map and focus areas for mowing and weed control.
*Police Department began allowing people with fines to work them off by cleaning up
litter.
*Signs with information on litter fines placed throughout the city.
*Worked with property owners to get permission for the cleanup of encampments in
wooded areas.
*Worked with Pascagoula Pride and Main Street Pascagoula to recognize businesses
for beautification along Market Street.
3. Communication
*Created a new position for a Public Information Officer.
*Began a monthly newsletter sent via email.
*Ongoing work to make city website user-friendly and a good resource for information.
*Social media videos on development projects in Downtown Pascagoula.
*Bi-weekly message from the Mayor on Facebook.
4. Partnerships
*Made site visits to major industries with the Jackson County Economic Development
Foundation.
*Increased millage rate to Ingalls, which increases city revenue.
*Worked with the Jackson County Board of Supervisors on paving streets throughout
the city and worked with the county on a comprehensive repair assessment for the
Jackson-George Regional Library in Downtown Pascagoula.
*Worked with the Pascagoula Redevelopment Authority on several mixed-use projects
in Downtown Pascagoula.
*Adopted a budget that focused on recruitment and retention for the Police and Fire
departments.
*Ongoing work with Pascagoula Police, Open Doors Homeless Coalition, and property
owners to address and reduce homelessness and vagrancy in the community.

I'm proud of all we accomplished in 2020 and look forward to continuing to work to make our community a more attractive place to live and work. -- Mayor Demetropoulos

GOLF CART INSPECTIONS

Golf cart owners are now required to have their cart registered with Pascagoula Police. Police will inspect the cart to ensure it is street legal before issuing a decal that must be placed on the rear fender of the golf cart. The registration fee is $10. Golf carts must be equipped with a parking brake, head lamps, tail lamps, seat belts, and turn signals. Police will hold an inspection event at Point Park on January 23 from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. You may also bring your golf cart to the Pascagoula Police Department Monday - Friday during normal business hours. Read the revised golf cart ordinance here.

VACANCY ON THE PASCAGOULA-GAUTIER SCHOOL BOARD

The Pascagoula City Council is accepting resumes for a vacancy on the Pascagoula-Gautier School Board. The seat will fill the remainder of the term for Judge Taylor McNeel who was recently confirmed to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. The term expires March 2, 2024. Resumes can be sent to the City Clerk's Office at City Hall (603 Watts Avenue) or emailed to kkennedy@cityofpascagoula.com. The deadline to submit resumes is January 28 at 5:00 p.m. Applicants must live in the City of Pascagoula.

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

Municipal elections will be held in 2021. The primary election will be on April 6 with an April 27 runoff, if needed. The general election will be on June 8. The qualifying deadline for those interested in running for Mayor or a seat on the Pascagoula City Council is Friday, February 5. The 2021 Candidate Qualifying Guide can be found on the Secretary of State's website. See what ward you live in and find your voting precinct here.

CITY EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

This month we're recognizing Mike West, our Beautification Director. Mike works in the Parks & Recreation Department and has been with the City of Pascagoula for nearly two years. Mike is hard-working with a positive attitude. No matter how much is on his plate, Mike always finds a way to have his team accommodate requests around the city. We appreciate his dedication to Pascagoula!

MLB® EVENTS AT THE SPORTS COMPLEX

The City of Pascagoula is proud to partner with Major League Baseball® to host two FREE events in February 2021: Pitch Hit & Run™ and Jr. Home Run Derby™.
Jr. Home Run Derby™:
Major League Baseball® Jr. Home Run Derby™ powered by @MLBdevelops is a fun and exciting free youth competition for talented youngsters to showcase their hitting abilities. Boys and girls are divided into two age divisions: 12U and 14U, and will have the chance to advance through three levels of competition. The Local Champions from both age divisions will advance to the Regional Level, and Regional Champions will advance to the Finals, which will take place during the 2021 MLB® All-Star Week™. Jr. Home Run Derby™ will take place on Friday, February 26 at 5:00 p.m. at the Pascagoula Sports Complex. All participants should register online and plan to bring age verification (copy/picture of birth certificate or similar) to the competition.
Pitch Hit & Run™:
Pitch Hit & Run™ is the official skills competition of Major League Baseball®. Boys and girls are divided into four age divisions: 7/8, 9/10, 11/12, 13/14, and have the chance to advance through three levels of competition, including Team Championships and the Finals during MLB® All-Star Week™. Pitch Hit & Run™ will take place on Saturday, February 27 at the Pascagoula Sports Complex. All participants should register online and plan to bring age verification (copy/ picture of birth certificate or similar) to the competition.
If you have any questions about Jr. Home Run Derby™ or Pitch Hit & Run™, contact David Bates at 228-372-6880 or dbates@cityofpascagoula.com.

CODE ENFORCEMENT

Complaints: Notifications: Active Violations:

New: 23 Letters sent: 35 Building misc: 4
Resolved: 32 Condemnations: 16 Trash and debris: 7
Citations issued: 4 Property maintenance: 2
Grass & weeds: 9

THANK YOU!

The Fire Department would like to thank the students and staff at Cherokee Elementary for sprucing up and painting the Little Library that goes outside the Bayou Casotte Station.

SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT

Pascagoula-Gautier School District:

Students at Arlington Elementary in Pascagoula received backpacks filled with school supplies as part of Project Backpack thanks to the law firm of Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys. Local attorney Michael Fondren and employees from the Andy Citrin Attorney office were on hand to deliver the backpacks to the students along with a number of Pascagoula High School cheerleaders and football players who congratulated the students. The law firm is donating 1,600 backpacks to schools near the five locations of its offices in Mississippi and Alabama with plans to select additional schools to receive backpacks in August for its “Back to School” Project Backpack event. Pictured is Tracy Jackson Wilson of Pascagoula, litigation paralegal for attorney Michael Fondren, handing out backpacks to students.
Resurrection Catholic School:
The two Resurrection Catholic School campuses are continuing to prepare for the 76^th Annual Carnival Ball. This year’s theme is “The Roaring 20’s” and a record 77 couples will be participating in the ball, to be held on February 6. The Carnival Ball is the biggest and oldest event at RCS and is the largest fundraiser of the year. Participants are busy raising money in many ways such as online auctions, football squares and snack sales. This year, audience space is limited due to COVID restrictions, but a live stream will be available for those unable to attend. Sports are also back in action at RCS with the soccer, basketball and bowling teams all off to a strong start. Special shout out to the RCS bowling team who recently won a tournament against four local teams by a team record 1001 pins. Great job guys and Soar Eagles!