JANUARY 2023

INSIDE THE FLAGSHIP CITY

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF PASCAGOULA

MAYOR'S MESSAGE

I want to address the boil water notices we’ve had in the last several months. I hear and I understand your frustrations. It’s usually very rare we have boil water notices that impact much of or the entire city. The citywide boil water notice in October was caused by an AT&T contractor hitting a crucial city water main. The boil water notice that impacted a large number of people in early December was caused by a CenterPoint Energy (our natural gas supplier) contractor hitting a main. And the citywide notice issued over the Christmas holiday was due to the subfreezing temperatures causing a leak that was the equivalent of finding a needle in a haystack. For that, I want to commend and sincerely thank our Public Works employees who sacrificed time with their families on the holiday to find and correct the problem. I want you to have a better understanding of why these boil water notices are issued. Any time water pressure drops below a certain level, by law we must issue a precautionary boil water notice. Our crews have to wait for the pressure to return to a certain level before a water sample can be drawn. That sample must be taken to a lab for 24 hour testing. This is why a boil water notice can stay in effect for several days. I cannot think of a time when we’ve ever had a sample fail a test. It is not an issue with the water itself; we are simply following the procedures of the law. I understand it’s frustrating when it happens, but I hope this gives you a better understanding of why these notices are issued. I urge all of you to visit our website and sign up for City Alerts, so that you get updates directly to your phone or email when these types of situations come up. -Mayor Jay Willis

UPCOMING EVENTS

JANUARY 19: The Path That Pays - Expo for Teens @ MGCCC, 3:30-6:30 pm
JANUARY 19: Business After Hours @ Pascagoula Library, 4:30-6:30 pm
JANUARY 25: Industry Roundtable @ Performing Arts Center, 7:30-10:00 am

JANUARY 26: Business After Hours @ Fleur De Lis Bar & Grill, 4:30-6:30 pm

PUBLIC WORKSHOP SCHEDULED FOR CITY COUNCIL AND PRA

The Pascagoula City Council and the Pascagoula Redevelopment Authority will host a joint workshop on February 28, 2023. The workshop will start at 5:15 p.m. at the Pascagoula Senior Center located at 1912 Live Oak Avenue.

The City of Pascagoula established the Pascagoula Redevelopment Authority (PRA) in 2011 as its urban renewal agency. The board serves to promote and encourage revitalization in the Flagship District (Downtown Pascagoula) by offering incentives for investors to develop vacant or blighted properties. The PRA’s multi-phased approach to revitalization began with funding from a portion of Mississippi’s BP settlement money, appropriated by the state legislature.

The Commercial Development Incentive program can cover up to 25% of the project cost, with discretion by the PRA. To date, the revitalization efforts have turned $9.4 million of public funding into nearly $55 million of private investment. The PRA has allocated funding to 28 projects that are completed, under construction, or in the planning phase.

“We have seen tremendous success in the Pascagoula Redevelopment Authority model,” said City Manager Michael Silverman. “The investments being made in the Flagship District are bringing new life to our downtown area. While there is still work to be done in our current urban renewal district, we would be remiss if we were not thinking about the future.”

The purpose of the joint workshop between the City Council and the PRA is to discuss future planning and possible expansion areas for urban renewal. The two groups are also seeking and encouraging community input. The public is invited to attend the workshop, listen to the discussion, view maps, and provide written input.

MARDI GRAS PARADES:

The Mardi Gras season is upon us! We're looking forward to two parades in Pascagoula:

The Krewe of Little Rascals Children's Mardi Gras Parade presented by Main Street Pascagoula is February 11 at 1:00 pm in Downtown Pascagoula. Click here for online registration.
The Jackson County Carnival Association parade rolls at 1:00 pm on February 18. The parade is expected to run the usual route along Ingalls Avenue, Market Street, Jackson Avenue, and Pascagoula Street. Click here to download the parade entry form.

REGISTRATION OPEN FOR YOUTH BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL

Registration is now open for Youth Baseball and Youth Softball. Registration is open through January 31 for both leagues. The cost for the 2023 Youth Baseball season is $75 for children ages 4-15. Click here for baseball registration. The cost for the 2023 Youth Softball season is $60 for teeball-16U and $30 for wee-ball. Click here for softball registration. There will be an in-person softball registration on January 13 at the Pascagoula Recreation Center from 6:00-8:00 pm and January 28 at the Pascagoula Sports Complex from 10:00 am-1:00 pm.

ADULT DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT

The Parks & Recreation Department is hosting the first ever Superhero Dodgeball Tournament on January 28! The team entry fee is $75 for up to eight players age 18+. The tournament will start at 1:00 and will be double elimination with match play, best two out of three. The registration deadline is January 25. Click here for online registration. Questions can be directed to Athletic Director Torian Brown at tbrown@cityofpascagoula.com

ADULT BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

Registration is underway for an adult basketball league. The season will start the first week of March and run through April. The league will be composed of two divisions: an open division for ages 18+ and a grand division for ages 30+. Team registration fee is $300 for up to 10 players. Individuals may also register and will be placed on a team. Individual registration is $30 for Pascagoula residents and $45 for non-residents. Click here for online registration. Questions can be directed to Athletic Director Torian Brown at tbrown@cityofpascagoula.com.

NEW BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Help us welcome El Saltillo Mexican Restaurant to Pascagoula! El Saltillo is located in the Deep South Shopping Center at 1740 Denny Avenue. They're open seven days a week. Check them out!

THE PATH THAT PAYS: TEEN EXPO AT MGCCC

The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Education & Workforce Development Committee invites parents of 7^th-12^t^h graders to explore career training and educational opportunities available to their children. The expo will take place on Thursday, January 19 from 3:30-6:30 pm at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Jackson County Campus Gym. Experience hands-on activities with local industries, high school career-technical education programs, and colleges and universities. Learn what the Path That Pays looks like for you and your child. Participating employers and organizations include: Ingalls Shipbuilding, Mississippi Power, Bollinger Mississippi Shipbuilding, Chevron, Singing River Health System, Pascagoula Police Department, WIN Job Center, Pascagoula Adult Learning Center, Get2College, USM Gulf Coast Research Lab, Mississippi State University, William Carey University, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

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