Meridian operates under the mayor-council or "strong mayor" form of government and has since 1985. The elected mayor is the chief executive officer of the city and is responsible for administering and leading the day-to-day operations of city government. The five-member city council, elected by wards, is the legislative arm of the government, setting policy and annually adopting the city's operating budget.
City Council Agenda
City Council Minutes
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Councilman Ward 1
Council member since July 1985
Professor of Curriculum and Instruction/Counselor
Education at the Meridian Branch of Mississippi State University
georgethomas@meridianms.org |
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Councilwoman Ward 2,
Council member since December 1999
Retired teacher with Meridian Public Schools
Member: St. John Missionary Baptist Church; State Democratic Executive Committee; Mississippi Federation of Democratic Women; JSU Alumni Association; Vice-Chair of local Democratic
Party Executive Committee; State and National Teachers Association; NAACP; NBC-LEO; Retired Teachers Association; MATH First; Business & Professional Womens Club; Phi Delta Kappa.
Instructor in the East Mississippi Baptist Association. Volunteers for various social and community organizations.
maryperry@meridianms.org |
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Councilwoman Ward 3
Council member since July 1989
Owner: Barbara Henson's Nursery School, Kindergarten & Swim Gym
Member: Northcrest Baptist Church; President of Mississippi Child Care Providers Association; President of Meridian Child Care Providers Association; President of Semmes Cemetary Association; National Child Care Association; Republican Election Advisory Board.
barbarahenson@meridianms.org |
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Councilman Ward 4
Council member since July 1989
Retired teacher and coach
Member: Mt. Salem United Methodist Church; NBC-LEO; Elks Metropolitan Lodge #551; 3rd Vice President NAACP; MATH First.
jessepalmer@meridianms.org |
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| Councilman Ward 5 President
Accomplishments while serving on the Meridian City Council:
*Development of 911 Board
*Placement of North Meridian Water Tank-allowing increased water flow to this rapidly growing area of Meridian
*Establishment of a new waste water treatment plant and lines providing sewer support to NAS Meridian -playing a crucial role in the preservation of the Naval Base in Meridian
*Opening of Bonita Lakes Mall-one of the largest economic developments in this area
*Negotiated for multiple new business establishment openings i.e.: Super Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, Sam’s Club, Outback and Red Lobster Restaurants
*Repairs on Bonita Lakes Dam
*Established City and State Highway Litter Management Crews utilizing city inmates to provide labor (on a volunteer basis)
*Obtained vehicle and materials for the cleanup crews
*Secured $100,000 grant to clean up illegal dump sites within the city
*Development of a co-operative City-County agreement to demolish condemned buildings within the city
*Instrumental in the obtaining of funds leading to the development of a regional rail public safety training facility (key training for approximately 5000 people annually from southeastern United States)
*Improvements of 10th Ave. allowing for safer and quicker access to North Meridian
*Active with revitalization projects for downtown Meridian including the historical African American areas, Front Street with placement of era lighting and renovation of historic building into apartments, Fifth St. condominiums, and addition of Dumont Plaza
*Renovations of Grand Opera House and the Riley Performing Arts Center including construction of a 500 car parking garage
*Development of Union Station Multimodal Transportation Center
*Construction of modern, state of the art Number 1 Fire Station
*Interstate improvements allowing construction of interchange for access to Industrial Park off I20/59, development of water and sewer lines to the Industrial Park
*$6M bond for city street paving and improvements
*Lobbied for the development of the Southern Arts and Entertainment Center to be developed at Bonita Lakes (Meridian won as construction site over the cities of Vicksburg and Jackson)
*Placement of lighting on Highway 39
bobbysmith@meridianms.org
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City Council meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month at
9:00 a.m. and the third Tuesday of every month at 5:00 p.m. in the
Police Department Court Room.
Special called council meetings are set whenever circumstances call for immediate attention/action.
Meeting dates are subject to change (as needed) by council order.
Procedure to follow to address the city council in a public hearing:
Submit a letter in writing to Clerk of Council by 8:30 a.m. the Tuesday prior to the council meeting they want to appear.
If you would just like to make comments to the council you will have 3 minutes in the citizens forum at the end of the meeting.
Phone or e-mail complaints to Pam McInnis. Complaints are forwarded to mayor's office then delegated to proper department.
If you would like a council member to speak at an event, contact
Pam McInnis at 485-1959 or pammcinnis@meridianms.org to get this set up.
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