Canton approves city improvements, grant funding and travel authorizations

Special to The Canton News 

The Canton Mayor and Board of Aldermen convened for a regular meeting at City Hall on July 15, approving a series of financial transfers, grant agreements, infrastructure upgrades and city event amendments.

Among the key actions taken was approval of a resolution to close out FEMA Grant DR-4528-DR-MS and authorization to accept a hazard mitigation grant, DR-4576-0049, in coordination with the Mississippi Emergency Agency.

The board amended the Juneteenth 2025 usage agreement, removing the Community Center Freedom Luncheon, approving street closures on Hickory Street for a Youth Day event on June 19, and supporting in-kind city services and signage placement for the celebration.

Financial approvals included multiple fund transfers: $55,078.06 and $38,540.09 from general funds to sinking funds for April and May respectively, and $52,456.61 from the Fire Rebate account to the general fund for a loan payment on the Rosenbauer pumper fire truck. Related payments were authorized to Trustmark Bank.

Emergency services received several upgrades. The board approved a $14,760 purchase from Jackson Communications for emergency lights on three fire department vehicles and granted approval for the Fire Department to host its annual Fire Academy for Kids, scheduled for July 14–18.

Additional infrastructure actions included permanent easement approvals to prevent creek embankment erosion, advertising for roof repairs at the Multipurpose Complex, and payment to Canton Paving, LLC to resurface and restripe the City Hall parking lot.

Public safety measures were adopted, including a moratorium on block parties, installation of security cameras and internet at city facilities, and the placement of no parking signs on Bob White Drive.

In sanitation services, the board approved payments to Ingram for assembling and distributing 3,500 rollout carts and to Lane Line, LLC for retracing rumble bars on Old Canton Road.

The board also approved multiple financial and banking upgrades, such as new reconciliation and positive pay services for city accounts.

Tourism funding included a $26,004 payment for Flea Market advertising, and property insurance coverage was renewed for $107,250 through Fisher Brown Bottrell.

Travel authorizations were granted for elected officials and staff to attend upcoming municipal conferences in Greenville, Tunica, and Biloxi, including the Mississippi Municipal League and Mississippi Black Caucus events.

Sergeant Jeremy Gooden was approved to serve as acting chief of police from June 16 to June 19.

The board also approved minutes from more than two dozen previous meetings, ranging from October 2024 through June 2025.

Several matters, including personnel, litigation, land transactions, and public safety issues, were moved into executive session.