.png)
Special to The Canton News
The Canton Mayor and Board of Aldermen/Alderwomen met on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, to consider a significant agenda that included key administrative appointments, new resolutions to pause certain developments, and updates to solid waste management fees. Mayor Tim C. Taylor presided over the meeting, with Alderwomen Cynthia Allen, Monica Gilkey, and Janice Diamond, as well as Alderman Les Penn, present. Alderman Rodriquez Brown, Alderwoman Dr. Shannon Whitehead, and Alderman Lafayette E. Wales were listed as absent.
The Board approved a slate of top administrative appointments, ensuring critical city leadership roles are filled. These appointments included Dr. Chuconna Anderson as City Clerk, Otha Brown as Chief of Police, and Howard Brown as Prosecuting Attorney. Additionally, the Board approved the appointments of Kamesha Mumford and Stacey Weem as Municipal Judges.
A central focus of the meetings was the review of two resolutions proposing temporary moratoriums on specific types of development, reflecting the Board’s intent to pause certain development while new ordinances are finalized to guide future growth. First, the Board considered a resolution establishing a six-month moratorium on all Tiny Home placements, building permits, and applications for special exceptions. This pause is intended to last until the city’s Unified Development Code (UDC) can be officially amended and published to properly address and regulate this emerging type of housing. The UDC is a single, comprehensive document that combines all of the city’s zoning, subdivision, and site development regulations to make the planning process clearer. Second, a 60-day moratorium on permits for new venues, restaurants, and hotels that sell alcoholic beverages was reviewed. This temporary freeze is specifically for businesses subject to the proposed ordinances within the city’s Qualified Resort Area (QRA). This moratorium ensures that all new permit applications align with the new QRA rules, a designation that is a major deal for the city’s economy as it permits alcoholic beverage sales in certain establishments, boosting tourism and economic vitality.
In other policy and finance matters, the Board approved the ordinance establishing a formal procedure for renaming streets, public facilities, and creating honorary street namings, along with the corresponding application forms. The Board also reviewed an amended ordinance to establish new residential and commercial garbage collection fees, and considered related forms for acquiring an additional garbage cart and requesting door-to-door household waste pickup. Furthermore, the Board considered an approval to re-bid on the Canton multipurpose roof complex.
Infrastructure and contractual matters were also addressed. The Board authorized three task orders for Waggoner Engineering, covering support for building permit plan review, enhancements to the interactive zoning application, and maintenance for the City’s GIS Zoning Map. Additionally, an agreement with Franklin Engineering & Consultant for stand-by engineering and consulting services and a proposal for 2026 air compliance assistance were listed on the agenda for approval. Financial oversight included the approval of the standard claims, contractual claims, and payroll dockets, and the consideration of an application for a tax anticipation loan. The agenda also included the planned approval of a Section 8 Operating Plan and Financial Assurances regarding a Landfill Solid Waste Permit Application to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).
The meeting concluded with an Executive Session to discuss 15 personnel matters across six departments—Supervision & Finance, Parks & Recreation, Police, Fire, Building & Zoning, and Public Works. Additional matters scheduled for discussion in the closed session included strategy sessions regarding prospective litigation, one investigative proceeding, and three matters concerning land transactions.
Comment
Comments