by Hunter Dawkins, Publisher/Owner – editor@thegazebogazette@gmail.com or hdawkins@supertalk.fm

PASS CHRISTIAN (GG) — After Girl Scout Service Unit 610 received a proclamation last Wednesday at the Pass Christian Board of Aldermen meeting March 5, the board chose to table several city projects in an attempt to understand the city’s finances. Three sidewalk projects were considered after receiving $1,365,865 in grants from the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) through the Gulf Regional Planning Commission at no cost to the city.

These potential projects were:

  • Cedar Avenue — from North Street to Brill Street
  • Second Street — from Algernon Avenue to Lang Avenue
  • Scenic Drive — from Menge Avenue East to Highway 90

The money reflects the amount included in the application.  There is a city match of over $273,000 but this could be potentially be covered by the $750,000 Capital Expenditure Grant from 2023 given by the State Legislature according to city officials. 

Pass Christian Mayor Jimmy Rafferty acknowledged than any of the projects could be swapped by an alderman as long as it did not surpass the grant cost.

Alderman-at-Large and Mayor candidate Kenny Torgeson motioned to table these projects due to being unsure of the city finances at this time.  Following a discussion from each alderman, a vote to table this request was adopted. After the next agenda item on several paving projects requested by Mayor Rafferty was tabled, Torgeson made a motion to suspend the rules ad amend the agenda for a discussion on city finances.

Subsequently, the board approved and City Clerk Marian Governor was asked to step forward and explain where the city stood on the previous audits that were not completed and whether the city had any deficit.  Governor mentioned a deficit of more than $366,000 on the 2022-23 audit and expressed the 2023-24 was not completed because of a holdup on deposits. 

With a lengthy deliberation, the board elected to return to the agenda and tabled the following authorization of a Gulf Restoration Funds Grant until the 23-24 audit was completed. 

Photos by Hunter Dawkins/The Gazebo Gazette.