30 October 2026
HATTIESBURG, MS – The Hattiesburg City Council will vote Tuesday on four agreements tied to the city’s Behavioral Health Drug Court, according to the agenda the city posted for its Nov. 3 meeting.
The same agenda asks the council to accept two state tax breaks for local manufacturers. One is for Sofidel America Corp. The other is for Western Container Corporation. Together, the two exemptions cover property with a listed true value of almost $5 million.
The meeting starts at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 200 Forrest Street. That is also Election Day. Polls close at 7 p.m.
What is the council voting on Tuesday?
In short, the council will decide whether to sign deals that support a drug court run through Hattiesburg Municipal Court. It will also act on two state tax exemptions, up to $65,000 in arts and festival money, a grant request for the city airport and a list of street, lighting and service contracts.
The agenda lists 21 items on the policy agenda and five routine items. The city posted the agenda on its CivicClerk portal.
What are the drug court agreements?
Four items deal with the Behavioral Health Drug Court. The agenda describes them this way:
- A memorandum of understanding between the city, Municipal Court and Pine Belt Mental Healthcare Resources “to provide recovery support services.”
- A memorandum of understanding with Court Programs, Inc. “to assist in the implementation and expansion of Behavioral Health Drug Court operations.”
- A business associate agreement with Pine Belt Mental Healthcare Resources “allowing services to take place in conjunction with Municipal Court operations.”
- A hosted software service agreement with Public Health Management Corporation “to assist with Behavioral Health Drug Court operations.”
The agenda does not list a cost for any of the four agreements. It also does not say how the work will be paid for or how long the deals will last. Pine Belt Guide is seeking those details from the city.
The drug court items come days after the city’s domestic violence court marked five years. WDAM reported that the court opened in 2021, is grant-funded and handles about 300 cases a year. The agenda does not say whether the drug court uses a similar funding model.
Which companies are getting tax exemptions?
The Mississippi Department of Revenue has already granted the exemptions. The council is being asked to acknowledge the state’s letters and adopt final orders allowing them.
According to the agenda, Sofidel America Corp. received an ad valorem tax exemption “for a period not to exceed nine (9) years, commencing December 31, 2025, with a true total value of $367,613.00.”
Western Container Corporation received an exemption on the same terms. Its listed true total value is $4,602,477.00.
Ad valorem taxes are property taxes. The agenda does not say what equipment or buildings the exemptions cover. Pine Belt Guide is seeking the Department of Revenue letters to learn what each company added.
How much arts and festival money is on the table?
Two items deal with the arts.
The council will consider renewing a $30,000 appropriation for the Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and the Arts Institute of Mississippi for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
It will also vote on a sponsorship deal with the Hattiesburg Concert Association. The agenda says the money is for “advertising and promoting the City of Hattiesburg through events such as Festival South in an amount not to exceed $35,000.00.” The agenda cites state law, Mississippi Code Section 17-3-1, for that deal.
What else is on the agenda?
Several items deal with streets, lights and city services. The council is set to:
- Acknowledge bids received Oct. 22 for the Tipton Street Infrastructure Improvements Phase I and accept them as a staff memo recommends. The agenda does not list the bidders or amounts.
- Approve two engineering agreements with Shows, Dearman and Waits, Inc. One is for the Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood Improvements Project Phase I. The other is for the River Avenue lighting project from Lee Street to the east end of the Leaf River bridge.
- Approve a one-year deal with Powell Construction Services, Inc. to repair and maintain traffic signals from Nov. 1, 2026, through Oct. 31, 2027.
- Approve a master service agreement with Everbridge-Nixle for emergency and public safety alerts.
- Approve an agreement with Water Company of America to review water and sewer meter accounts.
- Authorize a grant application to the Mississippi Department of Transportation’s Strategic Multi-Modal Investments Fund Program for terminal improvements at Hattiesburg Bobby L. Chain Municipal Airport.
- Ratify a grant application to GameTime’s Community Champions Playground Grant program for new playground equipment.
Two zoning items from the Planning Commission are also listed. One would allow outdoor storage at 5912 U.S. 49, Unit B, in Ward 4, with landscaping, sidewalk and street tree conditions. The other would let a property at 6581 U.S. 49 in Ward 2 pay a fee instead of building a sidewalk.
On the routine agenda, the city seeks approval to advertise for bids on sewer service replacement work and for automated side-loading garbage trucks. The council will also approve the claims docket for the period ending Oct. 31.
Can residents attend?
Yes. City Council meetings are open to the public. For other local meetings this week, see Pine Belt Guide’s government week ahead. The full agenda is on the city’s CivicClerk portal. Pine Belt Guide is seeking the full meeting packet, which should hold the staff memos and contracts behind each item.
FAQ
When is the meeting? Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 200 Forrest Street.
Is the drug court new? The agenda speaks of “implementation and expansion” of Behavioral Health Drug Court operations. It does not say when the court began. Pine Belt Guide is seeking details.
Did the city grant the tax breaks? No. The state Department of Revenue granted them. The council is asked to acknowledge the letters and adopt final orders.
How long do the exemptions last? Up to nine years, starting Dec. 31, 2025, according to the agenda.