Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Southaven public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
16 issues in public safety
xAI/SpaceX Land Swap and $40 Million Police-Fire Training Investment
The board authorized engineering work for the new police and fire training facility — drainage and road access on undeveloped property — a first step toward construction.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month Proclamation
October was proclaimed Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Southaven, honoring survivors and encouraging screening.
Opioid settlement funds directed to county mental health crisis center
Southaven will put at least $35,000 of its opioid settlement money into Desoto County's planned crisis center near the new jail, so police have a local place to take people in mental-health crisis instead of long transports to places like Corinth.
Citizen Agenda Rules Formalization
The city wants to codify how the citizen agenda works: sign up by noon Friday, three minutes each, 15 minutes total, address the board as a whole. It was held for a month so aldermen can send suggestions.
New Fire Chief Trey Bledsoe
Chief Scallions retires June 30 after 34 years with Southaven and 36 in fire service.
Fire Station 3 addition
The Board awarded a $288,150 contract to Murphy and Sons for the fire station bed hall addition — a step toward improving fire service facilities on the city's south side.
Generator project rebid
The ice storm knocked out City Hall's generator, and the mayor says replacement plus temporary rental will cost about $250,000 — no budget amendment needed, just transfers from other line items.
Crime Stoppers assessment restructuring
The city is scrapping the $1 Crime Stoppers fee on tickets while it designs its own local program under new state law that lets each city run its own program.
Municipal court renovation
The converted former Fred's building is nearly finished, with better meeting rooms, privacy, and efficiency for court operations. It should be in service soon.
Public Safety Initiative
The city is buying the software for an autonomous drone system the police will use as a first-responder tool — reportedly the only one in the surrounding area. It costs $375,000 over three years and is custom-built to fit the city's existing Flock system.
Southaven Fire Department Earns Class 2 ISO Rating
The state fire rating bureau upgraded Southaven's fire department from Class 3 to Class 2, tying it for the best rating in Mississippi. Lower commercial insurance rates could make the city more attractive for businesses, and some homeowners may see savings too.
$1.38M donation to Southaven Police Department
MZX Tech LLC is donating $1,380,900 that can only be used for Southaven police purchases — a major boost for department equipment.
Public Safety Center Investment
The police department is getting a generator to power the whole facility during outages (the current one only covers dispatch), plus a mobile command vehicle and five Dodge Rams.
Human trafficking task force participation
The police department will formally join the Mississippi Attorney General's human trafficking task force, boosting coordination, intelligence sharing, and victim referrals.
Winter weather preparedness
With a winter storm expected Friday night, the mayor assured residents crews and plans are ready and urged people to stay home.
Police Shooting Litigation
Southaven is in court arguing that a man police killed by mistake in 2017 had no constitutional rights because he wasn’t a U.S. citizen. It’s a high-stakes wrongful-death case, and the city’s stance could shape how much liability taxpayers face.