From staff and press reports
The Louisville Board of Aldermen held its regular meeting Tuesday, July 15, approving several city personnel actions, hearing a detailed update from the public library system, and setting a public budget hearing for early August.
Mayor Will Hill called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m., followed by an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. The board approved minutes from previous meetings held July 1 and July 8.
Library Update Highlights Public Engagement
Beth Edwards, director of the Winston County Library, delivered a comprehensive update on library programs, participation metrics, and community outreach efforts.
“Our monthly circulation is around 4,000, with about 3,000 visitors each month,” Edwards reported. She highlighted in-house programming, public relations initiatives, author events, and collaborative programs with local schools and organizations. Highlights included:
•A Black History Month variety show
•Monthly homeschool club meetings
•Summer reading events including crafts, magician performances, and a bubble-themed finale
•Author visits and crafting workshops for adults
•Partnerships with local musicians and robotics demonstrations from Mississippi State University
“Our success depends heavily on the support of the city,” Edwards told the board. “We appreciate all you do to keep the library thriving.”
Personnel Actions Across Departments
The board approved several personnel changes across city departments:
•Fire Department (effective July 16):
oMoved one person from full-time to part-time.
oChris Eaves was added to the volunteer fireman list. Eaves is a long-serving firefighter and currently serves as assistant chief for East Winston Volunteer Fire Department.
•Police Department (effective July 24):
oMoved one person from full-time to part-time.
oMoved one person from part-time to full-time.
•Street Department:
oRodney Fulton was authorized to be added to the department’s phone list, retroactive to July 1.
•City Hall:
oA part-time janitorial hire at $10 per hour was approved, with work to be done on an as-needed basis.
Financial and Administrative Items
The board authorized a $219,815.63 bond payment to First National Bank related to the 2018 bond issue.
Mayor Hill announced that the city’s public budget hearing will be held Tuesday, Aug. 5 at 5 p.m., just prior to the board’s next regular meeting. He noted that preliminary departmental budget meetings were underway and a draft budget would be available for review ahead of the hearing.
Capital Projects and Mississippi Yards Program
Mayor Hill updated the board on the Strand Theater lobby renovation project, noting that a punch list was nearly completed. He confirmed that a letter of intent for the next round of grant funding had been submitted on the July 15 deadline. Photos of the completed lobby have garnered positive attention on social media, he said, but noted that the space is not yet open for public use.
Code Enforcement and Property Management
A request was approved to authorize the disposition of surplus real property on Eiland Avenue. The board plans to subdivide the property equally between adjacent landowners in accordance with state law.
During discussion, the board addressed growing concerns over overgrown properties.
“We are bound by state law,” said Hill. “We can only act on properties that present a health hazard, and even then, the process is structured and limited.”
MML Conference and Other Business
The board selected Mayor Hill as the city’s voting delegate to the Mississippi Municipal League (MML) Summer Conference, set for July 21–23 in Biloxi. Alderman Cody Glenn was chosen as first alternate.
City officials also discussed logistics for delivering and setting up the city flag at the conference venue.
Following a review of department updates, the board adjourned.
