Civic Corner: December 2, 2025 Board of Aldermen Recap
Robert Chapman
By Robert Chapman, Alderman-at-Large
Clinton’s Board of Aldermen meeting for December 2, 2025, opened with Chief Levius Buckley giving his first departmental head report since being hired as Clinton’s Fire Chief. Chief Buckley said his department has seen an increase in calls. Currently, the Clinton Fire Department has answered 157 calls for fires, up 22 from the previous year. CFD has also answered 1,906 emergency medical calls, an uptick of 38 from 2024.
He did report that calls for motor vehicle collisions are down 51 from 2024, as well as calls for hazardous materials, having three less than last year.
Clinton’s Fire Department collaborated with Clinton’s Police Department to conduct a mock structure fire at Mississippi College, demonstrating CFD’s and CPD’s capabilities to conduct fire and rescue work on the campus as well as enhance collaboration with municipal agencies and neighboring agencies.
He shined a light on CFD’s participation in public education programs at various educational campuses and churches, as well as the number of training hours his firefighters have earned, a number north of 2,800 hours.
He noted that the fire department currently has 52 of 58 positions filled, and an internal effort is underway to help improve recruitment and retention within the fire department. Chief Buckley said one of the goals is to increase paramedic staffing, aiming to have 12 to15 certified paramedics within the department, in hopes to have a paramedic on every engine during each shift.
He closed by mentioning some professional development plans in place to help veteran fire fighters mentor newer fire fighters to help promote his efforts at creating a strong culture within the department.
The Board moved into the discussion/action agenda, approving the cancelation of the second December meeting of the year, a traditional move by the Board of Aldermen. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
The Board approved the exemption of ad valorem taxes for Gulf State Canners and McNeely Plastics for equipment installed in December. This will allow the corporations to invest more in their businesses, which will benefit the city at large.
The Board also approved the request to allow Lt. Van Gunter to purchase his service weapon upon his retirement for $1, a traditional allowance upon the retirement of a police officer.
Courtney Nunn presented a plan to update and revise the plans for the Softball fourplex concessions building to continue the progression of the 2% special tax projects. The original plans were drafted in 2017, and the changes needed to bring consistency across all the parks need to go through the original group, Wier Boerner Allin Architecture.
She also requested that four vehicles in her fleet be sent to auction as surplus items, as well as an upgrade for the robot that lines soccer fields. The Board approved all three of her requests.
The Board approved the final pay application of $57,223.35 and retainage pay application of $28,500 to Fountain Construction for the Southside Generator Improvement project. This project oversaw the installation of a much-needed generator at the wastewater treatment facility. This new generator will not only allow this facility to continue working when facing power outages, but the mobile generator can also be used to operate any of the City’s water wells during an extended power outage.
The Board approved a resolution to submit a pavement management application under the Jackson MPO Surface Transportation Block Grant Program for a project to focus on Pinehaven Drive from Berry Drive north to Williamson Road.
The Board also approved a quote to use Ivey Mechanical for preventative care and maintenance on mechanical components on the City’s HVAC systems.
The Board approved five dimensional variances, including one to allow Dr. Chris Hughes to expand his parking lot at his dental office on the Parkway, one for a new business to make external changes to the Chamber of Commerce’s former location on E. Leake Street and another focused on an expansion project at Walmart.
The final dimensional variance centered on a new retail space located on Springridge Road.
The Board awarded a conditional use to a group wanting to open an afterschool facility on Clinton-Tinnin and approved an architectural review for Mississippi College to install batting cages to their softball complex.
The Board closed the final meeting of 2025 out by approving the hiring of a certified police officer, a police dispatcher, two firefighters and a custodian for Parks and Recreation.
As noted earlier, the Board will not meet on December 16 and will meet again on January 6, 2026.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Space will be provided in each issue of The Clinton Courier to the Board of Aldermen for a recap of each meeting. Aldermen are asked to volunteer to provide this recap for the Courier.
December 16 Board meeting cancelled
By Randy Bell
Following a long-standing tradition, the Clinton Board of Aldermen won’t hold a second meeting during December. The Board voted December 2 to cancel the December 16 meeting, in keeping with the City’s policy in recent years.
With Christmas so close, “Not much is going to get done that week,” explains Mayor Will Purdie. He notes that some Board members will be doing some traveling, and it might be hard to get a quorum for a meeting anyway. “And that gives everybody a little bit of a break to spend time with family and celebrate the holidays.”
Under state law, cities are required to hold only one monthly meeting but are allowed to meet twice, if they so choose.
Should there be emergency business needing the Board’s attention during the final weeks of December, Purdie says the City will deal with it.
“We always have the option to do a special called meeting [with], I think, three hours’ notice. We have that option, if something were to come up.”
