The deadline to submit nominations for the city’s upcoming Volunteer Recognition Awards has been extended to Friday, which should allow residents and groups adequate time to nominate worthy individuals, businesses or groups.
“As of this afternoon, we’ve received only a handful of nominations,” said Emily Burke, who is organizing the 23rd annual ceremony, which is set for April 27 at the Donald Snyder Sr. Community Center. “Typically, we’ve received dozens of nominations by this time. We know that local residents, businesses, churches, civic groups and others have either volunteered or benefited from the volunteer work of others.
“We’re asking interested individuals to spend a few minutes to fill out the nomination form and get it to us so we can recognize the many volunteers who have worked so hard in the past year.”
To get a nomination form to fill out, click here.
Deja vu: Do you have flood insurance?
The City of Biloxi this week is sending property owners a postcard reminding them of the benefits of having flood insurance and that the time to purchase flood insurance is now, more than a month before June 1, when hurricane season begins.
Mayor A.J. Holloway acknowledged that some residents may question why the city is sending such a notice, particularly where property owners lost their homes to Hurricane Katrina.
The postcard, Holloway explained, is one of the city’s responsibilities as a member of the National Flood Insurance Program.
“Biloxi residents have seen the cost of their flood-insurance premiums reduced by 15 percent in the past several years because of our efforts to educate them on ways to minimize the risk of damage from flooding,” Holloway said. “In order to maintain those discounts for our residents, we’re mandated to do these things each year.”
This year, the city is sending a revised version of a notice that was sent to residents this time last year. To see the updated notice, which shows before and after photos of a flooded area, plus a post-Katrina photo of the same area,
click here.
News and notes
New building codes: The city’s move from the Southern Building Code to the International Building Code will take effect on April 21. The move, which had been in the works before Hurricane Katrina, means that local builders must adhere to standards in the IBC. Those with questions about the change can e-mail Community Development Department’s Building Division at hrogers@biloxi.ms.us or call any of the city’s building inspectors at (228) 435-6270.
Council schedule: The City Council’s next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, April 18. Agenda for the meeting will be posted on the city web site at the end of this week.
Sail on: The Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum has announced its schedule of walk-on schooner excursions. For details, click here.
Speaking circuit: Mayor A.J. Holloway is scheduled to address the Biloxi Chamber’s “Breakfast with the Mayor” gathering Tuesday (April 11) at the IP’s Crown Room. The 8 a.m. affair is free and open to the public. Holloway also has accepted invites to address the Southern Gaming Summit May 4-5 in Tunica and the American Gaming Association’s national convention May 10 in Las Vegas. Topic of all three engagements: How a post-Katrina Biloxi is poised to revive the renaissance.
