In town this weekend are comedian Ron White, singer Paul Anka, the group Lone Star and the Neil Diamond tribute group Super Diamond.
Also, the City of Biloxi, along with the Gulf Coast Running Club and the Disability Connection organization, will stage the 27th Arbor Day 5K Run Saturday in downtown Biloxi. The event, with an 8 a.m. registration, also will include mile and quarter-mile walks and rolls.
See the complete weekend lineup
Baseball: When will we hear ‘Play ball’?
David Nichols, the city’s chief administrative officer, gives the latest news on MGM Park and provides background on the issue in this week’s City Desk webcast. You can also hear the latest on Mayor A.J. Holloway and other municipal matters du jour in this week’s 14-minute program.
Listen to City Desk now
Council to consider temporary sign issue
The City Council on Tuesday will consider continuing to allow businesses in Biloxi to use pennants, banners, streamers and flags to advertise their businesses – practices ordinarily prohibited under the city’s Land Development Ordinance.
The measure is one of more that two dozen issues included on the agenda for the council’s meeting on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
The city’s Community Development Department originally had requested the waiver of the existing temporary sign ordnance a year ago to assist businesses impacted by Hurricane Katrina, the BP oil spill and the national recession. Council President Kenny Glavan is now proposing to extend the waiver for another year as a result of the general national economic recession.
Among the other measures on the agenda: the approval of a Walmart Neighborhood Market and gas station on Popp’s Ferry Road, the purchase of rights of way along U.S. 90 for pending infrastructure work, the purchase of vehicles for the Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division, authorizing Harrison County to perform work at Hiller Park and the Mercy Cross gymnasium, and measures involving ongoing infrastructure work.
Read the complete agenda and supporting documents
Public Works announces concrete repair schedule
Repairs to concrete streets in several west Biloxi neightborhoods are in the works, according to Public Works Director Dan Gaillet.
The schedule, weather permitting:
— River Place, now through March 15
— Rue Palafox/Enclave, March 16-29
— Bordeaux/La Bonne Terre, March 30-April 12
— Carmargue/La Bonne Terre, April 13-May 3
— Saylor Drive, May 4-May 24
— On The Green, May 25-June 14
— James Buchanan Drive, June 15-June 28
See the status of roadwork citywide
Permits issued for Casino Magic, other projects
By Jerry Creel, Community Development Director
This week in economic development, the department issued separate permits for the fire sprinkler system and the fire alarm system for Casino Magic. Building plans were received this week for an office building on Tommy Munro Drive for D. R. Horton Homebuilders. Plans were also received for a new commercial warehouse Structure to be located in the Oaklawn Business Park, a new commercial business to be located in the former Books-A-Million tenant space in the Edgewater Village Shopping Center, and one new single family home.
Also this week, the Development Review Committee signed off on site plans for the new Marshall’s Funeral Home and Crematory to be located on Veterans Avenue, and a kitchen and deck addition for Shaggy’s Restaurant. The Architectural/Historical Review Commission approved designs for two new single family homes to be built in the Edgewater Park Subdivision.
Earlier this week the City Council held the first reading for ordinances to increase the minimum lot area requirement for property zoned (AR) Agricultural Restricted, from one acre to five acres. This change was necessary in order for the city to comply with changes made to FEMA regulations. The second ordinance is to extend the one year expiration date for temporary signs and banners for one more year.
At the meeting on Tuesday March 3, the City Council will consider resolutions for the preliminary plat, and a conditional use  application for the new Walmart Neighborhood Market on Popp’s Ferry Road.
News and notes
East Biloxi cleanup: The East Biloxi Community Collaborative, a cooperative effort of several non-profits serving east Biloxi, is now seeking volunteers to help with the East Biloxi Community Cleanup on Saturday, March 7, from 9 to 11 a.m. To volunteer call 228-702-9996 or email escott@mscenterforjustice.org.
Crimewatch: You can get a bird’s eye view of reported crime in Biloxi and surrounding areas – most places in the country, in fact – in the CrimeMapping software through the city’s website. You can even get crime alerts for your neighborhood. To view the page – make sure to choose Biloxi Police as your agency – click here.
No DRC: The city’s Development Review Committee – which reviews commercial construction throughout the city – will not meet next week. To see an archive of DRC meetings, click here.
Online agendas: To see schedules and agendas for municipal meetings in Biloxi, and how your voice can be heard, click here.
Katrina ambassadors: The Katrina +10 retrospective is now less than a month away at the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, and the museum is still seeking volunteers to help man the seven-day-a-week, six-month production. To volunteer, call (228) 374-5547 or email k10@georgeohr.org. To learn more about the groundbreaking exhibition, click here.
