Mayor.................................................................................................................

4-5

City Council .......................................................................................................6-7

Chief Administrative Officer ................................................................................8-9

Chief Financial Officer/Comptroller .................................................................10-11

Department of Administration .........................................................................12-13

Department of Public Services..........................................................................14-15

Department of Urban Development .................................................................16-17

Department of Parks and Recreation ................................................................18-19

Police Department...........................................................................................20-21

Fire Department..............................................................................................22-23

Maps and Photo Credits ..................................................................................24-25

Contact Information .............................................................................................26

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The year of 2005 is one that will be marked
forever in the history of our great City.
As Hattiesburg started out its year, I was confident
that it would be a monumental one. We looked to
continue our efforts of solidifying Hattiesburg as
one of America’s great small cities. I knew that with
a spirit of cooperation and faith in our community
we would meet all challenges that faced us and
overcome them.
Improving the City’s infrastructure and quality of
life for its citizens remains a priority for this
administration. Infrastructure improvements are on
the horizon through the expansion of Hardy Street
at the intersection of Highway 49 and its redesign
west of Highway 49. A 17 million dollars bond to
improve drainage and sewer will soon be put to use.
Effective use of bond money in the area of sewer
and drainage will help prevent flooding and support
a growing residential and business population.
2005 saw the continuation of a number of programs
initiated by this administration including the
Mayor’s Financial Education Initiative, Council of
Neighborhoods and the Youth Employment
Workshop, Night Out Against Crime and Weather
Radio program.
We also began work on the 10 million dollar
renovation of the train depot. The resulting
intermodal facility will be a showcase for the success
of modern transportation, downtown revitalization
and historic preservation efforts. We are continuing
to support the efforts of the Hattiesburg Historic
Downtown Association to promote downtown
business and residential living.
The City also received its first Environmental
Protection Agency Brownfields grants in 2005. This
EPA program provides funds for the assessment of
properties that are vacant or abandoned and are not
suitable for redevelopment due to the presence or
perceived presence of pollution. The three grants
will fully fund Phase I Environmental Assessments
on the James Street Rubbish Site, Illinois Central
Rail Yard and for the Mobile – Bouie Community.
The James Street site is owned by the City and in
the past showed evidence to illegal dumping. Upon
completion of the environmental assessment the
Illinois Central Rail Yard will become a trailhead for
the Long Leaf Trace connecting the renovated train
depot with the University of Southern Mississippi.
The Brownfields program will be augmented by the
establishment of a Brownfields Commission made
up of local environmental experts, citizens and
business. They will be tasked with advising the City
on environmental remediation issues and how best
to save and redevelop properties. I have also moved
forward with plans to establish an Interagency
Taskforce made up of representatives of local and
state agencies to streamline the Brownfields
assessment and cleanup process.
This Administration in 2005 saw improvements s at were restored. Words are inadequate to reflect our
Duncan Lake Park and continued work at the appreciation to the countless volunteers who arrived
Hattiesburg Zoo. Planning and design is continuing to assist or sent supplies from around the country
at other public areas such as Chain Park. We will and the globe, but what we can do to honor them is
continue these quality-of-life improvement efforts in to emulate what we have learned and pass on their
2006 along with expansion of our system of legacy of giving.
sidewalks and greenspaces.
I am encouraging all Hattiesburg citizens and its
The City saw important developments in relation to employees to dedicate time during 2006 to our
our neighbor Camp Shelby Training Site. First was neighbors through participation in volunteer efforts
continued mobilization of troops attending training dedicated to rebuilding the area ravaged by
at the Camp Shelby facility. These individuals and Hurricane Katrina.
their families presence in the Hattiesburg retail
market have contributed greatly to the City’s 2005 I thank you for your dedication and your faith in
sales tax revenues. Next was the completion of the our City. I look forward to serving you in 2006 and
Camp Shelby Joint Land Use Study in 2005. This working along side you in the coming year to
study funded in part with the Department of rebuild our City and move us forward.
Defense and Forrest County developed a
comprehensive study of the existing land uses
surrounding the Camp Shelby Training Site. The
University of Southern Mississippi performed the
study. The JLUS developed a partnership between
the City, Forrest and Perry counties, Mississippi
National Guard, U.S. Department of Defense and
Area Development Partnership. We believe that the
study’s findings will help make sure that Camp
Shelby continues to be an important component in
this area’s economy and our nation’s defense.

Hurricane Katrina has forever changed our City, our

state and our nation. What did not change is my
faith in the strength I knew resided in each of us. It
manifested so strongly in the days and weeks
following the storm. Through hard work, long hours
and dedication of City employees water and power
Johnny L. DuPree
Mayor, City of Hattiesburg

5
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For 20 years now, Hattiesburg has thrived
under a Mayor/Council form of government, an
arrangement which extends executive power to the
Mayor and legislative authority to the City Council.
Members of the City Council determine laws,
policies and budgets for the City. Council members
focus on communication and cooperation to achieve
their primary goal: moving Hattiesburg forward
while ensuring that the City’s funds are used wisely.
Hattiesburg’s five wards – located in both Forrest
and Lamar Counties – each contain some 9,000±
residents. Council members include Mr. Kim
Bradley, Ward One; Mrs. Deborah Denard Delgado,
Ward Two; Mr. Carter Carroll, Ward Three; Mr.
C.E. “Red” Bailey, Ward Four; and Mr. Henry E.
Naylor, Ward Five. Mr. Carroll currently serves as
Council President and Mrs. Delgado as Council
Vice President.
The Council’s priorities include numerous street
projects, renovation of key historic structures, and
economic development throughout the City,
particularly in the downtown area. The Council
supports annually the efforts of the Hattiesburg
Downtown Association in revitalizing the
downtown area.
Since the end of August 2005, however, Hattiesburg
– like other cities and towns throughout Mississippi,
Louisiana and Alabama – has been absorbed in
recovering from the damages wrought by Hurricane
Katrina. The most immediate needs – restoration of
services and utilities, clearing streets of trees and
debris, ensuring the housing, safety and well being
of the citizens of Hattiesburg as well as that of
evacuees – have been met. However, the cleanup is
ongoing, and in October 2005 the City Council
adopted a resolution authorizing the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers to handle debris removal and
disposal on public right of ways and private
property within the City limits. The City of
Hattiesburg is grateful for the invaluable assistance it
has received and continues to receive from sister
cities Bend, Oregon, St. Cloud, Minnesota and San
Jose, California. From across the United States,
volunteers have come to Hattiesburg’s rescue; the
City considers itself fortunate to have been aided by
groups representing churches, schools and
universities, civic organizations, scout troops, and
fraternities and sororities, to name a few.
With recovery ongoing, the Council continues to
focus on maintaining and improving streets. An
extensive project to re-pave Martin Luther King
Boulevard and provide curbs and sidewalks in East
Hattiesburg was completed in 2005, and several
important street projects – including the Hardy
Street Improvements Project and reconstruction of
Classic Drive – are planned for 2006.
Renovation work continues on the Historic
Hattiesburg Train Depot, which was built in 1910
in the Italian Renaissance style. The 14,000 square-
foot-building is being restored at a projected cost of
$10 million, $7 million of which is drawn from
federal grants.
The Historic Hattiesburg Downtown Association
has established Hattiesburg Landmark Preservation,
Inc., to raise $2 million in grants and donations to
preserve the old Hattiesburg High School on North
Main Street. The Mississippi Department of
Archives and History has provided $400,000 to
replace the roof, and Landmark Preservation
continues to seek additional funding to maintain
this important structure.
As President of the Hattiesburg City Council, we
welcome new citizens, and thank all of our residents
for their patience and understanding in the
aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The Council
members will continue to take our obligations to the
citizens of Hattiesburg seriously. Please visit or call
your Council member with your suggestions as to
how we can best serve you.

In October 2003, the City Council turned the reins

of the Saenger Theater over to the Hattiesburg
Convention Commission, a move which has
doubled the theater’s bookings. The commission’s
operation of the Saenger took all costs out of the
City budget and has allowed the theatre to attract
the Moscow Ballet and other international shows.
The Fiscal Year 2006 budget allotted $50,000 to the
University of Southern Mississippi’s music
department, which includes the world class
symphony and orchestra.

Hattiesburg continues to grow, both in population

and in business development. The City has seen the
opening of major retail stores and restaurants as well
as a great deal of construction and repair work.
Consumers from throughout the region shop at the
new Turtle Creek Crossing and will soon be able to
dine at new restaurants located there. The Council
approved two tax increment financing plans, one for
the medical offices and shops at Lincoln Center and
the other for the theater and shopping complex at
Chauvet Square/40th Avenue. The City is gratified
that the costs associated with Hurricane Katrina are
counteracted by a tremendous growth in sales tax
revenue that placed Hattiesburg second in the state Hattiesburg City Council
for the final months of 2005. (l-r: Mr. Henry E. Naylor, Ward Five; Mr. Kim Bradley, Ward One;
Mrs. Deborah Denard Delgado, Ward Two; Johnny L. DuPree, Mayor;
Mr. Carter Carroll, Ward Three; and Mr. C.E. “Red” Bailey, Ward Four.

7
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The Chief Administrative Officer is
charged with the daily operations of the City and
acts on behalf of the Mayor in his absence. The
CAO oversees six departments – Administration,
Public Services, Urban Development, Parks and
Recreation, Police and Fire. Responsibilities include
oversight of a budget of approximately $75 million
and the City’s more than 700 full-time employees.
The CAO coordinates with directors of each
department as a group during regularly scheduled
biweekly staff meetings. These meetings allow each
director to be kept knowledgeable on what is going
on across the City. The CAO also meets with each
director personally each month. These meetings
allow the CAO to discuss specific topics with each
director and review the monthly report from the
City’s customer service number, the Action Line.
Work on Duncan Lake Park also progressed during
2005. Duncan Lake Park is on its way to becoming
one of the City’s most popular recreation areas. On
May 7, 2005, the CAO coordinated a ribbon
cutting ceremony that was held to honor the its
status as the only publicly owned ADA compliant
park within Mississippi. With plans to include a
pavilion, fishing piers and wildlife observation areas
for bird watchers, Duncan Lake is quickly becoming
one of the preeminent urban nature sites in the
state.
The City continues to work on the environment
through the 2005 Mississippi Department of
Transportation Urban Youth Corps grant. This
provided funding to improve trails and
beautification projects around the City. The
Mississippi Forestry Commission provided funding
to plant trees in the newly annexed area of Lamar
County. The Environmental Protection Agency
awarded three Brownfields Environmental
Assessment Grants to the City in 2005. These grants
are allowing the City and U.S. Corps of Engineers
to make preliminary evaluations of specific areas
within the City that may suffer from pollution. The
Brownfields program provides funds for assessment
and cleanup of abandoned or underused properties
with the goal of returning them to the tax rolls
through remediation and redevelopment.
The Council of Neighborhoods continues to meet
regularly and provide input to the Administration
on the current state of the City. Our Urban
Development Department’s Neighborhood
Improvement Officer coordinates this organization.
Night Out Against Crime is hosted by neighborhood
leaders and sponsored by the Hattiesburg Police
Department. In 2005, the N.O.A.C. event was
kicked off with a challenge by the CAO for all
associations to get involved with neighbors through
an active Neighborhood Watch program.
Our community outreach programs continued in
2005, the Summer Youth Employment Workshop
and Job Fair help youth find jobs throughout the
area. The Summer Youth Employment Workshop
has consistently provided each year over a hundred
youth with the chance to learn about necessary job
skills and employment opportunities. The session
includes a keynote speaker to inspire the youth and
work sessions to develop resumes and advise on how
to best present themselves and their skills to
potential employers. The City contributed a number
of jobs to the employment effort.
I would like to take this opportunity to applaud the
work done by City departments during the days and
weeks following Hurricane Katrina. I would also like
to thank all of the volunteers who came to our City
to assist. A special thanks goes to those firefighters
and police officers that lent a helping hand.
The City worked with the Hattiesburg Public School
District and volunteers to establish a depository for
the sorting, storage and distribution of donated
clothing at Hawkins gymnasium. The City
administration worked with relief agencies and
emergency personnel and added water distribution
sites in the days following the storm. This allowed us
to make sure that ice and water made its way to
where it was most needed as it became available.
In conjunction with the Forrest County Emergency
Management District, the City established the
Hurricane Volunteer Services office at the Jackie
Dole Sherrill Community Center. The office was
staffed seven days a week as a resource to connect
volunteers with those in need of assistance in clearing
debris. The office also acted as an information
clearinghouse on sites for food, water, ice, progress
on debris clean up, and utility repairs.
More than a dozen stars of the NBA and WNBA
along with the relief organization “Feed the Children”
visited Hattiesburg in the aftermath of Katrina to
distribute trailer loads of food and supplies.
Saint Cloud, Minnesota; Bend, Oregon; and San
Jose, California adopted Hattiesburg and have
committed themselves to the long-term recovery of
our City. Saint Cloud has raised funds that have
been distributed to our United Way office and
distributed to residents or those displaced by
Katrina. San Jose’s Mayor and staff visited
Hattiesburg to get a first hand look at the conditions
here and our needs. As part of the City-to-City
Partnership Program, San Jose sent code enforcement
staff that assisted our local code enforcement division
for a few weeks. In 2006, the CAO office will be
coordinating City staff and administration
contributions to efforts by United Way’s Long Term
Recovery Team.
The coming years will see the continuation of efforts
at rebuilding after the destruction left by Hurricane
Katrina. Growth experienced since 2001 continues at
an exponential rate making Hattiesburg second only
to Jackson in sales tax income. As the population
grows, we will continue to expand services to
accommodate new citizens to our area.
Beverly Magee Commodore
Chief Administrative Officer
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The Chief Financial Officer/
Comptroller’s main responsibility is to work
with the Administration and the City Council in
preparing the annual budget and property tax levy
for the City.
The City’s budget process each summer includes
work sessions with the Mayor, the CAO and the
members of the City Council. The process includes
a public hearing in August with the budget being
adopted in September.
The CFO also provides assistance in debt
management, providing technical assistance to the
City Clerk, the Accounting Department and creates
a financial analysis for the Administration and the
City Council.
There are numerous “barometers” that can be
applied in order to evaluate a city’s financial
condition. Growth figures for sales taxes, the
property tax base, as well as geographical factors that
impact the potential for future growth as well as
employment statistics, bond ratings, and trends that
pertain to such factors as fund balance levels and
property tax rates can collectively provide an
overview of important financial information.
During Fiscal year 2005, the City continued to
utilize Mississippi Development Bank financing to
make progress with the expansion of water and
sewer system improvements, facility repairs at the
Police Department, the renovation of the Depot and
the opening of Fire station Number 8 in the newly
annexed areas of Lamar County. Our most recent
annexation was in 2003, the City expanded its
corporate boundaries to include 2,200 acres of land
in Lamar County primarily along U.S. Highway 98
and Lincoln Road extension. The City’s area now
approximates 53 square miles and substantial
growth in both property taxes and sales taxes were
realized in FY 2005, as sales taxes grew from
$16,789,839 (FY 2004) to $17,923,426 (FY 2005)
for a net increase of $1,136,587 (7%). General
Fund property tax collections grew from $8,542,257
in FY 2003 to $8,974,394 in FY 2005 for an
increase of $432,137 (5%). The fact that our City is
not “landlocked” with room to expand along paths
of growth is perhaps the single most important
long-term strategic barometer. The State Tax
Commission has confirmed that Hattiesburg has
become the State’s “number 2” sales tax City (2nd
only to Jackson).
The General Fund’s end of the year fund balance
(September 30, 2005) was $3,490,940, a decline of
$767,614 (18%) from our ending fund balance in
FY 2004. This downturn was primarily attributable
to extraordinary expenditures made from the
General Fund in the month of September directly
related to Hurricane Katrina. Revenues were also
impacted as a result of the storm (water & sewer
collections, police fines, etc.) but the storm’s impact
on the last month of the fiscal year’s revenues was
much less than the storm-related expenses for
September 2005. During this period of time we
 moved promptly to coordinate budgetary and
financial procedures necessary in the wake of the
hurricane, including obtaining a $3 Million general
obligation five-year note to help cover any matching
requirements we might experience in addition to
obtaining Federal financial assistance and property
insurance reimbursements. In the months following
the end of FY 2005, our local economy grew rapidly
as a result of an increased population, building
activity and other retail factors, such as vehicle
purchases. Although October 2005 sales taxes were
down 4% from a year ago, the November 2005 sales
tax check was the third largest in the City’s history,
reflecting an impressive 18% growth over the
November 2004 check.
From a long-term perspective, economic
development along these commercial corridors is
expected to be fast-paced. The City is preparing to
address the requests for tax increment financing
(TIF) bonds on Lincoln Road extension for the
planned major medical facility and for major
commercial developments that are planned in the
Turtle Creek Mall area and the Home Depot
project. The City Council and the Administration
are committed to using Tax Increment Finance
bonds under appropriate circumstances by pledging
18
MILLIONS
17.5
17
16.5
16
15.5
15
14.5
2001 2002
property taxes from these new developments to pay
the debt service on these bonds. Both the Forrest
County and the Lamar County Boards of
Supervisors have demonstrated a willingness to work
with the City by pledging county property tax
collections on TIF projects.
The Hattiesburg’s unemployment rate was 7.3% as
of October 2005 as compared to the State of
Mississippi’s rate of 9.6% and the national rate of
5.0%. These rates reflect the extraordinary number
of disaster-related claims for unemployment benefits
as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Our fiscal year
2005 budget was balanced for a seventh consecutive
year without a property tax increase.
All of the above noted financial “barometers” point
to the fact that Hattiesburg continues to be one of
the most rapidly growing cities. We are confident
that the City’s financial condition is very good and
that appropriate financial measures were taken
promptly after Hurricane Katrina. The
Administration will continue to work closely with
the City Council, the elected County officials as
well as the state and the federal government in order
to meet the financial challenges that always
accompany fast-paced economic development.
Sales Tax Growth
from 2001 to 2005
$17.9 Million in 2005 – 2nd in the State
Joe Townsend
Chief Financial Officer/Comptroller
2003 2004 2005 11
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The Department of Administration
for the City of Hattiesburg is composed of the City
Clerk’s Office, Accounting, Human Resource,
Information Systems, Parking/General Government,
Purchasing, Risk Management/Loss Control, Tax
Department and Water Customer Accounts Office.
It has the unique function of providing support for
all other City operations in addition to providing
services that impact the general public.
The City Clerk’s office assisted the election
commission and the party executive committees
with the municipal elections in May and June,
2005. This was the first primary and general
election held within the new voting precinct lines.
The reduction from thirty two to fourteen total
precincts within the five wards was essential for
conducting a more efficient election. The election
process was completed with minimal problems as a
result of the reduction in precincts. We will be
working with the County Circuit Clerks in 2006 to
implement the new process of obtaining voter rolls
and information for future City elections, in
accordance the new HAVA (Help America Vote Act)
regulations.
The Accounting Department implemented a new
Asset Inventory System for maintaining City owned
assets on October 1, 2004. All assets purchased
during the 2005 fiscal year were tagged with an asset
tag containing a bar code with the asset number.
Several departments have also tagged their old
equipment and all remaining departments are
expected to complete this process in the coming
fiscal year. Monthly financial reports and
spreadsheets are now being burned to CDs resulting
in less paper needed for printed reports and less
storage needs. Grant revenue received from federal
and state agencies totaled $6,076,925 in fiscal year
2005. $4,018,163 was for the depot project. We
also received $884,269 from HUD.
The Purchasing Division is the catalyst between the
many vendors who wish to do business with the
City and the various City departments. Emphasis is
placed on being cost effective as well as compliance
with City policy and state laws. A new copier was
purchased for the Purchasing and Accounting
Divisions which can be operated by computer from
the user’s desk. The faxing capability of this new
equipment has reduced the processing time for
purchase orders by approximately 60%. A new
program was prepared by Information Technology
to assist with the distribution of term contracts. All
departments can now access term contracts on the
City network. We continue in our efforts to provide
fast and efficient services to our internal and
external customers.
The Tax Department continues to put strong
emphasis on locating and licensing businesses
operating in the City. There were 2100 privilege
licenses renewed and 455 new licenses issued in
2005. Approximately 90 transient business licenses
were issued this year for out of town contractors
working in the City as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
All City realty and personal property taxes are now
being collected by the county in which the property
is located. The last land redemptions were received
in August, 2005 for tax sales on property in August,
2003. We will continue to work on collecting any
remaining unpaid City taxes for previous years.
The Human Resources Division continued to work
on streamlining and automating HR procedures and
processes. Automation processes implemented in
previous years are working efficiently. Over 2300
applications were received and processed during
2005, which was a significant increase from the
previous year. With the increased awareness of the
possibility of identity theft, Human Resources
implemented new procedures to help curtail this
problem. Improvements were made to current
processes including removing social security
numbers from various human resources records and
changing identification numbers, such as health
insurance numbers, to be randomly selected
numbers.
The Information Technology Division continues to
upgrade all equipment as needed. Approximately
10 personal computers were replaced in 2005. We
will concentrate on replacing and upgrading the
main AS400 in 2006. New programs continue to be
written as needed to assist the various departments
in the City. This division assisted with the
installation of a new video surveillance system in
City Hall, purchased with Homeland Security
funds. We are also working with a designer to create
a new web page which should be completed in
2006.
The Water Customer Accounts Division provides
water, sewer, and garbage billing services to
approximately 17,000 customers. As with other
services provided by the City, Hurricane Katrina
caused disruption of billing services. Meters were
not able to be read in many areas due to the large
amount of debris, causing delays is accurate readings
for billing. We are currently back on schedule with
our billing process. The Water Division continues to
strive toward the most efficient service for our
customers.
The Parking Operations Division continues to work
on providing efficient service and adequate parking
in the downtown area. The City maintains
approximately 861 parking spaces in the parking
lots and garages, and 86 metered spaces. We worked
this past year with the Downtown Association to
allocate additional public parking spaces in most of
our parking lots and garages. We will be
implementing uniform parking signs to direct the
public to all designated free two hour parking areas
including the new areas. Installation of new signs by
the Traffic Division has been delayed due to the
repairs being done by this division as a result of
Hurricane Katrina. The new signs should be
installed in 2006.
The Risk Management Division is pleased to have
the City’s employee safety meeting attendance
remaining above 100% participation for the third
year in a row. Emphasis is placed on the importance
of work place safety and the attendance of safety
meetings to discuss the hazards within the
individual departments. The Risk Manager has
worked with the City’s insurance company to reach
the highest possible coverage for damage to all City
facilities as a result of Hurricane Katrina. The
workers’ compensation premium is down more than
$100,000 this year and reflects a lower loss ratio and
modification factor. Also included in this amount is
a discount totaling $40,240 for continuing our
drug-free workplace program. The City also received
a 22.7% reduction in our property insurance
premium by changing our insurance carrier.
Eddie Myers
Director of Administration
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The Department of Public Services
consists of Engineering/Administration, Public
Works, Drainage, Health, Sanitation,
Construction/Traffic, Water, Sewer and Airport
Maintenance.
The Public Services Department was and still is
involved with debris removal from the roadways,
drainage channels, restoring water and sewer service
and repairs to City owned facilities. The City of
Hattiesburg did enter into an agreement with the
Corp of Engineers to remove storm debris from
roadways and City owned properties. The debris
that had been removed by contractors, City forces
and other entities was approximately one million
cubic yards at the end of December 2005.
Work is still being performed to remove debris and
to restore City owned facilities including water and
sewer. Damage to City owned facilities will be
approximately ten (10) million dollars. Although
Hurricane Katrina changed the focus of the Public
Services Department, numerous projects were
completed during the past year. Some of the major
projects completed were the Reconstruction of
North 40th Avenue from Hardy Street to
Montague, Reconstruction of Thornhill Drive from
40th Avenue to Lundy Lane, installation of sewer
lines along Brady Road and Brady Loop Road,
installation of sewer collection lines along Lincoln
Road West of 40th Avenue and work is continuing
on sewer installation along Highway 98 West and
Old Highway 11. The Reconstruction of Martin
Luther King from Katie Avenue to Tuscan Avenue
was completed during 2005.
The Public Services Department continues to make
drainage improvements throughout the City and
approximately 5,000 linear feet of storm drain has
been installed along roadways to improve the
drainage and aesthetics of the neighborhoods. In
cooperation with the Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS), drainage
improvements were made on Mixon Creek, River
Avenue and the river bank on Leaf River at the
South Lagoon.
Work continues on upgrading our traffic signals
throughout the City and mast arm poles were
installed at the intersection of Broadway Drive and
Service Drive. The fiber optic installation has been
completed along Hardy Street from our Traffic
Control Center on Walnut Street to Highway 49
and has greatly improved the traffic flow along this
section. The improvements on Hardy Street from
Highway 49 to I-59 should commence within the
first six (6) months of 2006 and this work will be
performed and funded by the Mississippi
Department of Transportation (MDOT).

Numerous projects are presently under contract

and/or plans and specifications are being prepared
for roadway improvements along Classic Drive,
West 4th Street from Hutchinson Avenue to North
25th, widening of Hardy Street from North 21st to
Highway 49 and the North/South Corridor West of
Turtle Creek Mall from 98 West to West 4th Street.

Many improvements have been made to our water

and sewer facilities which include replacing of
deteriorating sewer lines and replacement of fire
hydrants throughout the City. A study is being
conducted for improvements that need to be
performed to Water Treatment Plant No. 2 and
work should begin in 2006 on the Expansion of the
North Lagoon.

The Public Services Department’s ultimate goal

remains to provide efficient and quality services to
the citizens of Hattiesburg and to improve the
quality of life for all citizens of Hattiesburg and the
surrounding areas.

Bennie Sellers
Director of Public Services

15
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The Department of Urban
Development consists of Planning, Land
Development Code, CDBG/Entitlement, and
MPO/HCT/GIS Divisions.
The Planning Division consists of Land Use
Planning and Zoning, Historic Preservation,
Neighborhood Development Floodplain
Management and the Action Center.
Land Use and Zoning personnel authored
consolidated annual performance and evaluation
report and one-year action plan for housing and
community development programs funded by the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development; Authored nine amendments to the
Land Development Code, including electronic
message sign ordinance, bed and breakfast ordinance
and amendments to the area, dimension and
parking requirements in all districts. Urban
Development handled a record number of
applications for Site Plan Review Committee (147),
Board of adjustments (54) and the Hattiesburg
Planning Commission (76).
Historic Preservation completed Certified Local
Government Grant-in-aid to commission a survey
and measured drawings of the old Hattiesburg High
School Building for future conceptual pre-planning
of a $15 million renovation to house USM’s School
of Art and Design; Celebrated National Historic
Preservation Week in May with a Proclamation by
the Mayor; awarded a Certified Local Government
Grant-in-Aid from the National Park Service
through the Mississippi Department of Archives and
History for the production of a historic tour
brochure. Urban Development reviewed
applications for over 70 Certificates of
Appropriateness; Issued over 110 Letters of
Compliance; and successfully acquired MS
Development Authority / Energy Division grant to
establish the first solar water heated public pool
project in the state of MS.
The Neighborhood Development Officer
coordinated Council of Neighborhood Quarterly
meetings; Presently working to establish new
neighborhood associations and revitalizing dormant;
neighborhood associations. Our Neighborhood
Development Officer assisted with the coordination
of Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief efforts by;
organizing relief supply shipments, organizing
volunteer medical services for the community, and
opening a Clothes Closet for displaced families.
Floodplain Management held scoping meetings for
Lamar and Forrest counties, with FEMA
contractors; Designed map overlay documenting
Base Flood Elevation for all properties with
Elevation Certificates or Letters of Map
Amendment on file; Designed and implemented a
computer program for maintenance of the Elevation
Certificates; 75% completion of a Multi-Hazard
Mitigation Plan; Lisa Reid, the City’s CRS
Coordinator, completed a Home Study Course and
exam becoming a “Certified Floodplain Manager
(CFM)” [there are less than 1,500 people in the
United States with this Certification] she is serving a
second term as President of the Association of
Floodplain Managers of Mississippi (AFMM).
The Action Center is available 24 hours and was
instrumental in assisting citizens of Hattiesburg with
their need for information during the catastrophic
storm Hurricane Katrina; and received 25,257
requests for services during the calendar year 2005
with a 97 percent completion rate. The function of
the Action Center is to provide a way for citizens to
voice their concerns and make sure they are
responded to in a timely manner.
The Land Development Division provides
ongoing services to the public, contractors,
developers, and business owners. We are continuing
to provide efficient and valuable services through
our Contractor Licensing Programs, Permitting,
Inspections, Code Enforcement and Business
License application processing. Construction activity
has increased by 300 percent since Hurricane
Katrina. The number of permits issued increased
from 133 in August to 255 in September, then to
455 in October. The number of contractors
applying for a license has increased from an average
of approximately 8 per month to more than 30 per
month since the storm.
CDBG/Entitlement: The City of Hattiesburg is
designated as a federal entitlement city. This
designation allows the City to receive federal
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
and HOME funding. The Community
Development Division oversees management of
these funds for the betterment of the City’s
neighborhoods through improvement of
neighborhoods and housing opportunities. In 2005,
the City received an American Dream
Downpayment Initiative Grant (ADDIG) in the
amount of $250,000 to assist first-time homebuyers.
The downpayment assistance program assisted 14
families in 2005 and that number will greatly
increase in 2006 with the receipt of the ADDIG.
The division also oversees projects ranging from
rehabilitation of inadequate housing to the City’s
Façade grant program that assists businesses with
funds for preservation of historic structures. The
Division also oversees the
Weather Radio distribution
program that provided 70
radios at no cost to eligible
elderly and low-income
families in 2005.
Transit: The Urban Transit
office includes the local
Metropolitan Planning
Organization (MPO) and the
City’s bus system, HUB City Transit.
The MPO coordinates transportation
planning for the Hattiesburg, Petal, Forrest
and Lamar area and is currently overseeing over
$6.5 million in transportation projects. The Urban
Transit office is responsible for management of
federal funds allocated to the City’s bus system and
train depot renovation project – Hattiesburg
Intermodal Facility. Renovation on the train depot
project began in earnest in 2005 and is scheduled
for completion in 2006. The renovated depot will
provide citizens access to Amtrak, taxi and bus
service.
Hub City Transit purchased two 24-passenger
handicapped accessible buses in 2005. The line
serves approximately 50,000 riders each year on its
fixed route system and 25,000 on its demand
response system for the elderly and disabled.
The Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
supports Hattiesburg, Petal, Forrest and Lamar
County in planning transportation projects with
maps. GIS coordinates with City-wide Departments
in numerous special projects such as Mayor’s Prayer Willie Horton
Breakfast, Hattiesburg Veterans committee, Mayor’s Director of Urban Development
Youth Council, CDBG/HOME Programs and
Weeks, Council of Neighborhoods and National
Night Out Against Crime. GIS is in the process of
developing a new traffic modeling system for long
range transportation planning.
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From the election to Hurricane Katrina,
2005 will go into the books as a historical year for
the Parks and Recreation department. Many events
and activities were held and hosted at the various
facilities. Several construction projects and
renovations made at the various parks and facilities.
Our department is very proud to have had the
opportunity to continue educational training for
staff members in turf management during the year.
During the year of 2005, renovation projects were
completed at several of the facilities. Kamper Park
Tennis Courts were resurfaced and C.E. Roy’s pool
was resurfaced as well. Duncan Lake phase II was
completed. Construction crews installed new
restrooms, new pavilion and new picnic shelters.
The pathway for the accessible walking trail was
laid. Asphalt will follow to create a hard surface in
which all users can maneuver. A new flagpole was
installed at C.E. Roy Community Center. New park
benches were installed at Eastside Park. The old
wood auditorium floor at C.E. Roy was removed
and replaced. The W.U. “Bill” Sigler Center
restrooms were renovated to comply with ADA
regulations and a totally new access ramp system
was installed at the Sigler. As one can easily see,
much work and improvement has been done to
many of our facilities. We hope to continue this
progress and success into the next year.
The Recreation Maintenance Division hosted many
community events such as Black History Month
Celebration, Very Special Arts Festival, Memorial
Day, Juneteenth Celebration, USM Downtown
Music Festival, Veteran’s Day, Christmas Tree
Lighting Ceremony, Downtown Old Time
Christmas, and numerous civic, church, and family
reunions and gatherings. Hattiesburg also continues
to draw athletic tournaments as the Cellular South
Soccer Tournament, Steve McNair Softball Classic,
Coca-Cola Classic Tournament and other high
school and collegiate events. We hosted several other
sanctioned athletic events such as USSSA Select
Baseball tournaments, Little League State, NJTL
Tennis Tournament, Dixie Majors District, Dixie
Youth Sub-District, Dixie Youth District, Juneteenth
Softball Tournament, and numerous independent
softball tournaments.
The Recreation Maintenance Division crews mow
approximately 350 acres per week and maintain
approximately 200 beautification beds. These men
and women take pride in presenting Hattiesburg as
one of the most aesthetically pleasing and clean
cities for the citizens and visitors of Hattiesburg.
The Keep Hattiesburg Beautiful Commission was
busy during 2005. They received the 2005 Circle of
Excellence Award from Keep Mississippi Beautiful.
KHB sponsored the Great American Cleanup in
Hattiesburg this past March through May consisting
of a recycling element in which a grass roots
volunteer group gathered together each Saturday
during the GACU to collect recyclables from the
curb-side of participating residents. This program
stimulated much enthusiasm for a curbside recycling
program. KHB is very excited about the new street
sign program to have an anti-litter signs installed in
neighborhoods.
Hurricane Katrina devastated many of our park areas.
Damage to roofs, fences, playgrounds, lights, pools,
trees, grass, and landscaping occurred in almost every
Hattiesburg park. Crews will continue to work
diligently to clear away this damage and return these
recreation areas to their once beautiful state.
The Hattiesburg Zoo has strong community
partnerships with the following: Leaders for a New
Century group “Zoo Crew” assisted with promoting
the zoo and membership to the Hattiesburg
Zoological Society (HZS). They held a “Business
After Hours” meeting and Zoo Lights that were well
attended. The HZS participated in the Zoo Boo
event, which had a record breaking turnout with
over 10,000 guests attending. The Audubon Society
held its annual Birdfest on Mother’s Day and helped
us educate the guests about bird life. Girl Scouts
held their annual overnight with about 100 children
camping out in tents. USM’s sorority (Tri-Delta)
and fraternity (SAE) – assisted with operating
ZooBoo games.
Hurricane Katrina arrived and the zoo had 83 trees
totally destroyed within its perimeter. There were
over 45 trees destroyed in the rest of the park. The
staff pitched in and worked hard together following
the destruction to clean up the zoo and park. Due
to their dedication we were able to re-open the
facility to the public within a month to give them a
place to get away from the heaps of carnage.
The only animals lost due to the storm were the
large carp and koi. The male blue duiker was the
only animal to escape during the hurricane. He
stayed near his exhibit and was captured a week
later. His mate had another baby girl in November,
which is their 3rd daughter born here. These have
been substantial births for the breeding program
since the population was having a shortage of
females.
The Cultural Affairs Division strives to maintain
clean and safe facilities for various events and usages.
The Division accommodated approximately 1000
events including wedding receptions, banquets,
wedding anniversaries, proms, birthday parties,
family and class reunions, workshops, seminars,
organizational and business meetings with
approximately 100,000 attending.
After Hurricane Katrina, the W. U. Sigler and Jackie
Dole Sherrill Community Centers served as Red
Cross Assistance Centers for various individuals
affected by the storm. C. E. Roy Community
Center has been functioning as a FEMA Recovery
Center since September 2005.
In 2005, the Cemetery and Urban Forestry Division
was kept busy with Hurricane Katrina cleanup. The
forestry crew was some the first personnel called out
to cut trees during the hurricane. In conjunction
with the cemetery crews these crews worked
tirelessly, risking their own lives to accomplish this
enormous task. These same crews worked for weeks
following the hurricane to remove hazardous trees
and limbs impacting the public streets. In February
to March 2005 Urban Forestry crews planted over
225 trees for various projects. These trees were
located along streets in historic districts; downtown
area, parks and main thoroughfares.
The National Arbor Day Foundation designated
Hattiesburg as a “Tree City USA” for the 13th year.
The City met the stringent standards in maintaining
and promoting a healthy urban forest. Throughout
the year leading up to Katrina, the tree crew
performed various tree maintenance activities
including pruning, cleaning, removing deadwood
and removal of dead and diseased trees.
The Cemetery Division maintained five City owned
cemeteries and provided burial assistance families.
Dr. Clemon D. Terrell
Director of Parks and Recreation
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Thanks to the daily contributions of
its dedicated employees, the Hattiesburg Police
Department justified its reputation as an agency of
Pride and Progress again in 2005.
The tradition of success maintained by the
department is benefited by its relationship with the
citizens of Hattiesburg through ongoing
communication and feedback. Officers of the
department regularly attend Neighborhood
Association meetings from all areas of the City, and
held monthly sessions with the Citizens Advisory
Committee that is made up of residents from
varying regions of the jurisdiction.
This strong partnership between the Hattiesburg
Police Department and the citizens its officers
have been sworn to protect extended into
2005 with the annual Citizens Academy.
Held in August, the academy
represents a bridge between law
enforcement and civilians, providing
the residents of Hattiesburg with the
goals, objectives and general
operating procedure of the
department, along with personal
accounts from leading officers
within the agency.
For the fourth summer in a row, the department
held its annual Junior Police Academy in 2005. The
week-long experience brings officers and area youth
together through physical and educational activities,
and exists as an opportunity for young people to
learn the value of law enforcement through
interpersonal interaction with officers in the field.
This commitment to building a foundation of trust
and understanding between area youth and the
Hattiesburg Police Department was reflected in the
continuation of the Drugs and Alcohol Resistance
Education program. In 2005, Hattiesburg DARE
Officers celebrated the completion of the
educational program with 336 children at N. R.
Burger Middle School.
The opening of the Hattiesburg Police Substation
on Lamar Boulevard marked the beginning of an
additional base of operations this year. In March,
the new substation opened its doors to citizens and
businesses of the area, providing a more convenient
and accessible resource in law enforcement for
officers and citizens in the recently annexed
territory.
In 2005, the Hattiesburg Police Department began
accepting applications for the City’s first Volunteer
Reserve Police Force. With the help of this new
unit, the department will have a permanent resource
of trained and qualified reserve officers available for
situations requiring additional manpower.
This year the Special Operations division continued
its longstanding success in the annual Mississippi
Law Enforcement Officers Association Convention
in Gulfport, where two officers took first and third
place honors in the motorcycle competition,
demonstrating their abilities in maneuvering
through obstacles safely and with skill.
Hattiesburg Police Officer of the Year Charles
Johnson received recognition by the Rotary Club of
Hattiesburg-Sunrise through the Service Above Self
Award in June 2005. The award is presented to
individuals contributing to the community through
courage, professionalism, and integrity.
Hattiesburg Officer La’Sheeta Davis was inducted
into the Mississippi Governor’s DUI 200 Club for
making 225 DUI arrests in one year – the most of
any municipal police officer in the state during this
year. As the leading municipal DUI officer in the
state, Davis was also named Officer of the Year by
the Mississippi chapter of Mothers Against Drunk
Driving.
A new and highly experienced Crime Analyst and a
new crime mapping software package each brought
significant advancement to the department’s efforts
in evaluating crime data this year. These
developments in the crime analysis unit allow the
department to track patterns in reported crimes
quicker and more efficiently. With this software,
officers are able to respond to potential trends in
criminal activity in the earliest stages of
development.
As a nationally accredited agency through the
Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement
Agencies (CALEA), the Hattiesburg Police
Department gained the honor of having one of its
own gain the status of CALEA assessor during 2005.
Major Billy Lane earned the title of assessor after
meeting an extensive list of criterion and
prerequisites set by the commission. In his work as a
national assessor, Lane serves as a liaison between
CALEA and law enforcement agencies applying for
accreditation.
The Hattiesburg Police Department’s Neighborhood
Enhancement Team continued to develop its strong
connection with the communities they serve. NET
officers refinished and painted the Robertson Place
gazebo, joined in clean-up day with the youth of the
Hattiesburg Housing Authority, and continued their
tradition of community service through various
projects throughout the year.
The department made significant strides in keeping
Hattiesburg streets free of illegal substances and
activities this year, making more than 600 felony
narcotics arrests and seizing approximately
$87,000.00 in currency, as well as vehicles and other
property.
The department was awarded renewed funding for
numerous federal grants this year. The Violence
Against Women Act Grant that funds the position
of a Victims Advocate, the Local Law Enforcement
Block Grant that supplies valuable equipment to
officers in the field, the Bullet Proof Vest Grant, and
the Alcohol Counter Measures Grant that
contributes to the position of a DUI officer were
each renewed.
David C. Wynn
Chief of Police
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T
The mission of the Hattiesburg Fire
Department is to provide quality fire, rescue,
emergency medical, hazardous materials, fire
prevention, and safety services to the community.
The department consists of 124 personnel most of
whom are fire fighters assigned to one of the three
operational shifts. There are eight fire stations, three
offices, 15 emergency fire trucks/apparatus, and 12
support vehicles.
To accomplish our mission the department is
divided into four divisions. The largest and most
visible of these divisions is the Fire and Rescue
Operations Division. These are the fire fighters in
the stations and on the trucks. They comprise the
backbone of the department’s emergency and non-
emergency services provided to the City.
The Fire Prevention Division provides many of the
code enforcement, plans review, life safety
inspections, arson investigations, and public safety
education programs for the department.
One of the most important sections is the
Hazardous Materials and Training Division. This
division is responsible for the department’s response
to hazardous materials and weapons of mass
destruction incidents and the related training for
these incidents. This division administers cadet fire
fighter training, specialized fire and rescue courses,
and the department’s professional development
programs.
The Administration Division supports all the other
sections by providing the logistical functions of
purchase and supply, payroll, policy review and
development, and departmental direction through
the development of goals, objectives, and initiatives.
Throughout 2005 the department responded to
3500 alarms and calls for assistance. It provided
more than 3000 fire inspections, 500 life safety
inspections, and 750 public education safety
presentations. During that same time fire fighters
spent more than 20,000 student contact hours in
training ranging from specialized rescue programs to
executive fire officer college programs at the
National Fire Academy.
The Hattiesburg Fire Department Hazardous
Materials Team along with personnel from the
Hattiesburg Police Department, Hattiesburg Public
Works Department, and AAA Ambulance Company
have been designated as one of five regional response
teams for weapons of mass destruction incidents. This
team, called Southeast One, has been designated by
the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency to
provide the immediate response to terrorist attacks
within a 16-county area of the state. The Hattiesburg
Regional Response Team, under the coordination of
the fire department’s Hazardous Materials Chief has
become the state’s premier response team for these
terrorist type incidents. Our team is providing
leadership in the development of training, emergency
operations, and response planning to the rest of the
state. Because of this regional response team
designation and the leadership role the Hattiesburg
team has assumed, the City of Hattiesburg has, to
date, received more than $2 million in federal grant
funding.
Over the past year the department has accomplished
several goals within its multi-year service
improvement plan. These include:
The City of Hattiesburg opened its newest
combined fire and police facility on March 1, 2005.
The station is home to Hattiesburg Fire
Department’s Engine Company 8 that provides fire,
rescue, EMS protection and other services to this
western section of the City.
In January 2006 the Hattiesburg Fire Department
received delivery on a new 100-foot aerial ladder
truck. The new truck has a greater ladder reach,
more pumping capacity, and many other
technological improvements.
The Fire Department has tripled the number of fire
officers sent to the programs offered at the National
Fire Academy. These federally funded government
programs are presented in two-week college courses
at the academy’s campus in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
Fire investigators have received more training at
both the state and national fire academies, and the
importance of determining fire causes has received
greater emphasis from the new fire marshal. With
these changes, statistics have greatly improved in less
than six months. In five months there have been 7
arrests, 3 confessions, and another 10 incendiary
cases are pending.
Under the leadership of Fire Marshal Mike Barham,
the department’s lead investigator, Clayton Speed,
and nine shift investigators have demonstrated great
skill, initiative, and dedication in the investigation
of fire causes. Their work has resulted in more than
a 70% increase in arson convictions. For his effort
and hard work Investigator Speed was nominated
for and received the State Arson Investigator of the
Year Award from the Mississippi Fire & Arson
Investigators Association.
The HFD awarded the contract for another new
Class ‘A’ fire pumper in February. This truck
purchase is part of the HFD’s planned vehicle
replacement program that enables the department to
replace it’s aging vehicles and pays for these
purchases through the use of the state’s fire
insurance rebate funds.
The Fire Department has implemented the
nationally recognized Knox Box security entry system
for local businesses. This computer controlled
security system enables fire fighters who are
dispatched to a fire at a business the ability to gain
after-hour access, without delay. The Knox Box
system saves time, money, and damage. This system
is a great asset to local businesses.
Institution of a professional development program
that coincides with an education and certification
pay provide better trained, more knowledgeable fire
fighters that are better equipped to serve the
citizens, and are better prepared officers as they
promote into the higher ranks of the department.
This program also provides an education and
certification pay as an incentive for the completion
of college degrees and for additional higher levels of
fire/rescue certifications.
The Fire Department has partnered with several
local industries to assist them in obtaining
specialized training. This partnership improves
communications between the businesses and the
HFD, enhances cooperation and teamwork, and
lowers the training costs/saves money for the City
and all the members involved.
During Hurricane Katrina, five out of the eight
stations received minor damage. Stations 1 and 3
and the Police and Fire Training Academy received
significant damage and were placed in manufactured
homes as temporary housing and offices. All stations
received emergency repairs and continued to
function during and after the hurricane.
The Hattiesburg Fire Department is committed to
the values of courteous professional service to the Jim Fiero
community, provided in the safest and most efficient Fire Department Chief
manner possible, and the dedication to continuous
improvement.
23
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Photos courtesy of Hattiesburg American:

Cover – Woman; Flag Among Debris; University of

Southern Mississippi

Page 3 – All

Page 6 – Tree Across Road

Page 7 – Car Line

Page 8 – Vehicles Passing Under Tree; Woman and

Children at Shelter

Page 9 – Man Carrying Supplies

Page 10 – Woman and Children

Page 11 – Fallen Tree

Page 12 – Utility Workers; Woman with Umbrella

Page 13 – Military Police

Page 14 – Ice Line; Tree in Road

Page 15 – Tree on Building; Food Line

Page 16 – All

Page 17 – Debris on Street Corner

Page 18 – Family

Page 19 – Boy with Ice

Page 20 – Line at Walgreens

Page 21 – Police Officer on Phone

Page 26 – All

25
26

Contact Information

Mayor Johnny L. DuPree Joseph Townsend

Tel: 601.545.4501 CFO/Comptroller
Fax: 601.545.4608 Tel: 601.545.4680
E-mail: mayor@hattiesburgms.com
Bennie Sellers
City Council Office Director of Public Services
Tel: 601.545.4551 Tel: 601.545.4640
E-mail: citycouncil@hattiesburgms.com
Willie Horton
Beverly Magee Commodore Director of Urban Development
Chief Administrative Officer Tel: 601.545.4609
Tel: 601.545.4507
Dr. Clemon Terrell
Eddie Myers Director of Parks and Recreation
Director of Administration/City Clerk Tel: 601.545.4623
Tel: 601.545.4502
Police Chief David C. Wynn
City Clerk’s Office Hattiesburg Police Department
Tel: 601.545.4552 Tel: 601.545.4900

Tax Office Fire Chief Jim Fiero

Tel: 601.545.4522 Hattiesburg Fire Department
Tel: 601.582.3311

For assistance with any City of Hattiesburg

services you may call the Action Center Line
24 hours a day: 601.545.4500

To see what is happening in Hattiesburg visit

us at: www.hattiesburgms.com
 PRSRT STD
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Permit #4
Hattiesburg, MS

Post Office Box 1898

Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39403-1898