Leaders from across the state and Carroll and Montgomery counties gained valuable knowledge in improving their cities and towns at the Mississippi Municipal League Conference last week.
The Mississippi Municipal League (MML) held its 92nd Annual Conference June 26 – 28 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center in Biloxi, according to a statement released by MML.
Some conference highlights included the presentation of the 2023 Municipal Excellence Awards, an induction ceremony for the 2023 Municipal Hall of Fame and an expo show, showcasing more than 150 businesses, state agencies and other organizations. This year’s event featured stump speeches where attendees were able to hear from candidates running for Mississippi’s governor and lieutenant governor, as well as other statewide offices. Also at the conference, the Certified Municipal Official graduation took place, recognizing more than 200 municipal officials for their achievement in the program, according to the release.
The Town of North Carrollton won the Municipal Excellence Award for the Population Under 10,000 division after installing new decorative lamps, a decorative fence near the North Carrollton Volunteer Fire Station, a crosswalk, and decorative stop signs in town, according to Mayor Ken Strachan.
“I called it the Main Street Rehabilitation Project,” said Strachan. “They have out-of-state people that come in and judge entries from all over the state. There are two categories, and Biloxi won [Population] 10,000 and up. North Carrollton was on the big screen with Biloxi.”
The League expected about 3,000 municipal elected officials, municipal employees, state agency representatives, legislators, exhibitors and others at this year’s annual event. Many state and federal agencies provided speakers for the educational sessions. They included the Attorney General’s office, State Auditor’s office, Mississippi Development Authority, Mississippi Planning and Development Districts and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, among others. Topics included state law updates, grant opportunities, medical marijuana, municipal liability issues, community and economic development, infrastructure funding, disaster recovery, and water and sewer issues, the release stated.
Vaiden Mayor Stella Washington Bell said she aimed to acquire comprehensive knowledge in the field of municipal laws and legislation advocacy at the conference.
“The conference provided an excellent platform for elected officials and mayors from various towns and cities to come together and discuss common issues faced by small towns. It was truly eye-opening to realize that regardless of our geographical location, we all encounter similar challenges due to insufficient revenue,” said Washington Bell. “One of the highlights of the conference was the opportunity to network with like-minded individuals who share the same passion for finding effective solutions to the problems our communities face. By exchanging ideas and experiences, we were able to gain valuable insights into how other municipalities are addressing these issues.”
Winona Mayor Aaron Dees said he gleaned a great deal from the three to four classes he took each day, learning from the experiences shared by other mayors who have been in the position from 20 to 40 years.
“I took every class I could possibly take,” said Dees on his efforts to gather knowledge that would benefit Winona.
The mission of the Mississippi Municipal League is helping cities and towns excel. MML is a non-partisan association established in 1931, representing 293 city, town and village governments in Mississippi.
“In addition to the valuable content of the conference, the organizers did an exceptional job of facilitating an interactive and engaging experience. The event was well-organized, and the speakers were highly knowledgeable in their respective fields,” said Washington Bell. “The knowledge and connections gained at the conference will undoubtedly have a positive impact on our ongoing efforts to address the challenges faced by our town.”
MML is also affiliated with the National League of Cities, a lobbying, legislative and legal arm representing municipalities before the U.S. Congress, according to MML.
