Next month will be the 2025 Mississippi Municipal League Mid-Winter Legislative Conference in Jackson. Through the years when I attended the winter conference it has always been very informative with the MML legislative agenda. Each year consists of proposals for the legislature that are important to cities and towns across this state. Over the years when the MML initiated proposals during the winter meeting they got attention. MML would hold a rally when visiting the capitol and legislators were very gracious to us and willing to listen to our efforts. Through the years several topics that MML had on the legislative agenda, were the Small Municipalities Grant Program, and funding for the emergency road and bridge repair fund. It’s an effort from the local level when the Mississippi Municipal League has the legislative conference that is a lot of local representation that can have an impact statewide from city halls across this state.
For example, back in 2021 North Carrollton was awarded the Small Municipalities Grant which was available then to be funded and this was the beginning of our sidewalk projects. The grant was in the amount of $100,000 and that was a great investment for our town seeking these funds.
It is essential when these grants are available for a municipality to apply for them. I hope that in 2025 the Small Municipalities Grant will be available again, this is something the municipal governments will be lobbying on behalf. Bringing these funds home makes a big difference for a municipality. Here the grant funded sidewalks beginning at J.Z. George High School, past North Carrollton Baptist Church to the post office. It was part of our Small Municipalities Grant and a sound investment.
When thinking about investments in public works projects like what will be discussed for funding at the MML conference, I think back to the seventies. Back then my uncle Hester McCluskey worked for the Carroll County Board of Supervisors as a foreman for the bridge crew. In those days growing up here, my earliest memories where when the county built and repaired a lot of roads and bridges that lasted a long time. Just like in the old days it's true today with keeping infrastructure up to date is a constant task.
I look forward to the MML conference with optimism for the future and the opportunities communities will have across this state. It comes with investments that will make a difference. These efforts, like the good work over past decades, will carry on not just for a year or two but for a generation or two.
Ken Strachan serves as the mayor of North Carrollton and is a member of the Mississippi Municipal League board of directors
