Olive Branch board approves plats, accepts pedestrian-path bid, rejects several airport/utility bids; tables larger projects

The Olive Branch Board of Aldermen on June 17 approved two subdivision plats, accepted the low bid for a soccer-complex pedestrian bridge, directed city staff to abate multiple nuisance properties and took several procurement actions on airport and utility projects.

The actions set by the board included administrative approvals and procurement decisions that city staff said will move forward capital projects and property maintenance work.

Among the approvals, the board voted to approve the final plat for Taylor Estate (a proposed subdivision of residential lots) and to approve the final plat for Caroline's Corner (a single commercial lot at 9369 Goodman Road). Planning staff told the board the Taylor Estate lots meet the agricultural-residential (AR) district lot-size requirements and that the Caroline's Corner parcel is zoned C-3 general commercial and includes an existing nonconforming building for which the plat recognizes current setbacks.

On capital projects, the board accepted the low bid from Alexander Construction for the multiuse path and pedestrian bridge at the George Harrison Soccer Complex. Staff reported three bidders submitted proposals; one bid was disqualified as incomplete and a protest was later withdrawn. The low bid amount reported by staff was $1,074,114.69.

The board also directed staff to reject a single bid for a gas regulator station and to rebid the work because only one offer was received and it exceeded the project budget. Similarly, staff recommended rejecting a nonresponsive bid for apron rehabilitation phase 2 at the airport and to re-advertise that work. For taxiway rehabilitation phase 2, the board voted to table the decision until the Federal Aviation Administration grant offer is received, as staff said the grant must be in hand before proceeding. Fire Station No. 6 bids were tabled to the July 1 meeting to allow further evaluation.

On code enforcement, staff reported high grass and property-maintenance concerns on several parcels. Based on photographic evidence and staff inspection, the board declared the properties a menace to public health and safety and directed city staff or contracted labor to clean the properties forthwith.

The board approved a change order to allow wooden traffic-signal poles at the College Road and Craft Road intersection so the signal can become operational before school starts; the board recorded a motion to extend that change order. City staff said steel poles remain the long-term intent but that supply delays made temporary wooden poles the fastest option to meet the school-year deadline. Staff also said the pole bases will be placed to accommodate the final steel poles and future road widening plans.

Finally, the board moved from regular session to enter executive session to discuss personnel matters in several departments.

Votes at a glance
- Minutes of June 3, 2025: approved (motion carried).
- Consent agenda items 1–29: approved (motion carried).
- Final plat, Taylor Estate (residential subdivision): approved (motion carried).
- Final plat, Caroline's Corner (commercial lot at 9369 Goodman Road): approved (motion carried).
- Accept low bid from Alexander Construction for multiuse path/pedestrian bridge (George Harrison Soccer Complex): accepted (motion carried); low bid reported $1,074,114.69.
- Reject and rebid: single bid for gas regulator station (motion carried).
- Reject and rebid: nonresponsive bid for apron rehabilitation phase 2 at the airport (motion carried).
- Table: taxiway rehabilitation phase 2 until FAA grant offer received (motion carried).
- Table: Fire Station No. 6 bids until July 1 for evaluation (motion carried).
- Property-maintenance abatements: properties declared menace to public health and safety; staff directed to contract for cleanup (motion carried).
- Change order to use wooden traffic-signal poles at College and Craft to meet school start deadlines: approved (motion carried).
- Motion to enter executive session to discuss personnel matters in multiple departments: approved (motion carried).

This summary reports motions and outcomes recorded on the meeting record. Where the transcript did not include detailed roll-call vote counts, the board recorded outcomes as “Aye” and noted the motion carried; specific numeric tallies were not provided in the audio record excerpt.