Flowood hires public-safety officers, promotes shop foreman; names new Flowood Chamber board members

Flowood’s Board of Aldermen approved multiple personnel actions across two January meetings. On Jan. 4 the board approved hiring Travis Cohn as Private II (Step 2) in the Fire Department at $9.46 per hour and hiring Sammy Magee to fill a vacant Patrolman Step 4 position in the Police Department.

At the Jan. 19 meeting, Police Chief Ritchie McCluskey recommended hiring Vandrick Zollicoffer as Patrolman Step 5 and Byron Robison as Patrolman Step 4; both hires were approved unanimously. Public Works Director Garry Miller recommended promoting Joseph Begley to Shop Foreman to replace the retiring Danny Prestage; the board approved the promotion with a salary of $45,000 per year.

Jennifer Anderson, representing the Chamber of Flowood, requested appointments to the Chamber board; the board appointed David Horner, Jennifer Bishop and Daryll Palmer. Mayor Gary L. Rhoads also recognized members of Boy Scout Troop 300 who attended the meeting in pursuit of merit badges.

Why it matters: The hires and promotion replenish city public-safety staffing and fill a management gap in public works. Chamber appointments affect local business and event planning oversight.

What’s next: Hired personnel will enter service per department procedures; salary and step details were recorded in the minutes. The minutes do not list start dates or onboarding timelines.