Desoto County News

Musselwhite details Southaven city progress in 2023 review

Photo: Southaven Mayor Darren Musselwhite address the annual Veterans Day Luncheon. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)

Southaven Mayor Darren Musselwhite released what he termed his “Year in Review” on his Facebook page this week. It’s a public recap of what has been done in the state’s third-largest city during the past year.

Here is what the Southaven mayor stated has happened in the city since January 2023.

BOOMING ECONOMY …

  • Snowden District & Silo Square Explosive Growth
  • Metropolitan District and Hotel/Convention Center Progressu
  • West End District Redevelopment Enhanced Plan Underway
  • Continued Record-Setting Sales Tax Revenue Growth to $19,255,456 in ’23 up 54.05 percent in 10 Years from $12,499,170 in ’13 (Projected at $21 Million in ’24)

IMPROVING RECREATIONAL VALUE…

  • BankPlus Amphitheater Record-Setting Concert Events (12) & Tripled Revenues
  • Neighborhood Park Trails & Pavilions In Progress
  • New Roofs at Snowden Grove Park Nearing Completion
  • Arena Volleyball Parking Expansion Completed
  • Pickleball Courts (4) Completed Becoming Major Attraction
  • Perfect Game Baseball Tournament Inaugural Year Success
  • Tennis Expansion Underway for 8 Additional Courts
  • Cherry Valley Park Enhancement Design Underway
  • Performing Arts Center Study Underway
Southaven Mayor Darren Musselwhite

CELEBRATING OUR HISTORY…

  • Archive Library Completed
  • Tribute Hall First 2 Honorees with 3 Projected Honorees in ‘24
  • Historical Marker Signs Placed at The Tree and Jaycee Pool with Pending Signs for Cherry Valley Park, Chickasaw Indian Trail, and Jago Locations

AGGRESSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT…

  • Getwell Road South Widening Project Tremendous Progress
  • Pepper Chase Road South Extension Completed
  • Getwell (May to Nail) Multi-Use Trail Completed
  • Getwell (Nail to Church) MPO Multi-Use Trail Nearing Construction in ‘24
  • Nail Road Extension (Getwell to Tchulahoma) in Design
  • Snowden Lane Widening (Goodman to May) in Design
  • Street Resurfacing ($6.4 million, highest in history)
  • Drainage Improvement Projects Completed ($500K)
  • Autumn Woods Drainage Project in Design
  • Carriage Hills Estates Drainage Project in Design
  • Rasco/Greenbrook Parkway, Guthrie/Airways, Stateline/Swinnea, and Church/Tchulahoma Traffic Signals in Design
  • Driving Desoto Campaign Underway for I-55 Widening with $25 Million Legislative Allocation

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITMENT…

  • Police Officer Growth of 39 percent in 5 years (165 from 119 in FY ’19)
  • Police Massive Funding Investment of 60 percent in 5 years ($19,367,256 from $12,107,758 in FY ’19)
  • Operation: Close the Door Underway to Secure our Northern Border
  • General Flat Crime Statistics Showing Outstanding Police Effort Considering Growth and Unique Geographic Challenges
  • New Police East Precinct Under Construction to Address Growth
  • Fire Hydrant Expansion in All Annexed Areas Completed ($7.4 million project)
  • Fire Station #5 Making Significant Progress with Completion in ‘24

PREPARING FOR OUR FUTURE…

  • Horn Lake Creek Basin Interceptor Sewer District/Memphis Sewer Funding Solution and Transition Agreement with DCRUA Expected in ‘24
  • Utilities and IT Expansions in Renovated Dorchester/51 Buildings
  • Property Database Nearing Completion for Enhanced Nuisance Property Ordinance to Address Rental Property Challenges Among Others

Bob Bakken

Bob Bakken provides content for DeSoto County News and its social media channels. He is an award-winning broadcaster, along with being a reporter and photographer, and has done sports media relations work with junior and minor league hockey teams. Along with his reports on this website, you will find this veteran media member providing sports updates and high school football play-by-play on Rebel 95.3 FM Radio.

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