Olive Branch celebrates Public Works building groundbreaking

Photo: Public Works Director Cole Fesmire and department superintendents break ground on the new headquarters building, to be built near the Police Department headquarters on Highway 178. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)

Olive Branch city officials Friday broke ground for a new public works building, to be located near the Police Department headquarters on Highway 178. The new building, to be completed in early 2026, will also be across the highway from its current location.  

The new facility, which will be 24,000 square feet in size, costs about $8.5 million and Public Works Director Cole Fesmire said it will be a hub of the department which maintains the city infrastructure.  

“It will house all of our public works employees, give us a very nice conference room and a training room,” Fesmire said. “We’ll have a simulator room built in. All employees, as far as managers and supervisors, will be able to have their own offices. It should be a lot more efficient and effective.”

Mayor Ken Adams said the new building has been a long time coming and is very much needed.  

“We acquired this land in 1995 and 2003 is when we started funding the building,” Adams said, also telling department employees, “You’re a special team. You go out at night, weekends, rain, sleet or snow.  You’re in the trenches making it happen. We don’t take that lightly.”

Fesmire believes the new facility is more than just a building.

“It’s a symbol of our dedication to progress and a vision for our sustainable future,” Fesmire said. 

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