Olive Branch to buy fire pumper truck, aldermen hear legislative update
Olive Branch aldermen moved forward Tuesday night on the purchase of a fire pumper truck to replace a truck now in use at Pleasant Hill Fire Station Number 5. The truck, which comes at a cost of more than $1.3 million, won’t arrive quickly, however. Mayor Ken Adams said delivery time for fire apparatus such as this ranges from 18 months to two years. However, the order has been placed to have it come as quickly as possible.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Mayor Adams took note of the state Legislature awarding $1.5 million to the Olive Branch Airport for aircraft hangars at the city-owned facility. Adams said the three state Senators, Blackwell, Parker and McLendon, along with state Reps. Hale and Kinkade, were actively supportive in getting the funding for the airport’s growth.
“The City of Olive Branch Airport is one the busiest general aviation airports in the state and for many months it is the busiest in the state,” Adams said. “We had over 75,000 activities at the airport in 2022 which track aircraft take off and landings.”
Adams said the airport is home to three flight schools training future commercial and military pilots. All three flight schools are in process of expanding and numerous corporations are on a wait list to obtain hangar space. Military aircraft, animal rescue operations and aircraft transporting medical organs for surgery are often services at our airport.
The mayor added the airport is home to the Mississippi Wing of the Civil Air Patrol which serves North Mississippi.
“The airport is extremely important to economic development for DeSoto County and training opportunities for aviation students,” said Mayor Adams.
A bill required to allow Olive Branch residents to buy personalized vehicle license tags with the city logo has passed the state Legislature, Adams told aldermen.
Legislators also passed a local and private bill, Senate Bill 2922 that allowed DeSoto County to donate to the city two acres of land from Hillwood Corporation when Legacy Park was built on state Highway 302 near Hacks Cross Road. The land was not inside the Olive Branch city limits at the time. The city came to the county asking the land be donated to the city for construction of an animal shelter there.
“The Board of Supervisors submitted a request to the Legislature for approval to donate the land to the City and therefore SB 2922 was drafted, approved by the Legislature and has been signed by Gov. Reeves,” Adams said. “I am very appreciative of the Board of Supervisors’ willingness to donate the 2 acres to the City of Olive Branch.”
State Sen. Kevin Blackwell (R-Southaven) was the author of the bill on behalf of the city and county regarding the land donation
A Citizen Due Process Order from the Mayor and Board of Aldermen was also approved Tuesday night. With the order, citizens now have a specific means to express their views about future proposed development in the city.
