A lighting project worth nearly three quarters of million dollars will soon make travel safer for everyone while welcoming visitors to Collins.
The project, approved by the Collins Board of Aldermen, will improve lighting along U.S. Highway 49 and Mississippi Highway 184, also known as Main Street. The new lights will be LED, which are more energy efficient and often brighter than others forms. LED lighting often lasts longer than traditional lighting, too.
“We’re very excited about it,” Mayor Hope Magee Jones said. “The lighting is just going to light our city up and make it even more visible for our community and bring a lot of exposure for people who are traveling on the highways.”
The lowest bid int he amount of $699,737.10 came in from Webster Electric. A federal grand administered by the Mississippi Department of Transportation will pay for 80 percent of the cost while Collins is responsible for 20 percent.
Director of Public Works Bob Shoemake explained some existing infrastructure will be used.
“The poles that are existing, we’re going to put new arms on them and new LED lights and require them with new underground wiring. That will all be improved greatly,” Shoemake said.
The lighting project should be completed in late 2019.
Voters in Collins will soon make the decision of whether or not to allow liquor to be sold inside the city limits.
Back in June, a group of Collins citizens submitted a petition which required city leaders to hold an election if there were enough verified signatures.
“We are doing what’s requested by the citizens and required by the state,” Mayor Hope Magee said. “I’ll voice my opinion at the poll when I cast my vote.”
City Clerk Suzette Davis explained a petition must include 20 percent of a municipality’s qualified electorate to trigger an election. Over the past few months, her office has been verifying each person’s signature. Out of a grand total of 539 names on the petition, only 372 were valid; however, it was over the required amount of 345 valid signatures, which is 20 percent of Collins’ 1,727 registered voters. According to Davis, some rejected because of non-registered voters or people signing twice.
The election is set for Tuesday, October 30, 2018, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. All voters will cast ballots at the City of Collins Civic Center at 3320 Highway 49. Absentee voting began September 24 and will continue at City Hall from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. City Hall will open special hours for absentee voting from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday, October 20 and Saturday, October 27.
The City of Collins has announced rate increase that will take effect October 1, 2018. The new rates for sewer are $14.00for 3,000 gallons or less,and $3.35 per 1,000 gallons thereafter.
The garbage rates will increase to $12.00 per month for residential, $20 per month for small commercial and $100 per month for large commercial.
The U.S. Small Business Administration invites you to the Mississippi Meet the MicroLenders in Collins, a Small Business Borrower-Lender Match-Making event. This event will be held Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at the Collins Train Depot (110 Ash Avenue in Collins), 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Sign-in will be at 8:30 a.m. The event will provide small business owners and entrepreneurs the opportunity to meet with MicroLenders, SBA and Resource Partners to discuss resources to help start or grow their businesses.
SBA’s Microloan Program, which is focused on startups, minority and other underserved markets, provides loans up to $50,000 to help small businesses start up and expand by providing working capital, materials, supplies, equipment and inventory. Microloans play an important role in distressed communities where access to conventional lending remains a challenge. Take advantage of the opportunity to meet one-on-one with SBA Mississippi MicroLenders and SBA Mississippi Resource Partners, the Mississippi SBDC Network 1-800-725-7232, SCORE 769-208-3593, Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) 662-325-4990 and the Women Business Center of Mississippi (WBC) 601-376-9895.
The City of Collins is hosting the first annual Family Fourth on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, at the Collins Civic Center. The event will be held from 5-9 p.m.
Featured activities will include a children and pet parade. Children ages 0-12 years may ride on bicycles, in wagons or walk in the parade. They are encouraged to decorate the bikes, wagons, etc. in red, white, and blue. Pets on a leash with their owners are invited to participate in the parade as well.
Other activities include live music with a special presentation by the Covington County Mass Choir as well as a hula hoop contest, pie eating contest, sack race, three-legged race, food, fun and more.
The public is invited to bring lawn chairs and attend this free event which will end with a fireworks display.
For more information about this upcoming event, please contact Collins City Hall at 601-765-4491.
The City of Collins will host its first annual Family Fourth celebration on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, at the Collins Civic Center. The event will be held from 5-9 p.m. and will feature Covington County’s Mass Choir, a children’s parade, games and activities, entertainment, food and more. The public is invited to bring lawn chairs and enjoy this free family event!
For more information, contact Collins City Hall at 601-765-4491.
The Covington County Relay for Life is set for May 11, 2018, at the Collins Civic Center. The event will kick off with the annual Survivors’ Reception at 5 p.m. with opening ceremonies for the Relay for Life beginning at 6 p.m. The Relay for Life is presented in conjunction with the American Cancer Society as a way to bring awareness to those battling cancer and remember those who lost the fight. The Relay for Life will end at midnight on Friday night with a grand fireworks display, but fundraising continues through August. Everyone is invited to participate in the event.
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety has announced that it has re-opened its station in the Covington County Courthouse. The station will be open in Collins on the third Wednesday of each month from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. beginning today, April 18, 2018. They are located in the Covington County Justice Courtroom.
The 29th Annual Okatoma Festival will be held on Saturday, May 5. As a part of the day’s celebration, the Okatoma Festival parade will be held at 10:30 a.m. in Collins. This year’s theme is “Home Sweet Home”. Participants are encouraged to enter floats, four wheelers, trucks, cars or golf carts. Due to safety concerns, walkers will not be permitted to participate in the parade with the exception of bands, color guard and the Camp Shelby Youth Challenge. For more information or to receive an entry form, call Collins City Hall at 601-765-4491 or visit www.cityofcollins.com.