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Menace Property Cleanup Program

At a glance

  • What: Council routinely adjudicates dilapidated or overgrown private parcels a menace to public health, safety and welfare under Mississippi Code Section 21-19-11, authorizes contractors to clean them, and later assesses the costs, a penalty and a lien against each parcel.
  • Where it stands: On December 30, 2025 Council adopted two menace resolutions covering 66 cases heard November 4 and 80 cases heard November 18, both 6-0 with Stokes absent. On December 2, 2025 it adopted two resolutions assessing cleanup costs and liens, both 7-0.
  • Next: Property owners given cure periods (many ran to early January 2026) face cleanup by the City and the recommended penalties if they default.

Menace adjudications (December 30, 2025)

  • Resolution on the November 4, 2025 hearings (66 cases): moved by Hartley, seconded by Brown-Thomas; yeas Brown-Thomas, Clay, Foote, Grizzell, Hartley, Parkinson; Stokes absent.
  • Resolution on the November 18, 2025 hearings (80 cases): same movers and the same 6-0 vote.
  • Where no owner appeared, the hearing officer recommended adjudication with actual cleanup costs plus a penalty. Recommended penalties in the cases read ranged from $200 to $1,200.
  • Where an owner appeared, the owner was typically given 14, 30 or 60 days to cure (several 60-day periods expire January 3 or 4, 2026), with the recommended penalty applying only on default. Some owners were also given 7 days to repair.
  • Scopes of work included demolishing dilapidated structures, boarding up or securing structures, cutting vegetation and removing trash, debris and inoperative vehicles. Parcels fell across Wards 2 through 7.
  • Notices of hearing are kept with the Clerk of Council's public notices.

Contracts to carry out the work

  • December 30, on the Consent Agenda: the Administration pulled the order for a demolition contract with Socrates Garrett Enterprises (HB603 funds allocated for District 71). A motion by Hartley, seconded by Clay, removed it from the Consent Agenda. Approved: asbestos testing services with Environmental Analytical Services, LLC from November 24, 2025 through November 24, 2029, not to exceed $15,000 a year; and a $1,270 contract with Jones Landscape and Contractor Services, LLC to clear a state-owned tax-forfeited parcel in Ward 3, entered with the State's consent.
  • December 2: three Evans Landscape contracts of $300 each for adjoining Ward 3 lots (cases CE-24-1420, CE-24-1421 and CE-24-1422), tied to an April 8, 2025 menace resolution; each passed 7-0.

Cost assessments and liens (December 2, 2025)

  • Two resolutions adjudicated actual cleanup costs and imposed penalties and liens on parcels the City had already cleaned after owners failed to act. The penalty is capped at $1,500 or 50% of cleaning costs, whichever is more. Liens are enrolled with the Hinds County Chancery Clerk and collected like municipal taxes, and the tax collector may sell parcels to satisfy them.
  • Moved by Stokes, seconded by Brown-Thomas; both passed 7-0.

Sources

Log

2025-12-30 - City Council

Adopted two menace resolutions (66 and 80 cases), a vendor contract for state-owned lot cleanup and asbestos testing services; the Garrett demolition contract was pulled and removed from consent. All 6-0, Stokes absent.

2025-12-02 - City Council

Two cost-and-lien resolutions and three $300 lot-cleaning contracts, all 7-0.