Mayor Billy Knight Sr. Addresses Public Works Contract Vote

The October 7th's Board Meeting

Mayor Billy Knight Sr. Addresses Public Works Contract Vote. In this address, Mayor Knight shares his frustration with the board’s decision, emphasizing the financial strain it places on the city and calling for accountability from both leadership and citizens. Scroll down to view the entire video.

Concern Over the Board’s Decision

Mayor Knight states that he was deeply disappointed in the outcome of the October 7 board meeting, where the board voted to approve the higher of two competing bids for the city’s Public Works operations.

“I had no idea that our board would not recognize the importance of trying to save money for the city,” he says. “We are already working within a deficit. Our budget is balanced on paper, but we have no room for mistakes.”

The Numbers Behind the Issue

The city received two qualified bids for Public Works services. Both bids covered key city functions including water, sewage, natural gas, drainage, streets, and fleet maintenance.

Clearwater Solutions: $2,674,166
H2O: $2,216,748

The difference between the two bids is $457,418 per year, which over a typical five-year contract equals more than $2 million in additional costs to the city.

Mayor Knight explained that a professional evaluation committee reviewed each proposal using clear scoring criteria that measured staff qualifications, company experience, performance history, and cost. The committee recommended H2O based on quality, efficiency, and price.

Despite that recommendation, the board voted to approve the higher bid.

A History of Oversight and Frustration

Mayor Knight noted that performance issues with Clearwater Solutions have been ongoing for more than a decade, including complaints from residents and repeated discussions with the company’s management.

“I had people from their corporate office in my office multiple times,” he said. “They always promised things would get better, but they never did. That’s why we bid this contract out, to find the best service for the best price.”

Addressing the City’s Financial Reality

The mayor also reminded residents that Moss Point continues to recover from past financial mismanagement, including the discovery of commingled funds and inaccurate budget reporting.

“When I came into office, we didn’t have a true budget,” he explained. “We found out the city was more than $2 million in the red. That’s why I take every dollar seriously.”

Encouraging Citizens to Take Action

Mayor Knight called on residents to contact their aldermen and express their concerns about the board’s decision.

“These are your elected officials,” he said. “Whether you live in their ward or not, call them and let them know how irresponsible it is to accept a contract that wastes taxpayer money.”

Board Members Who Voted for the Higher Contract: