by Alice Walkup

The Mississippi Municipal League (MML) and The Clarion-Ledger newspaper, which serves Jackson, Miss., and surrounding areas, recognized the winners of their 2006 Municipal Excellence Awards at the MML Annual Conference in Tunica, Miss., on July 26.

The Excellence Awards program began in 1993 and showcases cities that utilize innovative problem solving, excellence in management, citizen participation and community partnerships to provide increased services and a better quality of life for their citizens.

The following Mississippi cities are the winners of the awards by category:

Best Overall
City of Picayune
Picayune?s ?Teen Court? provides a second chance option for first-time juvenile offenders. The teens participate in educational sessions informing them of the effects of their crimes on themselves and their community, and community service projects and are judged by a jury of their peers.

Public Safety, Under 10,000
Town of Ecru
Ecru has worked hard to make the town a safer place in case there?s inclement weather. To do so, seven tornado shelters have been installed ? five in Town Hall and two in the town park ? making Ecru a ?Storm Ready Community,? as recognized by the National Weather Service.

The town also secured funds to purchase a weather siren, and began a program to train as many members of the volunteer fire service as possible to become certified storm watchers.

Public Safety, Over 10,000
City of Greenwood
The city relocated the Columbus and Greenville Railway line that bisected two U.S. highways to the Greenwood-Leflore Industrial Park. Crossing the railway had been a safety hazard when trains stopped traffic, which occurred for as long as 20 minutes at a time. It was especially dangerous when ambulances were en route to a nearby hospital. 

Planning and Economic Development, Under 10,000
Town of Goodman
Goodman renovated its Town Hall, making the building more energy efficient, improving the areas in which records are stored and adding a boardroom. The new building significantly improves heating and cooling problems and the dearth of sufficient storage space for important town records.

Planning and Economic Development, Over 10,000
City of Laurel
The city has been committed to revitalizing the Pine Street neighborhood, and in the last year, has improved roadway lighting on a main street and adopted an ordinance providing businesses incentives to promote economic development.

Laurel initiated an Economic Development Assistance program, through which the city can offer technical assistance to businesses along the corridor. Laurel partnered with Jones County to conduct workshops to help businesses take advantage of special tax incentives.

City Sprit, Under 10,000
City of Louisville
Louisville worked with other Winston County officials to create a plan to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The group, Winston Relief, collected food, school supplies and clothing for the victims, and found shelter for those left homeless.

The city provided computer and phone access for volunteers to help 450 applicants complete paperwork required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Red Cross. In addition, the city collected over $200,000 in donations and thousands of dollars in supplies from its 7,006 residents.

City Spirit, Over 10,000
City of Southaven
Southaven committed to making Snowden Grove Park, an existing community facility with 17 baseball fields, more accessible. The city constructed a baseball field that met the needs of physically and mentally challenged children, to ensure that all children in the region could get a chance to play. Engineering and design work were donated, as well as a private donation of $500,000, which was very helpful in completing the $1.7 million field.

Details: For more information about the 2006 Municipal Excellence Awards winners or the awards program, contact Shari Veazey, director of member services for MML, at (601) 353-5854 or shari1@mmlonline.com.