OCEAN SPRINGS, MS – In the wake of a Board of Aldermen vote to suspend the Ocean Springs Redevelopment Authority (RDA), one Board member is saying the city did not go far enough and is now calling for a complete disbandment of the committee.
Meanwhile, at City Hall, some are suggesting even the mere pausing of the RDA may be a legal overreach.
Legal Quagmire
The Ocean Springs Redevelopment Authority is a city-appointed board created to oversee urban renewal efforts, including seeking lucrative state funds for local development projects.
When the Board of Aldermen voted on July 1 to suspend the RDA, it seemed like a firm decision: hit pause, reassess the RDA’s mission, and determine its future role. But in the weeks since, questions have surfaced over whether that vote actually means anything at all.
Two city officials told GC Wire the city’s legal advisors have privately suggested to Board members that the suspension may not be legally binding. And these talking points appear to be making their way into public discourse.
Still, the state’s position appears far more straightforward.
State Agency Weighs In on Debate
Interim City Attorney David Harris and RDA Attorney Josh Danos were contacted for clarification of the city’s take on the status of the RDA, but neither responded to inquiries. GC Wire then reached out to the state.
Asked directly whether a suspended RDA could continue applying for state redevelopment money, a representative from the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) was clear: “No sir, they can’t.”
“If the Board of Aldermen voted to suspend the RDA, it is suspended,” a representative of MDA Bureau Manager Sarah Wright’s office said. “They’re no longer an entity.”
As of now, the only application on file by the RDA is for a hotel and convention center on the downtown property currently owned by Leica Microsystems.
Mayor: ‘RDA Willing to Work with Us’
Mayor Bobby Cox responded to questions with a brief statement via email.
“The RDA have been willing to work with us and pause until the BOA has time to decide on the direction the BOA wishes to go,” he wrote.
That statement adds new legal question marks. After all, if the Board’s vote is legally binding, the RDA’s “willingness” to pause shouldn’t matter. Still, the mayor’s response suggests the group’s own legal interpretation may be factoring in.
Mayor Cox did not respond to a follow-up email asking for more clarification.
Newly Elected Alderman Says ‘Disband It’
Alderman Shannon Grace Pfeiffer took things a step further on Friday, calling for the RDA to be dissolved entirely, not just paused.
“While the Board of Aldermen has voted to suspend the Ocean Springs Redevelopment Authority, it’s not enough,” Pfeiffer wrote in a public post to Facebook. “For the long-term health of our community, this board must be fully disbanded.”
The Ward 4 Alderman continued, “The RDA has operated without transparency, public accountability, or clear guardrails – making high-stakes decisions behind closed doors that affect our neighborhoods, our environment, and our tax dollars.”
Pfeiffer’s transparency concerns aren’t new. The RDA does not stream its meetings on YouTube like other city boards do. It also uses a separate and more restrictive public records process than any other city entity, requiring a different form and physical submission at City Hall.
Last year, the city came under fire when recordings of private meetings between then-Mayor Kenny Holloway and developers revealed the city was promising to utilize the RDA to seek state funds in exchange for selected developments.
Pfeiffer’s statement was met with a mixture of responses on the social media platform.
“Bravo Shannon! Having anyone on any board in this city with a personal/business interest in the outcome should be recused from participating,” resident Marta Williams wrote. GC Wire had previously reported RDA member Kenny Williams owns more than a half dozen bars within walking distance of the proposed hotel. “Although there is a large pool of smart, business – savvy people in this community, there are boards to put their talents to the greater good of the city without any question of personal profit,” Williams added.
Calvin Williams echoed the enthusiasm. “Thank you for your leadership in this critical and sensitive situation,” he wrote. “The new board of Alderman and the new mayor bring a breath of fresh air… in a very polluted place.”
Others were skeptical of Pfeiffer’s transparency framing. “Meetings are public meetings and are open to anyone who would like to attend,” commented Mike Davis, a resident who has been involved in recent local political campaigns. “They are not held behind closed doors or in the dark.”
In a different Facebook post, Randy Wrigley, a longtime developer who regularly comments on city issues, echoed the legal theory now circulating among some city insiders. “I am not sure the BoA has the ability to legally ‘pause’ the RDA,” he wrote. “The BoA can probably only disband or leave it as is.”
Pfeiffer closed out her message by saying she remains open to revisiting the body down the road. “In the future, our community may decide to replace it with a better model, but let’s make it one that reflects the values and vision of the people of Ocean Springs.”
At this point, there is no indication that the city or its legal advisors have taken formal action to reverse the Board’s July 1 vote. And unless they do, the state considers that vote to suspend as legitimate, regardless of how RDA members or city attorneys choose to interpret it.
Brian, you do not know who, if anyone in particular, that I was referring to in my comment to support Shannon. Have you ever spoken to me concerning this issue ? I would say that assuming my intentions is very dangerous. The only referral to Mr. Williams was by another contributor to the Facebook thread concerning this issue, not by me. This is very risky journalism.
Are you referring to this?
“‘Bravo Shannon! Having anyone on any board in this city with a personal/business interest in the outcome should be recused from participating,’ resident Marta Williams wrote. GC Wire had previously reported RDA member Kenny Williams owns more than a half dozen bars within walking distance of the proposed hotel. ‘Although there is a large pool of smart, business – savvy people in this community, there are boards to put their talents to the greater good of the city without any question of personal profit,’ Williams added.”
If so, how do you feel the comment was misrepresented?