General Information - City of Laurel

When most people think of the Laurel Police Department and Laurel Fire Department, they think of emergency calls, traffic accidents, fires, and keeping our community safe. While that will always be their primary mission, our first responders are just as committed to building relationships long before an emergency ever happens.

Throughout the year, members of both departments spend time connecting with residents through community events, youth programs, neighborhood gatherings, and educational activities. From the Jones County Beat 5 Inspiring Youth Summer Enrichment Camp and Brown Circle's Cool Pops & Splash Day to the Laurel Police Department's Family Movie Night and community favorites like Touch-a-Truck, these events give firefighters and police officers the opportunity to interact with residents outside of emergencies. Whether they're teaching fire safety, encouraging good decision-making, or simply sharing a fun afternoon with local families, each event helps build trust, strengthen relationships, and remind our community that our first responders are invested in our communities and people they serve.

These opportunities allow firefighters and police officers to serve not only as first responders, but also as mentors, educators, and positive role models. They give children a chance to ask questions, learn important safety lessons, and get to know the firefighters and police officers who serve our community.

Strong communities are built on trust, and trust grows through everyday interactions. By spending time in our neighborhoods, schools, and at community events, our first responders help build that trust while creating lasting memories for families across Laurel.

The City of Laurel is proud of the men and women of the Laurel Police Department and Laurel Fire Department. Their commitment doesn't stop when the emergency is over - it continues every day through the relationships they build and the time they invest in our community.

Future Leaders of Jones County is a leadership development program sponsored by the Economic Development Authority of Jones County through its Community Development Foundation. The program is made up of high school juniors selected through an application and interview process. This year’s cohort includes students from Laurel, Northeast Jones, West Jones, and South Jones High Schools.

Students spent time at Laurel City Hall, learning firsthand how local government functions and how decisions made there directly impact residents’ daily lives. During the visit, students heard from city leadership about public service, community priorities, and quality-of-life initiatives.

While at City Hall, students met with Mayor Johnny Magee, who shared insight into the role of a mayor, how city government operates, and why civic engagement matters. Mayor Magee spoke about leadership, collaboration with department heads and elected officials, and the importance of listening to citizens when shaping policies and initiatives.

Students also heard from Tim Barksdale, Superintendent of Parks and Recreation, who highlighted how parks, recreational programming, and public spaces contribute directly to a community’s quality of life. From neighborhood parks to youth sports and community events, students learned how thoughtful planning and maintenance help make Laurel a place people are proud to call home.

The visit to City Hall gave students a practical look at how departments work together and how local government touches everything from infrastructure and public safety to recreation and community spaces—reinforcing the connection between leadership, service, and everyday life.

Additional visits for the group include the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, the Laurel–Jones County Library, and the Jones County Board of Supervisors.

Through experiences like this, Future Leaders of Jones County is helping prepare the next generation with a deeper understanding of civic responsibility, leadership, and the role local government plays in quality of life—starting at City Hall!

Earlier this week, the City of Laurel announced that it had been the recipient of a RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) grant issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The $24.8 million dollar grant will fund a major infrastructure project to improve traffic and resolve safety issues from one end of the city to the other.

The project proposed will cover 1.7 miles and include road reconstruction, a new roundabout, improved lighting, landscaping, new ADA-compliant sidewalks, enhanced lane markings, and improved drainage at the Teresa Street underpass.

Longtime residents of the City Beautiful are well versed in the issues at the Teresa Street underpass. The roadway, which allows traffic to pass beneath the railroad tracks, is the site of frequent bouts of flash flooding and is often closed for prolonged periods of time after a storm. Most Laurelites can remember at least one incidence of a car being flooded and trapped at the underpass. (The car stuck under there for days after Hurricane Katrina comes to mind!)

This roadway is owned and maintained by the Mississippi Department of Transportation, and the RAISE grant will allow the city and state to work together to resolve the flooding issues by making major upgrades to the infrastructure surrounding the underpass. “By repairing the pumps and upgrading the drainage culvert size to be able to handle more rainwater, it would alleviate the flooding,” Laurel Mayor Johnny Magee explained. He also pointed out that the flooding and subsequent closing of the underpass “has traditionally separated the community on the east side of town from the rest of the city to the west.” It also makes it harder to get from the city to the eastern portion of the county and back as well since that path is commonly used to travel between Laurel and Highway 15 South.

This project was conceived several years ago when Laurel leaders noticed a need for a streamlined east to west corridor that would improve the flow of traffic through town by connecting U.S. 84 East with U.S. 84 West. Not only would such a corridor improve travel for those wishing to come into and out of town efficiently, it would also improve travel for people who live and work in Laurel to move from one side of town to the other with minimal frustration and no danger of getting trapped under the railroad tracks. However, the funding was not available and grants that were provided to the city were not sufficient to cover the costs of such an ambitious project.

The grant is the largest amount that the city has ever received and is an especially welcome gift since it does not come with any matching fund requirements, meaning that the city is not required to provide additional funds in order to receive the grant.

Only 15% of the submitted projects (by requested value) were approved by the Department of Transportation to receive funding and Laurel was one of only two cities in the state to be selected.

This is the third time that the city has applied for this funding, and the grant application package has grown and developed with the help of many dedicated members of the community including engineers at Neel-Schaffer, volunteers with the Laurel Main Street Board of Directors, and of course, the state’s representatives in Washington, D.C. – Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith and Roger Wicker and Representatives Mike Ezell and Michael Guest.

“We would like to thank our friends in Washington for their support over the years in assisting the city in securing this very important grant,” Mayor Magee said.

The project, starting at Cooks Avenue on the east, will travel west down Teresa Street where the underpass will be fixed, through the 5-points intersection. That intersection will be remade into a roundabout eliminating the five sets of traffic lights. Work will continue on Magnolia Street and flow westward to Sawmill Road in front of the Laurel post office. From Sawmill Road, the project will continue past the courthouse and tax office before joining the new roundabout at the end of Leontyne Price Blvd. From there, it will go on to connect Sawmill Road to the intersection of U.S. 84 West, where Walgreens and CVS are positioned on the left and right of the street. The project is expected to eliminate the zig-zag lane patterns that make up the tract of road that goes from the mall, in front of McAlister’s, and towards 16th Avenue/ Hwy 84 West.

“Those who have become accustomed to traveling this route will notice the efficient movement from east to west and also from west to east,” Magee said. “They will be able to maneuver the length of the project, and instead of having to wait patiently on seven separate traffic lights, they will be able to travel with fewer lights that will be synchronized along with at least one roundabout that will move them swiftly from one side of town to the other.”

The next step in the process will be for the city to receive an executed grant agreement from the USDOT, then additional planning will need to be completed, right-of-way agreements will need to be obtained, and construction bids will be collected, reviewed, and voted on by the city council.

According to the rules of the grant, roadwork must begin by 2027 and the project must be completed by 2032.

TLDR:

~ The City of Laurel applied for grant funding through the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability & Equity (RAISE) program. Only 15% of applicants were approved to receive funding. Only two cities in the state were approved- Laurel and Meridian.

~ Laurel was awarded $24.8 million to complete a project creating a streamlined corridor connecting Hwy 84 East to Hwy 84 West.

~ The project will include fixing the underpass at Teresa Street, creating a new roundabout at the five points, and eliminating the zig-zag lane patterns along West 5th Street.

~ The City of Laurel would like to thank all of those who worked hard to make this application successful including Senators Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith and Representatives Mike Ezell and Michael Guest.

~ The processes involved in completing the project will take some time to get underway but the project is expected to be completed by 2032.

For more information, please call the Office of the Mayor at 601-428-6401.

JULY 10, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LAUREL, MS, June 28, 2023 – The City of Laurel has been awarded a landmark $24.8 million grant through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability & Equity (RAISE) program of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The City of Laurel applied for and received 100% funding which means that no local tax dollars will be required to match this federal grant. This award marks the largest federal grant ever given to a local municipality since the inception of this discretionary grant program.

This grant will fund crucial improvements to the City’s road network, replacing outdated streets with modern, safe, and aesthetically pleasing infrastructure. Laurel is among the select 15% of grant applications nationally to be awarded.

This funding also underscores the commitment of both the City of Laurel and the federal government to rejuvenate the heart of the city and improve the quality of life for residents. The project will cover vital arteries such as 5th Street, Sawmill Road, Magnolia Street, and Teresa Street. The project will include road reconstruction, a new roundabout, improved lighting, landscaping, new ADA-compliant sidewalks, enhanced lane markings and improved drainage at the Teresa Street underpass.

"We are deeply thankful to the U.S. Department of Transportation for recognizing the potential in Laurel. These funds are not just an investment in infrastructure; they're an investment in the people of Laurel and our future. By revitalizing our roads, we're creating a safer, more beautiful city, and laying the groundwork for a brighter tomorrow," Mayor Johnny Magee said. “We are thrilled to embark on this transformative project, and eagerly anticipate the positive changes it will bring to our city.”

The RAISE grant program is a highly competitive DOT discretionary program. This year, the DOT received $15 billion in requests for only $2.26 billion in available funds.

The City of Laurel thanks the Mississippi federal delegation for their support throughout the application process including Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, Senator Roger Wicker, U.S. Representative Mike Ezell, and U.S. Representative Michael Guest, whose efforts have been pivotal in securing this historic grant.

For more information, please call the Office of the Mayor at 601-428-6401.

Contact:

Mayor Johnny Magee

mayor@laurelms.com

601-428-6401

(Submitted by Chelsea Tew)

LAUREL, Mississippi – On Monday, June 26^th, the Junior Auxiliary of Laurel accepted a donation presented by Dixie Electric Power Association.

Annually, Dixie Electric hosts a golf tournament to raise funds for local charities. President Emily Pickering and JA members Brittany Kerr and Amanda Roll accepted a check for $3,075, which will help support Junior Auxiliary’s Secret Meals program.

Pickering said this donation is a huge help for LJA to continue to serve the children of Jones County.

“Junior Auxiliary of Laurel is honored that Dixie Electric continues to support our organization each year. Dixie Electric is very important to our community and we are appreciative of this donation,” Pickering said.

Presenting the check is Community Relations Coordinator, Polly Magee. Junior Auxiliary of Laurel is very thankful to Dixie Electric Power Association for this generous donation.

Notice to Customers:

Veolia, the City of Laurel’s water department, will be making some temporary changes to their in-person services later this month. Their offices at 401 North 5th Avenue will close and be temporarily relocated so that their current offices can be renovated.

The department will be closed on Thursday, July 13th. They will reopen on Friday, July 14th in the city clerk’s office on the second floor of city hall. They will operate out of that space from Friday, July 14th until Wednesday, July 19th. They will close again on Thursday, July 20th so that they can move back into their regular office space. They will reopen in their usual office space on Friday July 21st.

City Hall has an elevator that can be accessed from the back of the building at the Yates Avenue entrance.

Online services will remain the same throughout this time.

For more information, contact Veolia at 601.428.6425.

While some may envision a medical dispensary in the same way that they would a liquor store – as a retail store featuring a selection of items for adult consumption that customers are free to browse- a more accurate representation of a medical dispensary would be that of a pharmacy where patients bring their prescriptions to the counter and an employee fills that order in a different location before bringing the prescription back to the customer.

Members of the local community had the opportunity to see this first-hand on Wednesday, June 28^th at 2 p.m. when the Toke and Tell Medical Dispensary opened at 2031 Ellisville Blvd. The opening was celebrated by the Jones County Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon cutting and was followed by a reception in the dispensary.

Dr. Tina Yolanda Bruce, her husband Nugene Bruce, her daughter, Brianna Dean, and sons, Carlos and Jeremiah Woods, along with their friends and supporters from the community welcomed guests and answered questions about their industry and their facility.

The Bruce family is from Natchez, where they opened their first Toke and Tell Medical Dispensary earlier this year. Dr. Bruce is a mental health professional who has served clients with Alzheimer’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, and chronic pain. She explained that many patients with those conditions may be eligible to use medical cannabis in their treatment plans.

The process involved is similar to getting a prescription at a traditional pharmacy in that patients must begin by talking with their doctors. Doctors can write prescriptions that allow for a set amount of units per week and the dispensary can only provide the amount of units prescribed. Once a patient has qualified for a medical cannabis card and has received a prescription for a number of units, he or she can come to the dispensary to purchase their set amount of units.

Dr. Bruce stated that she will be hosting community education events soon to help people better understand the process and the rules regarding the use of medical cannabis.

Her daughter, Brianna Dean, and assistant staff Anna Moody will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Laurel location. “I’m really looking forward to helping people in the community,” Dean said. “We want to make sure that we help everyone.”

More information on the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program can be found at https://www.mmcp.ms.gov/

More information on Toke and Tell Medical Dispensary can be found at https://www.tokeandtellms.com/

DJ Transit recognized Mississippi Community Transportation Day with their second annual “We Love Our Seniors” parade. The parade was originally scheduled to coincide with the Mississippi Community Transportation Day on June 15^th but had to be rescheduled due to threats of severe weather. The parade was held on Wednesday, June 28^th at 10:30 a.m. and featured over 30 vehicles including a fire engine from the Laurel Fire Department and vehicles from the Laurel Police Department. The parade ran along West Drive to pay homage to the seniors who live in the many long-term care facilities on that route.

On Friday, June 30^th from 8 a.m.to 4 p.m. the Laurel Police Department held a drive at Wal-Mart to collect supplies and money for families affected by recent bouts of severe weather. They collected several truckloads of water, food, diapers, and personal hygiene items. The City of Laurel would like to thank the community for their enormous generosity!

It is often said that necessity is the mother of invention. In the case of the Simply Southern Garden Club, necessity also turned out to be the mother of generosity. When garden club member Faye Britt and club president Susan Wehe, visited downtown Laurel last October to celebrate the opening of the Central Avenue roundabout, they noticed a need for seating in the area. As they perched on a window ledge in front of Magnolia State Bank, they realized that the downtown area did not have any good places for visitors to stop and “set a spell”. This oversight in hospitality led them to petition their club members to purchase and donate a park bench for the area. Once approved, they contacted the city to find a company to order from and to work out the logistics.

“The city allowed us to have the bench shipped here and installed it for free,” Britt said. “We’re glad we could be a part of this. We hope others will join us and get some more benches here,” she said.

Earlier this summer, the club held a brief dedication ceremony to unveil the new bench and to thank the city for their support. Laurel Mayor Johnny Magee thanked them for their efforts. “We are so proud of our garden clubs. We are so grateful for them. They do so many things! They do great things all over the city and we appreciate all of their efforts because they keep Laurel the City Beautiful!”