Page 44 - South Mississippi Living - June, 2020

JACKSON COUNTY
MOSS POINT RESPONDS TO
Moss Point was one coastal municipality hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. When city hall closed, services to the residents did not stop.
“We were very prepared for COVID-19 through the use of technology that
we’ve implemented over time during the Rejuvenation Administration,” said Moss Point Mayor Mario King.
Working with City Clerk Tricia Thigpen, they already had purchased laptops for city employees to use, replacing desktop computers. When faced unexpectedly with working from home, many employees were able to do so because of the laptops.
However, Moss Point took mobility
a step further when the city received a $25,000 grant from Hancock Whitney through the South Mississippi COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund administered by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. King said the grant monies were put to good use.
“The original laptops couldn’t handle the capacity to run multiple programs.
Instead of $1,200 laptops, we had to buy some $3,000 laptops,” King said.
With the new hardware and the
purchase of community engagement software, the city has been able to provide platforms for a virtual world.
“We are hosting virtual meetings to allow the public to be able to engage in projects, talk about the projects and set priorities,” King said. “We’ve been able to increase the amount of community engagement, meeting people in the comfort of their homes. They are able to talk more freely about what they envision for their community.”
For example, one virtual group the mayor founded was with area clergy. They meet regularly online, and
have been able to share responses to COVID-19 and impacts to their churches.
“When we rst started this group, it was overwhelming at how many people were excited about joining it. They were able to share a lot of their vision,” Thigpen said.
“I’m not a pastor so don’t have the cultural competence or level of
communication they have. They’ve been very helpful,” King said. “Overall, I’d say because of COVID-19, our rejuvenation in Moss Point has been inspired.”
story by Susan Ruddiman photos courtesy of the City of Moss Point
COVI D-19
44 | June 2020
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
MAYOR MARIO KING shows the city can clear the hurdles caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.