Shannon Grace Pfeiffer, Ward 4 Alderman

06/09/2026

Just thinking out loud…

Sometimes I imagine sitting down with someone who genuinely wants to do right by the city and having an honest conversation about the parking garage.

I imagine us agreeing that nobody wants to kill the project. Nobody wants to waste $8 million. Nobody wants to see taxpayers harmed.

I imagine acknowledging that there are legitimate questions about ownership, insurance obligations, financing and whether the city is receiving what residents were originally led to believe it would receive.

I imagine us agreeing that those questions are not anti-project, they’re pro-taxpayer.

I imagine agreeing that rushing into a long-term lease simply because June 30 is approaching is not necessarily responsible if important questions remain unanswered.

I imagine agreeing that saying “the project and lease must be completed by June 30” is different from saying taxpayers automatically owe $8 million if a lease isn’t signed by then. Facts matter. Distinctions matter.

Most of all, I imagine agreeing that discussions about a publicly funded project of this magnitude belong in open session where residents can hear the facts, ask questions and understand what their elected officials are being asked to approve.

And I imagine walking away knowing that doing the right thing for the City matters more than defending past decisions or trying to force a timeline.

Maybe that’s just a hypothetical conversation.

But I hope it’s one we can still have.

06/05/2026

The public’s business should be done IN PUBLIC.

Today, Aldermen Julie Messenger, Karen Stennis, and I again voted against entering Executive Session to discuss matters related to the proposed parking garage lease. I continue to believe that discussions involving major public projects, taxpayer obligations and long-term lease arrangements should be conducted openly whenever possible so residents can hear the discussion and understand the decisions being made on their behalf.

We also voted against the adoption of the building code ordinance amendments.

At Tuesday night’s meeting, the Board voted 4-3 to introduce these ordinances and bring them back at the June 16 recess meeting for possible adoption. The purpose was simple: give aldermen and the public additional time to review the materials, which were not received until after 5:00 p.m. the previous Friday.

The motion passed. The Mayor announced on the record, “We’ll have it next meeting.”

Less than 48 hours later, a special meeting was called and the same ordinances were brought back for adoption. In my view, there was no compelling reason to bypass the review period that had just been approved by the Board.

Regardless of where you stand on these ordinances, residents should be able to trust that when the Board adopts a motion to revisit an item at a specified meeting, that decision will be honored absent a genuine emergency or pressing public necessity.

Transparency, accountability and public trust are not partisan issues. They are fundamental responsibilities of good government.

Thank you to everyone who continues to attend meetings, ask questions, stay informed and participate in the process.

05/21/2026

Last night, the Ocean Springs Board of Aldermen voted to adopt a motion allowing elected officials to potentially be excluded from executive session if accused of possessing or using recording or listening devices during those meetings.

I voted NO.

I initially objected to the matter being discussed in executive session rather than in public view because, in my opinion, executive session should not be used to debate new rules governing elected officials or public transparency.

My concern is bigger than phones or devices. This is about transparency, accountability, and the rights of residents to have their elected representative fully participate in discussions involving city business.

Mississippi Attorney General opinions have previously stated that the Open Meetings Act does not prohibit aldermen from disclosing executive session discussions and does not provide authority for boards to exclude elected members from executive session meetings. Under Mississippi law, municipalities only possess powers specifically granted by statute, and I believe this action raises serious legal concerns.

At a time when residents have repeatedly raised concerns about secrecy, executive sessions, disputed public records, and public trust, the answer is more transparency and accountability, not less.

I will not be bullied into silence or pressured into abandoning my responsibility to represent Ward 4 residents. I have no intention of voluntarily leaving executive session and leaving my residents without equal representation. I will continue fulfilling the duties the people of Ward 4 elected me to carry out.

05/08/2026

Public spaces should be maintained in a way that protects residents, pets, pollinators, and our waterways.

At Tuesday’s meeting, I raised concerns about chemical spraying in drainage ditches, near neighborhoods, and at East Beach without clear public notice or completed signage.

This is not about stopping maintenance. It is about being more thoughtful about what is sprayed, where it is sprayed, and how the public is notified.

Ocean Springs is surrounded by bayous, beaches, and sensitive waterways. We should be asking questions, coordinating better with the county, and looking at safer alternatives where possible.

I appreciate the mayor and fellow board members for taking these concerns seriously. This deserves continued review and a clear policy moving forward.



https://www.oceanspringsweeklyrecord.com/alderman-pfeiffer-board-question-county-chemical-spraying-warning-pesticides-have-run-amuck/article_42085a95-8a58-46a3-9ece-ed55a344a85e.html

05/07/2026

National Day of Prayer is tonight at 6:30 pm at Greyhound Stadium.

* if raining, event will be held at Civic Center.

04/24/2026

Fridays at the Fort returns next month on May 29th! 🎸🎤🍔🏝️⛺️

04/17/2026

🚲 Moving Forward on Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety

This coming Tuesday, the 2018 Jackson County Bicycle, Pedestrian & Trails Master Plan is back on the Board of Aldermen agenda for discussion of a workshop.

This plan provides a strong, established framework for improving connectivity, safety, and accessibility across our city. Bringing it back into active discussion is an important step toward formal adoption and implementation at the city level.

At the same time, it’s important to recognize that this plan was developed prior to our 2024 annexation, meaning newly incorporated areas were not included. A workshop will give us the opportunity to update and expand the plan so those areas are thoughtfully and intentionally connected.

We also need to begin working on an e-bike ordinance to ensure we are keeping pace with evolving transportation trends while prioritizing safety for all users.

The goal of this workshop is to bring together the Board, Mayor, Police Department, Planning staff, and other key personnel to have a productive, collaborative discussion on next steps.

This is about planning ahead, improving safety, and making sure our infrastructure keeps up with how our community is growing and moving.



https://www.co.jackson.ms.us/DocumentCenter/View/666/Jackson-County-Bike-Pedestrian-Trails-Master-Plan-FINAL-November-2018?bidId=

04/15/2026

Boil water lifted in Halstead/Connor/Shepard/Hargrove area.

🚨 **UPDATE: BOIL WATER NOTICE LIFTED** 🚨

Good news, Ocean Springs! The **boil water notice has officially been lifted** for the following areas:
• Halstead Road
• Connor Drive
• Hargrove Drive
• Shepard Drive

Water service is now safe for normal use.

Thank you for your patience while our Public Works team completed repairs and ensured water quality standards were met.

04/14/2026

04/14/2026

💦 Water Main Break – Ward 4 Update

Public Works is currently responding to a water main break off Halstead, impacting:

• Connor
• Hargrove
• Shepard

Crews are on site and working to complete repairs today.

⚠️ Important: A Boil Water Notice may be issued depending on system conditions. I will share an update as soon as that is confirmed.

Thank you to our Public Works team for their quick response on this.