Secretary of State signs commissions for Gluckstadt

Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson held a commission certificate signing ceremony with City of Gluckstadt officials Wednesday afternoon to officially recognize Gluckstadt as the state’s newest city.

Watson also signed commissions on Wednesday to officially appoint the new Mayor and Board of Alderman for Gluckstadt, which became Mississippi’s newest city on Sunday, including Gluckstadt Mayor Walter Morrison and five aldermen who will initially serve at large as well: Miya Warfield-Bates, John Taylor, Jayce Powell, Wesley Slay and Lisa Williams. 

Watson signed the commissions in the Gulf Coast Conference Room in the Capitol Towers building in downtown Jackson with members of the mayor and board of aldermen who were selected by a citizens committee led by longtime Gluckstadt resident Kerry Minninger during the filing process.

Watson said the confirmation of Gluckstadt as a city is making history for the state. 

“Our oldest city is Natchez, which was established in 1803, so we have a rich history here in Mississippi. We’re adding to that history today,” Watson said. “These new aldermen and alderwomen have worked very hard for this, and we thank them for being willing to serve.”

Morrison said Gluckstadt becoming a city is the culmination of years of hard work by members of the Gluckstadt community. 

“This is both an end and beginning,” Morrison said. “It’s an end to a big amount of arduous work to incorporation, but it’s the beginning of trying to form a new city government.”

Morrison said the goal is to form a city government of which the citizens of Gluckstadt can be proud. 

“Going forward, we ask for community involvement and the prayers of everyone in the community to get things done and get them done correctly,” Morrison said.

The city's first official meeting will be at  6 p.m. Tuesday, June 22, in the church hall at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 127 Church Road, Gluckstadt.