Mayor’s Commission on Disability Issues to Release New Access Oxford Awards in July

By Collin Rivera
Hottytoddy.com intern

The Mayor’s Commission on Disability Issues held its first meeting since February today to discuss the future recipients of the Access Oxford award, as well as several other topics around the Oxford community.

The board presented a list of three businesses who will receive the award in July. This award is handed down to businesses that best comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Last year, both Gus’s World-Famous Fried Chicken and Premiere Lanes Bowling Alley were presented with the award, and Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi (BMH-NM) was presented the award this past March.

The businesses for this year’s awards have not been named but will be announced next week, followed by a presentation of the awards at the businesses on July 8.

Commission Chair Cameron Stubbs said there are many factors the board discusses before awarding a business the Access Award. 

“The board takes recommendations from members and are open to suggestions from citizens. Once we get a pool of recommendations, we select our top three and award them with a certificate and a sticker for their place of business,” he said. 

The board also discussed the Jazz Under the Stars event that will take place this week on June 27 at the Old Armory Pavilion. The event will be during the evening from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and tickets are $12. It will host a silent auction, three to four food trucks, and will also feature Disney characters for children to meet. The event is a fundraiser for the addition of accessible playground equipment at Bailey Branch Park on Hwy 7. Construction will begin by the end of the summer or beginning of fall.

The next board meeting for the Commission on Disability Issues will be held in August.