MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE 2025 Regular Session To: Rules By: Senator(s) Frazier Senate Concurrent Resolution 530 (As Adopted by Senate) A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE CAREER AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MAYOR ISLA TULLOS OF RAYMOND, MISSISSIPPI. WHEREAS, the Honorable Isla Tullos was elected in 1997 with her "Vision" for the future of Raymond and is completing 28 years of outstanding public service as the Mayor of Raymond, Mississippi; and WHEREAS, Mayor Tullos has distinguished herself and the City of Raymond in numerous historic preservation and renovation projects which have created a positive environment for tourism and economic development; and WHEREAS, her achievements include the following: In 1992, Isla Tullos and her husband, Max, purchased and restored the former Probate/Chancery Building-constructed in the 1830's-the oldest building in Raymond, Mississippi; Infrastructure upgrades, city government improvements and beautification efforts began immediately upon Mayor Tullos' first term in office and were on-going throughout her time of service; In 1998, Mayor Isla Tullos was one of the founding members of "Friends of Raymond, Inc.", a local preservation group designed to preserve, manage and promote locally significant historic sites. In 1998 through 2009, this organization acquired 130 acres of former battlefield land to boost the area's historic significance and encourage tourism; Mayor Tullos cochaired a pilgrimage of homes, churches and other historic properties in 1999 to promote the rich history of Raymond and encourage tourism; In 2002, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, in conjunction with the Central Mississippi Planning and Development District, instituted an ordinance establishing comprehensive zoning regulations for the City of Raymond; In January 2003, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen established the Historic Preservation Commission to oversee and implement the design guidelines of the historic preservation plan which was developed to provide greater direction and specific actions in the preservation and restoration of the historic sites and properties; In February 2003, the Mayor and the Raymond Historic Preservation Commission sought comment on and received the approval of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History for the Heritage Overlay District, including the Design Guidelines; Recognizing the positive social and economic benefits of historic preservation, in 2003 Mayor Tullos and the Board of Aldermen led the City of Raymond in achieving Certified Local Government Status awarded by the National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior. Raymond was certified under the provision of the National Historic Preservation Act. The program is administered through the Mississippi Department of Archives; In December 2003, Mayor Tullos applied for a Certified Local Government grant to initiate an architectural survey by the Mississippi Heritage Trust, and with this she helped guide the development of the Raymond Historic District, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Districts; In 2003, Mayor Tullos formed a committee of local citizens to plan and initiate the Celebration of Raymond's 100-year-old water tower; In 2004, Mayor Tullos and the City of Raymond received a letter and a certificate of commendation from the First Lady of the United States, Laura Bush, and the "Preserve America" organization as a Designated 2004 Preserve America Community, in recognition of its continuing commitment to preserving and using its cultural and natural resources for the benefit and enjoyment of the public; In 2004, Mayor Tullos led the City of Raymond in its 175th Birthday Celebration; Mayor Isla Tullos served as the 2006-2007 President of the Mississippi Heritage Trust Board of Trustees; Mayor Tullos is a past president of the Metro Mayors Association; In 2008, Mayor Tullos earned the title of "Graduate" from the Certified Municipal Official Course, Professional Development Level from the Mississippi Municipal League; Through Mayor Tullos' efforts, the city received grants from the Small Municipalities and Limited Population Counties (SMLPC) Grants Program for street and downtown improvements. In 2009, the Mississippi Development Authority selected Raymond to be recognized by the Governor's Community Projects of Excellence Awards Program as the "BEST SMLPC PROJECT" for that year; In 2016, Mayor Tullos represented the City of Raymond and, in partnership with the Mississippi Development Authority, received a NADO Innovation Award for the project titled "The City of Raymond City Hall and Courtroom Renovations" overseen by the Central Mississippi Planning and Development District organization; The Honorable Isla Tullos received the Mississippi Heritage Trust 2022 Heritage Award for Distinguished Service; Mayor Tullos initiated the grant that allowed the City of Raymond to renovate and update the buildings that house the Raymond Police Department and the Raymond Fire Department; Mayor Tullos has served as Warden at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Raymond for many years; Regarding her career as Mayor of Raymond, Mayor Isla Tullos said: "This is my entry and departure in politics. I hope what we have done here has been sensitive and has kept the sense of 'small town community' that Raymond has, which makes it a really special place to come to and visit and live"; and WHEREAS, Mayor Tullos has served as a champion of historic preservation, and we honor this most public-spirited citizen of Mississippi whose enormous civic energy and special "Vision" have promoted this unique community: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby pay tribute to the outstanding public service career and historic preservation accomplishments of Mayor Isla Tullos of Raymond, Mississippi, and extend to her and her family our best wishes for future success. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Mayor Isla Tullos, forwarded to the Board of Aldermen of Raymond, Mississippi, and the Mississippi Municipal League, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Frazier
# Senate Concurrent Resolution 530
## (As Adopted by Senate)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE CAREER AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MAYOR ISLA TULLOS OF RAYMOND, MISSISSIPPI.
WHEREAS, the Honorable Isla Tullos was elected in 1997 with her "Vision" for the future of Raymond and is completing 28 years of outstanding public service as the Mayor of Raymond, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Tullos has distinguished herself and the City of Raymond in numerous historic preservation and renovation projects which have created a positive environment for tourism and economic development; and
WHEREAS, her achievements include the following:
In 1992, Isla Tullos and her husband, Max, purchased and restored the former Probate/Chancery Building-constructed in the 1830's-the oldest building in Raymond, Mississippi;
Infrastructure upgrades, city government improvements and beautification efforts began immediately upon Mayor Tullos' first term in office and were on-going throughout her time of service;
In 1998, Mayor Isla Tullos was one of the founding members of "Friends of Raymond, Inc.", a local preservation group designed to preserve, manage and promote locally significant historic sites. In 1998 through 2009, this organization acquired 130 acres of former battlefield land to boost the area's historic significance and encourage tourism;
Mayor Tullos cochaired a pilgrimage of homes, churches and other historic properties in 1999 to promote the rich history of Raymond and encourage tourism;
In 2002, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, in conjunction with the Central Mississippi Planning and Development District, instituted an ordinance establishing comprehensive zoning regulations for the City of Raymond;
In January 2003, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen established the Historic Preservation Commission to oversee and implement the design guidelines of the historic preservation plan which was developed to provide greater direction and specific actions in the preservation and restoration of the historic sites and properties;
In February 2003, the Mayor and the Raymond Historic Preservation Commission sought comment on and received the approval of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History for the Heritage Overlay District, including the Design Guidelines;
Recognizing the positive social and economic benefits of historic preservation, in 2003 Mayor Tullos and the Board of Aldermen led the City of Raymond in achieving Certified Local Government Status awarded by the National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior. Raymond was certified under the provision of the National Historic Preservation Act. The program is administered through the Mississippi Department of Archives;
In December 2003, Mayor Tullos applied for a Certified Local Government grant to initiate an architectural survey by the Mississippi Heritage Trust, and with this she helped guide the development of the Raymond Historic District, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Districts;
In 2003, Mayor Tullos formed a committee of local citizens to plan and initiate the Celebration of Raymond's 100-year-old water tower;
In 2004, Mayor Tullos and the City of Raymond received a letter and a certificate of commendation from the First Lady of the United States, Laura Bush, and the "Preserve America" organization as a Designated 2004 Preserve America Community, in recognition of its continuing commitment to preserving and using its cultural and natural resources for the benefit and enjoyment of the public;
In 2004, Mayor Tullos led the City of Raymond in its 175th Birthday Celebration;
Mayor Isla Tullos served as the 2006-2007 President of the Mississippi Heritage Trust Board of Trustees;
Mayor Tullos is a past president of the Metro Mayors Association;
In 2008, Mayor Tullos earned the title of "Graduate" from the Certified Municipal Official Course, Professional Development Level from the Mississippi Municipal League;
Through Mayor Tullos' efforts, the city received grants from the Small Municipalities and Limited Population Counties (SMLPC) Grants Program for street and downtown improvements. In 2009, the Mississippi Development Authority selected Raymond to be recognized by the Governor's Community Projects of Excellence Awards Program as the "BEST SMLPC PROJECT" for that year;
In 2016, Mayor Tullos represented the City of Raymond and, in partnership with the Mississippi Development Authority, received a NADO Innovation Award for the project titled "The City of Raymond City Hall and Courtroom Renovations" overseen by the Central Mississippi Planning and Development District organization;
The Honorable Isla Tullos received the Mississippi Heritage Trust 2022 Heritage Award for Distinguished Service;
Mayor Tullos initiated the grant that allowed the City of Raymond to renovate and update the buildings that house the Raymond Police Department and the Raymond Fire Department;
Mayor Tullos has served as Warden at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Raymond for many years;
Regarding her career as Mayor of Raymond, Mayor Isla Tullos said: "This is my entry and departure in politics. I hope what we have done here has been sensitive and has kept the sense of 'small town community' that Raymond has, which makes it a really special place to come to and visit and live"; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Tullos has served as a champion of historic preservation, and we honor this most public-spirited citizen of Mississippi whose enormous civic energy and special "Vision" have promoted this unique community:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby pay tribute to the outstanding public service career and historic preservation accomplishments of Mayor Isla Tullos of Raymond, Mississippi, and extend to her and her family our best wishes for future success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Mayor Isla Tullos, forwarded to the Board of Aldermen of Raymond, Mississippi, and the Mississippi Municipal League, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.