City Notices: Budget Retreats, Tech Expansions, and Health Advisories

Public Notice: FY2027 County Budget Retreat

Shelby County residents are advised that Budget Chairman Michael Whaley will host the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Retreat today, Saturday, March 7, 2026. The meeting is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Memphis Zoo’s Teton Lodge & Grove. This public session features presentations from various county officials and department leaders regarding the upcoming fiscal cycle. Residents interested in the county's financial trajectory and departmental priorities are encouraged to attend.

Health Advisory: Black Balloon Day and Groundwater Safety

The Shelby County Health Department (SCHD) continues to raise awareness following the observance of Black Balloon Day on March 6. This national day of remembrance honors those lost to overdose. Health officials highlight a positive trend in local safety, noting that suspected overdose-related deaths in the county fell to 242 in 2025, down from 410 in 2024. Despite this progress, the SCHD reminds the public that free naloxone kits and fentanyl test strips remain available via the overdose prevention vending machine located at the Hickory Hill Public Health Clinic.

Additionally, the SCHD has issued a public notice for an upcoming meeting of the Groundwater Quality Control Board scheduled for April 2, 2026. The board will review several appeals regarding well placements in flood zones and non-domestic water service requests. Public comments may be submitted via email to the department’s water quality division through the end of the month.

Infrastructure and Development Updates

• xAI Colossus Expansion: New permit filings from Elon Musk’s xAI reveal plans for a $659 million expansion at the Memphis supercomputer site. The proposed four-story, 312,000-square-foot facility at 5414 Tulane Road aims to bolster compute power for the Grok language model. The project includes commitments to build state-of-the-art water recycling plants to protect the Memphis aquifer.
• Road Closures: Motorists should prepare for significant traffic changes on Macon Road. While recent MLGW maintenance near Phillips Road concluded earlier this week, a full closure of Macon Road from Rocky Point Road to Sanga Road is scheduled from March 10 through March 31. This closure is necessary for construction related to the Shelby Farms Greenline Extension Project.

Community Services: City Hall on the Go

The City of Memphis has announced the launch of the “City Hall on the Go” initiative. The first session will take place on Saturday, March 28, at the Gaston Community Center. This one-stop-shop allows residents to handle city business—such as scheduling smoke detector installations and accessing neighborhood engagement resources—outside of standard City Hall hours. Representatives from Memphis Parks and the Division of Engineering will be present to answer questions regarding local grants and upcoming transportation improvements.