[04/02/02]Property owners along a proposed secondary access route into the new River Region Medical Center will soon be getting offers for their land under action taken Monday by the Warren County Board of Supervisors.

The road, to extend from the Culkin-Mount Alban intersection through a mostly undeveloped area, will link to the east side of the $123 million hospital complex that opened Feb. 17.

The main entrance will still be off U.S. 61 North, but the secondary road, expected to be built with a state grant and tax-increment financing money, will provide an alternate link.

Richard George, board president, said an offer to buy the first piece of property needed for the secondary access road for River Region Medical Center could be made as early as today.

“We have a grant for a little more than $2 million from the Mississippi Development Authority for the road,” George said, adding that River Region will also contribute, probably by repaying the TIF bonds. “No county money will be spent,” George said. “The county is just the facilitator.”

The board has appraisals of the land needed for the route from Realtor Greg Thomas and a review appraisal from Realtor Wayne Thornton. The preferred route starts at a former convenience store, now a restaurant, across from the Culkin Elementary site.

“The T’Beaux’s (property) is important,” George said.

The business at 1625 Culkin Road is owned by Thomas and Mary Ray.

George said if the county can buy the store and land from the Rays, the new road can line up with Mount Alban Road. If the county can’t buy the land, another alignment will have to be considered.

George said the county will have to deal with about a half-dozen property owners, whichever alignment is chosen.

Separately, APAC of Mississippi was the low bidder on a contract to pave Henry Lake Road in the Ceres Research and Industrial Interplex at Flowers. The company bid $217,880.50, the lowest of five offers.

The project is to pave a portion of Henry Lake Road that extends west from Ceres Road in the industrial park that is owned by Warren County and operated by the Warren County Port Commission. The road is part of the infrastructure work the county will do as part of attracting CalsonicKansei Mississippi and Yorozu Automotive Mississippi to Warren County. The two companies, which are based in Japan, are tier one suppliers for the Nissan plant being built near Canton.

The road bid submitted by APAC was lower than the $250,000 estimate made by county engineer John McKee.

Since funding for the road work comes from a community development block grant from the Mississippi Development Authority, awarding of the bid is subject to approval by grant officials. The Warren County Port Commission also has to approve the award.