[6/8/04]One person appeared Monday to speak in favor of the tax abatement ordinance being considered by the Warren County Board of Supervisors.

The board adopted a draft of the law in April and set Monday’s hearing to gather comments.

The only comment was an endorsement from Charlotte Duffey, director of the Vicksburg Warren Community Alliance, who appeared before the board saying she was speaking as a private citizen for Margaret Gilmer, a former president of the Vicksburg Warren County Chamber of Commerce and manager of Vicksburg Factory Outlets.

Duffey said Gilmer backs the ordinance, already passed by the city, to give tax breaks for new investments.

“She wanted me to come tell you she is very supportive of tax abatement and any other incentives that would make our community more competitive with other communities in Mississippi,” Duffey said.

Specifically, the tax abatement would be the only difference between a pre-renovation appraised value and the post-renovation true value.

The board voted to keep accepting written comments until 5 p.m. Friday.

The city breaks will be six-year and seven-year abatements, depending on how much is spent on the renovation or restoration of a structure in the downtown business district or the historic preservation district. Property owners would still pay full levies for support of public schools.

If the county ordinance is passed, abatements will be considered for properties only after city approval is sought and received.

In other business, the board:

Approved the extension of a contract with River Region Medical Center for services at the holding facility for mental patients.

Approved payments to ABMB Engineers for $1,987.50 for engineering services on the Adams Street Bridge project.

Approved payment to ABMB for $4,364.89 on the Tyson Foods Sewer Expansion project.

Approved payment to ABMB for $1,684.34 on the River Region road slide repair.

Approved application to the Mississippi Development Authority for a community development block grant for up to $75,000 to make an emergency repair to a sink hole on Oak Ridge Road.

Approved the naming of Perry Circle off Floweree Road; naming Hataway Lane off Lowery Road and Granite Way and Onyx Crossing off Cobblestone Drive and Oak Ridge Road.

Approved the reappointment of Bill Collins to the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau Board.

Approved the resignation of Robert Geary from the Warren County Parks and Recreation Commission and the appointment of Ken Bufkin to replace him.

Approved the resignation of O.A. Williams from the parks and recreation commission and appointed him to the Vicksburg Bridge Commission to fill the remainder of the term of the late Pat Segrest. They then appointed William Banks to succeed Williams on the parks and recreation commission.

Adjourned until 9 a.m. June 21.