Parcel being used for widening of diversion canal

Payment was approved Monday by Warren County supervisors to a group of landowners to seal a deal on 7.23 acres of land along the Yazoo Diversion Canal.

Funds totaled $13,806.69 and had been in escrow for nearly two years as city and county officials looked for ways to match federal dollars to widen the major Mississippi River tributary to enable more traffic between the Port of Vicksburg and Mississippi River.

Principals in DeSoto Island Properties LLC, RWB Inc. and John Wheeless sought compensation for lost rent and productivity as a result of the $5.3 million project, which began in 2007. A year earlier, the Warren County Port Commission granted right of way to the property to the City of Vicksburg to speed up local financing, which totaled $3.6 million via block grants.

Money approved Monday by supervisors and port officials will come from port funds and be paid to the city for payment to the landowners. The city’s share of payments is $9,204.46.

Project managers with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have said they must wait for lower river stages and drier banks to begin the erosion control phase of the widening. Most dredging was wrapped up in March despite river levels exceeding ideal project conditions by about 4 feet.

Landowners and the local government came to an agreement on the six parcels of property before legal action was necessary. Some parcels are thought to have floated away from DeSoto Island, directly across the canal from City Front, when the Mississippi River changed course in the late 19th century. During early discussions, one parcel was determined to be part of Louisiana.

Widening the canal for four-barge tows has been a priority of local officials for more than 15 years. At the project’s end, the 150-foot-wide canal will be widened to 250 feet from its junction with the Mississippi to Glass Bayou, about 1 1/2 miles north. Then from Glass Bayou to the Vicksburg Harbor, which is a little less than a mile, the canal would gradually decrease to 200 feet wide.

On the agendaMonday, the Warren County Board of Supervisors:

Adopted an amended resolution concerning improvements at the Port of Vicksburg.

The change involved adjusting the stated level of grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to $650,000 from $500,000. The funds were eyed for replacing the 15-ton overhead crane for unloading cargo. Supervisors are also considering $10 million in Katrina-related economic development grants to finance a new crane. The board ratified execution of environmental assessments on that application, which includes replacing the port’s approach bridge at E.W. Haining Road.Approved a $13,159.68 decrease of the cost to retrofitting the new emergency dispatch center at First North and Clay streets.Items deleted were related to the cost of installing a raised floor and extra tile. Also, Mayrant & Associates, the firm hired to upgrade the electrical and technical capabilities of the facility, was approved for a $50,128.26 payment for work performed.Approved a $29,200 increase to the local portion of funding for resurfacing work to Eagle Lake Shore and Tucker roads. Both will be paid for primarily with state aid road funds. County Engineer John McKee said the change order involved material costs.Declared May and June as awareness months for the Parents Who Host Lose The Most program. The campaign is sponsored by Drug Free Action Alliance & Drug Free Communities and is promoted locally by state and local law enforcement with the aim of curbing underage alcohol consumption.Recognized Warren Central High School senior Felicia Denise Loving, recipient of a $500 scholarship to the University of Southern Mississippi from the Mississippi Association of Supervisors Minority Caucus.