As they go through the process of deciding the site for the new Warren County Jail, the Board of Supervisor should pay attention to the concerns of the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau.

At its meeting Monday, the board approved hiring an appraiser to assess the value of a 50-acre tract located off Berryman Road near Dusty Road, the current favorite as the site for the new jail.

Representatives of the VCVB quickly voiced their opposition to the site, sending the board a letter dated Oct. 5 voicing their opinion that the Berryman Road site is not the right one for a county jail. The letter was jointly signed by VCVB executive director Bill Seratt and VCVB board chairman Bess Averett.

The VCVB objects to the site because it is “one of our highest traffic areas for visitors overnighting at our hotels, eating in restaurants and shopping,” the letter read.

The Berryman Road site is one of two finalists for the construction of a new county jail. The other is a tract located off U.S. 80 and near the site of the former Pinewoods Motor Court.

Of the two sites, the one on Berryman Road is the clear favorite as it has easier access to utilities and is near the site of the new Vicksburg Fire Department Station No. 3 on Berryman Road.

The Berryman site may still prove to be the best option to build the jail, but as the supervisors go forward, they must make sure they do their due diligence to see if building the jail there will inhibit the growth in the area, as the VCVB fears it will. “Currently, this area is seeing growth. A Hilton property has committed to break ground on Berryman Road and the water park is slated to open behind the Outlets at Vicksburg,” the letter continued.

Board president Richard George said he received the letter and will work with the VCVB to answer any questions and make sure the desired information is provided.

Warren County is in desperate need of a new jail facility and the supervisors have taken important steps to make it a reality. We hope as the process continues to move forward the supervisors will work with the city of Vicksburg and entities like the VCVB to make sure the correct site is selected and that no unintended consequences are caused by its construction.