[05/21/02]A hearing June 17 will help determine district lines for Warren County justice court judges and constables.

The Warren County Board of Supervisors approved Feb. 25 a plan to redraw the five districts from which members of the board of supervisors and the Vicksburg Warren School District Board of Trustees are elected. The plan, approved by a 3-2 vote, was sent to the U.S. Justice Department for approval under the Voting Rights Act before it can go into effect. The department has two to six months to reach a decision.

In addition to the five supervisory districts, the county must draw lines to create three districts from which the three justice court judges and three constables are elected. Instead of having to create wholly new districts, the county is able to use the existing supervisory districts as a basis from which to draw the new lines by creating subdistricts.

Richard George, District 5 supervisor and board president, said the board will present at least two proposed plans at the June 17 hearing.

Separately, Randy Sherard, the board’s attorney, presented a letter of approval from the Mississippi Tax Commission of a request for a 10-year tax exemption from International Paper for work at the Vicksburg Mill. The request was made in March.

The company asked for an exemption from county taxes on $11,193,308.80 in property. Although IP will not pay local county taxes for 10 years, it will continue to pay state and school taxes on the property.

The board voted to give George authority to sign the final approval order.

In other actions, the board:

Approved a change order with Shilo Construction Co. for $139,961 for work in progress on the county-owned old U.S. 80 Bridge. The change will allow the contractor to install temporary devices to hold down the east end of the bridge when the permanent hold-downs are moved. The approval is contingent on an OK from the Warren County Bridge Commission.

Awarded the purchase of a self-propelled paver-finisher to Mid South Machinery; of a truck with crew cab and chipper hopper to the Truck Center and of a wheeled backhoe to Puckett Machinery.

Approved spending $3,000 to continue membership in the beaver control program. The program allows private landowners with beaver problems to get help from a trapper to remove the animals.

Reappointed David Roselle to the Warren County Airport Authority for another term. Roselle’s term has expired but he asked to be returned to the board, George said.

Approved a resolution commending the St. Aloysius High School baseball team for winning the Class 1A South State Championship.