[6/3/03]Warren County should ask for the deed to the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse on Crawford Street, a Vicksburg attorney told supervisors Monday.

A more likely solution to a lack of courtroom space, however, will be Vicksburg’s giving circuit or chancery judges permission to use the former federal courtroom.

Attorney Paul Kelly Loyacono, speaking as a member of the Warren County Bar Association, got a cool reception from supervisors when he suggested the county ask for the building. District 5 Supervisor Richard George, who is board president, said Loyacono’s suggestion would be given “full consideration,” but there were no questions or discussion.

Later, Mayor Laurence Leyens said he thought it was too late to change the General Services Administration plan to deed the five-story building adjacent to City Hall to city ownership.

“I have told Judge (Frank) Vollor we would be happy to work out a deal for the courtroom,” Leyens said. “Our objective is to keep the building open and operating.”

Estimates are the deed transfer to the city will take place in about a month. Paint is chipping off the stone structure and estimates are it will cost about $600,000 a year to heat, cool and otherwise maintain.

The GSA is the federal government’s property manager and plans to transfer the building to city ownership were announced in November 2001 after Natchez bid to become the new federal court center for this part of the state.

For years, local judges have been asking supervisors for more space.

“If a Warren County citizen wants to have a case heard in court, the earliest date available is August of 2004,” Loyacono said. He also said criminal cases can result in release of defendants if not brought to trial within time limits established in state and federal law.

In recent years, judges have conducted trials in the federal courtroom and rented spaces near the county courthouse.

Warren County has one circuit courtroom and two circuit judges. In addition, there is one each chancery courtroom, county courtroom, youth courtroom and justice courtroom.

Vicksburg has not announced uses for the building.

In other activity, supervisors:

Presented a resolution to the Porters Chapel Academy baseball team congratulating them for winning the Academy A State Championship.

Heard a plea from attorney Blake Teller on behalf of a Lewis family for reconsideration of the denial of homestead exemption by the State Tax Commission.

Ordered the final payment of $138,639 to the contractor and $2,075.40 to the architects on the project to construct a new roof on the Warren County Jail.

Approved advertising for bids on the project to restore and waterproof the outside of the Old Court House Museum-Eva W. Davis Memorial.

Approved the naming of a road off Blackmon Road off U.S. 61 South as Zachary Drive.

Approved advertising for bids once the right of way is acquired for the Possum Hollow and Highway 3 bridge projects, the intersection of Bowie and Oak Ridge roads and the Bovina Cutoff Road.

Approved recommendations from the Purchasing Department to advertise for bids on a contract for steel and for a digital engineering copier for the GIS Department.

Approved switching to Waste Management for a year’s trash and garbage collection services for all county buildings at $1,603.64 per month.

Opened bids from Hemphill Construction Co. of Florence, Riverside Construction of Vicksburg, Delta Construction of Jackson, Blurton, Banks and Associates of Jackson, Greenbriar of Brookhaven and Lampkin Construction of Vicksburg on the Ceres Research and Industrial Interplex Sewer Improvement Project. The bids ranged from $644,865 to $876,562. The engineer’s estimate was $575,000. The board took the bids under advisement pending a recommendation to be made at its next meeting.

Recessed until 9 a.m. June 16.