‘One-time grant’:Katrina money sought for bayou cleaning|[07/26/07]

Published 12:00 am Thursday, July 26, 2007

While cleaning bayous of appliances, tires and other refuse will be handled by crews contracted by Warren County if disaster funds come through, most on the county board don’t foresee it becoming routine.

Both Vicksburg and Warren County are applying for up to $2 million in community development block grant funds available to counties in areas declared eligible for disaster funds due to Hurricane Katrina.

&#8220It’s wise to take advantage of it,” Board President Richard George said. &#8220But, we would contract the work out. It’s a one-time grant.”

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A recent check of bayous for signs of visible litter didn’t turn up as much rubbish lining the banks as in times past.

&#8220We haven’t gone out and attacked any particular area,” said city Public Works Director Bubba Rainer, adding the city does not take responsibility for cleaning bayous.

&#8220They could still use a good cleaning, that’s for sure.”

Local government had shied away from doing the work of keeping the banks of bayous clean, with officials saying either it cost too much or was up to individual property owners, as many of the small streams such as Glass, Stouts and Hatcher bayous run behind residential backyards – many of them in flood-prone neighborhoods.

Residents in subdivisions such as Ford, Hamilton Heights and Marcus Bottom have also bemoaned periodic illegal dumping in the narrow channels for years. Such offenses carry fines of $1,000 in Vicksburg and between $100 and $500.

According to maps prepared by Central Mississippi Planning and Development District and provided by Jimmy G. Gouras Urban Planning Consultants Inc., maps show most of Warren County stands a fair chance of having projects approved, based on income levels.

Proposals for legal, administrative and engineering services associated with carrying out the grant funds were heard by supervisors Tuesday.

Companies submitting offers were Gouras’ firm and Jackson-based Chiron Group for administrative, Winfield and Moran and James R. Sherard for legal and ABMB Engineers Inc. for engineering.

Supervisors have also mentioned repairing restrooms at Eagle Lake boat launch as a project that could be completed with the CDBG money.