A Vicksburg casino and a few apartment complexes filed the only objection letters to local tax valuations before the 30-day public comment period on property values came to a close Monday.

Responses to land rolls declared equalized by Warren County supervisors in July came from Columbia Properties Vicksburg LLC, the local subsidiary of Horizon Casino’s Kentucky-based controlling group, Columbia Sussex, and from a list of apartments including Shadow Cliff, River Hill, The Ridge, Magnolia Commons, Fredella Village, Beechwood Park, Parkwood South and Villas Pacis.

Among the casino company’s nine parcels listed in its formal objection is a portion of City Front from the north entrance down to the edge of the Yazoo Diversion Canal, sold by the City of Vicksburg to then-owner Harrah’s in 1992.

Totaled, the company’s nine parcels in Vicksburg are valued at more than $21.6 million.

Both were received by mail and will either be honored or dismissed by supervisors by Aug. 12. No members of the public showed up personally to air grievances about this year’s assessments, which reflect an inventory of land available for taxation. By the numbers, rolls grew from $3,156,404,888 in 2007 to $3,172,226,834 in 2008 – an increase of half a percent.

Tax bills based on this year’s property assessments will be mailed in December. Millage rates will be set by supervisors Sept. 2. Schools have asked for $23.7 million from the county this year, $87,110 less than last year to preserve current rates.

Neither objection was in response to about 1,600 postcards sent to about 6 percent of Warren County taxpayers in late June and early July, Deputy Tax Assessor Jim Agent said. The notices detailed changes of $5,000 or more in a property’s true value.

The Warren County Assessor’s Office reported a brisk response from the notices in the weeks that followed, mainly from phone calls.

The county’s assessment of land values is also used to collect Vicksburg’s levy on property inside the city limits.

Also Monday, supervisors decided to place seven of 25 residential subdivisions targeted this summer under the microscope of the county prosecutor.

Supervisors approved sending information on Haley’s Point Estates, Openwood Acres, and Rabbit Run, Camden Place, Lee Hills and Boy Scout Road subdivisions for possible misdemeanor charges and fines. An additional development, Audubon Brook, will also be examined.

The board action comes just days after an Aug. 1 deadline given to principal developers of neighborhoods not in full compliance with the county’s ordinance governing how subdivided land is sold and developed. The list was about equally divided between developers who had simply not filed necessary paperwork and those who subdivided and sold lots without any formal steps taken toward compliance.

Penalties spelled out in the ordinance allow for fines of $500 per day and per violation. Board President Richard George said the outcome of the cases will be up to the prosecutor, Richard Johnson.

“Whatever that may be,” George said.

Since letters were sent to developers in June, 16 developments took sufficient action to complete or at least begin compliance, County Engineer John McKee said. One has filed a preliminary plat, which broadly defines the area under development, including names, widths and distances between roads. Another three are disputing their non-compliance status.

The ordinance adopted willhalt the practice of substandard roads with poor drainage being submitted to the county for maintenance at public expense. It requires developers selling lots to submit plats and drainage plans in advance for approval.

Also, one of three private haulers that picks up garbage in non-municipal Warren County was given 30 days to comply with the county’s rubbish ordinance.

The violation involves use of ordinary pickup trucks and not properly licensed packer trucks, Warren County Fire Coordinator and Environmental Officer Kelly Worthy said.

Earlier this year, supervisors toyed with putting the county’s garbage-pickup arrangement out for bid, which would almost certainly favor its largest handler, Waste Management Inc. Supervisors have backed off the idea, as takeovers and turnover in Worthy’s clerical staff have occurred.

Waste Management, which also holds the City of Vicksburg’s residential pickup contract, showed 4,366 non-municipal customers on its last report. Tallulah-based Earth Friends & Recycling served 606 residents. Individual haulers handle pickup for another 448 customers scattered countywide.