The Warren County Board of Supervisors has narrowed its search for a new jail site, settling on two potential sites in the county.

The supervisors discussed the sites during a work session Monday. One of the sites, county administrator John Smith said, is a 50-acre tract located off Old Highway 27 between Miss. 27 and Berryman Road. The second, known as the Piney Woods property, is a 47-acre site off U.S. 80 and near the site of the former Piney Woods Hotel.

He said the supervisors have not begun negotiations for either site pending property appraisals, which are required by state law.

“We have to get the appraisal, or appraisals, and then we can begin negotiations,” he said.

Smith said the Old Highway 27 site is the closest to city utilities, is less than 1 mile from the Vicksburg city limits, and will be served by the new city fire station being built on Berryman Road.

“It’s got a lot more positives,” he said.

A new jail for the county has been the topic of discussion by the board for many years, and Board of Supervisors President Richard George said at a joint meeting of the supervisors and the Board of Mayor and Aldermen earlier this year that the county wants to begin construction on a new facility in 2019.

George said in June the board is looking for about 50 to 60 acres to accommodate the new jail with room for future growth. He questioned whether the 50-acre site off Old highway 27 was suitable because it is too close to a subdivision.