The Warren County Board of Supervisors has hired an appraiser to assess the value of property on U.S. 80 as an option for the proposed county jail site.

During their regular Monday morning meeting, the supervisors, at the recommendation of board attorney Blake Teller, agreed to enter into a professional services agreement with Bobby Bottin for appraisal of property widely known as the old Pinewoods Hotel. District 3 Supervisor William Banks voted against hiring Bottin.

During their work session last week, the board met with Bottin to discuss the proposed site, which became an option after city of Vicksburg officials refused to enter into an interlocal agreement when the supervisors voted in December to use property at the Ceres Industrial Park for a jail location.

An interlocal agreement between the two governing bodies is necessary for the county jail to be located a mile or more outside the city limits.

During their regular meeting March 19, District 4 Supervisor John Carlisle made the motion to hire Bottin, but couldn’t get a second and the motion died.

District 1 Supervisor John Arnold said at the time he wanted to meet with Bottin before he is hired. Arnold had concerns about a couple buildings on the property. “I’d like to see us call Bobby in to one of our working sessions to discuss something on that before we actually vote for him to do it,” Arnold said.

Buildings on the property will have to demolished and cleared as part of the process in constructing the county jail facility.

Bottin told the supervisors last week he could give them a fair market value for the property. The supervisors must get an appraisal of the property before they can begin negotiations with the landowner in purchasing the site.