The Warren County Board of Supervisors is expected to make a draw on the $1.2 million loan from RiverHills Bank to secure funding for a potential jail site.

County Administrator John Smith told the board during their Monday morning work session a draw on the loan must be made before May 31.

“If you don’t make a draw now, you will have to start the process over,” Smith told the board. “We need to make a draw, put it under our control until we resolve the jail land issue.”

The loan for the potential jail site was to expire in April, but an extension was granted from RiverHills Bank, according to Smith, who added “this is not an indication that we’re about to buy land.”

Smith said the “intent of the note is to buy the land and use whatever is left to develop the land for a jail site.”

Supervisor John Arnold said the board needs to “make it very clear, we are not going to spend $1.2 million on buying property.”

The supervisors hired appraiser Bobby Bottin earlier this month to assess the value of property on U.S. 80 as an option for the proposed county jail site. Smith said the appraisal has come back on the old Pinewoods Hotel site, which has also been approved as a potential jail site in an interlocal agreement with city of Vicksburg officials that is necessary for the jail to be located outside the city limits.

The 47-acre site, which has not been a popular choice with some residents in the area, was targeted as a potential jail location once it became clear the first choice location at the Ceres Industrial Complex was not favorable to local and state economic development and city officials.

Although the supervisors have not voted on purchasing the U.S. 80 property, Board President Richard George made it clear of their intent. “The bottom line is, when you’re having a piece of property appraised, you’re not looking for a place to have a picnic,” George said.

The supervisors will next meet Monday, May 7 at 9 a.m. on the third floor of the Warren County court house.