The Warren County Board of Supervisors have settled on a location for a new facility to keep the Mississippi Department of Public Safety operating a driver’s license office in Vicksburg. But some in the community are opposed to the proposed location and have begun a petition. The group is expected to be at Monday’s 9 a.m. board meeting in the county courthouse.

Cori Carraway, one of three on the agenda to address the supervisors during their Monday meeting, began a petition on change.org just over a week ago to gain support in not allowing the Mississippi Highway Patrol to occupy the former Lauderdale State Farm Insurance office on the corner of Drummond and Belmont streets. The reason for the opposition is because sex offenders are required by law to maintain registration at the MHP office — the proposed facility is adjacent to a daycare center, as well as another daycare facility not far down on Belmont Street.

Sex offenders are required to verify their registration every 90 days in person.

The petition, which has garnered more than 350 signatures as of Friday evening, cites Mississippi Code 45-33-26 from the Mississippi Legislature: that registered sex offenders not enter school or daycare property with some exceptions and registered sex offenders not loiter within 500 feet of a school or daycare.

“If this location is approved, one can argue that sex offenders have a legitimate reason for being within 500 feet of a daycare — that being to maintain their registration, by law,” the petition states.

“Conversely, one can argue the location chosen by the board conflicts with the legislature’s findings and the purpose of the law by literally requiring that sex offenders be within 500 feet of children.”

Dell Rogers, who has run a daycare center in Vicksburg for nearly 50 years, said this issue is not about the two child facilities on Belmont Street.

“This is about not impacting any daycare within 500 feet,” Rogers said.

During their work session April 23, county administrator John Smith told the board of supervisors the MHP is “ok with the building” the supervisors have eyed, but it must also meet 11 items outlined by MHP officials for them to occupy the building.

County officials and members of the MHP examined the proposed location in February and “they were pleased,” according to board president Richard George, with the proposed site. The supervisors hired McMillin Real Estate in March to assess the value of the property but have not purchased the building.

Smith said the supervisors have received a letter from the MHP dated April 20 indicating MHP is in favor of the location.

He said supervisors were unaware of the state law about registered sex offenders at the time they suggested the proposed location to MHP officials.

“We just provide a place for MHP to occupy,” Smith said.

Safety and other concerns at the highway safety patrol examination station on Grove Street were brought to the attention of the supervisors late last year by the MHP, who have threatened to close the Vicksburg office and relocate out of the county.

In November, MHP Lt. Ola Kirk, who took over as Region Director of Driver Services in September, told the supervisors during a work session the facility — which is provided for at no cost by the county — did not pass the requirements of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.

Kirk brought a long list of issues with the current facility and what is required.

The Warren County MHP office serves as many as 1,600 people each month, according to information the supervisors have received from MHP officials. But it’s not just people in Warren County being served. MHP says the Vicksburg location also serves Mississippi drivers in Claiborne, Issaquena, western Hinds, southern Yazoo and southern Sharkey counties.