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Kevin DeBusk
Times Staff Writer
In August of 2005, a strategic plan was released for Stone County and its number one objective was to provide infrastructure for business and residential growth. In fact that objective directly related to provisions for improvements to sewer and water capacities for the growth and future growth while improving compliance with state and federal regulations.
Thanks to Katrina that vision had to be placed on the back burner as Wiggins and Stone County began a rebuilding process. However, during that rebuilding process the county also saw growth as individuals decided to move slightly inland, which has caused one of the city’s two sewage lagoons to be at capacity.
Not to worry though, as last Wednesday the county’s vision became reality when the Stone County Utility Authority (SCUA) broke ground on a $38 million dollar infrastructure improvement project, which consists of seven subprojects. Of those seven projects six have been let and the seventh’s bids will be open in mid-July.
The best part of the project though is that residents will see no tax increases for debt reduction as the $38 million is being funded 100-percent through CDBG grants.
“We are certainly making history today in Stone County,” SCUA President Dick O’Neal said. “We are getting some infrastructure in the ground that will affect many people and the way they do things and we’re going forward with a program that years ago was never dreamed of.”
O’Neal continued thanking numerous people and organizations for their involvement in the process including, O’Neal Bond Engineering/Jon Bond, Tice Engineering/Ryan Tice and staff, Neel-Shaffer and the Stone County Economic Development Partnership.
The project will provide a public water source to portions of the county currently not served and aid in fire protection through the construction of three 250,000 gallon water tanks and transmission lines, located on Ten Mile Hill, East McHenry and West McHenry Roads respectively. It also consists of the Wiggins Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant and South Stone County Regional Treatment Plant, located in the McHenry area, along with nearly 39,000 L.F. of sewer lines and four pumping stations.
“We are fortunate to have Governor Hailey Barbour,” project administrator Nell Murray said. “He was the man of the hour. He knows how to get things done and he knows how to get around Washington and we are the beneficiaries of that effort.”
She continued saying, “We are here today breaking ground on water and sewer infrastructure that few if any of us thought would ever really happen.”
What’s unusual in regard to this project is Mississippi Department of Environmental Qualities (MDEQ) involvement. “This is an exciting day and we are excited to be part of the process,” MDEQ Communications Director Robbie Wilbur said. “This is unusual for Stone County to have a project of this magnitude and for our agency. The governor directed us to have $640 million dollars of HUD money to plan and think about infrastructure in South Mississippi.”
He continued by saying that it was unusual for their department to work on infrastructure and growth as they are use to being a regulatory agency but that they were proud to have been part of the process.
As for city and county officials, both Mayor Jerry Alexander and President of the Board of Supervisors Dale Bond told the group they were excited about the process and looked forward to completion.
Completion is scheduled for late 2010.
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