County needs more time for road repairs

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Lauderdale County Engineer Neal Carson said he needs more time to repair roads and bridges closed because of damage from last month's severe weather and flash floods.
Carson briefed county supervisors Thursday on the condition of Beaver Pond Road, parts of which were damaged by water, and the Cotton Gin Road bridge at Lizelia Road, which also was damaged.
He also updated them on Allen Swamp Road bridge over Okatibbee Creek, which was declared unsafe and was closed before the storms.
Carson said that bridge will be replaced with state money. He said the county needs permission from the Lauderdale County School Board to work on land it owns before repairs can begin.
The Cotton Gin Road bridge and Beaver Pond Road were damaged by severe weather and flash floods that struck East Mississippi first on April 6-7 and again on April 24-25.
Carson said he hopes to have building plans for the Cotton Gin Road bridge drawn up next week to get the project ready for bids.
Beaver Pond Road was repaired after the first storms at a cost of $34,000. After the second round of storms caused similar problems, Carson estimated repairs will cost about $70,000 to $80,000.
Carson also told supervisors that FEMA representatives have approved about $120,000 for repairs to the Q.V. Sykes Park, where three baseball fields were damaged by the storms.
Carson plans to ask supervisors to renew the county's emergency status during its regularly scheduled board meeting at 5 p.m. Monday in the board room of the Raymond P. Davis Courthouse Annex.
An emergency resolution was approved by the board after the floods last month. Carson wants the emergency status to be extended to allow his crews more time to repair damaged areas.