County, City At Odds Over Public Parking, Restrooms

by Yvette Hillman/HomeTown Traditions
In a George County Board of Supervisors meeting on Friday, originally set for bid openings, Lucedale Mayor Dayton Whites made a second request for a small tract of property belonging to the county.
Whites, on behalf of the city of Lucedale, has requested 68 feet of property at the corner of Mill and Commerce Streets to build public restrooms if a Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) grant can be obtained.
Whites explained to the board that the city wanted to apply for a $600,000 city improvement grant from MDA, which would include a 1,000 square foot building for public restrooms, improvements to Lucedale City Park, the pavilion and park restrooms and a 50-slot public parking area. Along with the grant application, an itemized list of project must also be submitted and be turned in before the end of the month.
Whites presented the Supervisors letters from the City of Lucedale, Superintendent of Education Donnie Howell, Downtown Merchants Association President Dina Naron and property owner Craig Vincent in support of the project. (copiers of the letter can be found below)
District 5 Supervisor Henry Cochran told Whites he was concerned about losing the five parking slots at the location in question and asked if there was another possible location. Whites told the board that to his knowledge there were no other locations available. Cochran asked about the property at the corner of Main and Mill Streets, across from the Department of Education District Office. A call was made to a local Realtor, who said only a portion of the property was for sale and at a price of $100,000. Whites said that was beyond what the city could afford.
Whites assured Cochran and the other Supervisors that if the city was granted the funds, a 50-slot parking area would be built and paved in an area which is partly owned by the city and partly by business owner Craig Vincent. A portion of the area, which is located behind the Department of Education District Office, next to a building recently purchased by the Department of Education for expansion of the district office, is owned by Vincent, and Vincent has agreed to a 10-year lease. The rest of the new parking area, in which the city owns, would include the area behind the green Chisholm's Flea Market building and along the east side of the Chisholm building between Commerce and Oak Streets.
Cochran asked Whites if five parking slots could be reserved for the district office employees; Whites told Cochran that he did not believe parking spaces in a public parking lot could be reserved but he would ask the Attorney General. Whites also pointed out that the district office employee are required at work before other businesses, or merchants are even opened for business.
Board President and District 2 Supervisor Kelly Wright expressed concerns with the lease offered by Vincent. Wright asked if Vincent might decide to change his mind or sale the land before the lease is up. District 4 Supervisor Larry Havard pointed out that in recent years, parking at the courthouse has been a problem and some of the present parking areas is on leased property.
Whites told the board that the City must have all the paper work for the grant ready by Monday, February 26, that it must be turn-in before Wednesday, February 28.
The next Board of Supervisors meeting has been set for Monday, February 26th at 9 a.m.