The Picayune Item

Local News

May 7, 2008

Cottages could become permanent on coast

Pascagoula — Cottages erected after Hurricane Katrina could become a permanent fixture in Jackson County as officials try to overcome a shortage of affordable housing nearly three years after the deadly storm.

The Jackson County Board of Supervisors is considering allowing some residents in the homes, known as MEMA cottages, to remain permanently in what was intended as temporary housing.

Mike Womack, director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, told the board Monday that permitting residents to keep the cottages in certain areas could reduce the demand for affordable, permanent housing. If approved by the board, the cottages would likely be allowed to stay only in county areas zoned for mobile homes and located on private property.

Womack said all MEMA cottages are supposed to be removed by March 2009. The cottage program will likely stop with about 3,100 units. The agency received a $280 million grant to see if the state could come up with a better alternative to FEMA trailers.

If the homes were left permanently, MEMA would secure the house to a concrete slab and possibly raise the elevation of the structures in flood zones.

Supervisor John McKay wanted the units in Gulf Park Estates in St. Martin added to the list of homes that could remain. However, Womack said those homes are in trailer parks and he did not want MEMA cottages on commercially owned property.

McKay said the area is not a traditional mobile home park and the land is privately owned.

There are 139 cottages on privately owned property that could be affected, Womack said, adding that 69 cottages are on land owned by residents and 61 are on land owned by family members of residents.

Womack’s office will develop another map with the addition of the cottages McKay requested and present it and a transfer of ownership plan in 30 days.

Womack said if supervisors approve permanent status for the cottages, his office could transfer ownership to a private, nonprofit group that could help residents with financing, insurance and other needs, or the county could assume ownership of the cottages.

He said the only requirement is residents must be victims of Hurricane Katrina and are allowed to live in the cottage for two years after the transfer date without it being sold. He said money derived from the sale would go to the cottage owner.

“I don’t know if you have the staff to undertake it and you would not make any money,” Womack said. “Most of these people can only pay $200 to $300 dollars a month and would have to have special financing.”

Womack said there are 576 cottages throughout Jackson County and he will be visiting each city with the same request.

“But, it will be very limited in the cities,” Womack said. “There is very little area that’s zoned for mobile homes.”

Text Only
Local News
  • PAINTING HYDRANTS PAINTING HYDRANTS

    Firefighters with Picayune Fire Department conduct regular maintenance on the city’s many fire hydrants, such as giving them a fresh coat of paint.

    May 28, 2012 1 Photo

  • Two charged with making meth around kids

    Two parents were arrested for allegedly making and possessing methamphetamine, while their children were in the home.

    May 28, 2012

  • Unemployment rate down slightly

    Pearl River County’s unemployment rate dropped slightly between March and April of this year.

    May 28, 2012

  • PMHS GRADUATION PMHS GRADUATION

    Picayune Memorial High School held its graduation ceremony Thursday night where the school’s valedictorian Jared Christopher Bates, left, and salutatorian Bryce Austin Warden gave their speeches.

    May 26, 2012 1 Photo

  • POPLARVILLE GRADUATION POPLARVILLE GRADUATION

    Poplarville High School held its graduation ceremony Thursday night where the school’s valedictorian Rebecca Starke, left, and salutatorian Meagan Whitworth gave their speeches to the graduating class, parents and friends.

    May 26, 2012 1 Photo

  • Local man paralyzed by juvenile shooting

    Medical personnel were teaching a local man how to swallow again on Saturday after his spinal cord was severed by a .22 caliber bullet, fired by one of three juveniles, on Thursday.

    May 26, 2012

  • Potential bridge replacement fund shortage draws discussion

    Despite a lengthy agenda for Pearl River County supervisors Wednesday the board handled many of the items with a straight up and down 5-0 vote.

    May 26, 2012

  • Glade Woods dies Glade Woods dies

    Funeral services for Earl Glade Woods , 75 of Picayune, are Monday at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Picayune. Woods passed away on Friday.

    May 26, 2012 1 Photo

  • MHP on patrol for holiday

    Even though there has been a remarkable reduction in the number of fatalities in Mississippi over the past seven years, last year’s Memorial Day Weekend was particularly deadly.

    May 26, 2012

  • POLICE MEMORIAL POLICE MEMORIAL

    City employees were out at the Picayune Police Department memorial Thursday morning doing some upgrades to it.

    May 25, 2012 1 Photo

Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
House Ads
Seasonal Content
AP Video
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium 50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
Twitter Updates
Follow us on twitter
Follow me on Twitter