Local News
Lines, pipes and awards
POPLARVILLE — Eutaw Construction was awarded a bid for $92 million or construction of sewer and water lines for the many projects the Utility Authority has planned.
Pearl River County Utility Authority Engineer Brooks Wallace said the work will involve water lines from the new water tank and well in Poplarville to Hillsdale, to the City of Poplarville and to Lumberton. In the Picayune area, the construction project also will involve new water lines to the area formerly covered by Dixie Utilities.
Sewer lines will be installed from Picayune’s old sewer treatment plant to the new sewer plant and to the Westchester subdivision, Wallace said.
The estimated cost for all of the work was about $14 million, but Eutaw Construction bid the projects out for less than $9.2 million.
The Utility Authority board accepted that bid during their meeting Wednesday.
Wallace said the project is expected to take about two years to complete.
The Utility Authority also won the third place Gulf Guardian’s Award for their work in establishing the Utility Authority and for the work it has done or has underway, Wallace said.
Some problems with some of the Authority’s systems prompted the Environmental Protection Agency to send the Authority some letters, Michael Switzer said. Those problems were minor and resolved quickly. One of the problems dealt with the Picayune and Poplarville waste water treatment plants. Apparently plants took in too much water to treat during previous months when there was heavy rainfall. Switzer said he explained the situation to the EPA.
Another problem involved pH levels in the Poplarville waste water treatment plant being too low. Switzer said at that time the operator of the plant was on vacation and a Picayune operator was filling in. No one told the Picayune operator that the aerator pumps had to be turned off at night to keep the right amount of oxygen in the water. After informing the operator of the proper procedure, pH levels are back to normal.
Three invoices sent to developers in the county were not paid. Wallace said Capital Investments, G9 and JST Properties all owe money to the board, but have yet to pay. Board president Steve Lawler suggested the board send those companies letters asking for payment in 10 days. If payment is not received in that time, then the board will take action.
A new payment drop box will be installed outside of the Utility Authority’s office in Picayune’s industrial park. This will allow customers to pay their bills when the office is closed.
The board went into executive session to discuss personnel and costs for Southwest Water providing services to Round Rock and Wildwood subdivisions.
In other business the board;
— Approved right of way acquisition amounts for property in Hillsdale.
— Approved recurring payments to employees, payroll taxes, reimbursement of authorized travel and insurance premiums and a monthly janitorial bill.
The next meeting of the Utility Authority is scheduled for 2 p.m. Dec. 3, in the City of Picayune council chambers.
- Local News
-
-
Earl threatens East Coast with weekend pounding
Hurricane Earl packed winds near 125 mph as it blew toward North Carolina on Thursday, putting the Eastern Seaboard all the way to Canada on alert for a Labor Day weekend pounding by waves, gales and rain.
-
Earl threatens East Coast with weekend pounding
Hurricane Earl packed winds near 140 mph as it blew toward North Carolina on Thursday, putting the Eastern Seaboard up to Maine on alert for a Labor Day weekend pounding by waves, gales and rain.
A hurricane warning for the tip of Massachusetts, including Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, joined earlier warnings and watches for hurricanes or tropical storms that stretch from North Carolina up to near the Canadian border. -
Island evacuations start as Earl nears East Coast
Hurricane Earl steamed toward the Atlantic Seaboard on Wednesday as communities from North Carolina to New England kept a close eye on the forecast, worried that even a slight shift in the storm’s predicted offshore track could put millions of people in the most densely populated part of the country in harm’s way.
-
Man found guilty of DUI, kidnapping
Jerry Van Wagner of Bay St. Louis, was found guilty of aggravated DUI and kidnapping in Pearl River County Circuit Court on Tuesday.
During court proceedings this week the District Attorney’s office portrayed the events leading up to 27 year-old Crystal Brasher’s death as a kidnapping that ended with an accident caused by Jerry Van Wagner driving while intoxicated. -
Virtual on-line classes so popular they’re filled up
A state education official who helps co-ordinate a virtual on-line school says the program is so popular and in so much demand that all slots are now filled and no more applications are being accepted for now.
-
Patrol officers beat the streets
“Cadets” at Picayune Police Department’s Community Police Academy got to see an officer get tased and learned about the Department’s Patrol Division.
-
Island evacuations start as Earl nears East Coast
Powerful Hurricane Earl spun toward the East Coast on Wednesday, driving tourists from North Carolina’s vacation islands and threatening to bring damaging winds and waves to the Atlantic seaboard through Labor Day weekend.
-
Police: Man holds hostages in Discovery building
A man upset with the Discovery Channel’s environmental programming took several people hostage at gunpoint at the company’s headquarters Wednesday while wearing canisters strapped to his body, officials said.
-
Miranda Lambert tops CMA Awards with 9 nominations
Miranda Lambert made history Wednesday morning when she was nominated for nine CMA Awards, the most for a female country music artist.
-
Island evacuations start as Earl nears East Coast
Powerful Hurricane Earl wheeled toward the East Coast, driving the first tourists Wednesday from North Carolina vacation islands and threatening damaging winds and waves up the Atlantic seaboard over Labor Day weekend.
Visitors were taking ferries off Ocracoke Island and told to leave neighboring Cape Hatteras in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, and federal authorities have warned people all along the Eastern seaboard to be prepared to evacuate. - More Local News Headlines
-
