PICAYUNE — U.S. Senator Roger Wicker and U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor both told Pearl River Co. officials and residents attending the new Chimney Square ribbon cutting and dedication on Thursday that the new county office complex in Picayune highlights the comeback that the Gulf Coast and Pearl River County are making from Hurricane Katrina that devastated the Coast five years ago.

The facility is located at the corner of Kirkwood Street and Goodyear Boulevard, across from the library.

Said Taylor, “I can’t tell you how happy I am to see this day. I know the people of Picayune, Poplarville and Pearl River County have made it happen. Since the storm, we have rebuilt. Many of us woke up after the storm with nothing. We have come back one room, one house, one building at a time. And Pearl River County has done a phenomenal job of working together to bring Pearl River Co. back.”

Said Wicker, “What a beautiful facility and what a credit to everyone who participated in creating this building.”

Added Wicker, “Who would have thought that five years after Katrina that the population here in Pearl River County has grown and people have discovered Pearl River County is a good place to live. I have been to places that have lost population and believe you me, it is better to have to work with problems of growth.”

Said Wicker, “Mississippi, Pearl River County and the Gulf Coast also came out of Katrina recovery with a good image nationally. Recovery has been slow, but we congratulate the leadership in Pearl River County that made this building happen and come to life. The nation saw the way we responded to disaster and it enhanced our image.”

Following Taylor and Wicker’s short speeches, supervisor and board of supervisor president Anthony Hales told the crowd of about 100 residents and officials attending the ribbon cutting that the county complex shows that Pearl River County, north and south, can work together when they need to.

“When I see Pearl River County, I don’t see any lines drawn between north and south. I see one county with the people working together to help each other,” said Hales, who also sung the National Anthem during the start of the ceremonies.

Following cutting the ribbon, attendees toured the 24,000-square-foot, two-story structure.

The facility costs $4.7 million and was paid for with grants from FEMA and other grants funneled through the Mississippi Development Authority. FEMA, MEMA and MDA state officials were at the dedication, as well as officials with the architect company, JH&H Architects of Jackson, and contractor Jay Van Co. of Hattiesburg.

The state-of-the-art elevator system in the building was constructed in Picayune by American Crescent Elevator MFG Corp..

Also on hand were all members of the board of supervisors. Besides Hales, there were supervisors Hudson Holliday, Sandy Kane Smith, Joyce Culpepper and Patrick Lee. Mayor Ed Pinero, Jr., and city council members Larry Watkins, Wayne Gouguet, Lynn Bogan-Bumpers, Larry Breland and Todd Lane were also present, as was city manager Harvey Miller.

Also present were Circuit Court Judge R.I.P. Prichard, Chancery Clerk David Earl Johnson, Circuit Clerk Vickie Hariel, Tax Assessor-Collector Gary Beech, Coroner Derrick Turnage, Sheriff David Allison and numerous business and civic leaders. Dub Herring was present, along with attorney Buddy McDonald, Sam Cooper and other businessmen and attorneys.

Also present were just plain citizens who joined in the festivities and socializing that went on prior to and after the ribbon cutting, when the Picayune Chamber of Commerce provided refreshments for those touring the facility.

County Administrator Adrain Lumpkin, Jr., said the facility will increase the services and efficiency of the county as it moves to provide services for county residents. “I have worked on this project for years,” said Lumpkin, “and it will definitely help us in our effort to deliver county services more efficiently and promptly to county residents.”

The structure has two fully equipped courtrooms, one for chancery and another for circuit with a jury box and deliberation room. Conference rooms dot the second and first floors.

Also set to go into the facility is the new county court system, which is required to take effect in January since Pearl River County has surpassed the 50,000 population mark. The county is now at an estimated 58,000.

If agreed upon by all parties, chancery and circuit court cases can be held in Picayune, although there are rules governing the use of the courtrooms in Picayune.

There is office space for the county tax office, county planning and development, the State Highway Patrol automobile-licensing office, and office space for the county coroner, the sheriff’s department, the DA and public defender and office space for judges and court conference rooms.

The facility will be open to serve the public on Tuesday at 8 a.m., said Lumpkin.