Tuesday, the Pearl River County Utility Authority signed a contract agreeing to operate and eventually assume ownership of the wastewater treatment plant near the county jail.

The Pearl River County Board of Supervisors signed the contract during their meeting Monday.

The Item previously reported that the contract was drafted between the board of supervisors and the utility authority. The contract states that the utility authority will operate and eventually own the wastewater treatment plant while the county would contribute $3.90 per 1,000 gallons to fund operation of the facility.

“Hopefully in the near future we will own the facility like we own the ones in Poplarville and Picayune,” said Dr. James Sones, utility authority board president.

The wastewater treatment plant­–constructed by the county– is a smaller version of the ultraviolet light plants installed in the county’s two municipalities.

Utility Authority Engineer Vernon Moore said the plant will begin operation today.

Also at the meeting, Moore said they’re currently in the design phase for the Wildwood subdivision sewer lagoon project.

“As soon as we get done designing the project, we plan to advertise for bids,” Moore said.

To ensure the lagoon doesn’t spill over, the utility authority is designing a sewer system made of small pipes that would transfer the treated wastewater into the ground to be absorbed, Moore said.

Sones hopes the project starts sometime in the fall. Moore said the project could take between 120 to 150 days to complete.