By Leslie N. Dees
The Star-Herald
KOSCIUSKO —
Kosciusko Ward 3 Alderman Robert Ellis said he wanted the Attala County Board of Supervisors to come and talk with the board about the proposed jail that would be build in the Ward 3 area before they set a public re-zone hearing during the December 4 board meeting at Kosciusko City Hall.
The jail site is located at the interior of West Jefferson and West South Streets in Kosciusko by the county maintenance shop and has been an ongoing project for the supervisors.
“Me, personally, I would like to see what they are going to build and what it’s going to look like before we say ‘yes’ to being in the city limits,” Ellis said. “I know I wouldn’t want to walk out of my backyard and look at one. So I know nobody else does. If they can’t put up a 25-foot wooden fence, I’m not voting for it.”
Mayor Jimmy Cockroft and building inspector Brent Busbea had proposed to have the zone changed from residential to commercial.
“One thing we’ve realized is that in our zoning book there is nothing addressed as where a jail can be located,” Cockroft said. “We’ve asked them (supervisors) as a consideration to put it on commercial property. Originally, we thought it would go up closer onto the road where the county maintenance shop is. They are actually going to put it behind the barn and leave it at that.”
Ellis said he would rather see it on the road than back off the road.
Ellis and Ward 2 Alderman Henry Daniel were concerned with the security fencing for the area.
Cockfort said he would see if a representative of the supervisors could be at the December 18 meeting to talk about the project.
– Set a rezoning hearing for January 15 for property on 1125 North Natchez Street and adjacent property from residential to commercial. A beauty supply shop will be placed there.
– Payments were made on The Strand project to Historic Renovations of Yazoo and Belinda Stewart Architects, PA.
– City Hall will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as well as New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
– Pam Comfort with RSVP, Mike Henson with the Kosciusko Police Department and David Busbea, city court clerk, all resigned their positions. Busbea will go into effect December 31.
– Jonathan Steed was hired as a Kosciusko Police officer.
– Steve Hutchison was terminated from his position at the street department. Timothy Clark was hired to fill the position.
– Kosciusko-Attala Career and Technology Center was given a 2005 Crown Victoria from the city.
– Claims docket was approved.
