The former Yalobusha County jail on Calhoun Street, vacant since 2015, is a potential option for a new Water Valley Utilities Commission office if commissioners can strike a deal with county supervisors. The building has been vacant for over a decade. A new roof was installed last year at a cost of $26,703.
WATER VALLEY — A $1.2 million boost to Water Valley’s electric system became official Monday as Gov. Tate Reeves signed a quarter-billion-dollar special projects bill into law.
The funding, part of the Legislature’s end-of-session “Christmas tree” bill, was secured with assistance from State Rep. Kevin Horan and State Sen. Ben Suber.
Water Valley Utilities Commission Chairman Brandon Presley said the funds will be used to improve reliability across the city’s electric system.
“These funds have no local match requirement and will be a direct injection for the legal purposes for which they were sent,” Presley said.
Presley said the commission plans to focus the funding on long-term improvements that will provide lasting benefits.
“These are one-time funds that may not come around again, so we’ve got to use them wisely,” Presley said. “Our focus is on long-term improvements — an investment that will benefit Water Valley not just today, but 20 or 30 years down the road.”
Presley credited multiple state and local leaders for helping secure the funding, including Mayor Tommy Reynolds, members of the Utilities Commission and legislative leadership.
“This brings the total grant funds to the Water Valley Utilities Commission to over $3.2 million since our creation in August of last year, just eight months ago,” Presley added.
Presley’s tally includes a $1.014 million grant from the Delta Regional Authority awarded in February and a Grid Resilience Grant to be awarded through the Mississippi Development Authority. Presley said that application has been approved and the commission is awaiting final execution by the agency before making an official announcement.
Office Relocation
Presley also said the commission is exploring a potential relocation of its office to improve customer access and safety. The commission currently operates its customer service and clerical office out of a single space inside City Hall on Blackmur Drive, the longstanding electric department office.
Presley said one option is the former county jail on Calhoun Street, which has sat vacant since 2015, adding that preliminary discussions are underway with the Yalobusha County Board of Supervisors about a lease agreement.
The idea was briefly discussed by supervisors during their April 6 meeting, where Board President Cayce Washington said Presley had reached out about the property.
“I told them the best thing they can do is put a proposal together and let this board look at it,” Washington said.
Washington said the concept would involve the Utilities Commission using part of the building while also funding improvements to the overall structure, including cleaning out the interior and removing the former jail cells. The county could then use a portion of the building for its own needs, such as records storage, emergency management or possibly 911 dispatch.
“They’re talking about funding the whole effort — cleaning it up, getting it gutted out and redoing the interior,” Washington added.
Under the early discussion, the commission would seek a long-term agreement, potentially up to 25 years, in part to meet requirements tied to grant funding. Rather than paying traditional rent, the commission would offset costs by investing in renovations and improvements to the property.
Supervisors expressed interest in reviewing a formal proposal, though some raised questions about the length of the potential agreement.
“Twenty-five years?” District 3 Supervisor Kenny Harmon questioned.
“I say, let him bring a proposal,” District 2 Supervisor Ken Rogers said.
“What good is it doing now?” District 5 Supervisor Gaylon Gray added. “We have sat here and talked about needing to do something with it for years.”
Potential Repurpose
Presley said the concept for the old jail building would center on improving both access and appearance, including the addition of a drive-through payment option at the rear of the building. The drive-through would be located at the rear of the building, allowing customers to pull off Calhoun Street, circle behind the structure and conduct business without leaving their vehicles.
The proposal is aimed at addressing ongoing safety concerns at the current City Hall location, where limited parking has forced some residents to park along the sidewalk and step into traffic.
Presley said that, if an agreement is reached, the commission would invest in improving the property with upgraded parking, landscaping and exterior work to make the site more presentable.
Commissioners are expected to make a formal presentation at Monday’s Board of Supervisors meeting to determine whether an agreement can be reached.
This is fabulous!! Thank you all for pushing Water Valley interests forward.