County, City Ink Building Deal
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• Planned improvements at the former county jail building on Calhoun Street in Water Valley include landscaping, lighting upgrades and additional exterior improvements.
WATER VALLEY – Plans to redevelop the former Yalobusha County jail building on Calhoun Street officially moved forward Monday after the Yalobusha County Board of Supervisors unanimously executed a lease agreement with the Water Valley Utility Commission and the City of Water Valley. The agreement clears the way for renovations to begin soon on the long-vacant building, which will eventually house the city’s utility offices and a drive-thru payment area while allowing the county to retain a portion of the facility for future use for records storage.
Supervisors approved the 15 year agreement during Monday’s recess meeting at the Coffeeville Courthouse after final revisions were made concerning renovation responsibilities inside the building that were questioned by county officials last month. Under the updated agreement, the Water Valley Utility Commission will be responsible for repairs and replacement involving the building’s heating, air conditioning and plumbing systems. Major structural repairs and renovations benefiting both parties would be shared jointly unless otherwise agreed upon later.
Board Attorney Shannon Crow explained the revised language to supervisors before the unanimous vote.
“I think y’all’s concern was if we’re just storing stuff in there, we don’t necessarily need the HVAC and plumbing,” Crow said during the discussion. “The city’s going to take on if that needs to be repaired or replaced.”
Commission Chairman Brandon Presley previously told supervisors the project is intended to turn what has become a downtown eyesore into a useful public facility while improving customer access for utility payments and services. The old jail has remained largely vacant since 2015 following construction of the county’s new jail facility. Presley previously said the current utility office inside City Hall has become overcrowded and difficult for customers to access safely.
Speaking after the meeting, Presley said work is expected to start this week on the project, with cleaning up the exterior among the first priorities.
Other business during Monday’s meeting included:
• Supervisors declared a 2015 Ford Explorer assigned to Tax Assessor/Collector Michael Walton a total loss following a recent accident on County Road 436. Walton told supervisors the vehicle sustained approximately $8,900 in damage after a tire blowout caused the SUV to strike a trailer parked beside the roadway.
Supervisors authorized the advertisement for financing bids involving the purchase of a replacement vehicle, a 2026 GMC Canyon Crew Cab pickup truck through a two-year lease-purchase agreement.
• Approved the purchase of a new John Deere 310P backhoe through state contract pricing at an estimated cost of approximately $121,000 for District 2.
• Discussed the purchase of a new skid steer for District 1, as District One Supervisor and Board President Cayce Washington presented multiple purchasing options for different brands including Caterpillar, Kubota and John Deere. The cost was $70,000-plus, depending on the model purchased. District 4 Supervisor Eddie Harris also indicated he may also be interested in purchasing a skid steer.
