By By Sheila Blackmon/The Meridian Star
Dec. 21, 2000
Lowering AT&T cables to make room for drainage lines at the South Industrial Park on Highway 11 South is going to cost Lauderdale County about $16,000.
The Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors says the money has been budgeted, and they agreed earlier this week to pay AT&T to move the fiberoptic cables.
District 2 Supervisor Jimmie Smith said the work has begun and the funds are coming from $3 million in loans approved for the park about two years ago $1.5 million from Meridian and $1.5 million from Lauderdale County.
District 3 Supervisor Craig Hitt said he is concerned that the board of supervisors learned of the problem so late in the process.
Smith said an engineer's initial site study shows where various utility lines are located, but said there is no way to tell if lines are going to have to be moved until construction begins.
Building the drainage lines is part of ongoing efforts to solve drainage problems and move portions of the park out of a flood plain. These efforts began in the fall when the levee surrounding the park was built up 5 feet and part of Sowashee Creek was widened.
Officials say improvements should lower flood insurance costs for existing industries and create space in the park for expansions and new industries.
Sheila Blackmon is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail her at sblackmon@themeridianstar.com.