Supervisors receive flood update at bi-monthly meeting

by Tony Davis
The Lawrence County Board of Supervisors held the first of their two regular monthly meetings on Monday, March 2.
After welcoming comments, Board President Steve Garrett asked Lawrence County Emergency Management Director Tony Norwood to report on recent Pearl River flooding issues. Norwood reported that the river went to 33.78 feet and that flood damage assessments have been conducted for three businesses and eight homes in the county. Norwood stated that Lawrence County has not reached the threshold to receive state relief funds for flooding. The record level for the Pearl in Monticello is 34.08 feet, according to the National Weather Service.
Norwood stated that Monticello benefited by the Ross Barnett Reservoir having been set at a lower-than-typical level, which allowed for better water regulation. The reservoir level had been previously lowered to combat an invasive plant species called giant salvinia.
Garrett expressed his opinion that the Atwood Water Park “is a disaster” due to the recent flood waters, and later in the meeting, Monticello Mayor Martha Watts expressed similar concern.
Jeff Dungan spoke of several road repairs that are being done and need to be done throughout the county.
The next meeting of the Board of Supervisors will be held at 9 a.m. March 16.

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