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City Begins Sewage Rehabilitation Project
Press Release
Monday, April 4, 2011
City Begins Sewage Rehabilitation Project
Hattiesburg, Miss- The City of Hattiesburg has recently begun construction on the 592 Sewage Rehabilitation Project. This will be a project completed in three phases- East Project, West Project, and the North Lagoon Project. Funding has been provided by the United States Army Corp of Engineers through a 75/25 percent match grant. The City’s twenty-five percent match will be provided by sewer bonds which were passed in 2009.
The East and West Phase of the project will target old sewer lines in residential areas, replacing them with new lines. This project will end by asphalt repair to the streets where the sewer lines were replaced. Construction on the East Project totaled $2 million and is expected to be completed by the spring of 2012. Construction on the West Project total estimated cost is $1.5 million and is expected to be bid out by late summer of 2011.
The North Lagoon Project will be an estimated $2 million expansion project. The plans to double the capacity of the lagoon are currently being reviewed by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. The project is expected to go out for bid by summer of 2011.
The following streets will be affected by the East Project construction:
- Arledge Street - Ronie Street
- Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue - Hall Avenue
- Milton Barnes Avenue - Rebecca Avenue
- Dabbs Street - Gulfport Street
- May Avenue - Southern Avenue
- Cypress Street - Klondyke Street
- Claiborne Avenue - Putnam Avenue
- County Road
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City Moves to a Class 6 in the National Flood Insurance Program
Press Release
Friday, March 25, 2011
City Moves to a Class 6 in the National Flood Insurance Program
Hattiesburg, Miss- The City of Hattiesburg has been participating in the National Flood Insurance Program since April 1970, making flood insurance available to its citizens. In the early 1990’s, FEMA decided to recognize communities for exceptional efforts by reducing flood insurance premiums through the Community Rating System. On March 22, 2011, FEMA representatives presented the City of Hattiesburg with a plaque recognizing the City for obtaining a Class 6 in the Community Rating System.
“The City joined the Community Rating System as a Class 10 and through hard work of our Certified Floodplain Manager, Lisa Reid, and her staff; we were successful in our efforts of becoming the 4th in the state to achieve a Class 6 rating. We encourage all policyholders to review their policy and verify they are receiving the discounts associated with the Class 6 rating,” stated Mayor Johnny L. DuPree.
Today, there are 699 flood insurance policies in Hattiesburg, representing almost $101,245,100.00 of flood insurance coverage. Policyholders in the Special Flood Hazard Area will receive a 20% discount on their policy premium which is an average savings of $100 per policy. Individuals in the lower risk areas are eligible for a five percent discount. In total, policyholders realize a savings of over $76,636.00 because the City of Hattiesburg participates in the Community Rating System.
“Since entering the NFIP, we have seen the City make increased strides in the administration and enforcement of its floodplain management program. The end result of these increased efforts is a safer, more disaster resistant community,” commented John LaBrune, FEMA Region IV Mitigation Section Chief R-IV Mississippi Recovery Office.
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Office of Public Relations
Jeanetta Bennett, Public Relations Coordinator
601.545.4508 (o) 769.223.3557 (c) 601.545.4608(f) NLC Committee
Mayor Johnny L. DuPree Appointed to National League of Cities’ Community and Economic Development Steering Committee and the Council on Youth, Education, and Families Washington, DC – National League of Cities President James Mitchell, Jr., has announced the appointment of Mayor Johnny L. DuPree to the National League of Cities’ (NLC) 2011 Community and Economic Development Policy and Advocacy Steering Committee. This Committee has the lead responsibility for developing NLC federal policy positions in the areas of community and economic development, financial institutions, international trade, housing, land use, and recreation. Mayor DuPree was also reappointed to the NLC’s Council on Youth, Education, and Families (YEF) for a second year. “I have been an active part of NLC for several years, and it is an honor to be selected to serve on both of these committees. NLC has provided a number of development opportunities for the City of Hattiesburg. It has facilitated interactions with other cities and mayors from around the country, focusing on best practices that we can bring back to better our community,” commented Mayor Johnny L. DuPree. As a member of the Community and Economic Development Policy and Advocacy Steering committee, Mayor DuPree will play a key role in shaping NLC’s policy positions, while advocating on behalf of America’s cities and towns on Capitol Hill, with the Administration, and at home. The Youth, Education, and Families Council remains unique among NLC standing committees. In addition to local elected officials, national policy experts and youth leaders also serve as full and active members of the Council, where they oversee and support the work of the NLC’s YEF Institute. The National League of Cities is the nation’s oldest and largest organization devoted to strengthening and promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.
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City Officials Work to Eliminate Odor Problem
Press Release
Friday, February 25, 2011
City Officials Work to Eliminate Odor Problem
For far too long, an odor has permeated the City of Hattiesburg and negatively affected the quality of life we all have come to expect and enjoy.
The Mayor and City Council are working diligently together to resolve the odor problem and other issues at the wastewater treatment lagoon. We are confident that we can identify and eliminate the source or sources of the odor problem and are taking steps to correct it as soon as possible.
Specifically,
· We are working to eliminate a major contributing factor, part of a long-term solution proposed by wastewater experts engaged by the City.
· We are making operational changes – appropriate for a city of this size – to our wastewater management system.
· As a short-term measure, we will begin using new chemicals at the lagoon and taking other measures that should reduce the smell.
· We have retained the services of engineers and attorneys who have expertise in areas of wastewater treatment and environmental issues.
Our plan is to put an end to the odor and other lagoon problems once and for all, and to do so in short order. Our citizens are concerned, and rightly so. Quite simply, they deserve better. We know now that we must change the form in which certain waste by-products are introduced in the lagoon if it is to operate in a manner that meets our needs for wastewater management without creating odors that are offensive.
We apologize for the extraordinary length of time it has taken to isolate the cause, and commit today to taking whatever measures are necessary to ensure not only that the odor is removed as quickly as possible, but also that it does not return. Towards that end, we are aggressively pursuing a solution that is both effective and permanent.
To our citizens, we say thank you. We appreciate your patience, and we share your concern for the City of Hattiesburg and for protecting the lifestyle we share here.
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Office of Public Relations
Jeanetta Bennett, Public Relations Coordinator
601.545.4508 (o) 769.223.3557 (c) 601.545.4608(f) |
