Board approves wetland mitigation credits to advance Gautier High athletic-complex expansion

The Pascagoula-Gautier School District Board of Trustees on June 9 voted 5-0 to approve the purchase of wetland mitigation credits from Wetland Solution Holdings LLC so the district can proceed with the Gautier High School athletic-complex expansion.

Board members were told existing wetlands surrounding Gautier High School must be mitigated for the project to move forward. A district staff presenter recommended buying mitigation credits; the staff member said the purchase would allow the project to continue "allowing us to move forward with this project." No dollar amount for the credits was provided in the meeting discussion.

The motion to approve the purchase carried unanimously. Trustees did not request that the item be removed from the consent or action items before the vote. The board previously approved related construction bids, and speakers at the meeting noted the expansion followed years of planning and community input.

District staff and contractors will proceed with the mitigation-credit purchase as recommended. The board did not specify an implementation timeline or funding source during the public discussion; those details were not provided at the meeting.

The board will return to regular meetings on the schedule already posted; follow-up items tied to the athletic-complex project will appear on future agendas as needed.