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Rankin County board authorizes $3.233 million Corps stormwater project for Live Oaks area
Summary
The Rankin County Board of Supervisors authorized a Private Partnership Agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expand Live Oaks stormwater work under Section 219 of WRDA. The $3.233 million project is 75% federally funded; the county’s cash obligation is about $295,000 after in‑kind credits.
Rankin County supervisors voted to authorize the county president to execute a Private Partnership Agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Section 219 Water Resources Development Act Live Oaks Riparian Benching and Floodplain Restoration Project.
The presenter told the board the total project cost is "$3.233 million," with the federal government covering 75% (about $2.425 million) and the local share $808,351. "They will give us a credit for well over half a million dollars," the presenter said, leaving Rankin County’s projected cash responsibility at about $295,000.
Why it matters: the project would expand the county’s prior ARPA-funded Live Oaks work onto adjacent state-owned property to create a watershed-scale detention and riparian restoration area. The presenter described the change in federal law that allowed Corps involvement: WRDA was amended to add stormwater as a jurisdictional element for the Corps, a change credited in the transcript to Senator Wicker’s efforts. The Corps has since engaged with county staff and agreed to serve as the funding conduit while Rankin County would act as the local project sponsor.
Board discussion emphasized long-term value in proactive stormwater investment. One supervisor said, "If we do our job right, the supervisors 15, 20 years from now won't be faced with additional projects like we're seeing now," urging preventative work to reduce future costs. After discussion a motion to authorize execution of the agreement was made and carried by voice vote.
Details and next steps: the presenter asked for authorization for the board president to execute the PPA and for staff to work with state aid and the Corps to advertise the revised project. The transcript shows the motion passed on a voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript. Project funding and credits reported to the board are: total $3,233,000; federal $2,425,000 (75%); local $808,351 (25%); of that local share, more than $500,000 may be credited as in‑kind work already completed, leaving an estimated cash obligation of $295,000 for Rankin County.
The board did not set an exact schedule for cash requests; staff said cash requests would occur when the project moves to contract. The presenter said the PPA and related documents will be forwarded for the board president’s signature and for coordination with the Corps.
The board’s approval authorizes staff to proceed with the agreement; the item will next follow any Corps contracting and payment procedures required to move the project to construction.
