Noxubee County to work on infrastructure

Both Noxubee County and the city of Macon have construction projects well underway. As the time approaches for the Mississippi legislature to decide on its American Rescue Act Plan matching program, both the county and city are waiting to allocate their funds until a program has been established. 

Construction 

Noxubee County recently completed construction on road projects and various roads throughout the county. This project, funded by the Office of State Aid Road Construction within the Mississippi Department of Transportation, encompassed over 22 miles throughout the county. Noxubee County Board of Supervisors President Eddie Coleman said county residents have enjoyed the completion of these improvements. 

The county will also install a new box culvert on Honey Lake Road in the coming months. Coleman said the supervisors plan to put the culvert out for bid in March. Box culverts help with underpasses of roads and bridges to keep them stable and reliable.

The city of Macon implemented a plan to refurbish all of the town’s water towers, Mayor Buzz McGuire said. The city completed the first tower at the corner of Main Street and Fourth Street in West Macon. Macon also will connect a new transformer at the city’s substation in the coming months. McGuire said it will improve uninterrupted access to electricity for the entire city. 

Macon has discussed improving the Nate Wayne Bridge since early 2019 when flash floods caused damage to the bridge. After completion of an engineering survey on the bridge, McGuire said the design of the bridge will follow. After receiving the design, the city plans to put the project out for bid and begin construction in the coming months. According to engineers, the construction phase should only take around three months to complete. 

ARPA

Noxubee County has not yet decided how it will allocate its American Rescue Plan Act funds, an economic stimulus package funded by the federal government to aid local governments in COVID-19 relief. 

Noxubee County received a little over $2 million in ARPA, Coleman said, and is waiting to see how the Mississippi legislature will determine its ARPA matching program. This program could potentially give local governments more funds for particular projects, especially those involving water, sewer or infrastructure. Coleman said some potential ideas for ARPA include making improvements to the Noxubee County Courthouse or doing more road work. 

The city of Macon is in the process of developing plans for its ARPA funds. Macon received approximately $600,000 in ARPA funds, and just like the county, McGuire said the city is waiting to decide how to allocate its funds until after the legislature has officially created its matching program. 

Business and economic development 

The city of Macon has seen recent business development in the recent months. Connor’s Sweets, an existing bakery, breakfast and lunch spot, moved to a new downtown location on Jefferson Street. Safe Space Storage, a new mini storage facility, opened on Frontage Road. Blooms and Balloons has opened on Lawrence Street, directly behind Connor’s Sweets. A new gym called The Sweat Studio will open soon downtown. A new coffee shop, Blue Truck Coffee, recently opened as well, located in the old Scott Service Station building downtown

Bryan Boese and Forrest Ensz enjoy a caramel frappe and frozen lemonade at Blue Truck Coffee in downtown Macon.

Shantel Stewart works out at The Sweat Studio in downtown Macon. “My goal is to come four times a week,” Stewart said.

Ordinance and building  collapse

The Macon Board of Aldermen recently passed a Nuisance Gathering Ordinance, which addresses problem gatherings accompanied by illegal and nuisance activity, McGuire said. 

Heavy rain caused an abandoned building, the old B&O Drugs, on Main Street to collapse in mid-February. The collapse caused damage to the City Drug Store and caused the city to close the Macon Electric Office for a few days until debris was cleared out. McGuire said in light of this event, the board has added language to its existing demolition permit, intended to immediately help protect life and property, particularly in Macon’s downtown commercial district. 

STORY BY TYLER B. JONES

OPENING PHOTO BY RORY DOYLE

OTHER PHOTOS BY DEANNA ROBINSON