Saucier Improvement Association - One Community, One Voice

Saucier Community Plans adopted by the County

2007-05-08T10:44:00.000-05:00

Harrison County Board of Supervisors adopt the Saucier Community Plans

Future development in Saucier could buck the trend!

After a year of hard work, debate and a lot of discussion, the Harrison County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt both the Ohio State University Community Plan and the Andrews University Town Plan on the 7th May 2007, a year and a month after the Saucier Improvement Associaten formed.

There is still a lot of work ahead to ensure that these plans are used in the spirit of their intent, but this is certainly a very positive first step towards a successful community development.

If you are interested in helping guide future developments along the guidelines in the plans, please contact the SIA for more information.

SIA Minutes February 1, 2007

2007-02-06T23:26:00.000-06:00

Members present: Wayne Jones, Eli Sauls, Lori Sauls, Amy Blankenship, Steve Howard, Sara Smith, Ron Daugherty, and Nadine Nicolls
The meeting was called to order at 6:37 P.M. by Wayne Jones, president.
Andrew's Presentation- Amy wanted it clarified what the process is between what is proposed and the final plan allowing for input from the committee. Wayne stated that Amy should make a list of questions to be presented to Pat Bonck when SIA meets with him.
Wayne also stated that he was pleased with the turnout for the community meeting on January 29th. He commended the students on a job well done.

Sara reported that she contacted the high school about selling plants at the FM. Their greenhouse has just now been rebuilt, so they have no plants at this time to sell. They will do it later when they have the plants.
It was suggested to bring in the Merchants Association to help with the grand reopening of the FM. Steve is aiming for the first Saturday in March.

Audit Committee--There has been no information from Pascal on this. Nadine will email Pascal and check on the statue of the audit.

Jennifer Cowley was contacted to help present the Ohio State Plan to the Board of Supervisors. She stated that she was presenting something to the BOS at the March meeting.The question came up as to whether SIA should do a presentation at the March meeting also. It was decided to have Jennifer on speaker phone when SIA meets with Pat Bonck.
There are questions as to what to do next. SIA should meet with Pat and develop a plan. Pat said he would sound out the BOS and try to determine their thoughts on adopting the Saucier Community and Saucier Town plans.
Ron questioned as exactly what is SIA's role in developing and presenting a plan to the public. Amy agreed that SIA could not force anyone to do anything.
SIA needs to establish communication with the developers so SIA can encourage them to develop in keeping with Ohio State Plan.
The community has not given any input or mandates on the Andrews University Plan. They had input on the Ohio State Plan.
Eli suggested that we meet with officers of the Concerned Citizens group to debate issues. Eli intends to attend a CCS meeting.
The land use and zoning report is on hold until the Plan is put before the BOS and we talk to the Planning Commission.
Amy made note of some upcoming events:
Volunteer Fire Dept. fish fry at McHenry.
Arbor Day-check on getting some trees to give away in Saucier. Steve stated that Cindy Simmons has trees she may send to the market as giveaways.
Alcorn State nursing students are doing health screenings at a Gulfport church. Perhaps SIA could get health screenings and also their County Store and sugar cane processing at the FM.
Steve stated that we need to contact the FM vendors and find out which ones are interested in returning in March. Sara said she would help. SIA should also talk to the Merchants Association about the Pine Cone Festival.
Wayne stated that Gulf Concrete is looking to move a plant to Saucier and wants to purchase land at the intersection of Noble Rd. and Old Hwy. 49. It is already zoned commercial. Steve stated that if we must have an industrial park, then all such businesses should stay in the Industrial Park and not be spread out.
Wayne read a resignation letter from Lori Sauls, treasurer. Lori's resignation was regretfully accepted. She stated that she will continue to support SIA in activities when she is able.

SIA Minutes January 25, 2007

2007-02-06T23:21:00.000-06:00

Present
Steve Howard, Vice President, Lori Sauls, Treasurer, Wanda Pate, Ron Dougherty, Amy Blankenship, Pascal Gill
Meeting Notes
Steve Howard called the meeting to order at 6:35 and resumed discussion on the plan for relations with the Code Office and Planning Commission submitted January 18 by Amy Blankenship.
Amy Blankenship recommended that we e.mail Jennifer Cowley and request her input on the presentation of the Saucier Plan from Ohio State at the next Board of Supervisors meeting. Discussion followed on whether the plan was complete and what, if anything, needed to be done to complete it. We also discussed that the Code Office and Jennifer Cowley had volunteered to present the Plan to the Board of Supervisors and that they had not done so. Our understanding of why this had not been done is that Jennifer and the Code office are too busy with other issues.
Lori Sauls moved that we e.mail Jennifer and request her input for presenting the plan to the Board of Supervisors.
Amy suggested that we seek a meeting with the Planning Commission. Last time Steve attended a Planning Commission zoning hearing, Dan Henserlingon the Planning Commission had requested that we meet with them, so this would be following through on that request.
Amy recommended that a SIA representative attend all Zoning hearings and PC meetings to comment on relevant applications.

Amy reminded the Board that we have had difficulty getting notice of upcoming zoning changes far enough in advance of zoning hearings to be able to debate any action on them. She suggested that we enlist the help of SIA volunteers to collect information on any applications they might know of. Discussion followed about the timeline of application notices from the Code Office and why we think they should be able to send us information in a more timely manner.

Wanda volunteered to talk to realtors about potential zoning application. No consensus was reached about whether we should solicit volunteers to collect zoning application information.
Amy proposed that we determine the date and subject of the next public meeting so that we could have flyers to hand out at the January 29th meeting. Steve said the topic of the meeting should be “Where do we go from here?” and that it should be held February 26th.
Steve asked for committee updates.
Ron informed us that Grand Bear had won an award - great for local tourism. Maybe we should try to get their vocal support for smart development in Saucier. He also mentioned an Eminent Domain bill that would protect citizens from eminent domain actions that would put their property in the hands of private developers.

SIA Minutes January 18, 2007

2007-02-06T23:17:00.000-06:00

The meeting was called to order at 6:30 by Wayne Jones, president.
Members present: Wayne Jones, Steve Howard, Amy Blankenship, Eli Sauls, Lori Sauls, Sara Smith, Wanda Pate, and Nadine Nicolls

1. Andrews University-The Community Center is confirmed for the January 29th for the presentation. Steve has invited key people to the meeting. He will also invite the Planning Commission to attend.
Amy sent JoAnn a link to help write the history of the project and some publicity for the meeting. Check with JoAnn to verify that material has been sent to be published about the meeting.
Amy has flyers to pass out about the meeting. Announcements about the meeting are also placed on business signs.
2. Farmer's Market- Lori has contaced L'il Johnny's Portable Services to remove the portable toilet.
3. Presentation to the supervisors- Wayne suggested to wait until after the Andrews presentation to be on the agenda for the Board of Supervisors
4. Audit Committee-Pascal is organizing an audit committee. Lori has the material ready for the committee.

A treasurer's report for the year for 2006 was given and then filed.

Amy gave a slide presentation on land use and zoning in the Saucier area.
Points:
increase in miles traveled
obesity rate increase linked to driving everywhere rather than walking
bigger lots, bigger houses
water quality impact-increased runoff, quality of water impaired
land use driving emissions up
smart growth principles
preserve open space through zoning
spot zoning

Amy will check with GIS for population growth pattern for the Gulf Coast.

A question for discussion was brought up: Is is SIA's business to be involved in zoning and planning to make sure zoning and planning know the points of The Plan and how to implement it?
Yes that it is our concern, but we need to utilize the people of the area.

SIA Minutes January 11, 2007

2007-02-06T23:11:00.000-06:00

The meeting was called to order by Wayne Jones, president at 6:00 p.m.
Members present: Lori Sauls, Eli Sauls, Steve Howard, Amy Blankenship, Wanda Pate, Ron Daugherty, Pascal Gill, and Nadine Nicolls

1. Length of meetings--Wayne proposed that a one hour time limit for SIA Board meetings be established. A discussion followed. Amy expressed concern that this would limit meaningful and necessary discussion on topics that members were not prepared to discuss. Wanda made a motion that the meetings be limited to one hour with the understanding that the time could be extended for a specified time when needed with a concensus vote. This implies that board members be prepared by reading any advanced material sent to them.

2. Purpose of SIA--Waynde questioned why SIA is here and why we as members are here. Pascal inquired as why this question was being asked. Amy stated that SIA was established to help preserve the rural character of Saucier as it develops. Pascal stated that we are here to work for the desires and wants of the community, to be a liason for the will of the community.

3.Andrews University Plan--There will be a presentation of the Saucier Town Plan on January 29th at 6:00p.m. at the Saucier Community Center.
Amy will design a flyer to promote the meeting and have it printed. Lori and Wayne will also put an announcement on their business sign. Steve will contact key people to invite them.

4. Amy requested to be put on the agenda for 1/18 to speak about land use and how to deal with zoning.

5.Committee Reports--Committee reports need to be given monthly so the information will be in the minutes and on file.

Pascal reported on Leisure Services committee meeting. Assignments were made for the three phases of study. Reports are due the first week of Feb. From the reports they can plan and budget.
Andrea T. held a meeting a Saucier Elem. today. to help the school get a grant for playground equipment, up to $15,000.
Wanda stated that community education classes for the fall are doable. The education committee will have to make a decision about which classes to offer and try to identify instructors needed. Sara can run a survey in the Saucier Gazette to determine the classes wanted by the community.
Amy will go with a new approach to the Beautification committee to get new volunteers.She has spoken to Cindy Simmons and to people about the trailer issue. She has hit some roadblocks there. She is is working on a plan to deal with concerns tactfully. She will send out material on this to SIA Board members.

At the meeting on January 29th, SIA needs to recruit more volunteers and ask for donations. SIA shoud set up and announce the date for the next general community meeting - Fabruary 26th

Ron volunteered to attend the Concerned Citizens meetings.
The Wastewater treatment plant will not have the main processing plant in the Industrial Park according to the governor's plan. It will only be an interim plant.

Treasurer's Report-$3164.13, $3000 of which is grant money.

An audit committee is needed. Pascal to be in charge of forming such a committee. Wayne will speak to an accountant about the tax information for the year.

The Farmer's Market is not busy now. Hopefully business will pick up about March or April. Someone spoke to Steve about wanting to donate a pavillion for the farmer's market. No follow up from said person yet.
Amy wants Steve and Wayne to do a presentation for the Board of Supervisors highlighting the accomplishments of SIA. Wayne and Steve will work together on this.

Ron brought up that we should have an informational meeting for the public more often, possibly every other month. It was decided that a meeting would be held when information dictates it.

Wayne reiterated that anyone can attend a SIA Board meeting if they choose to do so.

SIA Minutes December 7, 2006

2007-02-06T23:06:00.000-06:00

The meeting was called to order at 6:05 by Steve Howard, vice-president.
Members present: Steve Howard, Amy Blankenship, Lori Sauls, Eli Sauls, Sara Smith, Nadine Nicolls, Pascal Gill, and Ron Daugherty.
Andrea Trzaska Called and asked questions before meeting with Pat Bonck. She questioned where we are with the plans. Steve expressed concerns with Andrews University's plans. Others also are concerned. There is a need for us to discuss our concerns with the county. It is not acceptable to us for Andrews University's plans to be simply pushed forward.
The Farmer's Market is experiencing problems at this time. Vendors have not been showing up lately, even on Saturdays. This could be due to the time of year.
SIA needs to speak to the Water Department about waiving the monthly fee at the Farmer's Market as a community service.
Parents Night Out is scheduled for December 9, 2006.
Amy spoke on the need for more fundraising for SIA. She had ideas for the next holdiay season, such as doing photos, Christmas cards, etc. SIA could try the Parents Night Out again at Valentin's Day. Other ideas: comunity breakfast, SIA could sell coffee, baked goods, etc. at the Farmer's Market.
Suggestion mate to set up a play area at the Farmer's Market. Steve and Wayne had spoken to KABOOM about this earlier.
The Merchants Association is holding a Christmas auction on December 12, 2006 to raise money for three families for Christmas. Wrapped gifts are auctioned off.
Ron presented his business plan. He stated that there are two districts: the diamond area and the 67 interchange.
Thoughts expressed:
encourage commercial development where sewage is
spot zoning not good
40,000-90,000 square feet per store - no larger
get Merchants Associaton involved
discuss the suggestion of limit on formula stores and restaurants with community
work with Wanda on the traffic issue
how much influence will SIA really have with the Industrial park covenants?
what are the recourses for SIA?
additional funding for Farmer's Market

SIA Minutes November 30, 2006

2007-02-06T23:02:00.000-06:00

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 by Wayne Jones, president.
Members present: Wayne Jones, Steve Howard, Amy Blankenship, Lori Sauls, Eli Sauls, Sara Smith, Ron Daugherty, Wanda Pate, and Nadine Nicolls. Guest: Jo Ann Munghia.

FEMA has a new program which is set up to give long term technical assistance to communities and cities. Andrea Trzaska, a representative of FEMA, attended the meeting to answer questions and give information to the board.The governor asked that that there be long term recovery plans. These plans are written through local officials input and public meetings. The plans are what the people want and can be adjusted.
Two areas to be considered:
Downtown development and recreation
Andrea stressed that the program will be to provide technical assistance and they are still working with the governor's office to determine exactly what they are allowed to do, such as help with grant writing, mapping.
The people with this program through FEMA are assigned to a two-year position. There are three positions open on the team, but they will bring in specialized people to meet the needs of the projects.
The group will be open to interface with us.
There is a $15,000 grant available.
Mainstreet has money for Saucier to use.
The plans being adopted will help us with getting funding. The wants of the community will determine the priority of the projects.
Andrews University will come in January to do final presentation. Andrea will be available whenever we need her to work with this and other ideas.
Amy questioned how we could get our plans before the Board of Supervisors in a more timely manner. Andrea will take that to her supervisor.
Spot zoning needs to be stopped. Some areas need to remain residential so commercialization will not take over. Andrea will speak to Pat Bonck about that.
It was stated that the definitions of zoning areas need to be examined.
The Zoning Commission wants to see more Smart Code development. Pat Bonck does not seem to be in favor of subdivisions using the Smart Code development.
It was pointed out to not put infrastructure and waste water into plans because MDOT is basically responsible for those things.
There is a need for an overlay district.
SIA needs to get a copy of the plans to Andrea to start the process. We do have the FEMA plan.
JoAnn Munghia asked about doing a newspaper article about FEMA's program. Andrea said she would have to clear it through her supervisor. JoAnn stated that she would get with her to come up with an acceptable article for the paper.
Ron Daugherty passed out his business plan.
He pointed out that big box retail is only proposed at the new 67 interchange.
Ron pointed out that Wachovia has money available to non-profit groups.
The meeting was adjourned abruptly when there was a power failure!

June 26, 2006 - November 9, 2006

2007-02-06T22:58:00.000-06:00

Attendees: Steve Howard, Amy Blankenship, Sara Jane Smith, Lori Sauls, Eli Sauls, Wayne Jones, Guest: Steve Burnett (Saucier resident)

Meeting began at 6:15pm.

1. Zoning issues- We disucssed the possible rezoning of 64 acres south of Juniper and norht of West Wortham Road. Mr. Burnett lives adjacent to land and offered his views of the possible rezoning and description of area.
Another application for rezoning has been submitted for a salon on Saucier-Lizana Road (changing from residential to office zoning). Steve feels the ordinance should be changed to allow things like salons to be part of a home-based business without needing rezoning to O-1. Amy suggested the ordinance be changed so that if a salon is built with zoning of O-1 and that salon closes, the zoning revers back to residential. Amy suggested that we present the idea of changing the ordinance for home-based business, but that we not oppose this specific hair salon.

2. Industrial Park Meeting- Sarajane stated the CCS attorney brought out good points and was organized but was very rude to the Board of Supervisors at the Ind. Park hearing. The Industrial Park passed and CCS filed and injunction last week and will file and appeal in circuit court.

3. Farmers' Market- Sign should be ready Nov. 10.
Cindy Simmons said county may be able to donate some decorations for Farmers' Market. She's looking for a 20 foot Christmas tree for Saucier School.

4. Treasurer's Report- Given by Lori Sauls. Sarajane made motion to approve the report.

5. Business Development Plan- Ron was not in attendance to present plan.

6. Review of Andrews University plan- Presented by Steve. We will discuss again at next meeting when more members are in attendance.

SIA Board minutes for November 2, 2006

2007-02-06T22:54:00.000-06:00

The meeting was called to order by Wayne Jones, president at 6:10 P.M.
Members present were: Wayne Jones, Steve Howard, Amy Blankenship, Sara Smith, Lori Sauls, Eli Sauls, Wanda Pate, Pascal Gill, and Nadine Nicolls.

The Fall Festival held in conjunction with the Market on October 28th was successful for the families, but the vendors did not sell as much as hoped. The donations collected at the festival amounted to $102.60.
The total cost for the pavillion built was about $697.00.
The Concerned Citizens of Saucier want to set up booths at the Farmer's Market to raise money for their group.(crafts, bake sale). It was decided that CCS would be allowed to set up booths and pass out leaflets.
Steve presented new ideas about the development of the town center to Dalton McGuire. Commercial zoning does not seem to be an answer.
FEMA is to be part of the long term recovery plan for the next two years. Wayne has invited them to speak to SIA on November 30, 2006. They will set up resource centers to get information and work on the Mississippi Main Street program. They will be able to help us get needed resources and prioritize our needs.
The Smart Growth handbook is available to developers in the county-reported in the paper- by Jennifer Crowley.
Amy requested to be put on the agenda for the Merchants Meeting to present an idea for a Toy Drive.
All SIA members were urged to attend the Board of Supervisors meeting on November 8, 2006 if possible. This meeting will address the Industrial Park.
Eli stated that we needed more publicity for SIA's events, both before and after. JoAnn Munghia has been doing well on the before, but we need to publicize the success of the events also.
If SIA does a flyer, it should point out the positive accomplishments of SIA.
It was brought up that SIA should look into being a part of Saucier's Christmas parade.
The Exchange Club has made it possible to have a counselor in Saucier for children and the parents. This was done with help from the Child Abuse Prevention Center. The counselor will be located in the office next to GOS for now.
Ideas for a fund raiser were discussed. It was decided to have a Parents Night out where the parents leave their children with us for the evening so they can have the free time. Lori donated the space at her business to hold it. She will offer the opportunity to take part in this to the parents of her daycare children first, and then to the public. This will be held the evening of December 9, 2006.

SIA Minutes October 26, 2006

2007-02-06T22:49:00.000-06:00

Stephen Howard, Lori Sauls, Wanda Pate, Eli Sauls, Amy Blankenship, Ron Dougherty, BPascal Gill
The meeting was called to order by Steve Howard at 6:20. Steve stated the previous minutes should be amended to reflect that it was Wayne and Steve who were supposed to go to the Board of Supervisors meeting, not Wayne and Eli. Board agreed to accept minutes with that correction.

Steve mentioned that he had talked to zoning office earlier in the week about the property that had been before Zoning Commission last week for a change to I1 zoning. Steve said that Pat confirmed the property had been rezoned, allowing the owner to open an electrical contractor and add some sort of retail.
Steve expressed concern that we received notice of the meeting very late, so we could not debate on the property in advance. He is working with the county to try to get the agenda with more advance notice.

Wanda asked how the Concerned Citizens for Saucier meeting went. Steve said the CCS had hired a lawyer and were to vote on the 26th on whether to take it to court if they lose the appeal on the 7th.

Wanda proposed that we forge stronger links with the Merchant's Association. Lori said we should try to become guest speakers. Pascal mentioned that people are tired after the rush to rebuild after the storm which may be affecting interest in community and volunteer work. Lori suggested we get more involved with the Exchange Club. Steve suggested we should have tie with all local groups, especially special interest groups like the Merchants and the Exchange Club.

SIA Minutes October 19, 2006

2007-02-06T22:43:00.000-06:00

The meeting was called to order by Wayne Jones, president.
Members present: Wayne Jones, Steve Howard, Lori Sauls, Nadine Nicolls, Sara Smith, Eli Sauls, Amy Blankenship, Pascal Gill, Ron Dougherty, and Wanda Pate.

Steve spoke to Bill Hessell about the industrial park. Bill Hessell recommended that regulations for the Industrial Park need to be in the covenants, but more importantly, they need to be in the deeds to the property.

Sara Smith presented the final plan for the Education committee with more detailed information. Wanda Pate suggested contacting the Gulfport Adult Education Classes. She has the contact information. Wayne pointed out that areas of Education overlap with areas of Health and Welfare, such as AARP Senior Driving Classes, bike safety, and CPR classes. Therefore, Wanda and Sara need to work together with these ideas.

There will be a Fall Festival in conjunction with the Farmer's Market on Saturday, October 28nfrom 9 A.M. till noon. There will be a costume parade at 10 A.M. led by Amy. Other activites are face painting, live music, a guitar playing scarecrow, caramel apples, pinecone birdfeeders, and a craft booth. Lori will rent a moon walk.

A permanent sign has been ordered for the Farmer's Market. Ron will work on a structure to hang it. Plans are being made for a permanent booth at the market. Lori made a motion to spend the money necessary to construct it. It was approved.

Concern was expressed about a request for rezoning an area along Hwy. 49 to I-1, light industry. The hearing was held on the 19th. Amy will check on the outcome.

SIA Minutes October 10th, 2006

2007-02-06T22:40:00.000-06:00

Attendees: Ron Dougherty, Pascal Gill, Steve Howard, Amy Blankenship, Lori Sauls, Eli Sauls

SIA will do presentation for Board of Supervsors on Oct. 23.

Steve and Amy attended the Your Town workshop. They have workbooks and information if any member would like to borrow them.

SIA will be doing a Fall Festival at the Farmers; Market on Oct. 28. We need ideas and activities planned ASAP. Lori will try to get the Exchange Club to assist and will set up a facepainting booth for the kids. Any member who can set up a booth or can help organize the event, please let Lori or Amy know.

Ron presented his plan to develop a committee that would focus on the Industrial Park if it comes to pass.

Amy presented her plan again for any further questions or comments. Pascal made motion to accept the plan and Lori seconded the motion.

SIA Minutes October 2, 2006

2007-02-06T22:35:00.000-06:00

The meeting was called to order at 6p.m. by Wayne Jones, president.
Members present: Wayne Jones, Steve Howard, Amy Blankenship, Sara Smith, Wanda Pate, Ron Dougherty, and Nadine Nicolls. Guest: JoAnn Munghia

Wayne stated there were two issues on the agenda: 1. change the meeting day and time, and 2. the Industrial Park.

The day and time of the SIA Board meetings need to be changed due to schedule conflicts. Thursday nights at 6p.m. was suggested. The new schedule will begin next week with the meeting being on Thursday, October 12, at 6p.m.

The Industrial Park issue was brought before the board. Wayne Jones proposed that there be a committee made up of citizens who are proponents of the Park and those who are opponents of the Park.

Wayne wants to prepare a power point presentation on the status of the Saucier community, highlighting the positive actions of SIA. He would like to work with Steve to produce this and present it to the Board of Supervisors as soon as they can be put on the agenda for a meeting.

Wayne announced that the state of Georgia Department of Parks and Recreation has given SIA a grant worth $3000. This money is to be used to study the recreational needs of the Saucier community. As the chairman of Leisure Services, Pascal Gill would use this money to conduct the study.

Sara Smith and Amy Blankenship will present the final forms of their business plans to the Board on October 12.

Wayne asked permission to go to the county to ask for facilities for a counselor to use. The counselor is being funded through a grant from the Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse. However, there is no location available at this time from which to work. The local schools were also mentioned as possible places from which the counselor could work. Wayne will do more research on this. Amy made a motion to have Wayne represent SIA and pursue this idea. Sara seconded the motion, and it passed.

SIA Minutes September 25, 2006

2007-02-06T22:31:00.000-06:00

Meeting called to order at 6:05pm
Attendees: Wayne Jones, Steve Howard, Ron Dougherty, Amy Blankenship, Eli Sauls, Wanda Pate, and Lori Sauls

Treasurer's report was given. $383.04 in account. Steve gave Lori Sauls $787 in Farmers' Market money to be deposited into account.

Industrial Park- Ron feels SIA needs to be source of information between residents and Development Commission. He feels residents have poor opinion of SIA because of rumors that SIA was for park. Dev. Commission stated for public record they would work with SIA.

Amy feels we should have a volunteer meeting as soon as possible. Members discussed doing a toy drive for Christmas for the community. Amy will work on this.

Eli stated we need to take advantage of Saucier Gazette to let community know about SIA.

Farmers Market- Steve staed income has dropped last 2 weeks due to other events along the coast. Steve is looking at getting a nice sign for Farmers' Market. Approval was given to let Steve spend up to $300 on sign.

SIA Minutes September 20, 2006

2007-02-06T22:23:00.000-06:00

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 by Wayne Jones, president.
Members present: Wayne Jones, Steve Howard, Amy Blankenship, Lori Sauls, Eli Sauls, Wanda Pate, Pascal Gill, Ron Dougherty, and Nadine Nicolls.
Brenda Bothwell was a guest.

Wayne stated that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Industrial Park.
The definition for I-2, general industrial use, was read according to the zoning ordinance. The Zoning Commission is willing to talk to SIA and the community to complete the industrial park covenants. The Dark Skies ordinance would be applied and also put in the covenants.
The 80 acre section of the land in question would be for lighter industry. A technology park would be also good.
Each time a new business is interested in becoming part of the Park, it has to go before the Board of Supervisors. Therefore, it can be opposed at the meeting, and over a total of three public meetings.

Concerns were raised that the taxes from the Industrial Park may not go to the development of Saucier.
Brenda voiced a concern that the companies in the Industrial Park would bring in workers from the outside and not hire locally.
The people of Saucier need to debate the issues as a community and have a unified voice. It is important to go to the public officials as a unified front.

Mike Edwards will present a 10-12 page document and a petition to the Zoning Board at the September 21 hearing.

Wayne stated that the buffer zone around the Industrial Park between the park and residents needs to be addressed to insure it is sufficient.
Pascal pointed out that SIA must articulate that the concern is the adverse impact on the quality of life of the people of Saucier.

SIA Board minutes, August 29, 2006

2007-02-06T22:21:00.000-06:00

A meeting of the SIA board was scheduled for August 29th. Four members were present: Amy Blankenship, Steve Howard, Sara Smith, and Nadine Nicolls. Because there was not a quorum, an official meeting was not held.

SIA Board minutes, August 21, 2006

2007-02-06T22:14:00.000-06:00

Wayne called the meeting to order at 6 P.M.
Members present: Wayne Jones, Steve Howard, Amy Blankenship, Lori
Sauls, Eli Sauls, Ron Dougherty, Sarajane Smith
Steve made a motion to accept the minutes of the last meeting. Amy seconded it.
Steve stated that Andrews University had a timeline for their project.
The Industrial Park was discussed. To have or not to have a meeting wasdiscussed.
Steve stated that we need to ask if we could be involved in the writing of the covenants.
It was agreed to have the public meeting on September 7th.
The Town Center Meeting is August 28th, next Monday.
Wetlands delineation was discussed on the McGuire land. Eli said that the man who is doing the survey could mark the trees for preservation.
Steve reported on the Farmer's Market Meeting and Farmer's Market Workshop. Steve reported that the vendors wanted him to raise the fee and that all the money would go back into the Farmer's Market.
About 400 people visited the market on the previous Saturday.
Amy Blankenship presented the plan on Building and Beautification.

SIA Board minutes, August 14, 2006

2007-02-06T22:06:00.000-06:00

Members present: Wayne Jones, Steve Howard, Amy Blankenship, Ron Dougherty, Sara Smith, Eli Sauls, Nadine Nicolls
Guest: Joe Moleta
The meeting was called to order at 5:50 by Wayne Jones, president. The minutes from the last meeting were presented. The spelling for Jeff Gatton's name was corrected.
Old Business:
1. Everything is on track with Andrews University.
2. Wetlands delineation-Pat Bonck located someone to come look at it and donate services to do the work.
3.The grant for Leisure Services has been sent.
4.The Farmers Market is going well. Steve and Amy attended a Farmers Market workshop. They received information on how to grow crops for year-round markets. Some of the ideas presented were not suitable for the Saucier market.
New Business:
1. Health and Welfare-Amy moved to table the vote on accepting the goals and objectives until Wanda Pate is in attendance.
2.Education-There will be a committee meeting on August 24. Ideas were presented to be added to the plan:
a. Notify the community about the WIN Center. Sara stated that they do this at the food pantry.
b. Seek support from Dollar General in teaching adults to read.
c. The proposed Industrial Park is also linked to education through the training of potential employees in the skills needed.
d. The State Extension Service offers some classes. One needed for the farmers market is a class in food services for those wanting to sell prepared food at the market.
Letters to local school principals and to the library board were approved
Amy made a motion to hold the vote on this committee's plan until these ideas were added. Pascal seconded it.
3.Environmental Resources-Eli Sauls gave a presentation on the goals and objectives for this committee. He stated that he had not yet met with any of his few volunteers. Pascal Gill stated that Eli needs to begin meeting with them as soon as possible. it was decided that Eli needed to define more specifically the areas of responsibilities. Steve made a motion to vote on the plan when the revisions have been made. Pascal seconded it.
4. Ron Dougherty is to present the goals and objectives for the Business committee on August 28.
5. Building and Beautification- Amy will present the plan on August 21. There has been one meeting with volunteers. There will be a meeting with Cindy Simmons to discuss the resources available. The Garden Club will also be discussed.
6. Business Cards-Amy presented the information on the SIA business cards and said the cardstock is available at Office Max-#8069.
7.Merchants Fundraiser-This will take place on August 19th at 6:00 at the community center. It is a womanless beauty pageant. The tickets are $10 each for dinner and the show. The money will be put back into the community through food baskets for the needy. Please support .
8.Governor's Expo-There was a large amount of information available.Contacts were made. One was with the Mississippi Arts Commission. Wayne spoke to and received feedback from people contacted previously.
9. New community center- There is support for a new community center in Saucier that may also have a courthouse annex. Colonel Spraggins supports building the center to meet guidelines for use as a storm shelter. Possible size-10,000 sq.ft.
10. Report on meeting with Harrison County Development Commission- There ia a proposed Industrial Park in Saucier. There will be a meeting to have the proposed area rezoned on Sept. 21. County zoning will control the ordinances for noise,etc. The HCDC stated that there are no large sites available.
SIA needs to represent the community on this issue as best as they can. A community meeting is needed, possible invite Larry Barnett. Need to be ready to present options.
There will be an opportunity to object as individual industries want to purchase land.
There is a need to figure out ways to safeguard the community.
There will be covenants as businesses go in the park.
SIA needs to try to influence development in best interest of the community, be part of the committees.
The issues surrounding this development can be divided into three categories: impact, benefits, and infrastructure. Refer to Steve Howard for a list of the ideas in each category.
There will be a community meeting on Thursday, September 7, at 6:00 to discuss the Industrial Park.

SIA Board Meeting Minutes, August 7,2006

2007-02-06T21:59:00.000-06:00

The meeting was called to order at 5:50p.m. by Wayne Jones, president. Members present: Wayne Jones, Steve Howard, Lori Sauls, Nadine Nicolls, Sarajane Smith, Wanda Pate, Eli Sauls, Amy Blankenship, and Ron Dougherty.
The minutes from the meeting of July 31st were presented. Sarajane made a motion to accept the minutes as presented. Steve Howard seconded the motion. The minutes were approved.
Lori Sauls presented a treasurer's report. The balance on hand is $568.76. SIA received $650.00 in donations during the month of July. The report was approved. Sarajane Smith made a motion to have the treasurer's report presented once a month. Wanda Pate seconded the motion, and it passed.
Money from the farmer's market will go into the general fund, but will be tagged for market use only. Lori Sauls said to refer to Quick Books if information is needed about the SIA account.
The secretary will work with the president to plan the agenda for meetings.

Old Business:
1. Andrews University- The sheriff's department helicopter will possibly be used to fly the students to take pictures. Everything is on track for housing and feeding the students. The Harrison County Planner has information about the students coming and other SIA news.
2.Farmer's Market- The Grand Opening was a success. The new set-up for the vendors worked well. Several dignitaries were present for the ribbon cutting: Connie Rockco, Jessica Upshaw, and Wayne Payne. Dalton McGuire is willing to pay to have the trees cut down around the house. He is speaking to Ron Dougherty about this. The sign will be replaced eventually. Jeff Gatton offered to make a plaque for the market using the SIA logo. There will be a farmer's market committee meeting on Thursday, August 10, at 4:30 in the conference room.
3. Town Center Meeting - The letters to the residents and land owners of the town center area are ready to be mailed. Sarajane has reserved the community center for the meeting. The agenda will be to inform the people about what is going on in the area and to find out who wants to participate.
4.Leisure Services - The grant is getting ready to go out.
5.Building and Beautification - Amy Blankenship's plan for this committee will be presented and discussed on August 21.

New Business:
1.FEMA - Wayne Jones and Steve Howard met with Andrea Trzaska. She brought in a housing planning expert. A report is being done tailored for Saucier to help FEMA aid Saucier monetarily. The influx of people from the coast means Saucier has been affected by Hurricane Katrina. There may be help on the budget for some subcommittees.
2.MS Land Trust - This can take into trust wetlands with the purpose that it cannot be developed. Wayne and Steve spoke to Judy Speckler who is excited about the plans for the area. The land could be donated outright. Need to speak to Mr. McGuire.
3. Infrastructure - Plans to include Old Hwy. 49 in the infrastructure study for the town center diamond are being developed.
4.Surveyor - Without a good survey of the 24 acres, Andrews University students cannot do much. A detailed topographical map is needed. Volunteers to do this are needed. Eli Sauls will check on some contacts. The survey is needed by September 11. SIA can mark the trees that are to be saved.
5. WLOX - SIA has been invited to speak on the 4 o'clock show on Tuesday, August 8. After much discussion, Steve Howard was selected to speak for SIA on the show. Lisa Gregore will resume public relations duties when she is once again able to attend meetings.
6. YMCA - There will be a meeting on August 29th with David Harris, director of the YMCA of South MS to find out the needs for getting a YMCA in Saucier and a location for it.
7.Meetings - The conference room should be scheduled through Kathy for committee meetings to avoid conflict. A calendar will be posted in the room for reference.
8. Health and Welfare - Wanda Pate presented the goals and objectives for this committee. She identified three area on focus: community health, public safety, and transportation and road safety. Wayne added that a new number, 2-1-1, can be called for information. it was also pointed out that the clinic is open to everyone.
9. Education-Sarajane Smith presented the goals and objectives for education. The main areas of focus will be interaction with the principals of the area schools and working to have a larger public library in Saucier. Other areas added: adult education, home schooling, classes from GCCC, and a parent resource center.

For thought: SIA needs a grant coordinator and a full-time planner.

SIA Board Meeting, July 31, 2006

2007-02-06T21:46:00.000-06:00

The meeting was called to order by Wayne Jones, president at 5:50p.m. Members present: Wayne Jones, Steve Howard, Amy Blankenship, Lori Sauls, Eli Sauls, Sarajane Smith, Pascal Gill, and Nadine Nicolls. Mr. Joe Moleta was introduced as a guest.

Old Business:
Andrews University-Some of the students are vegetarians. This information needs to be forwarded to Beth Moffet who is charge of food for the students. They have requested a survey with wetlands delineation marked. This in cost prohibitive. Pat Bonck suggested contacting Jennifer Cowley for the needed information.
Farmer's Market-The clean-up went well, but there is more work to be done. There will be more organization of the vendors for the Grand Opening on Aug. 5th. Areas need be marked and designated for activities planned for the Grand Opening. Orange paint, rope, or orange tape is needed. Eli Sauls brought out the need to police the vendors to keep things running peacefully. The rules for the market need to be reviewed and revised as needed, e.g. no hawking of customers.
A band is needed for the Grand Opening-possibilities are being checked out. The sign for the market will be corrected to no longer say, "Future Home of..."
Mr. Moleta suggested advertising the market in church bulletins.
Logo-There are three possible choices for the logo. Amy Blankenship printed these choices on cards.Discussion and suggestions followed. A vote was taken, and the logo with the mother and child was voted on.
Town Center Meeting-There will be a meeting on Monday, August 28th, for the people living in the area of the town center. It will be at the Community Center at 6:00. A letter will be sent to residents and property owners inviting them to attend the meeting. The agenda is still being developed.
Fill vacancy left by Ron Corder's resignation- Ron Corder resigned as chairman of the Building and Beautification committee. Eli Sauls nominated Amy Blankenship to replace him. The nomination was seconded by Steve Howard. There were no other nominations. Amy was elected.
New Business:
FEMA- Andrea Trzaska met with Wayne Jones. She requested from her superiors at FEMA to do a program specially designed for Saucier. Steve Howard and Wayne Jones will meet with her on Thursday, August 3.
Amy requested that removal of damaged trailers from people's land be discussed.
MS Land Trust- take care of wetlands, make sure the land is not marked for development. How can this help us with the town center? There are many possible ways to work this out.
Tax exempt purchases-SIA needs to get a tax ID number to purchase materials and goods for SIA. Lori Sauls cautioned about knowing all the regulations concerning such purchases.
Office Depot-They will donate 5% of your purchase cost to the school of your choice.
Leisure Services-Pascal will meet with volunteers on Aug. 10 in the conference room. Plans for the garden Club and collecting certain recyclables are proceeding.
Pascal Gill presented the goals and objectives for Parks and Recreation committee (Leisure Services). Each board member was given a copy of these to take home and study. Lori Sauls made a motion to accept Pascal's plan. Steve Howard seconded. The plan was accepted.
Lori Sauls stated that she would prefer not to be treasurer dealing with large sums of money from different grants. She will maintain her position as treasurer until it becomes too involved.
Infrastructure Study-Ricky Lee suggested that a request be made to include Old Hwy. 49 in 601 scoping project as a thoroughfare.

Christmas Toy Drive

2006-10-07T14:33:00.000-05:00

The SIA is organizing a toy drive to augment the annual food baskets delivered by the Merchants' Association each year. We need volunteers to help with these tasks

1) Identify businesses to serve as drop-off locations
2) Publicity
3) Transporting toys from drop-off locations to storage
4) Wrapping toys
5) Soliciting donations of wrapping paper, tape, and bows

If you can help with any of these tasks, please phone me, Amy Blankenship at 832-5570 or e.mail amy@magnoliamultimedia.com.

Also, please start planning now to have plants ready in March for the spring plant swap!

A letter from the President

2006-09-01T23:21:00.000-05:00

From the SIA President, Wayne Jones

Dear Saucier Citizen:

On April 4,th 2006, the Saucier Improvement Association (SIA) was formed to represent the citizens as the Saucier Community experiences unprecedented growth. As most of you know Saucier has been slowly and steadily growing over the last few decades, but after Hurricane Katrina it has exploded. The population is expected to double over the next few years. We have two options. We can let the developers and outsiders tell us what the future of our Community will become, or we can get together as a Community and tell them how we want it to be! Although we can’t stop growth - WE CAN HELP GUIDE GROWTH!!

I remember my Dad telling me, “I hate that Saucier is growing with all the new people moving in. In 30 or 40 years this will be Gulfport.” As a child we would go to Gulfport every two weeks to buy groceries, and I still remember when the first store, A&P, in Orange Grove opened. He was so happy. “We don’t have to drive all the way to Gulfport now,” he said. I understand that most residents feel like my Dad did. My sons, my grandsons, and I also do in that we would prefer that Saucier remain the way it currently is. That is simply not possible! From the time that my grandpa and grandma, Benson and Madie Saucier, built their house by hauling the material over dirt roads and trails on a wagon pulled by oxen, Saucier has been changing.

As you have probably heard, a new Industrial Park has been announced for Saucier. It is at the same location that was proposed a couple of years ago. It consists of approximately 638 acres, and the proposed zoning classification is for I-2 or heavy Industry. The Saucier Improvement Association is sponsoring a Community Meeting Thursday, September 7th, 6:00 p.m. at the Community Center to discuss the Industrial Park. Please make every effort to attend this meeting to offer your input. Based on the information I have received from the Harrison County Development Association and the Harrison County Board of Supervisors, I think it is in the best interest of the Community to support the Park.

This is one of countless issues Saucier will face over the next several years. Others are water, sewer, urban sprawl, housing, infrastructure, education, recreation, health & welfare, just to name a few. There is a team from Andrews University coming to Saucier from September 10th through

the 19th to help design the Town Center. Please make plans to participate in determining what your Community will become. This is OUR COMMUNITY and we should be the ones guiding the growth and not the developers! Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less!!

Wayne Jones
President
Saucier Improvement Association

July 10, 2006 - Meeting Minutes

2006-07-20T16:27:00.000-05:00

SIA Board Meeting

July 10, 2006

Members present:

Wayne Jones

Steve Howard

Lori Sauls

Nadine Nicolls

Sarajane Smith

Eli Sauls

Amy Blankenship

Ron Dougherty

Ron Corder

Pascal Gill

Guests:

Dalton McGuire

Bill Hebeison

This was the first meeting where the Board had the opportunity to meet with Dalton McGuire to discuss the Town Center property. Mr. McGuire told everyone how he had grown up on the hill. He stated he wanted to work with SIA any way he could.

Minutes

Steve Howard gave a report on the Farmer's Market.

On opening day, there were many buyers, but few vendors. However, following the TV coverage on Saturday night, many more vendors called him. The grand opening will be on August 5 at 10:00a.m.

Thank you notes should go out to Keitha Nelson and Connie Rockco.

JoAnn Munghia will continue to handle publicity. Crafts will be allowed any Saturday for now, not just the first Saturday of the month.

SIA will collect the cans at the market to turn in as a fund raiser.

The rental on the portable toilet is $78 a month. No bill has been received as of yet.

Beginning in August, the vendors will be charged a nominal fee. It was suggested in the range of $3 to $6. No decision was made.

Volunteers are needed to keep the grounds clean and cut. Janice Shaw is going to bring some barrels to help with the trash problem. Ron Dougherty suggested having a bonfire from the piles of cleaned up debris and making it into a family outing.

Board mmembers urged to attend the MDOT meeting on Tuesday, July 11, from 4 p.m. to7p.m. Fill out the survey and vote for option 1 or 1a as the new route.

The SIA logo is still being debated. The Saucier Merchants Association has it on their agenda to vote to allow us to use the design of the word Saucier that they use. The discussion on the logo was tabled until after the merchants meeting on July 18th.

YourTown Workshop is sponsored by Mississippi State University. The purpose of the workshop is to get planners together to help them know how to implement the plan of development. The workshop will be held at the Woolmarket Community Center for 2 and a half days. The dates are the 20, 21, and 22 of August. SIA Board members will receive information inviting them to participate.

Committee heads need to hold meetings with their volunteers and then give a report to the SIA Board.

July 3rd, 2006 - Meeting Minutes

2006-07-20T16:22:00.000-05:00

SIA Board Meeting

July 3rd, 2006

The main purpose of the meeting was to review last week's meeting where we started to envision the new Town Center development. Since this was a review, there is little to report here. The following breif notes indicate other things that came up for discussion.

It was suggested that the ball field needed to be included in the center of town. New buzzword - revitalizing.

We started to look at Small Business Incubators.

Amy suggested that we have recycling areas for cell phones, ink cartridges, cans, and etc. We could use this as a fund raiser.

Saucier Farmer's Market in the News

2006-07-08T20:04:00.000-05:00

One week old and WLOX features the Market

Read the artical on the WLOX web site

Kietha Nelson from WLOX called me Friday evening and asked where the market is being held. She wanted to come and see what we are doing so she could run a little story on the market.

Click here to read the artical on the WLOX web site

June 26, 2006 - Meeting minutes

2006-07-03T16:34:00.000-05:00

SIA Board meeting

June 26, 2006

Members present:

Wayne Jones

Steve Howard

Lori Sauls

Ron Corder

Amy Blankenship

Eli Sauls

Nadine Nicolls

Ron Dougherty

Beth Corder was also present.

Architectural Study

The Board met this evening with Hebeison Hassel Jones Architects to begin planing for the upcoming architectural study. Present from the architectural firm were

Teresa Jones
Bill Hebeison
Allison Rouse

The study should create a pattern book that will set reccomendations for architectural development for new development in Saucier.
The architectural team divided the SIA members into groups to discuss their ideas for the town center. The team will take their notes from these discussions, compile them, and meet with us to discuss them.

Other Business

On July 10th, SIA will meet with Dalton McGuire at 5:30 to discuss town center development. The architects will be invited to this meeting.
On July 17th, there will be a community meeting at the Community Center at 6:00. Dalton McGuire will speak to the architectural students at 5:00.
SIA can have needed maps printed at the courthouse, within reason.
Next board meeting will be July 3rd with the architects at 5:30. Regular board meeting will follow.
Exchange Club meeting Tuesday at the Community Center at 6:00.
Meeting with church representatives on Thursday, the 29th, at 6:00 at the Community Center.
Other questions: What are the minimal requirements to have community center certified as a storm shelter?

Saucier Farmer's Market, starts July 1st

2006-06-28T16:56:00.000-05:00

Fresh produce and local art and craft!

At last we are ready to open the Farmer's Market here in Saucier. The Market is situated just to the North of the intersection of Old Highway 49 and Saucier Lizana Road. It will run each Saturday and Wednesday, from 6am.

The first Saturday in each month will also be Craft day, where local artists can sell their wares - this month we have makers of home made jewelry, pottery and others planning to attend the market in addition to vendors of fresh produce, honey and more.

If you are interested in selling at the market, please contact me for more details - Steve Howard, (228) 832 5570

June 19th 2006 Meeting Minutes

2006-06-26T10:21:00.000-05:00

SIA Board Meeting

June 19th, 2006

Members Present

Wayne Jones

Steve Howard

Ron Corder

Beth Corder

Pascal Gill

Sarajane Smith

Eli Sauls

Nadine Nicolls

Ron Dougherty

Amy Blankenship

JoAnn Munghia

Old Business

Farmer's Market

The land for the Farmers" Market was cleared on Saturday, June 17th by Steve Howard, Ron Dougherty, Dorothy Jones and Jeff Gatton. Connie Rocko arranged for county to clean up the setback.
The Zoning Commission gave approval to run the Farmers' Market.It will operate on Wednesdays Saturdays from 6a.m. until 2p.m. First Saturday in the month to be Craft day.
There is water on the property, but it is not hooked up. Need to check on having it turned on.
JoAnn Munghia and Lisa Gregore are to handle publicity through the local papers. Flyers to be possible handed out. Possible advertising from the local merchants.
A table will be set up at the volunteer meeting on the 22nd for the Farmers' Market.
Steve Howard will write a disclaimer for the vendors to sign.

A meeting was held with a local architectural group who volunteered to help get things ready to give to Andrews University. There is a need for a consensus on what the buildings are to look like. Another meeting will be held on the 26th with the volunteers at the regular SIA meeting.
The term "modular home" was clarified. Aty its simplest, a modular home is on a slab and never had wheels.
The meeting for volunteers is on June 22nd at the Community Center. Ron and Beth Corder will set up the tables and supplies. Volunteer forms will be passed out at the door. Call list of volunteers to remind them of the meeting.
An update of what SIA has accomplished and what SIA is working on will be given.
Changes were again made to the agenda for the meeting on July 17th.
The meeting with church representatives will be on June 29th. Letters were mailed to the churches of Saucier. The meeting will introduce the church leaders to SIA and explain the purposes of SIA. The churches will be used to help communicate to the community.
Wayne Jones explained about the concept of using the church parking lots for a Park-n-Ride.
The condensed Plan was reviewed. Each committee member was asked to respond to the list of duties and responsibilities assigned to them. Discussion followed and minor changes were made.
It was discussed changing the title Parks and Recreation to Leisure Services. Pascal Gill suggested leaving it as is until he can discuss it with his committee members.
Connie Rocko will ask for the county employees in the Saucier area to work with SIA committees.
Gaps are appearing in the Plan as it is being revised. Some areas seem rather more involved than oters. More goals will be added where gaps are identified. Everyone should look for gaps that may be in the Plan.
Amy Blankenship is continuing to do research on recycling gray water and using composting toilets. She will work with Eli Sauls on this project.
A report will be given at a future meeting about having toilets at the Farmers' Market. A portable toilet can be rented for $75 for the time being.
Grants are available for funding in this area.
There will be a meeting with a representative of the USDA Rural Development next week.

New Business

SIA is doing a presentation at the Merchants' Association meeting on June 20th, updating them on our progress to date. Everyone should try to attend.
Each committee head should devise a detailed plan and verify that others have knowledge of all plans.
The sewer/wastewater issue has been turned over to Eli Sauls.
Pat Bonck should be contacted about information concerning sign ordinances.
Steve Howard and Wayne Jones met with Gerald Blessey on June 19th. He gave information on affordable housing options. There was an exchange of good ideas on various topics, including how Tradition and Sacuier should be designed to compliment and support each other.
The next meeting will be June26th.

Slow Food

2006-06-21T14:43:00.000-05:00

We want to encourage family farming in the community

Without it, it's hard to maintain the rural setting we have today

So we started looking at Slow Food. So what's that?

An Overview of the Slow Food Movement

Founded by Carlo Petrini in Italy in 1986, Slow Food is an international association that promotes food and wine culture, but also defends food and agricultural biodiversity worldwide.

It opposes the standardisation of taste, defends the need for consumer information, protects cultural identities tied to food and gastronomic traditions, safeguards foods and cultivation and processing techniques inherited from tradition and defend domestic and wild animal and vegetable species.

Read more on this page from SlowFood.com

Here's some other usful links about Slow Food:-

Search of NewRules.org for Slow Food.

http://www.slowfoodusa.org/

Wikipedia on Slow Food

June 12th 2006 Meeting Minutes

2006-06-21T14:09:00.000-05:00

SIA Board Meeting

June 12, 2006

Members Present

Steve Howard

Wayne Jones

Ron Corder

Beth Corder

Sarajane Smith

Pascal Gill

Nadine Nicolls

Wanda Pate

Ron Dougherty

Amy Blankenship

The minutes were read and approved.

Old Business

Saucier Community Center has been booked for the upcoming three community meetings: June 22-volunteers; June 29-churches; July 17-water and sewage. All three meetings will begin at 6:00.

The Architecture and Beautification committee has been changed to Building and Beautification to help clarify the role of the committee.

The sign for the Farmers' Market is still not up. It was stated that the land does need some cleaning, Ron Dougherty volunteered to clean the land with his equipment. It was agreed to meet at the land on Saturday, the 17th, at 7:00 to work on cleaning the site and on hanging the sign. All helpers welcome.

Wanda Pate and Steve Howard worked on condensing The Plan. Copies were distributed to members present. It was noted that items in the green print have been done. This new form is for our reference. The timing will be worked out later. Changes may also be made as committees look over the responsibilities. The numbers used are the same numbers as used in the original plan.

Wanda Pate asked about having something to mark the entrance to Saucier. SIA needs to be thinking about possible ways to do this. It was suggested that the entrance accent the pine heritage of the Saucier area.

The length of responsibilities of the Building and Beautification committee was questioned. It was decided that they could be broken down into subcommittees whose heads would report to the main committee.

A summarised version of The Plan will be presented to the Board of Supervisors. It will basically include: an executive summary, goals of the plan, current position of SIA planning effort, specific target items, methods,and responsibilities. This will be identified as a live document, meaning we recognise it must evolve according to prevailing circumstances, and recognising that we may not yet have identified everything that should be included in the Plan.

New Business:

Amy Blankenship presented information about water and sewer. It was stated that it could be five years before a sewer system is developed to support the proposed town center development. An interim solution is needed. An informational packet on composting toilets was presented. Amy explained the idea of such toilets and how they could be of benefit to Saucier. These toilets could be used at the Farmers' Market first as a test run, and then moved to the town center if they work out. The cost of building and maintaining such a system was questioned. Amy will work with Eli to investigate this further and report at a later date.

Amy Blankenship was appointed at the position of a flexible subcommittee member. She will work with whichever area needs her, not limited to any one specific topic.

Getting rid of old, junk trailers was identified as a problem. Amy is investigating making it easier for people to dispose of the old trailers to make room for other living options. A report will be presented later.

The next meeting will be June 19th at 5:30.

Farmer's Market sign erected

2006-06-17T12:31:00.000-05:00

Today we made tremendous progress clearing the land for the Farmer's Market

Many thanks go to Dorothy Jones, Ron Dougherty and Jeff Gatton

Click on the picture to see a larger version - you'll be able to read the contact details.

As you can see from the picture above, we not only cleared the land ready for the market, but we also erected the "Future Home of Saucier Farmer's Market" sign.

Watch out for more details soon, because we'll be announcing an opening date as soon as we finalise preparations.

Farmer's Market gets planning approval

2006-06-15T21:20:00.000-05:00

On Thursday 15th June, 2006, our application to the Zoning Commision was granted

So now we have permission from the county to run the market.

Watch over the next few weeks as we make this happen. On Saturday morning (June 17th) Ron Dougherty and Steve Howard will be meeting to bush-hog the area where the Market will be sited. We'll be mounting the "Future Home of Saucier Farmer's Market" sign. On it will be contact details where potential vendors and everyone else in the community will be able to contact me to find out exactly what we are doing and when. We will be starting around 7:30am. If you have a spare moment, we’d welcome any help you can give us.

If you don’t already know, the market will be situated to the North of the intersection of Saucier-Lizana Road and Old Highway 49, on the east side of the road,

If you are interested in vending, or just want to find out more, please feel free to contact me by phone or email (details on the sign), or else just post questions here.

We have no fixed opening date right now. We need to finalise details - insurance, vendor contract/disclaimer and any other legal stuff we've not covered yet.

When we do open the market, it should be held on Wednesday and Saturday, initially from 6am until 2pm. Times may change once we see what demand is like.

The first Saturday of each month will also be promoted as a Cottage Craft market. If you are an artist of any type, or you knit, make toys or tools or ... well if you have an art or craft that you can sell, we'll be intereted in talking to you about selling your goods on the first saturday of each month.

Let's be clear here. We are not talking about a flea market here. Anyone turning up and setting up such a stall will be turned away.

This is our first step along the way to a bright future for our community. Please support the market in any way you can.

Efficiency

2006-06-13T11:52:00.000-05:00

We will be planning for efficiency whenever we can

With energy costs increasing, this is very important.

At the last SIA Board meeting we discussed Efficiency as a valuable goal in our plans. New building and planning efforts need to consider energy efficiency from day one. Water and sewer plans need to be drawn to avoid unnecessary waste, so we'll look at using grey water for irragation in beautification projects.

we'll keep you informed as our investigations and plans in to efficient methods continues.

LEED Neighborhood Development Certification

2006-06-13T09:33:00.000-05:00

One thing we've decided is important to the SIA is to be as efficient as possible. In order to give ourselves some targets to aim for, we're looking at possibly going for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) ND (Neighborhood Development) certification. Apparently LEED ND Certification is so new that they are still refining the standard. So Saucier, MS could well be one of the first recipients of this type of certification for our Town Center project.

For more on LEED ND certification, check out http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=148.

Farmer's Market

2006-06-12T11:02:00.000-05:00

Sub-committee meeting

June 8 2006

Ad-hoc Development Committee Meeting
June 8, 2006

Present: Steve Howard, Dorothy Jones, Nadine Nicolls

The purpose of this meeting was to address areas of concern identified by the committee.

SIA will be the governing body for the market in the beginning. Later, a separate board may me seated through an election with subcommittees appointed.

There will be a rotation of volunteers to police the market each time it is open.

SIA will lease the land from Dalton McGuire. The details of the lease will be decided upon at a later date. SIA will be responsible for any insurance that is needed. The vendors will be required to sign a disclaimer. This will include information such as who is responsible for clean-up, a list of items that may be sold, and liability. This disclaimer can be adjusted as the need arises.

The Harrison County Board of Supervisors will be notified through Connie Rocko who is aware of the plan to develop a Farmers' Market. Dorothy Jones volunteered to notify the Health Department and the MS Department of Agriculture and Commerce. It was decided that the Harrison County Extension Office should be contacted. It was also determined to be a good idea to notify the surrounding counties and even into LA and AL.

A mission statement needs to be developed to help promote the market. A business plan will be looked at at a later time.

Initially, the vendors will be asked to bring their own tables to set up. Tables will possibly be provided later. Vendors will need to bring their own scales.Portable bathrooms will probably not be able to provided by the county. We will need to look into other possibilities; one being the house on the property. There is water available.

The hours of operation were suggested to be Wednesday and Saturday from 6a.m. till 2p.m. A Thursday evening time will also be considered. The first Saturday of each month will be the time allotted to sell crafts. It was suggested to investigate using the community center in case of inclement weather.

We will actively encourage Saucier farmers to sell at the market, but we will also allow others to set up booths. There will be no fee in the beginning, but something may be charged at a later date. There will be definite regulations about what can and cannot be sold at the market. Those items allowed: fresh produce, honey, eggs live plants, preserves, and cottage crafts. This list will be amended as needed.

The name will be Saucier Farmers' Market. There is a sign announcing it to be put up. We will contact people about advertising it on their signs. Lisa Gregore will be responsisble for putting it in the paper.

Information about the market will be on the blog. There are associations for markets that we could join. There are also grants available. Wayne Jones is working on developing a logo for SIA that would also be used in conjunction with the market.

June 1st 2006 Board Meeting Minutes

2006-06-06T20:34:00.000-05:00

SIA Board Meeting

June 1st 2006

members present:

Wayne Jones

Steve Howard

Wanda Pate

Ron Dougherty

Ron Corder

Beth Corder

Sarajane Smith

Apologies from Pascal Gill and Nadine Nicolls

The meeting began at 5:30 PM.

Dorothy Jones attended to give a report on the progress of the Farmer's Market. Sarajane also confirmed that she had spoken to the most immediate neighbors of the proposed market, and met with general support and approval for our plans. After a brief progress report on the market from Dorothy, with additional comment from Sarajane and Steve, a sub-committee was set up with Dorothy Jones, Sarajane Smith, JoAnne Munghia and Nadine Nicolls and headed by Steve Howard to pursue the Farmer's Market.

The first thing on the agenda was to finish defining SIA. It was decided that SIA is the Board and the Offices. This definition was accepted .

July 17th is the date of the community meeting. Sewer and Water will be discussed at this meeting.

We need to prioritize the community plan. Sewer, water, zoning, monitoring roads, architecture and beautification, welfare, health, education, and recreation should be at the top of the list.

Beth Corder proposed a community newsletter. This would let the community know what is in the plans for Saucier. Steve pointed out that the Saucier Community Blog, and irregular newsletters sent out by email currently keep web-connected members of the community informed of the SIA efforts. Wanda made a motion to make Beth Corder the reporter and Lisa Gregore the editor sarajane seconded it. It was passed.

Steve reported that he should soon receive the interim 601 report from MDOT. This report would be on all the information gathered from the community. It was suggested that the board write a letter in response to the report.

Mr. DeCoux , retired from Gulfport Parks and Recreation, has offered his services in identifying recreation needs of the community.

Steve reported on Our Town Workshops. It is a two and one-half day planning workshop. He is going to follow up with more information.

Wanda Pate gave a suggestion on board rotation Wanda made a motion that all board members stay in place until 2007. Then the rotation policy would go into effect. Steve Howard seconded it. It was passed by the board. Wanda made a suggestion that we look at the list of volunteers and make suggestions to fill vacancies.

The number of Board Members to make a quorum was discussed. It was tabled.

Ron Corder tenatively asked if he could resign . Wayne asked Ron if he could stay on until his position was filled. Wayne stated that he appreciated Ron and Beth contribution to the board.

The next board meeting will be Thursday, June 8th.

Community Meeting - July 17th

2006-06-06T17:39:00.000-05:00

Water, sewer, zoning, SmartCode

We all know growth is coming to Saucier - we see new developments starting all over our community

The SIA wants to empower the Saucier Community to choose where that growth should be concentrated, so we are planning a community meeting to discuss the issues that affect where growth and development take place

The SIA is busy organising itself and the community to ensure that our future growth is conducive to the rural community we have today. One of our major concerns is the provision of sewer to our area. We are advised that commercial and residential development will naturally concentrate where sewer is in place, so we are hoping to be able to influence where sewer goes in order to help constrain growth to acceptable locations that would create positive and benificial growth instead of 'traditional' urban and suburban sprawl.

To that end, we are planning to hold a Community meeting on July 17th at the Comminity Center where we will discuss a number of issues - water, sewer, zoning and the SmartCode - with the aim of asking the community what sort of growth you are willing to support, and thus show us the areas where sewer would be acceptable. At the end of the meeting we plan to have a good understanding of your wishes so that we can then advise the DEQ and other interested organisations of what Saucier wants.

We are very motivated to work *with* the DEQ in a positive way so that we can have the Saucier that the residents want in the future, rather than being victim to the whim of developers who would make decisions motivated only by profit.

Public notices will advertise this meeting closer to the 17th July. As always, your comments are welcomed on this Blog, so feel free to tell the SIA your views on the future of Saucier.

May 26th 2006 Board Meeting Minutes - special meeting

2006-06-06T11:11:00.000-05:00

A special meeting was called May 26, 2006 to discuss how to mobilise our efforts

We are making good progress, but some of the board are concerned that it is hard to see what we are achieveing, so we want to try to move forward a little quicker towards getting more sub-committees and action groups up and running.

Members Present

Wayne Jones

Steve Howard

Sarajane Smith

Nadine Nicolls

Wanda Pate

Teresa Jones also attended as an invited guest

Minutes

The Board has decided to work together to condense the Community Plan so it will be in a format more easily understood with priorities defined and listed in concise terms.

Steve Howard spoke with Dorothy Jones. She is still interested in helping with the Farmer's Market. Ms. Jones came by and sat in on part of the meeting. She agreed that the neighbors in the area of the future market should be visited. Sarajane Smith volunteered to speak to these people and get their opinions about the market. She will report on what she finds out.

Ron Corder has a sign stating that there is a Farmer's Market coming soon. The sign will be placed once we have spoken to the neighbors and to Dalton McGuire.

SIA needs to work on organizing the many volunteers who want to help. It was decided to have a community meeting to do this. Tables would be set up for each area of interest. The people would be given an opportunity to study the information and decide in which area they would like to volunteer. To prepare for this, each Board member should have definite goals set for his/her area, and work on refining these before the community meeting. Each committee should have step-by-step plan in order to implement the goals. It was determined that the community meeting should be in August. August 8, 2006 was chosen as the date.

Your Town workshops may be a possibility in our area. Patrick Bonck contacted Steve Howard about this. Steve will get more information on this and report back to the Board. Wanda Pate will check on a possible location for the workshops and report back to SIA. It was noted that yourtowndesign.org is a good website to check out.

The community center is the main focus of SIA at this time.

In July the architects will be visiting. SIA will invite them to attend a meeting.

SIA has decided to explore boundaries for installation and maintenanceof water and sewage. This falls under the area of Environmental Resources.

Wayne or Steve will check on projected population figures for 2010, 2020.

The next meetings have been set for Thursday, June 1, and Thursday, June 8. Both will begin at 5:30p.m.

May 22nd 2006 Board Meeting Minutes

2006-06-06T11:01:00.000-05:00

SIA Board Meeting

May 22nd 2006

Members present:

Wayne Jones

Steve Howard

Pascal Gill

Nadine Nicolls

Sarajane Smith

Lori Sauls

Eli Sauls

Wanda Pate

Ron Corder

Beth Corder

Minutes

The meeting was called to order at 5:40p.m.

The blog is in good working order; however, some board members are unable to register to be able to post.

Ron and Beth Corder submitted roles and responsibilities of Architecture and Beautification.

SIA is hoping for a grant to help Andrews University travel to Saucier.

SIA voted on and approved the motion to open a bank account at People's Bank.

MDOT will give a report on the feedback of the Saucier Community concerning MS 601.

Ricky Lee has turned over the idea of reflectors at turning bays to the Safety Committee.

There will be a follow-up meeting with the Office of Recovery and Renewal. A list of possible grants will be given at a later date,

The by-laws were examined, changes made, and approved.

It was decided to table the debate of the definitions of SIA and membership until the next meeting.

Steve will invite Dalton McGuire to a July meeting.

The next meeting will be Thursday, June 1, at 5:30p.m.

SR 601 preliminary Scoping Report

2006-06-06T10:51:00.000-05:00

The preliminary 601 scoping report was published on Friday June 2nd

The SIA received their copy on Monday June 5th. Here's a very brief summary.

- there is broad support for the SIA viewpoint
- The report suggests dropping either route 2 or route 3
- The report suggests dropping route 1 or 1a
- There appears to be a suggestion to consider a more westerly route
- The report includes comment that the possible industrial park to the south
of Saucier should be considered in any route.

A decision as to how MDOT will proceed will be made in two or three weeks. At that point we should (I hope) learn what routes are to be dropped and what new ones are to be given consideration. At that point we may have reason to consider if we need to start more determined campaigning.

If you are keen to read the full report, you can (temporarily) download it from here:-
Scoping Report May 2006

Note that the file is 48Mb - that's huge! You may not have to patience to get it if you have dialup - it will take around 8 hours to download! If you have a broadband connection it may take anything up to an hour, or maybe just 5 minutes. Depends on the speed of the connection.

I have been trying to find an official download location for this file and will publish the link to it when I find it.

Future Home Of ...

2006-05-30T13:13:00.000-05:00

... Saucier Farmer's Market

Plans are progressing. An application has been filed with the Zoning office in Gulfport for permission to run the Farmer's market just north ans east of the intersection of Saucier-Lizana Road and Old Highway 49.

The hearing for the permit should be on Thursday June 15th. After that, we should be good to go.

If you are interested in selling at the Farmer's Market, please contact me - Steve Howard - for more details. Alternatively, you can add a comment to this Blog post and I can answer any questions you have.

Meantime, a sign should be going up at the location of the Market in the next few days, advertising the up-coming market. The sign includes contact details for more information.

SIA Board meeting minutes

2006-05-24T19:35:00.000-05:00

Monday 17th May

Keeping our policy of openness, following are the minutes of our 17th May meeting. Thanks to our interim Secretary Nadine Nicolls for preparing the minutes!

Steve Howard spoke to Dalton McGuire about the property to be used for the Farmer's Market. Mr. McGuire expressed an interest in developing the property as soon as possible. The county cannot provide services on private property, so SIA will have to determine how to provide the needed services. There are also some questions and concerns about insurance. Mr. McGuire will be will be invited to meet the SIA at an upcoming SIA meeting.

Steve Howard has filed for the permit to run the Farmer's Market. It will be brought before the Zoning Committee on June 17, 2006. He is also researching how other markets on the coast are run. Dorothy Jones has expressed an interest in helping with this project. It was noted that SIA should speak to the people living in the area around the proposed Farmer's Market to determine if they have any questions or concerns.

Bill Pate has agreed to help draft the lease for the land for the Farmer's Market.

Steve Howard is still working on the blog and hopes to have all SIA board members able to post to the Blog soon.

Sarajane Smith turned in the duties and responsibilities of the Education Committee. This information is still missing for some Board members.

Reminder. The new Community Plan has been posted. Everyone should read it.

Andrews University is having problems getting the funding it needs to come here.

A post office box has been opened for SIA at the Saucier Post Office. It is Box 766.

SIA has obtained an EIN number.

SIA will open a bank account at the People's Bank in Saucier.

Wayne will meet with the Governor's Commission on Recovery and renewal on Friday, May 19. He will report on this at the next meeting.

Nadine Nicolls has been appointed interim secretary after the resignation of Winifred Quarles.

Lori Sauls has been appointed treasurer.

Eli Sauls spoke to Rebecca Ladner about the 40 acre parcel of land at the NE corner of West Wortham Rd. and Saucier-Lizana Rd. SIA vehemently opposes the selling of this land and any other public land for private use.

It was noted that SIA needs to contact all the people who have volunteered to help. No definite plan was developed, and this matter was tabled until the next meeting.

SIA drafted a set of By-Laws. Steve Howard will post these for the Board to study. They will be re-examined at the next meeting.

It was decided that SIA will meet on the first Tuesday of each month, and that the President may call special meetings whenever necessary.

Gulfport agencies share ideas

2006-05-10T20:10:00.000-05:00

SmartCode gets boost, Destin doesn’t

By TRACY DASH
tadash@sunherald.com

GULFPORT — Members of the city’s Planning Commission, City Council and Zoning Board of Adjustment and Appeals met Tuesday night to share ideas about how to plan for development in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The workshop among the three groups was the first time the current council had met with the two bodies that hear planning and zoning matters. Previous councils and commissions have met in the past.

Commissioners, council members and zoning members said they want to see development, but agreed it should be smart development. Several members talked about what they would like to see in Gulfport and what they don’t want a rebuilt Gulfport to look like.

Two cities that some council members said they don’t want to model Gulfport after are Gulf Shores, Ala., and Destin, Fla.

“The thing going for us . . . is that we’re not just a condo city,” said Claudia Keyes, a member of the Planning Commission and a real estate agent. “We have a family atmosphere. We can entertain them all year long.”

Keyes, however, said there is a demand for condo development. Gulfport has a few beachfront condo projects under way.

The group also discussed SmartCode, the benefits of it and how the city would oversee it if the council votes to adopt it. SmartCode, used as a guide for developing compact, walkable, mixed-use communities, was the subject of a six-day series of discussions in February that would provide diverse living options.

Mayor Brent Warr said he hopes to present the SmartCode recommendations to the council in the next 40 to 45 days.

Council President Barbara Nalley said the meeting was productive. She learned how the commissioners feel about SmartCode.

“I was pleasantly surprised that they agree with SmartCode thinking,” Nalley said.

Readers should know that the Saucier Community Plan includes provision for the unincorporated areas of Harrison County to adopt the SmartCode. This is a positive measure to help ensure that the future development in our area is a pleasure to live with.

What Next? - 5/10/2006

2006-05-10T19:58:00.000-05:00

Public services accented

Storm revealed a host of problems

By DON HAMMACK
dthammack@sunherald.com

When Gov. Haley Barbour signed a bill creating a regional water utility board in April, it became one of the biggest victories for the Governor's Commission.

The public services subcommittee chair called it the "cornerstone" of his group's recommendations, which included more cooperation between municipalities, an improved communications systems and disaster preparedness.

"I think that's one of the biggest things that's come out of it," said Bob Occhi, the general manager of Coast Electric Power Association. "It's probably one of the biggest things that will come out of it."

The creation of the utility board, which was initially opposed by the powerful county supervisors lobby, allows the region to tap into $600 million in federal funds to help rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.

The commission cited the existence of 14 municipal water and sewer systems, eight water districts, 19 water associations and more than 30 private water companies as a key inefficiency that could inhibit recovery. That fragmentation is even more problematic in light of expected population redistributions north from the coastline.

The commission also encouraged consolidation of school districts and police and fire departments in light of expected budget shortfalls from the decimation of tax bases, particularly in Hancock County. Bay St. Louis and Waveland, for instance, have been studying the economic feasibility of merging some or all of their cities' services.

The public services section also added a healthy chunk of responsibilities onto the state's new Wireless Communication Commission. It was created by the Legislature last year before the storm, but its mission soared in importance after nontechnical governmental officials learned communications' dirty little secret.

"It's really demonstrated the lack of interoperability between all agencies," said Bill Buffington, a communications specialist with the Wireless Commission. "For the first time, we've made a big push in this spirit of cooperation to get everybody on the same page. Before the storm, everybody talked the talk but nobody ever talked about how bad it could be. Basically, they experienced a complete failure of a number of individual systems."

The agency is well along toward acquiring a statewide voice and data network, with bids due in early June. That system will be installed starting in South Mississippi, but it obviously won't be ready for this hurricane season.

The commission has helped form interoperability agreements between the Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Department; the departments of health and public safety; the Mississippi Department of Transportation; and the military. In turn, other arrangements should improve state agencies' communication with local governments.

What Next? - 5/9/2006

2006-05-09T16:55:00.000-05:00

All roads lead to ill will

Transit battles the toughest

By DON HAMMACK
dthammack@sunherald.com

The Sun Herald is planning a series of reports on the Governor's Commission and its progress over the next two weeks. The series started on Sunday May 7th, and will go on until May 18th. Read each article here.

Transportation concerns in the wake of Hurricane Katrina have set off a string of confrontations between locals and MDOT.

Some of the Governor's Commission recommendations were direct challenges to the way the state transportation agency has operated. For instance, efforts by Ocean Springs to tame MDOT's bigger-is-better mantra for the U.S. 90 bridge over Biloxi Bay stewed for months.

The city gave approval for a bridge with six lanes of traffic, four breakdown or emergency lanes and a bike/pedestrian lane. Then it took it away, then gave it back again when it became clear there would be no downsizing.

A later hiccup with the lack of a drawbridge resulted in rebidding the project for a 95-foot bridge, 10 feet higher to help appease protests from Harrison County development officials, the shipbuilding industry along Bayou Bernard Industrial Seaway and the governor's office. A contract is to be awarded early next month.

The commission didn't want to put itself in the middle of an obvious political struggle, but the Mississippi Renewal Forum had argued for a four-lane bridge. Instead, the commission recommended returning U.S. 90 to a four-lane, pedestrian-friendly boulevard.

It also recommended the acquisition of the CSX Transportation rail bed for conversion into an east-west thoroughfare. The funding for the acquisition stands as a lightning rod in an emergency spending package that's been approved by the Senate but still needs House approval. If passed, the bill could be President Bush's first veto.

The commission's vision of a multimodal east-west corridor isn't being talked about in the same terms anymore, either. Instead, it's likely to wind up as a new U.S. 90 that can be rerouted off the beach.

"We would just love it if everybody would say instead of a major highway, this needs to be rapid transit, this needs to be light-rail," said Susan Henderson, a New Urbanist involved in the Renewal Forum and later in recovery planning. "It does need to connect New Orleans to Mobile."

Gulfport won a concession from MDOT in its plans for a Canal Road connector. Also referred to as Interstate 310, it would connect the state port of Gulfport to I-10 just east of the current Canal Road exit.

MDOT had federal approval to build an elevated connector all the way to the port, but with the Port Authority, city officials and business leaders armed with new ammunition from the commission, it earned a reprieve. The agency has agreed to do the project in two stages, postponing design south of 28th Street so it can weigh changes at the port and with CSX.

MDOT has also been active with development of two long-range transportation plans. It's worked with Coast Transit Authority and the feds to develop a public transportation vision, and with Gulf Regional Planning Commission for a regional multimodal plan.

What Next? - 5/8/2006

2006-05-09T16:48:00.000-05:00

Land use plans get varying reactions

Bridge, Biloxi decisions concern design director

By DON HAMMACK
dthammack@sunherald.com

The Sun Herald is planning a series of reports on the Governor's Commission and its progress over the next two weeks. The series started on Sunday May 7th, and will go on until May 18th. Read each article here.

Judging the pace of how recommendations made by the Governor's Commission on land use may have something to do with where you live.

Susan Henderson, the director of design for Placemakers, the Florida-based originators of the SmartCode, which the commission recommended be adopted to supplant traditional zoning ordinances, is pretty happy with what she's seen.

"It's not absolutely perfect response, but for that many communities and that many different political perspectives and different local needs, as a whole, Mississippi has responded very well," she said.

For instance, four of 11 cities along the Coast are on the path to adopting SmartCodes in some form or fashion. Six others are considering it.

Former Biloxi Mayor Gerald Blessey, whose law firm now deals with zoning and land use issues and who served as the land use subcommittee chairman, sees things through a different prism.

"It's kind of a checkerboard," he said. "Like so much, we're so happy with the good things but we feel kind of impatient of the slowness of the other things."

The SmartCode is the New Urbanists' answer to creating walkable communities featuring mixed-use buildings where housing at all price levels is sprinkled throughout. In some places, they will be adopted as overlays, providing alternatives to the existing zoning structure. Other places may use them in certain districts particularly hard hit by Hurricane Katrina.

Henderson said her disappointments center on the U.S. 90 bridge over the Bay of St. Louis, which they considered too big, and some decisions Biloxi has made in its planning.

"We'd really hoped for a re-establishment of an East Biloxi village, which obviously isn't going to happen," she said. "But of course there's been a lot of pressure from casinos and developers. You can sympathize with (Mayor) A.J. (Holloway), but at the same time you'd wish it had gone in a little bit of a different direction."

The commission recommended the CSX Transportation rail line right of way be acquired to build an avenue with light rail. That idea has morphed into putting a new U.S. 90 through Harrison County in that footprint, another disappointment for Henderson.

Blessey said he's excited by the possibilities, although he's anxious in that area as well.

"The railroad is so close you can taste it," he said.

One recommendation remains hanging from the vine ready to be picked, according to Blessey. The report called for the state Legislature to create the Mississippi Renaissance Corporation to help link residents, developers and governments together to redevelop destroyed areas.

For instance, a group of neighbors could pool their land together to be developed to create a larger project they could live in a part of, thus helping recreate capital for those who lost so much.

Blessey said some developers are looking into doing it, but if one were to take the leap, it might cause a domino effect and entice others to join.

"New casinos would be ideal partners to marry up with a neighborhood and develop a new neighborhood," he said.

The state Legislature also fell well short of adopting more stringent statewide building codes. Eventually, it settled on watered-down legislation that affected the coastal counties, but provided an opt-out clause.

There is also a study commission that is supposed to make a recommendation to the egislature next year.

What's Next? - 5/7/2006

2006-05-09T16:42:00.000-05:00

Commission offers a menu

Recovery means different thing to each city

By GEOFF PENDER
glpender@sunherald.com

The Sun Herald is planning a series of reports on the Governor's Commission and its progress over the next two weeks. The series started on Sunday May 7th, and will go on until May 18th. Read each article here.

Gov. Haley Barbour says the 238 recommendations of the Governor's Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding and Renewal are not a community to-do list and that it would be wrong now, or maybe ever, to go through marking them as done or undone.

Some notable recommendations have been met. Most remain undone. A large number are likely never to be tackled. That's not the point, Barbour says.

"The purpose of the commission was not to tell the people on the Coast how to rebuild, so it's a mistake to look at how many were adopted and how many have not been adopted," Barbour said. "The commission succeeded enormously in illuminating for people what could be - showing community leaders their options, their alternatives, what other cities have done and why."

Barbour created the commission shortly after the storm ripped South Mississippi apart, announcing plans for a "renaissance," not just a rebuild. The work of the commission, privately funded, included 500 volunteers on 20 committees investing more than 50,000 hours developing recommendations. It included a charrette, or brainstorming session, of historic proportions, drawing hundreds of top urban planners, architects and experts from around the world. It spawned numerous public town-hall hearings in most communities across South Mississippi.

The commission's chairman, wealthy Mississippi philanthropist Jim Barksdale, noted "We crammed the work of decades into three months."

The result was a 178-page bound volume titled "Building Back Better than Ever," which includes recommendations on improving land use, housing, business, tourism, health care - almost every aspect of South Mississippi life.

Barksdale, whose commission technically was disbanded Dec. 31 after its report was delivered to Barbour, declined to be interviewed, saying through a spokeswoman he's lately been detached from the subject. But in the introduction he penned for the report, he said the commission began its work by noting that in similar efforts - in Mississippi after 1969's Hurricane Camille, in Galveston, Texas, and elsewhere - there was a failure to follow through with plans for renewal after disaster.

"The fact is, we're facing some of the same challenges of recovery, rebuilding and renewal in 2006 because we failed to engage them fully after 1969," Barksdale wrote.

But by most any measure, the Katrina commission has already seen far more results than similar efforts after Camille.

"I consider it to be a home run," said Coast businessman Dave Dennis, who chaired the cultural preservation committee. "I don't want to handicap what percentage of the recommendations will be put into play, because I don't know. But I think Katrina popped this Coast hard enough that people know we can't just go back to business as usual. I think we'll see a goodly part of this process embraced and moved forward with."

Barbour said: "I don't expect anybody to agree with all the recommendations. I don't agree with all of them... I was asked the question by a lady in Pass Christian do I think in 10 years we'll look back and say the Coast is as good as it was Aug. 28, 2005. I answered that if that's what we look back and think, then we will have failed. If the commission's work succeeds, if community leaders succeed, if the governor succeeds, then the Coast will be bigger and better. If all we get is what it was in 2005, I will have failed. I will have failed not because I didn't impose my preferences. I will have failed because I did not lift people's horizons enough, will not have gotten people to see what could be."

Linchpin issues

But there do appear to be some linchpins among the commission's goals - common issues that must be tackled.

One is housing.

Lack of affordable, permanent housing has been noted as a chief concern of most committees in the commission. And housing must be built differently, with Katrina in mind. Schools face difficulties with students and their families living in temporary campers. Hospitals face loss of doctors and nurses who can't find housing. Businesses can't recruit employees because there's nowhere for them to live. Even the military and defense contractors are grappling with the issue.

The shortage is so bad the state is putting plans for a business incubator on the back burner and instead considering building dormitory-style housing for workers, which could themselves later be converted into business incubators, said Joe Cloyd with the Mississippi Development Authority.

Barbour has been lobbying in Washington for funding for "Katrina cottages" or some alternative to the FEMA-supplied travel trailers thousands of South Mississippians are calling home. Already a $4 billion federal grant promises to help many homeowners rebuild, but the program does not cover all and solutions must be found for renters and low-income residents. On the Coast, the housing market was already tight before Katrina.

So far, most of the commission's 36 recommendations for housing remain undone.

Another linchpin, some say, is relocating the CSX railroad tracks to allow building of an east-west roadway, something sorely needed before Katrina. Barbour and Mississippi's congressional delegation are pushing for funding for the relocation in Washington.

Barbour said: "CSX right-of-way acquisition and relocation is a priority... But here again is an example of where my views about how that roadway would be used differ with what the New Urbanists (experts who helped the commission plan) want. I think most people on the Coast think the highest and best use would be a connector for motor-vehicle traffic, so we could return Beach Boulevard to a scenic byway. I think (the New Urbanists) wanted a streetcar system and pedestrian walkway. But again, whether I agree isn't the point. The point is the people on the Coast get to look at ideas and decide which ones work and which ones don't."

One linchpin to the commission's goals appears already to have fallen into place: the creation of a regional water and sewerage board. A regional approach, Barbour said, will allow South Mississippi to cope with the expected northward migration of residents from near the coastline.

The Legislature created a six-county regional water and sewer board, and through agreements Barbour helped secure in Washington, it's expected to receive about $600 million in federal funding to expand services.

Will Longwitz, former communications director for the Governor's Commission who's now a lawyer with a Coast firm, said, "I find it encouraging that there has been movement of any kind on something as big as the water and sewer authority."

Can't be measured in tons

There's been nothing like 100 percent buy-in to the commission report by local government leaders. Some, at times, sound fairly critical of many recommendations and even the process. Ditto the state Legislature.

"Some of it was good, but some of it I think is too expensive - the people of Biloxi cannot afford it," said Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway. "A lot of people with the commission kept saying we're starting with a clean slate. We're not starting with a clean slate. People still live here and own the property. I believe in property rights - a person can do what they want with their land. A lot of these folks involved were people from the outside, and the governor said time and again this is just ideas and the communities can make their own decisions."

Bay St. Louis Mayor Eddie Favre said, "The problem with many of these ideas is still who's going to pay for it. Nobody's addressed the issue of lost operating revenues for the cities, counties and schools. Are we even going to be here as a city and a county and a school district? If that can't be figured out, what good is the rebuilding effort going to be?... From a timing standpoint, I don't know if it was the greatest timing in the world for the charrettes and planning. People were still trying to survive and get debris out of their houses and find a place to live. Planning for the future is difficult when people can't see beyond piles of debris. From that standpoint, a lot of (the commission plan) is grandiose and in some cases just not going to be practical."

But both mayors say they've parroted the Governor's Commission, and helped create similar organizations on the local level. And both believe some good will come from the commission's recommendations.

"I don't think it's going to just sit on a shelf and collect dust," Favre said. "Much of it can be used, although maybe modified. So much of it does make sense. I think a lot of it will come to fruition, but maybe the approach needs to change a bit - more like 'We're here to help you, whatever decision you make we are going to back you, fund you, any way we can.'

"I think some good things will come from it," said Holloway. "I don't know how much, but it's something we don't take lightly."

Longwitz echoed Barbour's views that the commission's success or failure should be viewed with a broad, long-term lens and that the key will be community buy-in, not work in Jackson or Washington.

"I find it unprecedented and astonishing that local governments are moving forward with their own plans, creating their own renaissance commissions," Longwitz said.

"Almost every town has been holding their own charrettes. That impetus is a major product of the commission's work... (The commission report) is like a menu in a restaurant. The patrons can come in and look at the menu in different ways and decide what they want."

He added, "This is not debris. You can't measure it in metric tons. It'll be a lot easier to look back with regret at what didn't get done then to look at all these moving parts now. It's like flying over in an airplane and trying to see who's on the ground."

Governor's Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding and Renewal

2006-05-09T16:29:00.000-05:00

The Sun Herald reports on progress

Where to next?

The Sun Herald is planning a series of reports on the Governor's Commission and its progress over the next two weeks.

The series started on Sunday May 7th, and will go on until May 18th.

You may already be familiar with the work of the Governor's Commission, but if not, you can find out more about it from the Commission's web site. In a nutshell, Haley Barbour set up a commission to study and plan for the recovery, rebuilding and renewal of The Coast after Katrina. The commission became known as a Charette after the rapid-development methods used to quickly create the 170+ page report that outlines plans and suggestions for the future of The Coast.

The full series of articles is already planned, and a list of their names and dates has been printed in the Sun Herald newspaper, and posted online on their web site. This is that list:

May 7th: An overview of the commission's work
May 8th: Land use
May 9th: Transportation
May 10th: Public services
May 11th: Housing
May 12th: Tourism
May 13th: Small business
May 14: Agriculture, forestry and marine resources
May 15: Defense and government contracting
May 16: Education
May 17: Health and human services
May 18: Non-governmental organizations

I'll post the articles here as they are printed, so watch the Saucier Community Blog daily over the next two weeks.

Safety to Improve on Highway 49?

2006-05-05T23:15:00.000-05:00

Unmarked Patrol Vehicles Monitoring Gulfport City Streets

From WLOX.com, May 2, 2006 04:16 PM CDT Toni Miles

Highway 49 has always been a busy roadway in South Mississippi, and according to police, accidents there have increased substantially since last year. So Gulfport police have launched a new program - called Reckless and Aggressive Driving Enforcement or RADE. Their goal is to curb accidents.

Improper lane use and failure to wear a seatbelt are just two of the traffic viloations Sgt. Damon McDaniel and other members of the RADE squad are looking out for.

Members of the RADE patrol squad blend in with other traffic in their unmarked vehicles. This new method of patrolling appears to be effective.

"Today (Monday) is our first major day of operation, using the entire traffic divison. I must say, it's going pretty well. We've had a lot of traffic stops using both the unmarked and marked vehicles both north and south of the interstate," Sgt. McDanield said.

Patrols are concentrated along Highway 49 because of the increase of wrecks on the highway. This year, Gulfport police have investigated 1,835 wrecks. That's compared to 1,470 wrecks for the same period in 2005. Police hope the new RADE patrol program will help reduce the number of accidents in the city.

"Highway 49, like I said, has been leading the city of Gulfport in the number of crashes that have been happening. So we're starting off with Highway 49 from at least Polk Street all the way to the northern city limits," Sgt. McDaniel siad.

Sgt. McDaniel says he expects the RADE patrols to branch off to roadways to the east and west of Highway 90 sometime in the near future. In all, 219 tickets were issued Monday.

Police stress since RADE patrols are in unmarked vehicles, if you're pulled over at night, you should drive to a well-lit area and ask police officers for identification.

Connie Rockco

2006-05-03T22:03:00.000-05:00

Wayne and Steve met with Connie on Tuesday 2nd May

Connie is unbelievably busy these days. Since Katrina hit last year, the local and state governments have been inundated with work. Sadly the huge loss in local tax revenue means that the local government has had to tighten its budget and put a freeze on hiring staff, but the workload they have is greater than ever.

Connie was kind enough to take an hour out of her day to discuss the Saucier Community Plan with Wayn Jones and Steve Howard. Connie is very excited about the plan which, we hope, will be adopted by the county in the next month or so. At the time of writing a date has not yet been set for formally presenting the Plan to the Board of Supervisors for adoption, but the SIA ia confident of their support.

We discussed numerous aspects of the plan and the work that we have been doing in Saucier over the last few months. Of greatest short-term interest are the Town Meeting we have had with MDOT, and current plans for the Farmers Market. Connie offfered us lots of help and advice, which we are putting to great use. If things go according to plan the County will be supporting the Farmers Market when it starts in a few weeks time.

Connie also offered to meet with us again in Saucier over the next week or two. It is hoped that we will have more concrete information to share about that meeting once it happens. Meantime, we want to express hearfelt thanks and appreciation for the help Connie has given us already.

Proposed Highway 601 Routes

2006-05-03T21:44:00.000-05:00

Feedback from Saucier residents

This is an open letter of feedback to MDOT from the residents of Saucier

The purpose of this letter is to bring to MDOT a unified community viewpoint so that MDOT can easily understand the views of the residents of Saucier and how they think the proposed routes of Highway 601 may impact the community as it passes through Saucier.

Introduction

The Saucier Improvement Association (SIA) was formed on April 4th, 2006 to represent the Saucier community as it grows and develops in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The SIA was formed out of a Steering Committee appointed by the Harrison County Board of Supervisors to explore and plan the future growth and development of unincorporated areas of Harrison County. Citizens of Saucier voted members onto the SIA board when the initial planning phase ended, creating a new community voice with the strong support of the citizens and the Board of Supervisors.

Saucier discusses Highway 601

Over the last several weeks, the SIA has organized a number of meetings inviting the citizens of Saucier to discuss Highway 601. On April 14th, MDOT was kind enough to send their representatives to explain the current situation and planned development process for Highway 601, and the proposed routes under consideration. Following that meeting, the SIA arranged a further public meeting where the citizens were invited to give their opinions on the route options and offer suggestions for alternative routes. Following is a summary of the feedback gleaned from that meeting, held on Monday April 24th 2006.

Vote on existing route proposals.

Approximately 130 people attended the meeting. Attendees were asked to vote on three options:-

Option 1 – H601 merges with H49 At a point between Jim Lee Road and West Wortham Road.

Option 2 – H601 merges with H49 approximately 0.5 miles south of the Saucier Town Center.

Option 3 – H601 merges with H49 approximately 1 mile south of Wiggins.

The vast majority voted for Option 1, with only a handful voting for Options 2 and 3.

Citizens were than asked to vote between option 1, Jim Lee Road, and Option 1a, West Wortham Road, with the majority selecting the more southerly route.

This gives an overwhelming preference for the proposed H601 merging with H49 as far south of Saucier as possible.

Alternative Route Suggestions

Several different alternative route suggestions have been proposed. These are summarized briefly here.

1, A more easterly road, merging with H15
2, 601 travels north to H53, then follows H53 north-west to merge with H59, eventually meeting H49 at Hattisburg
3, An other route that is significantly more westerly than Option 3 above.

A vote was taken, and an overwhelming majority of attendees were in favor of any route that is more westerly than any route currently under consideration. It should be stressed that no-one voiced support for any of these alternatives to take precedence over upgrading 49.

General comments

Following are specific written comments given to the SIA

1. “#3 would be okay. #1 and #2 would make 49 worse. #3 would take my house, but that is okay because Saucier has to grow.”
2. “Extend Canal Rd to 49 and 67 then widen 49 to 6-lane each way. Hwy 49 needed to be a 6-lane hwy to start with.”
3. “We live in the country for a reason. We do not want this road happening in our community. Fix the problems or issues with Hwy 49!”
4. “Use #3.”
5. We don’t like Phase #3 at Saucier Lizana Road. Hwy too close to Hwy 49 ad to close to a lot of old homes and people that have been here a long time.”

Other comments have come out of discussions:-

1. Highway 49 is very dangerous right now. As traffic volumes increase, it will only get worse. 49 should be upgraded and improved as a matter of priority for safety reasons.
2. The community has long expected 49 to be further upgraded. It is sad for those who would be directly disturbed by any upgrades, but the community feels fewer people in the community would be pushed out of their homes by 49 upgrades than by an entirely new highway cutting a swathe through the heart of Saucier.
3. The intersection of Saucier Lizana and H601 would threaten to take out several local businesses (Herrin’s Short Stop, West End Superette Cherokee Kennels, and others).
4. The Saucier-Lizana entersection would split the community into two.
5. Option 3 would threaten to damage our planned new Town Center development.
6. The SIA wishes to consult with MDOT over the best location for intersections, overpasses, underpasses etc around the Saucier Town Center development.
7. Plans to upgrade H49 to 6 lanes from Orange Grove north almost to Jim Lee Road begs for 49 upgrades to continue north to Saucier and beyond.
8. Concerns have been raised by the local volunteer fire department that upgrades to 49 to limited access would hamper access to many locations along 49.
9. Concerns have been raised about the schools in Saucier if 49 is upgraded – would the schools have to be relocated?
10. Upgrades to 49 could impact the new Town Center plans. Please consult with SIA in order to limit any impact to the Town Center.
11. Joe May reports that he lives on an Indian Mound. His location is in the path of Option 3. Contact details are available should you wish to confer with him.
12. A more westerly route would give better access to the western part of the south of the state for evacuation and safety (fire, ambulance, police) access.

Thank you for taking the time to consider these comments, which directly represent the views of several hundred Saucier residents over a number of meetings here in Saucier.

The SIA endorses the selection of upgrading H49 on safety and community viability grounds. We feel that this is the best solution for the future of our community, and we are confident that this is the overwhelming opinion of the residents.

Yours sincerely,

Steve Howard
Vice President
Saucier Community Improvement Association
Saucier, Mississippi

SIA Town Meeting, April 24th

2006-05-03T21:29:00.000-05:00

The SIA invited the community to the Community Center to discuss MDOTs plans for Highway 601

After the success of the meeting with MDOT on April 11th, reported in this blog post, the SIA invited the community to discuss the road updates openly. After some frank discussion, the meeting was asked to vote on what they thought would be the best road solution for Saucier and the community.

A majority of the meeting attendees voted in favour of a route that travels north from I10 at Canal Road, and merges with Highway 49 as far south of Saucier as possible.

When asked about alternative routes, the overwhelming majority expressed preference for alternative routes that are parallel, but much further West of H49 than the current 'Option 3' route that passes across Saucier Lizana Road approximately 1 - 1.5 miles West of Highway 49.

A letter was emailed to MDOT the following day describing the results of the meeting. In that letter, the SIA endorses the community preference of a route that merges with Highway 49 as far south of Saucier as possible. A copy of that letter will be posted to this web site shortly.

SCIA meeting Monday April 17th 2006

2006-05-03T21:13:00.000-05:00

Meeting minutes

Introduction

Following are minutes from the first SCIA board meeting. I took no formal or informal notes, so the following is from memory only.

Attendees

Present

Wayne Jones
Steve Howard
Sarajane Smith
Pascal Gill
Ron Dougherty
Ron Corder
Eli Sauls

Absent, with prior apology

Wanda Pate

Absent without apology

Winfred Quarles
Glenn Hickman

Minutes

Dalton McGuire meeting

Wayne and Steve met with Dalton McGuire today to discuss the land he plans to develop for the town center and implementation of the Farmer’s Market. Dalton again stated “tell me what to do and I will do it”. He intends to handle the development himself, and looks forward to meeting with the student teams when the time comes. He supports the farmer’s market fully, and has given the SCIA permission to go ahead, subject to legal and other issues. He already has liability insurance, but may need to modify it. He suggests we get vendors to sign an appropriate disclaimer to reduce liability claims. Steve to speak to Bill Pate for initial legal advice

Steve to speak to Patrick Bonck to obtain appropriate permit etc

Email and electronic documents

There was some extensive discussion throughout the meeting about the use of the internet and email. Ron Corder has expressed reluctance at spending a large amount of time on email etc. and reading documents on-screen. In order to be able to keep up with communications within the SCIA and with other organisations, and in order to have a recorded paper trail, we need to be able to use email to communicate with the entire board wherever possible.

Farmers market - progress

Steve reported on discussions with the Chnaro garden center, who is interested in supporting the farmer’s market if possible, although they normally sell commercial/wholesale rather to consumers. Wayne and Steve to view Dalton’s land on Tuesday to see how best to utilise it for the initial market.

Saucier Community blog

Steve reported the new Saucier Community Blog is published and live on the Internet. All board members (with email addresses) have been invited to be able to post to the blog. So far only Lori Sauls has responded … and she is not a board member, but a very helpful and active volunteer.

New Community Plan

A new, updated version of the Community Plan was posted on April 15th. All board members have been encouraged to read this. A copy can be downloaded from the Harrison County website

Board member responsibilities

An action from last week was for all the board members to review the Plan and list their view of their own roles and responsibilities based on that plan. Pascal and Wanda were to share Health and Welfare, and did a good job of extracting the appropriate information for their ‘department’. They also suggested a number of sub-committees that should meet under their general section heading.

Other board members voiced surprise that this was an action from the previous week, although it was discussed extensively and agreed at the meeting. A new action was agreed for the next meeting:-

- Board to review the updated Community Plan and take on their own roles and responsibilities from the revised plan. Some overlap may occur between ‘departments’, so these will require discussion and negotiation at the next meeting.

Change to the board

Eli Sauls has joined the board, responsible for Environmental Issues.

Architectural plan, Andrews University

Andrews University plans to come to Saucier around September for the initial architectural study. They have accepted the SIA’s invitation, subject to funding etc, and have also received invitations from Pat Bonck and Jennifer Evans-Cowley.

Andrew von Maur - the Andrew’s professor who we are in contact with – has expressed support for our request that the process his school takes part in will recognise that they were invited to come here and work for us, thus heading-off complaints of “outsiders coming here and telling us what to do”.

Andrew asks if we could assist in housing the students when they are here, as they are going to be on a tight budget. He will be bringing up to 20 students for a week around September. The SIA board agreed we should be able to organise volunteers to house them.

New Name

After considerable debate, we agreed upon Saucier Improvement Association (SIA) for the new name of the association.

Development Commission

Apparently the Development Commission is promoting northern Harrison county to businesses as a location they can move to while heading north away from possible hurricane damage. The SIA needs to be sure that the Development Commission is working in a way that is sympathetic to the work of the SIA and the community. Thus we need to have a good working relationship with them. Ron Dougherty to make contact with the development commission, introduce the SIA and our work to them so we can begin working together.

DeSoto land sales

Apparently at least one ‘national homebuilder’ is exploring purchasing land from the DeSoto National Forest. We need to know why, what etc, if at all possible, and we need to create a working relationship with DeSoto and any land purchasers so that they can work in a way that is sympathetic to the work of the SIA and the community. Eli Sauls agreed to open communications

Progress on last week’s actions

Below is a summary on the actions from last week. Some have already been reported in detail above.

Meeting with MDOT set up for Tuesday 11th April.

Wayne and Steve to introduce the meeting and MDOT. Steve to do brief presentation.
Meeting very successful – over 200 attended! Radio, tv and newspaper coverage has been very posotive too.

Lori Sauls has agreed to do information and sign-up sheets

Good job! Thanks to Lori for also collating and typing up sign-up sheets etc.

Winfred to produce leaflet for Tuesday's Meeting

Good job! The advertising clearly worked well!!

Wayne + Steve to arrange to meet with Dalton McGuire ASAP to see what he has in mind for the Town Center meeting and for the Farmer’s Market

See notes above.

Ron Corder offered to prepare a sign to advertise "Future Home of Saucier Farmer's Market"

Sign is made. We need to get permission from Dalton to put up the sign. Do we also need County permission?

Steve to take charge of Farmer's Market

See above.

Wayne proposed Steve to start the Blog

See above.

Steve to draft official invitation to Andrew's University to do architectural study

See above.

Members to research needs, requirements, gaps etc.

See above.

Next Meeting

No arrangements were made for the next meeting. Suggest Monday May 1st, 5:30, Wayne’s office.

SCIA meeting Monday April 10th 2006

2006-05-03T21:05:00.000-05:00

Minutes of the first SCIA board meeting

Introduction

Following are minutes from the first SCIA board meeting. I didn’t take formal minutes, so the following is based on some brief notes I took.

Attendees

The full Board attended this first meeting.

Minutes

We discussed the meeting with MDOT set up for Tuesday 11th April. Wayne and Steve to introduce the meeting and MDOT. Steve to do brief presentation. Remember to stress that the SCIA invited MDOT to come along,

Will we offer Refreshments? No. Past Town meetings show any break is used by the impatient to decide the meeting is over, so they leave and miss some of the most useful stuff.

Ask for more volunteers. Use Sign-up Sheet. Lori Sauls has agreed to do information and sign-up sheets – top half lists SCIA Board members, bottom is a volunteer sign-up sheet with room for feedback/comment. Winfred to produce leaflet for Tuesday's Meeting.

Big thanks to Lori, Lisa and Winfred for the great job they did advertising the meeting!!!

We want to make a Big Push for Farmer's Market at Yard Sale – let everyone know where it will be etc.

Question from Steve – is there a GARDEN CLUB in Saucier? Apparently not. Amy wants to see what we can do to start one.

Wayne + Steve to arrange to meet with Dalton McGuire ASAP to see what he has in mind for the Town Center meeting and for the Farmer’s Market.

Ron Corder offered to prepare a sign to advertise "Future Home of Saucier Farmer's Market"

Wayne proposed Steve to take charge of Farmer's Market. Seconded and voted by all attending.

Marketing the SCIA. Ron Corder suggested we should be advertising/marketing the SCIA like we would a professional organisation. This means we need a SCIA Logo, letter head etc. We could use the Student's Award as proof of the quality of our planning. General agreement. No action set for this yet.

Out of discussion, we have a slogan "One Community, One voice."

Steve mentioned creating a SCIA Blog ... Not everyone present knew what one ws, seceral thinking it was an ‘internet chat room’. It’s a Web Log – or Web Diary, where news and articles can be posted. Wayne proposed Steve to start the Blog.

Andrew's University. SCIA to take proactive role --- involve us and locals in the study. Steve to draft official invitation.

Board responsabilities

Wayne Jones – President
wayne@gulfofficesystems.com
228-832-1199

Steve Howard – Vice President
steve@magnoliamultimedia.com
228 832 5570

Winfred Quarles – Secretary/Treasurer
quarl63@wmconnect.com
228 326 1396

Sarajane Smith – Education
pawjack2@bellsouth.net
228 832 2175

Wanda Pate – Health and Welfare
wanpate@aol.com
228 832 6338

Ron Dougherty – Business
beaconpower@aol.com
228 832 9500

Glenn Hickman – Parks, Recreation and Sport
228 832 8509

Ron Corder – Architecture and Beautification
228 831 8782

Pascal Gill – Member At Large
PBGILL@southernco.com 228-832-4937

Members to research needs, requirements, gaps etc.

We discussed changing the name of the SCIA, as no-one seems to like it. Numerous suggestions were put forward, but nothing was agreed.

Next meeting

The next meeting is Monday, April 17th and 5:30, in Wayne’s office.

Sidewalks Can Make a Town a Neighborhood

2006-04-20T14:08:00.000-05:00

We've forgotten the joy of roaming—and that driving our kids everywhere won't keep them safe.

By Carolyn V. Egan
Newsweek

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12333788/site/newsweek/

According to my odometer, the grocery store is exactly 1.1 miles down the road from where I live in an emerging suburb that was a stretch of largely uninterrupted tobacco fields a mere 25 years ago. I walked this distance once in a spasm of self-recrimination, only to find my life at risk at every quirky bend along the route where cars are accustomed to their incautious rule.

My adventure yielded this startling revelation: I need a car to safely navigate my town, because—apart from a few new developments that sit like isolated cocoons—it lacks sidewalks. Most of us drive everywhere, no matter how near our destination. But in my childhood during the 1960s and '70s, the world was still accessible to pedestrians.

Some of my earliest memories are of me scurrying to keep pace with my mother as she pushed my sister in her baby carriage along the sidewalks across town. When I was older, I memorized every crack in the half mile of sidewalk linking my home to my grammar school. No school bus stopped traffic at every block to pick up children at their front doors. Nor did a parade of mothers wait in idling automobiles to cart their children home when the school bell sounded.

When I was little, the world was mine. I knew where the rainwater carved rivers in sand beds at the bottom of the hill before roiling to its final plunge down the storm drain. I knew the best street for a running slide in my winter boots. I knew the smell and look of spring as it quickened green upon the front lawns I passed. And I remember my heart quickening with it, in anticipation.

As I grew, I walked farther. I walked to and from more-distant schools. I walked to my first jobs, to my friends' houses, to the movies. Sidewalks enabled these humming, skipping, thoughtful journeys, during which I came to know the corner stores, the old factory buildings, the smiling ladies hunched over their gardens along the meandering paths that twisted toward home. I knew the seasons of the geese that pierced the indigo sky and the seasons of the squirrels that clicked in solemn contest with hungry birds in gray branches. I knew which dogs would greet me and which would bark a warning; the cats that curled sweet tails around my legs; the mailmen who trudged—heads down—from house to house. All these things I knew and counted on.

I am told that nobody really cares about sidewalks; nobody wants to shovel them. Yet sidewalks—those evenly spaced concrete blocks—stitch a town into a neighborhood. They allow a physical experience of community while beckoning children to explore, to discover, to make friends three blocks away. For kids today, geography is understood from the back seat of a car, rather than through the scents and textures of heart-beating, muscle-flexing, self-motivated expeditions that connect one place to another, one person to another. The destination has displaced the journey.

Parents have become slaves to their children's schedules, terrified to let their offspring out of sight. New houses are huge, enclosing all of life. They're connected by technological portals to the outside world, making an abstraction of everything beyond their walls.

We worry about the safety of our children if we let them loose to wander sidewalks, even while we hear more and more stories of predators on the highways and byways of the Internet. We have forgotten that we cannot protect our children by telling them to hop in and buckle up. Our children do not develop the instincts to discern and avoid danger from the back seat of an automobile. We deprive them of self-mastery by insulating them from very cold and very hot temperatures, from rain, from wind. They do not know who they are without a plan, without a ride. While we encourage dependence in our children by chauffeuring them everywhere, we also encourage in them habits of selfishness and parochialism. Adult maturity is rooted in the unstructured roaming of childhood.

Sidewalks are becoming nostalgic artifacts of a time before three- or four-car families. To me, their absence represents disturbing changes in the way we connect to one another—and the habits, values and capacities we bequeath to our children.

It troubles me to wonder where the sidewalk really ends.

Latest Harrison County Planner magazine published

2006-04-18T09:03:00.000-05:00

Ohio State University published their latest planning newsletter on April 17th 2006

If you have followed the current Harrison County planning process since January, you will be aware that the OSU team publish an occasional newsletter detailing progress and events. The latest edition was published yesterday.

Headlines include:-

Henderson Point and Pineville selected to receive planning assistance

Ohio planning team holds Town Hall Meetings in DeLisle and Saucier

Harrison County officials visit Ohio

Modular housing factory tour

Zoning Team charges forward with plans for implementing the Community Plans

The following proposed zoning improvements may be of particular interest to readers:-

Dark Skies Ordinance

Intended to reduce light pollution, preserving visibility of the sky and stars at night

Light is concentrated where it is needed

Reduces energy waste

Does not impair safety

Commercial Zoning

Distinguish between different intensities of commercial activity

Create separate zone for big-box retail and other high traffic uses

Modular Housing

A method of constructing woodframe housing in a controlled environment and assembling it on a desired site.

Currently permitted by right in the R-3 district and allowed with a conditional use permit in the A-1, E-1 and R-2 districts.

Zoning team is determining options for permitting modular housing in other zoning districts.

This and previous editions of the newsletter can be accessed from the links on the right of this page, under the heading "NEWS - Harrison County Planner".

Clintonville Farmer's Market

2006-04-17T16:13:00.000-05:00

Here's how one new Farmer's Market in Ohio is flourishing

Link courtesy of Jennifer Evans-Cowley
http://www.clintonvillefarmersmarket.org/

Planning for The Clintonville Farmers’ Market began in the winter and spring of 2003, by a group of Clintonville residents who were eager to obtain local produce and have a personal connection with the farmers/producers who grow it. Since the first Clintonville Farm Market day in 2003, thousands have patronized the Market and experienced the wonderful flavors and colors of locally produced fruits, vegetables, baked goods, beef and poultry.

Farmers at The Clintonville Farmers’ Market are “niche” farmers. This means they don’t produce everything the cook requires but every product they produce is top quality. Produce sold at the Market is truly fresh! It is picked less than 24 hours before the opening moments of the Market. Participating farmers live and grow their products within 15-75 miles of Columbus. The produce at a farmers’ market is grown for flavor, taste and nutrition—not for travel.

The way I see it, it makes sense to spend money on wholesome good food now, instead of medical bills due to poor nutrition later. When I encounter someone who expresses concern about the cost of good food, I remind them that they are worth it!! Your body knows the difference between quality food and junk food…so nourish yourself well.

Thank you for patronizing the Clintonville Farmers’ Market. We are grateful to be a part of this vibrant community!

Eat Well & Prosper,

Lynne Genter
Farm Market Manager

New urbanism plan brings award to OSU

2006-04-17T10:00:00.000-05:00

Posted in today's Lantern

Trey-Tyler Harte
Issue date: 4/17/06 Section: Campus

Ohio State's Austin E. Knowlton School of Architecture's city and regional planning program won the 2006 Excellence in Economic Development Planning award for its work on plans to rebuild the hurricane-ravaged Saucier area of Harrison County, Miss.

The community plan for Saucier, Miss., incorporates suggestions from residents with "principles of new urbranism," said Amelia Costanzo, graduate student and Saucier planning team member.

Costanzo said one extraordinary feature of the plan is an incubator facility, where a business such as a small bakery could get started, then move into a more permanent storefront after becoming successful.

Residents attended town meetings to voice their opinions and vote on what is important for their own community.

"Some communities are interested in getting back to the way it was before the hurricanes," program manager Jennifer Evans-Cowley said. "The residents (of Saucier) wanted more economic opportunity and growth in identified areas, reflecting the wants of the community rather than the wants of developers."

New urbanism integrates the components of a traditional community into a diverse, condensed area that is distinct, stylish and functional. Businesses, schools and offices are all within walking distance. Streets are pedestrian friendly and are tree-lined with hidden parking garages. Homes, apartments and condominiums are mixed in size and price to be affordable to a wide range of people with different backgrounds and incomes. An example of new urbanism that is recognizable to most Central Ohioans, although on a larger scale, is Easton Town Center.

Evans-Cowley said the Saucier Community Improvement Association has already begun to actively implement the plan, which is important.

"National recognition brings attention which brings support," she said. " It makes citizens more excited in participating (in the process)."

When asked about the award, Harrison County Director of Zoning Patrick Bonck said he is excited for OSU and Saucier.

Two members of the OSU planning team, Costanzo and Justin Goodwin, will accept the award during the annual American Planning Association conference in San Antonio, Texas April 24. The award comes with a $1,000 prize that the team will use to distribute more printed versions of the plan to residents and for newsletters that will be handed out in the community, Evans-Cowley said.

Graduate students in any major interested in participating in the city and regional planning program, which will be working in two other areas of Harrison County this fall, should apply by May 15. Accepted students will be registered for a 10-credit-hour class and will have the opportunity to visit the area in September and December. Contact Jennifer Evans-Cowely via email at cowley.11@osu.edu for more details.

CRP students receive award from American Planning Association

2006-04-16T19:50:00.000-05:00

Ohio State Student team who worked on the Saucier Community Plan win award against professional teams

From KSA News, 4th April 2006

The Economic Development Division of the American Planning Association announced that The Ohio State University City and Regional Planning Program has been selected to receive the 2006 Excellence in Economic Development Planning for its Community Plan for Saucier, Mississippi.

The OSU planning team traveled to Mississippi in January and March to work with the citizens of Saucier to create a community plan to guide their growth over the next twenty years. While this community received wind damage from Hurricane Katrina, it was outside of the storm surge zone and is already housing many people who fled the water-ravaged areas.

The Community Plan recognizes the need for job creation in Saucier, while protecting its rural character. More than 60 percent of the residents of Saucier commute more than 30 minutes to work each way, based on the 2000 Census. The plan calls for an increase in development in the town center, along with specific areas of development along transportation corridors. The plan calls attention to the numerous planned transportation highway projects including State Highway 67, the upgrading of US Highway 49, and the planned Route 601 corridor. Transportation access is a key element in economic development.

Jennifer Evans-Cowley, project manager stated, “The citizens of Saucier recognize growth is coming, especially with the new highways that will be coming through the community, we have asked them to make hard choices about where growth is appropriate.” Citizens most recently voted on their preferences for areas of growth at a March 21st town hall meeting in Saucier. Following the meeting, the planning team returned to Ohio to complete the final plan. The plan will be presented to Saucier and the County later this month.

Steve Howard, Vice-President of the newly formed Saucier Community Improvement Association (SCIA) stated, “It’s wonderful to see OSU is getting the recognition it deserves. They have done a wonderful job in helping the Saucier community.” The SCIA was created at the recommendation of the community plan to assist in the implementation of the plan recommendations.

The presentation of this award will take place at the Economic Development Division's Annual Meeting at the American Planning Association Conference in San Antonio on Monday, April 24th. Amelia Costanzo and Justin Goodwin, two members of the Saucier planning team will be accepting the award in San Antonio.

To date, OSU has been working with the communities of DeLisle and Saucier to create community plans that reflect the communities’ visions for their future. “The volunteer effort of the faculty and students at OSU has provided desperately needed planning assistance to this County. Their efforts have helped extend the planning efforts of the Mississippi Renewal Forum into the unincorporated areas of Harrison County. I am so pleased to see their work recognized at the national level,” Patrick Bonck Zoning Administrator for Harrison County.

The OSU team will return to Harrison County, Mississippi later this year to work with the communities of Henderson Point and Pineville to create community plans. The teams’ ongoing efforts are funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Universities Rebuilding American Partnership Program.

More information about the Saucier Community Plan and OSU’s efforts in Harrison County can be found at http://www.co.harrison.ms.us/departments/zoning/downloads.asp

Gulfport's Opposition to Raised Highway Meets Resistance

2006-04-16T15:21:00.000-05:00

"Don't be blinded by Wayne Brown's lack of vision"

From Today's Sun Herald

Wayne Brown has yet again made it crystal clear to South Mississippians that when it comes to building roads, it's MDOT's way or no highway.

In response to overwhelming opposition to an elevated roadway slicing through the west side of downtown Gulfport, Brown has said, in effect:

• Well, you can't please everybody.

• The west side of downtown Gulfport isn't all that much to look at now, so why not bury the area under a high-rise highway.

• There's no need to bother considering the economic and cultural consequences of such a project because MDOT's mission is to improve traffic, not lives.

• There's no need to consider building a less expensive road that would enrich a community when you've got the tax money to build an extravagant road - even if building it would cheapen a community.

Brown is the elected representative from South Mississippi on the state Transportation Commission, which oversees the Mississippi Department of Transportation. It would be hard to overstate his importance in rebuilding this hurricane-ravaged area. And it would be hard to overstate how misguided he has been in meeting that responsibility.

Brown, himself an engineer, is unwilling or unable to see beyond the widest swath of concrete or asphalt that MDOT can slap down on the face of this state. But more and more South Mississippians are starting to see Brown's lack of vision for what it is - an obstacle to their recovery that must be removed.

Latest version of the Saucier Community Plan available for download

2006-04-16T15:12:00.000-05:00

Jennifer Evans Cowley of Ohio State University yesterday announced...

...that the latest version of the Saucier Community Plan is available from download from the Harrison County Zoning web site.

Please note that the file is a 13 Mb download, so it will taks some time to download, especially if you are on dialup!

Click here to view the report, or right-click this text and select Save Target As to download it to your computer.

2006-04-14T18:31:00.000-05:00

Saucier Farmer's Market - coming soon!

One of the first tasks that the Saucier Community Improvement Association has set itself is to instigate a Farmer's Market in Saucier. Planning is under way and there will be an announcement about it very soon.

Meantime, I thought you might like to read about what other communities in America are doing to support their own local Farmer's Market. The New Rules website has many pages scores of useful links describing how communities across America are maintaining their 'small town' feel while prospering in the 21st century. One particulary interesting page is dedicated to farmers markets.

As we develop the Saucier Farmer's Market, we may have to set rules to ensure that the market ramains within the spirit of a true farmer's market. Without them, it could turn into a flea market, which is less attractive. In Dallas, Texas, they have already encountered the need to create rules, and this page links to information about the Dallas farmer's Market.

Looking for Volunteers

As the Farmer's Market is being started, we are going to need volunteers to help. If you think you can help us by supervising the market, or publicising it, or helping prepare ground or ... well whatever is necessary to make it happen. If you would like to help at all, please contact any SCIA board member, or post a comment using the link at the bottom of this message.

2006-04-12T22:06:00.000-05:00

New Group Makes Big Impression in Road Debate

From the Sun Herald Wednesday 12th April
By DON HAMMACK
dthammack@sunherald.com

SAUCIER - MDOT engineer Claiborne Barnwell was impressed with the turnout generated Tuesday night by the newly formed Saucier Community Improvement Association.

The topic was the proposed Mississippi 601, a four-lane, controlled-access divided highway that would start near Canal Road in Gulfport and connect to U.S. 49 somewhere south of Wiggins.

"To have this many people come to a meeting like this is somewhat overwhelming," he said, saying this was the biggest crowd he'd seen in eight years with the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

The overwhelming part actually came when some people from the nearly 200 households represented started the pointed questioning. Most asked why the existing north-south highway couldn't just be expanded.

"Let's improve Highway 49 instead of cutting Saucier to pieces," said Joe May, who implored many who'd begun trickling out after MDOT's audiovisual presentation to stay and write their comments.

Some voiced concern that their input wouldn't be considered if not filed by the April 17 deadline on comment sheets, but Barnwell said it would regardless.

Asked when a decision on the route would be made, he listed three possibilities: Winter 2006, this time next year or early 2007.

Current alternatives have Mississippi 601 meeting U.S. 49 near Wortham, just south of Saucier or just south of Wiggins. The latter especially concerned residents Tuesday night.

SCIA celebrated its one-week anniversary with its impressive and passionate turnout. Many stayed to pore over maps laid out and to talk with representatives from MDOT and URS, a major international engineering firm handling the study heading into the creation of an environmental-impact statement.

The SCIA formed after a board of supervisors steering committee worked with Ohio State University community planning students to come up with a plan for the burgeoning area. Using ideas similar to SmartCode, which many of the more urban areas of South Mississippi are instituting, Saucier wants to see most of its growth evolve in a town-center area and keep the majority of the community's rural setting.

"I think for a one-week-old organization, we've started out doing exactly what we're supposed to do," said SCIA President Wayne Jones.

2006-04-12T17:58:00.000-05:00

Saucier Community Improvement Association (SCIA) formation Meeting – April 4th 2006

Introduction

The meeting was attended by the following Steering Committee members:-

Steve Howard

Wayne Jones

Additionally approximately 70 members of the community attended. Around half of these were invited to attend by the Steering Committee as they had previously indicated an interest in taking part in the implementation stage of the Plan that has previously been presented to the community.
The meeting was held to:-

formally dissolve the Planning Steering Committee,

form the initial SCIA group and

discuss immediate planning issues for the community.

Following is the agenda for the meeting. After the agenda, I will address each agenda point briefly. Readers should consider this report to have been written instead of formal minutes, and should report any comments, corrections and additions to Steve Howard at steve@magnoliamultimedia.com or 228 832 5570.
Steve Howard
Vice President
SCIA

Agenda

Members of steering committee present call meeting to order

Brief presentation on history of Steering Committee and purpose of forming SCIA

Outline benefits of working together and present organizational outline of SCIA

Discuss format of SCIA and elect board of directors.

President of Board assumes control of meeting and presents remaining agenda.

Discuss 25 acre parcel , any other and decide best option.

Discuss Jennifer's suggestion of Andrews University student designing proposal for town center.

Grocery store – initiate goals, plan.

601 corridor – MDOT meeting ASAP, can we take SCIA view to MDOT

Request timely information from Planning Office etc

Any other new business

Set time, place and date of next meeting.

Members of steering committee present call meeting to order

Wayne Jones opened the meeting with a brief introduction as to the purpose of the meeting etc.

Brief presentation on history of Steering Committee and purpose of forming SCIA

Steve Howard presented a very brief outline of the progress to-date of the OSU drafted Plan, and the Steering Committee’s input. Steve included details of the ordinances that are already under discussion or approved.

Some attendees felt that we were talking about purchasing land, enforcing land use regulations and changing people’s lives significantly. Stress was given to the fact that, outside of the Core Area under discussion for the plan, there would be little if any change to the face of Saucier. It was further stressed that the SCIA has no budget and no plan to be buying anything from anyone, and that the most significant effect of any zoning revisions is to help prevent business and commercial growth from getting out of control and turning Saucier into a clone of Orange Grove.

The question was raised “Why do we need to change anything?” The response being that change is already happenning and we want to get things in place to make sure that change is what the community wants, and that it maintains the rural flavor of the community, while providing services that enhance the way of life in Saucier for present and future residents.

Outline benefits of working together and present organizational outline of SCIA

Wayne Jones talked briefly about the benefit of working together to achieve the goals of The Plan.

This part of the evening probably raised more discussion than any other. Most of the ensuing discussion centered around the quite valid concern about the legitimacy of the SCIA and that the small number of people at this meeting could not reasonably reflect the views of the 12 to 15 thousand people living in the community.

The answer was that we were forming a group to pursue a plan that was derived from discussion with a larger group of the community. The entire community has had chance to take part and comment in the process. The SCIA will not be telling the community what they want the community will tell the SCIA what they want and the SCIA will do what it can to implement that.

While the SCIA is formed out of a relatively small group of people, the members of the SCIA will ultimately be voted (most likely annually) by the community as a whole. The SCIA necessarily must start small but will grow as ‘the word’ spreads and the news of achievements gets around.

One or two people remained unconvinced, but, on the whole, attendees were in agreement that we had to start somewhere and the SCIA was a good way to do that. Ultimately we agreed to move forward as planned and vote the preliminary SCIA board from those present at this meeting.

{Personal comment from Steve – the true of the SCIA legitimacy will be derived from its results, not from how it is conceived.}

Discuss format of SCIA and elect board of directors.

Attendees were in general agreement over the preliminary list of SCIA board members. The use of Board Member 1 … 2 … 3 … etc in the PowerPoint appeared to suggest some sort of ranking or level of importance so that was removed for the purpose of formation, even though ranking was never intended.

John Fasler proposed that we give 15 minutes to receive nominations before moving forward and voting. This was seconded by (I think) JoAnne Munghia and agreed-to on a show of hands.

{Not sure who} proposed Wayne Jones as President of the SCIA, and Wayne was voted in unopposed.

Eli Sauls proposed Steve Howard as Vice President. Steve was voted in unopposed.
Winfred Quarles was proposed for secretary/treasurer by {not sure}.

Steve Howard proposed Pascal Gill, who had sent apologies for being unable to attend and also voiced an interest in taking an active part in pursuing the Plan. After discussion it was agreed to change the proposal of Pascal to Member at Large.

Winfred was voted in as Secretary. Pascal was voted in as Member at large.

A brief conversation resulted in a request for volunteers for each of the remaining positions. People with relevant knowledge and experience were requested. For each available role, at least one volunteer raised a hand or stood up, so the meeting moved forward to a vote.

Where there was only one volunteer for a role, we moved straight to a vote. Where there were multiple volunteers, those volunteers quickly agreed between themselves on the nomination to go forward (for e.g. a retired teacher and a serving head master were each interested in the Education role. The headmaster deferred to the teacher who has more time to fulfill the role).

Leaving aside further detail, this is the result of the vote:-

Wayne Jones - President

Steve Howard - Vice President

Winfred Quarles - Secretary/Treasurer

Sarajane Smith - Education

Wanda Pate - Health and Welfare

Ron Dougherty - Business

Glenn Hickman – Parks, Recreation and Sport

Ron Corder - Architecture and Beautification

Pascal Gill - Member At Large

Note that at the time of writing the SCIA has no funding and no budget, so there is little work for a treasurer, hence Secretary/Treasurer was combined into a single role. That will change when appropriate.

President of Board assumes control of meeting and presents remaining agenda.

The meeting continued after a 15 minute recess.

Discuss 25 acre parcel, any other and decide best option.

See agenda for details on this. The meeting was in agreement that the proposal by Dalton McGuire to develop a 25 acre parcel of land in the center of Saucier Town Center is a positive thing. The SCIA will arrange to speak with Dalton at the earliest convenience to discuss his plans, and share the SCIAs plans and begin the process of reaching agreement on how to proceed.

Discuss Jennifer's suggestion of Andrews University students designing proposal for town center.

See agenda for details on this. The meeting was in agreement that, since the Ohio State team has done such a fantastic job, Andrew’s University will be welcome to do a design study. We need all the help we can get. This information has already been passed to the Ohio team so Andrews University should be moving this forward soon.

Grocery store – initiate goals, plan.

See agenda for details on this. Wayne approached a land owner (Donnie O’Neal) who has a parcel between Dalton McGuire’s proposed center location and the frontage road parallel to H49, just to the South of the Community Center. The question was – would Donnie be interested in developing a Grocery Store there? He has said yes, in principle.

The intention had been to discuss how we might move forward on initiating plans for such a development. Instead there was discussion along the lines of should we or should we not? What about other locations? What about existing smaller stores?

For the sake of time, it was agreed to put this discussion aside for a later date.

601 corridor – MDOT meeting ASAP, can we take SCIA view to MDOT

After extended conversation, it was agreed to hold a town meeting on Tuesday April 11th to discuss MDOT plans for H49 and H601. MDOT will be invited to attend.

At the time of writing the meeting has been confirmed, and Lori Sauls is kindly advertising it by way of a sign outside her business on H49, and flyers issued through the local schools.

MDOT has said they may be able to attend, but I don’t have concrete confirmation as I write these notes. If MDOT cannot attend the SCIA will hold the town meeting and canvas the community for opinions to take to MDOT.

One very interesting piece of information that came out of discussion about roads is that Joe Moy lives in the path of Option 3 – Go directly to Wiggins, parallel to 49 the whole way. Joe says he lives on top of an Indian Mound. If confirmed, that may directly impact any proposed route that goes parallel to 49 all the way to Wiggins. This needs to be brought to MDOTs attention.

A brief show of hands indicates that those present preferred the route that has 601 join 49 as far south as possible (Wortham). The SCIA is likely to share the view and will say so to MDOT – but this should not be taken as a true gauge of how the whole of Saucier feels. For that, we must wait for next week’s meeting.

Readers should note that the SCIA will not lose sight of the fact that whichever decision MDOT make for H49 and H601, there will be at least some affect on plans for the Town Center.

Request timely information from Planning Office etc

In order to do the best job it can, the SCIA needs to have access to as much relevant and timely information as possible. This means cultivating good contacts with MDOT, the Planning Office, the Board of Supervisors etc.

As Secretary, it will fall to Winfred Quarles to coordinate such communication and disseminate information to the rest of the board, although that in no way suggests that other board members are expected to NOT take part in such communications.

Earlier in the meeting, conversation turned to the importance of communication. The attendees felt that it was important to get information about The Plan, roads etc to as many people as possible – and the Steering Committee had tried to do so , but with limited resources was forced to concede that communication was not as successful as it could be.

Out of that conversation, Lori Sauls volunteered to take responsibility for communicating such information most specifically about town meetings, but presumably other information where appropriate. Lori has a business adjacent to Highway 49 and a prominent sign that can be used to post announcements. She also has contact with local schools and is able to distribute fliers to be taken home by pupils that can inform parents of plans, meetings etc. This will be an invaluable help in presenting a positive, proactive image of the SCIA and its endevours.

Any other new business

Steve Howard proposed that the SCIA approach Dalton McGuire about implementing a Farmer’s Marked on the 25 acre parcel that he has for development at the earliest opportunity.

Conversation at this meeting and elsewhere suggests that there would be strong support for such a move. It would be a quick, easy and cheap way to establish the proposed area as a convenient center for the town. Also as spring is here, and summer is approaching, people in Saucier have large gardens producing large quantities of fruit and vegetables all year round. There is clear demand for an opportunity to sell – and buy – surplus produce that is fresh and clear of pesticides and wax.

The suggestion got a very positive response from the meeting, so the SCIA will take that suggestion to Dalton.

Set time, place and date of next meeting.

No time or date was set for the first SCIA board meeting. This will be addressed over the next few days. The Town meeting with MDOT on the 11th April took precedence at this time.