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Trace may connect to Emerald Mound
Published Saturday, October 4, 2008
NATCHEZ — When the Adams County budget went into effect on Oct. 1 it was roughly $1.25 million richer than the previous year’s budget.
That bigger than normal bank account resulted from money given to the county from the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
And that money is a critical part of a string of events that’s meant to end with the construction of a new road on the Natchez Trace.
Butch Brown, MDOT’s executive director, said when the Natchez Trace project was granted millions in federal dollars to purchase right of ways for the completion of the terminus of the trace, not all of the allotted money was used.
However, legally the balance — approximately $1.25 million — had to be used to purchase right-of-ways for the trace. So approximately two years ago Brown petitioned the legislature to allow the money to be used for a different project.
Approximately two months ago Brown’s success ended up in the county’s bank account.
The money was ultimately given to the county for the sole purpose of purchasing right of ways.
The land the county is currently pursing will be purchased then given to the National Park Service so the park service can build a road from the Natchez Trace to Emerald Mound.
Brown said, since the park service can only build on donated land the county must donate the land it purchases, with the $1.25 million, to the to the park service.
“It’s a long process,” Brown said.
But no part of the process can begin until all of the land the road will cover has been purchased from the owners.
Howard Herring, owner of Ridge Point Consultants, will be handling the land acquisitions on behalf of the county.
Herring said he’s still appraising the approximately 17 parcels of land to be purchased.
Herring said he has already met with most of the landowners to discuss the project, and once the appraisals are completed he plans to start making offers on the land.
Of the 17 or so parcels, approximately two have renters on the land living in trailers or mobile homes and approximately three have owner occupants living on the land.
Those residents who object to a buyout will face eminent domain proceedings, Herring said.
“It would be a waste of taxpayers’ dollars to not to finish the project,” Herring said.
And Herring said the project is currently moving ahead as expected.
Herring said of the landowners he has talked to, some are open to a buyout and some are not.
“It’s very typical of any right of way project,” he said.
And until those right of ways have all been obtained the National Park Service can’t do much.
Stennis Young, acting superintendent of the Natchez Trace Parkway, said his office cannot even officially pursue funding for the project until the right of ways are complete.
Current plans call for a new road, approximately one mile in length, to be built to Emerald Mound to give visitors better access to the site from the Trace.
“It’s a great site and it deserves park service type access,” he said. “It’s going to enhance the experience.”
Comments
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on October 3, 2008 at 11:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Those residents who object to a buyout will face eminent domain proceedings"
I guess the little folks will lose again. So much for progress.
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 12:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Another waste of taxpayer's dollars on something that we really don't need!
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 1:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess it is just not possible to repave the charming little road that is already there.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 1:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would think the whole area holds important archeological importance. But tearing up grounds for new roads wouldn't disturb anything, would it?
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 1:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Not tearing it up sure would disturb a bunch of real estate commissions...and of course this money if just for the right of way, there will be more for the actual road.
Posted by priya (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 5:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I kinda like the charming little road to emerald mound. why change it. Just repave it!!!
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 5:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I believe just repaving the charming little road would satisfy tourists just as much as a million dollar restructure. What about the folk who live in that area...probably for many years? Oh, I see...just kick 'em out.
Posted by oldhippie01 (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 8:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am surprised that the posters here, being,( for the most part) Republican, don't understand that the "Hard Working American Contractor,( which is "CODE TALK" for Republican), can't get near as much MONEY for re-surfacing the "Charming little Road" as he can Building a four lane "Super Slab". We all know that it takes a lot of Money in a lot of Pockets to become the "HARD WORKING AMERICAN CONTRACTOR, that just coincidentally,"WINS???) all of the "LOCAL" Construction Contracts. Its just "GOOD BUSINESS", You Republicans should be able to recognize that !........
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I personally don't think the improved road is needed.
But government money for this type of project is the way of our world for most places to get a bit of their tax dollar back in infrastructure, local jobs and hopefully future prosperity using the improvements.
What I don't understand is how folks can think that giving money back to folks in the form of tax breaks amounts to money being squirted into the economy -- but this sort of project means the money is going to evaporate. Money gets spent and re-spent -- it doesn't disappear.
The government choosing to spend it here in Mississippi or for a tax break meaning it gets invested by some fat cat to open a factory in China -- there is a big difference in those two things as far as our country is concerned.
But I think re-paving the Emerald road is best on this project -- there is obviously not much traffic problem.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
And here I thought all my life that Emerald Mound was a part of the Trace.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The landowners will be fairly compensated for the market value of their land, they will come out fine and maybe even be able to live in something other than a ratty trailer.
This is a good project, I don't know anyone that doesn't enjoy the Natchez Trace and Emerald Mound is an awesome and significant landmark that people from AROUND THE WORLD and ACROSS THE NATION come to see. Natchez Trace brings in lots of people to Natchez. I was just talking to some folks yesterday that were here and spending money after their motorcycle ride from Oklahome, over to North Carolina, and now came to Natchez from Nashville just to ride the Natchez Trace. Have any of you couch potatoes been out and explored the Trace and climbed up Emerald MOund, it is awesome. The next time there is a meteor shower, you should check it out - Natural Fireworks!! The indians built that mound for a reason.
Some of you negative homies ought to get out a little bit and maybe you'd appreciate what we have here and realize Natchez is a wonderful place and tourism is a FANTASTIC thing for Natchez, which the Natchez Trace is a big part of along with the other National Park properties we have here.
I am glad you guys are not in control of Natchez's future or we would have NOTHING. Well, other than factories, which the unions have historically killed here. You are so negative and anti-progress of any type, it's pathetic you backwards bunch of negative rednecks.
Thank you Butch Brown for your contribution to the development of tourism for Natchez, we need every economic input we can get. I really enjoy riding the Trace and am so glad we have that new bridge and that the Trace comes right in on Liberty Rd now, it is awesome the way I see it.
Yeahuhhuh, uh huh, uh huh, uh huh -- I can't believe we actually agree on something, yes that little road is dangerous and needs improvement. You're not as big a fool as I thought all your liberal gibberish, you must have fallen and hit your head getting out of bed this morning (hey I'm joking ok)
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
yeahuhuh, you obviously think the government, by taxing you whatever amount, can spend your money more wisely than you can for yourself. I disagree.
typical socialistic liberalism which is why we are in the mess we are in now
Democrats have prevented regulation of Wall St and forced mortgages down the throats of lenders that are risky, and now everyone is paying for that. Foreclosures are bad for everyone. Good intentions yes to help low income people get in a nicer house, but stupid in that the math is not there, the borrower must be able to pay back or the extra expense of repossession, refinance, resell, all that and what we have now. Credit is the downfall of us all.
Now Obama is even trying to pass legislation to forgive the debt of countries that owe us, which is crazy as we owe other countries that will not forgive our debt. Ridiculous.
Anyway, investment in infrastructure is a good thing.
Typical liberal - the first sentence "I personally don't think the improved road is needed." and the last sentence "But I think re-paving the Emerald road is best on this project ..." I wonder which one is truly your decision? Liberals are often like that, you don't know where they stand and that's the way they want it. No decisiveness, no commitment, flip-flopping, and promises of how Utopia can be achieved by allowing the government to control everything. I'm against that and FOR FREEDOM.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Krogers, that was exceptional. You managed to unite the Liberals and the Conservatives against you. As a freedom loving conservative I believe that people have a right to retain and enjoy their "ratty trailer" if they so choose without having big brother government pave it over so some wimp can drive down to emerald mound when they could have hiked instead.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 10:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
“It would be a waste of taxpayers’ dollars to not to finish the project,” Herring said.
What, is this really needed????? I believe the waste is building another road to Emerald Mound. I used to live very close to that area and people get there fine and dandy down the road that is already there...
Save the tax money for a worthwhile project, or, save the taxpayers a lot of agony.
Another example of a government agency blowing their over-inflated budget just to make sure they get allotted the same amount or more in the next years budget...ARGH!!!!!!!!!
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 10:16 a.m.
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Posted by bayougranny (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The minute I read the story I was excited. Then I read the comments. What a bummer. Economic impact of redoing that road would pay for itself over and over. It brings money that would be spent somewhere else right into the Miss Lou. Think of the educational aspect of having a road that school buses could turn around without going off the pavement. Our mound is a hidden treasure off the beaten path. We need to bring it out for is history, for its beauty, and the education of its archeological wonder. Please stop for a minute and look around you. We live in a beautiful area. All I can say is if for no other reason build the road for our children’s children. Maybe they will appreciate it.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
bayougranny, They are talking about forcing people from their homes. What about the "children's children" of the those people? The road to the mound is plenty adequate. I seriously doubt any (but the most wimpy) refuse to drive down it. I've never seen a crowd on the mound and I doubt that I would if they built a 4-lane to it.
Posted by guy2co (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was out in this area the other day. There was a guy that had been working on opening up a resturant and store that will be kicked out of his home and store. He had plans to put a camp site right across the street from the emerald mound, now he is being ran off by the government.How can they put a price on a business that has so much potential? I think that the old road can have improvements with the money, and there is more than enough room around the area to build a park. Why do they need more? By the way, democrat should publish the land owners names so we can see if there's any names that are politically connected.
Posted by harjedalen (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The existing road is good enough! I just returned from a nice vacation around Chiang Mai. We went to many beautiful places out in the country, and I have to say that part of the delight of travel is finding some awesome site down a charming little country road. Well just go ahead and make the new road and bulldoze Church Street in Port Gibson while you're at it. Mississippi can be like a giant interstate rest area.
Posted by cooper3k1 (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 11:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The road to the Mound is history in itself. It has been there for decades. I remember going there when I was a child. The small road adds excitement to what lays at the end of it! In my opinion it makes the Mound seem larger! If you were to put a larger road it would take away the affect the small road has on the Mound! The "Wowness" would be gone.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 11:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Cooper,
I am with you. Leave the road and the people alone. I would be willing to bet that a few of the people will take the money and leave the area for good.
Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.
Posted by NATCHEZISGREAT (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 11:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I for one think the road needs repair desperately. I drove on it personally in just the last few weeks, it is in terrible shape. Potholes the size of your whole car.
Posted by oldhippie01 (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 2:23 p.m.
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Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My childhood home was torn down to make room for a 4 lane so I understand the hurtful emotions that follow . It's called "progress" & there is hopefully no stopping it . Remember when the Trace as we know it now was built . Franklin Roosevelt promoted that one to help the economy with providing more jobs . The way I see it is , We'll have a few more $ in our area because of this . I'm glad about it .
Posted by oldhippie01 (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Southern Belle, I hope I am wrong, but I'm afraid you will find,( after the fact) that there were a few "Flag Man Jobs" locally but the high paying jobs will be performed by Illegal Aliens and shipped back to Mexico...........
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 3:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope your wrong ,too but with our government,who knows ? I'm aware this isn't Roosevelt times . Since these sites usually go to politics as usual , I have to say I've gone from concerned, to worried,to apprehensive to scared about our bail out problem . If we made some of those give to themselves first top CEO's pay some huge fines to go toward their bailouts then maybe people like Swartsnegger ( please forgive me I know it's mispelled)and Company wouldn't be so quick to jump on our money . Maybe people should take respondsibility for their actions .
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 3:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
California has a very liberal economy. The precious benefits of socialism don't come without a just price we should all be prepared to pay.
Posted by Gimmeabreak (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 8:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have always thought that is was neat to drive down this tiny, old road that doesnt look like much and come upon this awesome sight! That is how I remember Emerald Mound from years ago. We had so many family picnics and flew so many kites up there. I guess I am a bit sentimental. It reminds me of the Natchez I grew up in. I would hate to see it more "commercial"
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on October 4, 2008 at 10:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NATCHEZISGREAT heck most roads downtown natches has potholes that size..
Posted by niderbip (anonymous) on October 5, 2008 at 7:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Anyone every bother to do a traffic count on the road?
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on October 5, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If the feds (or whoever) keep building enormous concrete monuments to hail the quiet, serene atmosphere of the Trace, then we might as well agree to tear down all the trees and build Taco Bell's along the way. After all, it's all about "economic progress", ain't it!
I'm in agreement with keeping it like it is, sans the potholes. They could fill 'em up. I doubt the tourists would care...in fact, they love charming country roads.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on October 5, 2008 at 11:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They need to hold off on this for a couple of years and do an environmental impact study. That area is home to eagles, bobcats, possusms, racoons, and a special type of box turtle that has bright orange spots on one side of its body and bright yellow ones on the other. Also, as late as 1968 I saw a small flock of carolina parakeets out there and they were supposed to be extinct. They may still be there hiding away in the woods.
The precautionary principle demands this project be held up until all the impacted flora and fauna can be studied in detail. With precious species becoming extinct every day we needn't expose our local animal friends to the harm of human encroachment.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on October 5, 2008 at 3:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How would you feel if you were a mother box turtle wanting nothing more out of life than to quietly nibble the vegetation on your little patch of land and once every spring lay your only egg in a nice little mound with sunny exposure and one day you woke up with a twelve foot wide bulldozer blade bearing down on you and your way of life?
Those animals out there have been there for generations with things pretty much as they are, hurting no one yet having to deal with the traffic already there. They've gotten used to where the roads are and their patterns are set. To change all that for an unnecessary new road is an awful idea that will disrupt several generations of animal life. We don't need that road, Butch Brown has enough accolades for his big ideas without doing this to those who are defenseless. It seems like no one, human, plant, or animal is safe from Brown's road machines. Is there no end to the grant lust from Natchez Adams County politicans?
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on October 5, 2008 at 3:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Box turtle babies- with hatching video! :
http://www.indianaturtlecare.com/Boxie%2...
Box turtle mommies and daddies, the ones around the mound are the Eastern type:
http://www.indianaturtlecare.com/Box%20T...
Do we really want to disturb the homes of these gentle creatures? Is it really something we must do?
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on October 5, 2008 at 3:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't that's for sure. We rescue all we see on the road. Just remember not to turn them around, but continue in the direction they were going. I love going to Emerald Mound and along parts of the Old Trace and imagine what it looked like hundreds of years ago, before Europeans got here. I guess it will be like some movie I saw, I think it was one of the National Lampoon Vacation movies, where the family drives up, takes a picture, gets back in the car and speeds off to the next stop. Sad world.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on October 5, 2008 at 3:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, a sad thing for sure freedom. While the global warming crowd really irritates me the plight of turtles is a bad situation and I can't believe that just for the sake of spending some money the Park Service would allow this to happen. It would be different if a new road served some useful purpose, some very strong need.
How can they talk about recycling when they want to destroy what is already there?
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on October 5, 2008 at 6:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
freedom42,
"the family drives up, takes a picture, gets back in the car and speeds off to the next stop"
That is exactly what much of the public wants. And the politicians (like Brown) are all too willing to please them. What doesn't get paved over gets drowned under by dams. We live in a culture where people do not want to walk, peddle or paddle. Free running creeks and rivers are considered to be worthless and are used for garbage dumps until someone decides to kill them off by making lakes for fat guys to fish in on Saturdays while they escape their wives. And most guys don't know what it is to walk to a deerstand anymore since they drive monster machines right up to them. I haven't seen any deerstands with elevators built on them yet but I'm sure they will be coming. But there is no possible way you can travel and "take a picture and speed off" and truly learn or appreciate someplace. It's necessary to get tired, to sweat, to get eaten by skeeters, to get rained on and sunburned, etc.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on October 5, 2008 at 9:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Exactly OGD! And I have seen "lifts" for deer stands. Did you ever have a tree house with a rope tied to a box to raise and lower stuff? It's kind of like that, but runs on an electric battery powered winch. It was in some article I read about hunting on one of those safari farms where the deer are baited or driven right to you.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on October 5, 2008 at 9:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
freedom42, I've often wished they had left the entire Trace as a gravel road. Or even a dirt track. There is no possible way that people can appreciate it for what it was by driving along in an airconditioned car. Driving up a mountain is not the same as climbing it and driving across a desert does not help someone to really know it. But the lazies and fearful are truly the majority and the politicians hear their voice.
Elevator deerstands? Do they have no shame?
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on October 5, 2008 at 9:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Excellent post OGD.....
Those lift were first brought out for disabled people..Needless to say thats not all that uses them..
OGD you said alot i would expect my husband to say lol...If you can't walk to a deerstand when you are hunting with them then guess what..Yep that's right you get to stay home lol...
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on October 5, 2008 at 10:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
EnK...man, I teared up just thinking about that poor ole mama box turtle...heck, I almost forgot about real folks losing real property all because Butch Brown wants his name on another public works project no one wants or needs.
Posted by presby (anonymous) on October 5, 2008 at 10:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why not divide it by the residents of the county roughly 16,000 and give us all some gas stamps. So when the depression hits we can have our tanks full at least...Soon as bread hits 5 bucks a loaf along with gas,people are not going care at all about the historic yabaadoo of Natchez,Emerald anything and Forks of the whatever and all the other marlarkey.Wonder how much their cut is in this deal??
Posted by presby (anonymous) on October 5, 2008 at 10:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Butch has his fingers in all the pies around here..
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on October 5, 2008 at 11:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Emerald Mound was built by Perry Joe Stacy with a Caterpillar in the late 50's anyway...what's really historic about it?...the original mound had almost eroded away by the time it was rebuilt.
Posted by wonderingirl (anonymous) on October 6, 2008 at 12:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That Caterpillar comment is absolutely true even though after all this time it is like a dirty little secret! If you find that fact interesting, then maybe you should check the names of property owners involved in this deal of the new road and land buyout, not that I am suggesting there are any dirty little secrets there. After all, this is Adams county and we know everyone plays by the rules here. Or do they?
Posted by buggerbear (anonymous) on October 6, 2008 at 11:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WELL MR KROGERS YOU TAKE THE CAKE. WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO CALL PEOPLE'S HOME A "RATTY TRAILER." I TAKE IT YOU LIVE IN A MANSION SOMEWHERE IN THE VICINITY? HAVE YOU BEEN TO THESE PEOPLE'S "RATTY TRAILERS" AS YOU CALL IT, OR HAVE YOU JUST FORMED YOUR OWN OPIONION??? LOOKS TO ME YOU NEED TO TAKE SOME TIME OUT OF YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE AND GO TO THEIR HOMES. ATLEAST THEY ARE PROUD OF THEIR HOMES. AS FOR REDOING THE ROAD AT EMERALD MOUND, ALL IT NEEDS IS A FACELIFT, YOUR ATTITUDE SURE NEEDS AN ADJUSTMENT.
PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY OR ANYWHERE HAVE THEIR OWN OPINION
ABOUT WHERE THEY CHOOSE TO LIVE. MANY HAVE GROWN UP ON EMERALD MOUND AND HAVE LIVED HERE FOR MANY YEARS. THEIR FAMILIES OWNED THE LAND ALL AROUND THE MOUND AND UP AND DOWN THIS ROAD.
TAKE A GOOD LOOK IN THE MIRROW AND PRAY TO THE GOOD LORD THIS NEVER HAPPENS TO YOU ARE YOUR FAMILY KROGERS OR SHOULD I SAY AGAIN MR.????
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