To prevent damage to its parking lot, Natchez Regional Medical Center is going to receive help with an erosion problem from the Emergency Watershed Protection program.

Adams County Road Manager Russell Dorris said the $100,000 project meets the guidelines of the federal program, which has raised some concern in recent months.

&uot;It meets the criteria for public property and it meets the criteria for public need,&uot; Dorris said.

The program requires a 25 percent match from Adams County.

The Adams County Board of Supervisors voted to take part in the project Monday after Dorris explained the damage taking place at the &uot;active&uot; erosion site.

&uot;Something will have to be done, and I certainly recommend you approve this particular project,&uot; Dorris said.

The only erosion projects eligible for the federal program are those which are on public property or endanger public property such as roads, county officials said.

For this reason, the supervisors deferred making a decision on another EWP project Monday even though the property in question belongs to the Sunshine Shelter, a nonprofit organization that assists abused or neglected children which may make it eligible.

Under the terms of the program, Adams County would be responsible for any future maintenance on the property even if the nonprofit agency decides to sell it.

&uot;That’s the part that’s scary,&uot; said Supervisor Lynwood Easterling.

The supervisors also said it might help them make a decision if they were certain of the Sunshine Shelter’s plans.

&uot;I’d like (to know what) their intentions are to do with the property once the work is completed,&uot; said Supervisor Sammy Cauthen, who said he does not want to set a precedent with this project.

Supervisor Darryl Grennell said at first he could not support the project unless the Sunshine Shelter kept the property for its own use.

&uot;There are so many people out there that I have been trying to help with erosion problems,&uot; he said.

Grennell later changed his position after learning that not only was the Booker Road property in jeopardy but that a mudslide might also damage the road itself if the problem is not corrected.

&uot;In other to prevent a major disaster I have to support it,&uot; Grennell said.

The erosion in question is about 70 to 80 feet from the house and it is an &uot;active&uot; site, Dorris said.

The supervisors did not make a decision on the project Monday.

In other business Monday the board:

4Heard a report from Rene Cavin from the Guardian Sexual Assault Center.

4Heard an update on the state’s plans to open a &uot;one-stop center&uot; at the Mississippi State Employment Service in Natchez as part of the Workforce Investment Act.

4Heard a report from Winnie Kaiser of the Natchez-Adams Economic Development Authority about plans to build a crisis center in Natchez for people awaiting treatment at a state mental hospital.

4Heard a request from Guy Stout of Vanguard Towers LLC and of Envirotech Services to act as a consultant for Adams County in implementing its recently approved tower ordinance.

4Recessed until April 16 in memory of Dr. David Hall.