Buildings must make way for Natchez Trace by June

Published 12:00 am Thursday, April 26, 2001

By the end of June a building housing four agencies in Adams County should be reduced to rubble.

With the onset of the Natchez Trace, the agencies are moving next week to a new location at Tracetown Shopping Center across from Natchez Regional Medical Center. Their current site on Liberty Road is to be torn down under the auspices of the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

A state conservationist said the move is inconvenient for Adams County and state officials.

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&uot;It’s inconvenient for us and others that have to move but the long-term effects (of the Natchez Trace) are very positive for Natchez,&uot; said Bryan D. Stringer Jr., district conservationist with the National Resource Conservation Service.

But with this in mind, employees with the four agencies want to make sure the public is aware of the change.

&uot;(The) main thing is people know we’re moving,&uot; Stringer said.

The various agencies have 13 full time employees between them and offer such services as low to moderate income housing loans and assistance with conservation and erosion programs.

The employees have known they would need to move since last fall and have spent several months looking for a new location.

The employees view the move as temporary because the new location is slightly larger than what they need and may not fit into the long-term plans of the property owner for the site.

&uot;As soon as we get moved in we’re going to start arrangements for our permanent place too,&uot; said Michael Blackwell, with Rural Development.

Officials are not yet certain where their permanent location will be but they have not completely ruled out the idea of building a new building.

&uot;(We) decided to make the best of (the move) and turn it into something good,&uot; said Stacy McKay, of the Farm Service Agency. &uot;(It gives) us the opportunity to have a new office.&uot;

Another Liberty Road building which currently houses offices for the Adams County Road Department and the Adams County Sanitation Department must also vacate the property for the Natchez Trace.