A Lincoln County supervisor is forecasting a solution agreeableto both parties seeking use of a county-owned office buildingoccupied by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries andParks.

District Two Supervisor Bobby Watts’ prediction Thursday justdays before a petition calling for supervisors to reverse theirdecision to cancel the department’s lease runs its course. However,saying only he hoped the issue would be resolved during Monday’s 9a.m. board meeting, the supervisor did not disclose details of anyplan that would satisfy both MDWF&P’s desire to keep itsDistrict Five headquarters in the building at 304 South Second St.and supervisors’ intentions to use the building for the expandingLincoln County Tax Assessor’s Office.

“We’ve got some plans hopefully that everything will be solvedMonday in the boardroom,” he said. “I think we got things foreverybody to be happy – I think it’s gonna be good for Nancy(Jordan, Lincoln County Tax Assessor), good for the game and fishcommission.”

Watts’ revelation comes near the end of circulation of apetition calling for supervisors to reverse their January decisionnot to renew MDWF&P’s lease on the building.

The petition, which was authored by Brookhaven Monument Companyowner Dave Pace almost two weeks ago and has since grown to includeapproximately 1,000 signatures. The petition cites economic, safetyand other reasons why the department should be allowed to keep thebuilding.

Board President the Rev. Jerry Wilson again refused to commenton the situation. When informed that Pace’s petition had garneredmore than 1,000 signatures, he said only, “that’s great.”

MDWF&P officials have said the District Five office will berelocated to Percy Quin State Park in McComb if they are notallowed to keep the building. The pending move has causedsupervisors opposition from local business owners, who saythousands of dollars in business done by wildlife officials andtheir customers would be shifted south to McComb.

But supervisors contend they’re not responsible for MDWF&P’sdecision to leave. They paint a perfect solution as one where thetax office takes over the county-owned building and the wildlifedepartment leases another space in Brookhaven.

MDWF&P, however, is sticking to its plan. Departmentspokesman Jim Walker said MDWF&P is set on a course to leaveBrookhaven by the end of September when the lease expires, addingthat moving to department-owned space in Percy Quin would savemoney in the long run.

If supervisors reverse their decision, however, there may stillbe hope of retaining the district office in Brookhaven.

“If that board should take some formal action and we receiveformal notification of such action, then we’re obliged andobligated to take it to our commission,” Walker said. “Of course Idon’t know what they would do, but as everything else it would beplaced on the agenda and they’d take a look at it. The ball is inthe local officials’ court down there.”

Walker said he has not heard of Watts’ plan, and apparentlyneither have other supervisors. District Three Supervisor NolanWilliamson he has no knowledge of any new action the supervisorscould take to keep MDWF&P in Brookhaven.

“If they come up with a plan where everybody will be happy, thatsuits the devil out of me,” he said. “But we’ve got a plan, too.The county is growing – it’s overgrown more than what ourforefathers thought. We don’t have room (for the tax office).That’s what we’re looking at and that’s what we’ve got to do. Wehave to make sure the county can grow.”

Williamson said county residents who have called him about thematter concerning MDWF&P have been satisfied by hisexplanations.

“I’ve had several calls and when they found out, they say, ‘Youmean we’re paying $800-$900 a month to store papers and we’rerenting out this building for $500, a prime piece of real estate?'”he said. “How come Lincoln County can’t be conservative? What’s thebig deal?”

District Four Supervisor Doug Moak and District Five SupervisorGary Walker did not immediately return phone messages seekingcomment.

The petition effort, meanwhile, ends Monday. Pace said the finalsignatures would be presented to supervisors at the board meetingand work on the petition would cease.

“It’s done what it’s gonna do,” said Pace, who expressedappreciation to petition signers. “At least the supervisors willknow the people of Lincoln County disapprove of their decision andtry their best to make provisions for the game and fish commission.I have seen the people of Lincoln County really care about whatgoes on in Brookhaven and Lincoln County.”