Lincoln County school board members agreed to waive bondlicensure on loggers during Hurricane Katrina operations while asecond timber issue was tabled, pending approval by their attorney,during Monday’s meeting.

Howard Stogner, a land manager for the Mississippi ForestryCommission, requested the board waive the bond requirement,suggesting they may not be able to recoup money from damaged timberwithout the waiver.

Stogner estimated the state has more than $2.4 billion worth oftimber on the ground following the hurricane’s sweep through thestate. He also estimated that only about 30 percent of that timberwould be able to be reclaimed before it rots.

The forester said he based those estimates on damages afterHurricane Ivan struck last year. Ivan did less than half the damageof Katrina, but loggers were only able to reclaim about 30 percentof the timber, he said.

“We’re in better shape than the coast because most of the treeshere are bent over and not broke,” Stogner said. “That gives usabout a two to three week window to gather it in before rot setsin.”

A survey of Sixteenth Section land owned by the school districtshows heavy timber damage in the Ruth and Lucky Seven area, withscattered pockets of damage throughout the rest of the county,Stogner said.

“We’re in much better shape than Walthall (County). All of theirSixteenth Section lands took at least 80 percent damage,” hesaid.

Stogner said each of the scattered pockets of damage had anestimated $3,000 to $4,000 worth of timber on the ground.

“It’s not enough to interest the big loggers, but it’s too muchfor us to just leave on the ground,” he said.

Therefore, the forester said, the district will need to loosenits bond licensure policies in order to hire a logger to reclaimthe timber. The board’s policy is relatively new.

“I’m the one who made a big deal out of them being bonded,” saidSuperintendent Terry Brister. “Well, we’ll lose a lot of money ifwait on this too long.”

The bond absolves the district of any equipment or injuryliability. However, Stogner said in the past, before the bondrequirement, the loggers have always been responsible for any lossand it has never been a issue between them and the district.

The board agreed to waive the bond requirement, provided thecontractors would sign an agreement absolving them of anyliability.

Stogner then requested that the waiver for the companies usedbecome permanent so that the district could continue to use them inthe future after the present crisis was over.

District Two School Board Member Johnny Hart questioned thelegality of that action because it may show preference to certaincompanies. He was joined by other members of the board and thatrequest was tabled until Brister could consult with anattorney.