Sunday, December 11, 2016

State purchases most of Cat Island

Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann issued the following press release: 


Mississippi Acquires 492 Acres of Cat Island in BP Deal
 
Gulfport, Miss.—Ownership of much of Cat Island, the westernmost of the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s four barrier islands, is returned to Mississippi today. 
 
Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, in his role as State Land Commissioner, accepted the deed to 492 acres known as the “East Beach” and “Middle Spit” of Cat Island from BP Exploration & Production, Inc. (“BP”).  BP acquired the acreage, which is valued at approximately $13.7 Million, from the Boddie family in 2011. 
 
The full cost of the transfer of the land to the State is being paid by the federal Mississippi Coastal Improvements Program.  The program is administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  Congress created the Coastal Improvements Program after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina to restore the Mississippi Gulf Coast and increase its resilience to future storms.  No State funds were expended to purchase this land.
 
“After two centuries, Mississippi is getting its island back,” Secretary Hosemann said. “Cat Island is a special treasure because of its natural beauty and the protection it offers the Mississippi Gulf Coast.  By finalizing this acquisition, we are ensuring your grandchildren’s grandchildren will be able to enjoy this natural treasure in perpetuity.”
 
Cat Island is a well-known recreation site used mainly for low-impact activities such as swimming, sunbathing, camping, hiking, fishing, and safe mooring.  The island is, for the most part, untouched by modernity with pine/oak maritime forest, estuarine marsh, sand dunes, and beaches.
 
Since the French discovered the land in the late 1600s, there have been only a few owners of property on Cat Island.  These include the National Park Service, BP, the Cuevas family, the Boddie family, and some individual landowners all dating back to the original Spanish land grant in the late 1700s.
 
“The acquisition of Cat Island’s eastern shore is another example of Mississippi’s commitment to preserving and restoring our most scenic and sensitive habitats.  This new acreage will be added to the existing Cat Island Coastal Preserve already under the management of our agency,” said Jamie Miller, Executive Director of the Department of Marine Resources.
 
The Department of Marine Resources (“DMR”), a State agency created to protect and conserve marine interests, will oversee the day-to-day maintenance of the Cat Island property.
 
Since 2012, and including the acreage acquired from BP today, the State has expanded its ownership of the island to more than 718 acres.
 
In May 2016, the State and National Park Service executed a preliminary exchange agreement agreeing to swap “Goose Point,” 28.5 acres on the southernmost tip of the island, for land of equivalent value immediately adjacent to Park Service property.  The exchange was made possible by Senate Bill 2438, which was sponsored by State Senator Sean Tindell (R-Harrison) and passed in the 2015 Legislative Session.  The House version of the bill was sponsored by State Representative Casey Eure (R-Harrison).
 
With funding from a settlement agreement with Mitsui-subsidiary MOEX, funds from unused bond proceeds (Senate Bill 2700, sponsored by State Senator Brice Wiggins (R-Jackson County)), and a Tidelands appropriation approved by the State Legislature, Mississippi acquired approximately 200 acres in the middle of Cat Island in 2013 from the Boddie family.  The Boddies retain ownership of about 72 acres of property in the middle of the island.
 
On November 17, 2016, Secretary Hosemann and the Department of the Army entered into a Memorandum of Agreement for Construction of the Mississippi Coastal Improvements Barrier Island Restoration Plan, Cat Island Restoration.
 
Under the Memorandum, the U.S. Corps of Engineers plans to renourish the eastern beach of Cat Island with 2 million (2,000,000) cubic yards of dredged sand.  The renourished area will be approximately 250 feet wide and will be between five to seven feet in height, sloping toward the Gulf.  Renourishment will restore the eastern side of the island to its pre-1998 condition and add approximately 40 acres to Goose Point which previously eroded below sea level.  Completion of the project is expected in 2017.
 
For more information about Mississippi’s coastal resources, or for information about recreation and other opportunities on Cat Island other State-owned coastal property, visit DMR’s website.
 

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ok. I am so very surprised, as a student of history, that there hasn't been more... Well, just more comments regarding this transfer of land. Everyone should be aware that the Cat Island holding is connected to the Tougaloo Plantation, now Tougaloo College, then Boddie Plantation. Where are the 40 acre and a mule people??

Anonymous said...

Connected to the plsntstion? Owned by the same people/family but don't think it was ever connected -physically or any other way.

Anonymous said...

Viva España!



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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


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Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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