DAILY LEADER / KATIE WILLIAMSON / Officials who attended the meeting at the Lincoln Civic Center Wednesday include: Jerry Wilson, District One supervisor; Mary Wilson, Ward Three alderman; William Kimble, Lincoln Civic Center Commission chairman; Harold Gary, Pearl River Basin Development District board member; Eddie Brown, District Four supervisor; Tillman Bishop, Lincoln County chancery clerk; Jimmy Diamond, District Two supervisor; Brett Smith, civic center treasurer and commissioner; and McNair Smith, civic center commissioner.

Lincoln County and Pearl River Basin Development District officials met Wednesday to discuss progress made on recent projects and look to the future.

The Lincoln County Civic Center hosted a lunch for the Lincoln County Board of Supervisors and PRBDD officials to discuss their on-going relationship with PRBDD. Since the civic center began their partnership with the PRBDD they have worked on erosion control at the center, built an RV park and have improved the civic center arena.

Quinn Jordan said the lunch was to go over previous projects, current projects and future projects that the civic center will be working on with PRBDD.

“This is about where we’ve come from, where we are and where we’re going,” said Jordan. “This is about the future.”

The PRBDD partners with local governments to organize projects for recreational uses, flood control, pollution abatement and soil conservation. Governing bodies apply for the grants with an understanding that they will match the funds allotted.

The improvements that have been made on the civic center have used PRBDD grants as well as money generated by the center through events such as the fair and outdoors shows. The Board of Supervisors applies for the grants on behalf of the civic center.

“I appreciate Pearl River for what they do with funds and we work diligently to be able to match their funds in house,” said Jordan. “We have a big future, and we hope they’ll continue to support us.”

The civic center’s next project is a 50-foot expansion on the north end of the horse arena. This will connect the arena and stall barn, give a covered warm-up area and protect spectators, horses and riders from inclement weather. It is a $100,000 project that will be paid in half by the PRBDD and half by the civic center.

“This shows that the civic center can make money and is not a burden on taxpayers,” said Eddie Brown, District Four supervisor. He added that the center is becoming as self sufficient as possible.

Since Jordan was hired as head of the civic center, he has overseen many improvements to the center and continues to work with the PRBDD to fund any projects that he feels would benefit the county.

“This is what can happen when you have local leadership joining together. Progress can be made,” said PRBDD officials.

Tillman Bishop, Lincoln County chancery clerk, said that the civic center is a completely different place since Jordan has taken over. He attributes all the improvements to the leadership that was put in place by the board of supervisors.

The PRBDD has worked on several other projects around Lincoln County. They have helped with developments at Lake Lincoln and has funded other recreational projects in the city of Brookhaven such as the water spray parks.