Some say even the Great Depression was barely noticeable here – one of the perks of poverty, I suppose, is being so poor that having less is impossible.
But, never let it be said that Mississippi mamas didn’t teach their kids how to do things up right – particularly for the comfort of guests. So, any of you folks heading for the beaches here next summer are going to be greeted with comfort, according to this story from WLOX.
Beach visitors this summer will have to use portable toilets again. Plans to rebuild the comfort stations along the beach have been in the works for well over a year…Only a few wooden pieces remain of the old beach comfort station near the coast coliseum. It will be rebuilt, along with six others, but not finished until next summer.
Current plans call for the restroom buildings to cost $1.2 million each. But there’s a reason for the seemingly high price tag.
Folks, we couldn’t get a million-two if we sold every outhouse in the State – including all the fancy concrete block ones. These things are going to be “some kind of nice”.
The director of CTA calls the newly designed bathroom bunker, “Katrina proof.”
“And we feel like being responsible with the taxpayer’s dollars. Based on a history, as we know it, we need to put something down there that will withstand that tidal surge. And that’s our design, our current design will do exactly that,” said Kevin Coggin, who directs the Coast Transit Authority.
Coggin says the newly designed comfort stations are not only durable, but attractive. They’re “Florida style”, but mostly pre-cast concrete.
“Stucco. Terra cotta tile roof. The look. That’s not what it is, it’s colored concrete. It looks fancy, but it’s really not. It’s attractive, but a very durable building,” he says.
Not only are we offering first class comfort to our guests in need of relief, folks will be able to visit without worry of getting their flip-flops nasty – WLOX has that story, too.
Debris that was once Harrison County’s boardwalk is on its way to a scrap yard. On Monday morning, contractors finally began dismantling broken sections of the wood and steel walkway.
FEMA is picking up the $10 million tab to haul off and then rebuild the eight miles of wooden boardwalk that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
The work is a sight for sore eyes. After 33 long months, people who long for a stroll along the beach without getting sand in their shoes, may be closer to getting their wish.
“I understand their concern and frustration because I share that as well,” said Harrison County Sand Beach Director Bobby Weaver.
Believe you me, this new boardwalk is going to make us all proud – nevermind that it’s not going to have a board in it.
Once the debris is gone, a new boardwalk will be built. But instead of using wood, and taking a chance that this could happen again, the county has chosen a concrete surface for its next walkway along its seawall.
“The timber came loose, and we wanted to make sure that it didn’t happen again,” explained Weaver.
So do the contractors, because they know the importance of this project to south Mississippi and its coastline.
Y’all come on, now – and, there’s no tongue-in-cheek to that welcome or the story behind these stories – that of a Mississippi slowly but surely building back better than ever.