Plans are moving forward for a Department of Public Safety (DPS) licensing facility in Madison County, which could service 250 people each day.
DPS and county officials are working toward establishing the terms of an occupancy agreement, which will then go before the board of supervisors for approval.
The licensing facility will be the largest mega station in the state of Mississippi, according to District Four Supervisor David Bishop.
The board discussed at the April 1 meeting that the county will cover utilities for the facility as well, just like the county does for other state facilities based in Madison County.
County and DPS officials recently identified a place suitable to potentially serve as the site of the driver’s license facility.
The 9,200-square-foot building would cost the county $3.1 million and would be constructed near the Emergency Manage-ment Complex in Canton.
County Administrator Shelton Vance said he has been working with DPS officials since November 2018 to design a building suitable, by DPS standards, for the driver’s license facility.
“The current estimate for site prep and construction is $3.1 million,” Vance said. “I expect the architect’s finally negotiated contract to be presented with a slightly lower percentage than what was discussed Monday.”
The building is expected to have space for a gun permit issuance office, as well as potential for commercial driver’s licenses.
The county will commit funds up to $3.1 million for the project and will not seek to collect rent from DPS. The county will also pay the utilities.
The next step will be to have an architect draw up construction plans. Vance said that they will next establish a contract with Dale and Associates for 6.78 percent of the construction cost, if an agreement is made.
Once the plans are in place, the county will advertise for construction. At this time, no elements of an agreement have been finalized, according to Vance.
However not everyone is excited about the prospects of the new facility. County resident Walter McKay addressed the board last week, saying he does not want his taxes funding a state building that the state will not pay rent for using.
Supervisor Bishop said the county is not the sole investor in the property.
He said DPS is funding the 12 stations that will be available at the facility. The stations cost $100,000 each, so they are investing $1.2 million into the operation, according to Bishop.
County officials are also wanting DPS to fully staff those 12 stations.
“We’re getting a service for the residents of Madison County. A well needed service,” Bishop said. “This is a need for all the residents of Madison County. This is a service that residents want, and they deserve it.”
Bishop went on to say that because the facility will be located within the Canton city limits it will generate money for the city.
McKay disagreed.
“I don’t think Canton is going to reap any income from this,” he said.
