Crews have already begun to place decomposed mulch and regular mulch around the base of the Oak trees, extending out to the edge of the canopy. This is necessary to provide nutrition and establish a perimeter to hold sufficient moisture until the canopy has regenerated adequate cover. An overall inventory of each tree is being documented for monitoring their progress.

To date, crews have placed decomposed and regular mulch around 115 Oak Trees within the median of Highway 90/Beach Blvd.

Through the Mississippi Coastal Improvement Program, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers has received funding to develop dune vegetation along our 26 - miles of beach.

The project consists of placing additional sand on the beach to create a 1ft high mound of sand and place sea oats plants throughout the area.

The purpose of this project is to control the wind blown erosion, which will aid in keeping the sand on the beach, thus keeping it off of Hwy90/Beach Blvd.

This project will enhance shoreline protection and help keep a nice appearance of Scenic Drive. The University's of Jackson State and Mississippi State is designing the project. Once the design work and renourishment is complete, vegetation will be planted on the beach.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation is nearing the end of their beautification project of Highway 90 and several beach landscape gateways on the beach.

The project consists of planting approximately 4,000 trees and 20,000 Sea Oats in the median and on the beach. The Beach Gateway sites are located near the intersections of Rodenburg Ave, Cowan Rd, Jeff Davis Ave and Henderson Ave.

During the past few months the Board of Supervisors has approved the purchase of the following items:

• 2008 Dump Truck $ 52,631.31
• 2008 Load Pack Machine $ 120,988.00
• 2008 Backhoe Loader $ 54,200.00
• 3 - Barber Surf Rake Cleaners $ 95,230.00
• 4WD Tractor $ 38,710.62
• 3 - Exmark Mowers $ 30,000.00
  

Phase I - Debris Removal: Work consisted of removing and disposing of the top layer of debris on the beach. Hemphill Construction Company collected a total of 33,611 cubic yards for a total project cost of $ 692,388.

Phase II - Debris Removal: This project required the retrieval of all sand to a depth of 12" and sifted through a mesh screen to collect the building fragments and small debris not collected as part of Phase I. Necaise Brothers Construction Co. completed this work at a cost of $ 6,643,800.

Phase III - Debris Removal: Holden Earth Moving and Construction Co removed large concrete structures that were not accessible during the Phase I project at a cost of $ 36,210.

Phase IV - Debris Removal: Crews from the Sand Beach Authority continued to remove debris from the shoreline until the U.S. Coast Guard completed the Near Shore Debris Removal Project. Once completed, Sand Beach crews made a final pass with our beach cleaning equipment to complete the last phase of the debris removal process. The cost to complete this phase was $242,507.

Beach Profile Project: Phase II of the debris removal project left rows of cleaned sand after it was sifted. Sand Beach Crews mechanically reshaped the beach and removed the blown sand against the seawall to reestablish the normal beach grade. This work utilized our own equipment and cost's associated with said work was $ 165,005.

Boardwalk: Brown and Mitchell, Inc a local engineering firm hired by the Board of Supervisors has completed the plans and specifications: which includes a concrete replacement of the timber boardwalk. The project has been advertised to receive bids with the Bid Opening scheduled for April 15, 2008.

Beach Renourishment: The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers has employed Enco Dredge Co. to complete the repairs of the damaged seawall, culverts, equipment ramps and replace approximately 890,000 cubic yards of sand.

Beach Parking Lots:

• Courthouse Rd
  Most of the repair is completed with only the streetlights and approximately 160' of sidewalk installation remaining to be completed. Projected completion date May, 2008.
• Long Beach Comfort Station
  Bids were received February 12, 2008. Finalizing details with MEMA of an expansion project for this site. Project scheduled to begin May, 2008.
• Jeff Davis Parking Lot
  Plans and specifications have been submitted to MEMA for review and we are waiting on final approval to proceed with advertising to receive bids.
• Pass Christian Comfort Station Parking Lot
  The Board of Supervisors hired the engineering firm of Moran and Machado, PLLC to develop plans and specifications for said repair.
• Preservation Oaks Parking Lot
  Plans and specifications are being finalized by Moran and Machado, PLLC to submit to MEMA for final review.

Jim Simpson Pier: Plans and specifications have been submitted to MEMA for review and we are waiting on final approval to proceed with advertising to receive bids.

Sand Fence: Sand Beach Authority personnel have been installing sand fence in areas along the beach. To date, crews have completed 9,270 lf of the 48,400 lf required to complete this project. Total estimated cost to replace all of the damaged fencing is $ 109,556.

Welcome to Biloxi Sign: With the near completion of the Biloxi/Ocean Springs Bridge on Hwy 90, Sand Beach employees have begun repairing the signs. Work to date has involved the removal of all the damaged areas; replacement of concrete boards and the placement of stucco should begin in the near future. Anticipated completion of the project is May 2008.

Comfort Station: Although their replacement are the responsibility of the Coast Transit Authority, we are working closely with them to see that these restroom facilities are rebuilt along our beach front. Currently, efforts to resolve the elevation issues are being addressed with FEMA and we are hopeful that the reconstruction will begin soon.