Hattiesburg to acquire Councilwoman Mary Dryden's land for sewer pump station

Hattiesburg officials are in the process of using eminent domain to obtain a piece of property owned by a Hattiesburg City Council member for use as part of the city's Comprehensive Sewer and Water Improvements Program.

During a special-called meeting Thursday, council members voted 3-0 to acquire a wooded lot on Dogwood Drive, owned by Council Vice President Mary Dryden, for the use of a pump station. Ward 2 Councilwoman Deborah Delgado was absent from the meeting, while Dryden recused herself from the vote.

"There's an area in the city along Dogwood that currently does not have city sewer — these places either own septic tanks or the city pumps them out," City Engineer Lamar Rutland said. "It just so happens that Mary Dryden owns a vacant piece of property at the bottom of a hill, which is the most ideal location to put a lift station.

"It's the only piece of property in that area at the bottom of that hill that is vacant. So to keep us from putting a lift station in somebody's front yard or having to purchase a house to put a lift station, the most economical thing to do is put a lift station on that vacant lot."

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According to a document from City Hall, an appraisal of the property was approved by council members Aug. 8. That appraisal was followed by a Fair Market Value Offer, which has not yet been accepted.

"From what the attorneys are telling me, we're going through a friendly eminent domain process," Rutland said. "So we're going through appraisals and reviewing appraisals, and then we will go through the process of actually taking it from her through that process."

The City Hall document states section 21-37-47 of the 2013 Mississippi Code, which gives municipalities the power to exercise eminent domain in cases such as the constructing or repairing of sidewalks, sewers and other improvements; the laying out of streets, avenues and alleys; and the straightening and widening of streets.

"I requested a judicial review and am following the recommendations of the ethics commission and attorneys," Dryden said.