House Resolution 12

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE OUTSTANDING AND DEDICATED WORK OF THE YAZOO-MISSISSIPPI DELTA LEVEE BOARD IN ITS CHARGE TO erect, maintain and operate a system of levees to protect the people and property of the Delta from damages of high waters of the Mississippi River.

WHEREAS, the Yazoo-Mississippi Levee District was created, and the Board of Levee Commissioners for the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Levee District was chartered by an act of the Mississippi Legislature, Chapter 164, Laws of 1884, and recognized and continued under Article 121 of the Mississippi Constitution of 1890; and

WHEREAS, the levee district, comprised of all or part of Coahoma, DeSoto, Holmes, Humphreys, Leflore, Quitman, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tunica and Yazoo Counties, has been overseen by the distinguished and hard working board, which has labored tirelessly in every endeavor to maintain its charge to erect, maintain and operate a system of levees to protect the people and property of the Mississippi Delta from damages of high waters of the Mississippi River; and

WHEREAS, the levee board has recently committed to provide in-kind work, estimated at a value of $525,000.00, for the construction of ponds being built as part of the fish hatchery currently under construction at Enid Dam and Reservoir by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks; and

WHEREAS, with a long history of providing outstanding maintenance of the Mississippi River Levee System, the levee board recently received the Outstanding Maintenance of Flood Control Facility Award, presented by the Memphis District of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, marking the board's 49th consecutive year of recognition of its sound levee maintenance program; and

WHEREAS, while the board remains fully committed to performing its mission of flood control and protection, it has also committed itself to environmental protection, and established programs impacting mitigation lands, tourism and education; and

WHEREAS, exceeding the call of duty to go above and beyond the duties required of it, the levee board has constructed several emergency management centers throughout the district, which through inter-local agreements have been made available to counties and school districts for joint usage; and

WHEREAS, not only focusing its efforts on the responsibilities associated with levee maintenance, the levee board, mindful of the fact that none are immune from catastrophe, provided crews and equipment to the Gulf Coast after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, where they worked diligently for several months in aiding the cleanup efforts, drainage repair and fuel supply; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend the diligence exemplified by such entities as the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Levee Board, which has served the people of this state by ensuring flood water safety:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Levee Board for its outstanding and dedicated work in fulfilling its charge to erect, maintain and operate a functional levee protection system and lending assistance to other state agencies, political subdivisions and all citizens of the state.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Levee Board and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.