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The* Suiv Herald
Biloxi-Gulfport-Pascagoula, Miss., Sunday, October
Heitzman watching county growth
MARIA WATSON Herald Bay Bureau Chief
If anybody knows about Hancock County growth during the past decade-and-a-half, it's George Heitzmann.
He?s been tax assessor since 1960 and in August, was overwhelmingly elected to a fifth term.
Despite three major setbacks during the 1960?s, Heitzmann said the county's assessments have increased at a steady rate of approximately $2-$2.5 million per year.
?We?re going to be over $36 million for fiscal year 1975,? said Heitzmann. 1974's assessed valuation was $34 million.
With the installation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Hancock County rocket testing facility, the county lost some $2 million in assessments in the early 1960?s, Heitzmann said.
NASA took over 141,000 acres in 1962, he continued, forcing the removal of 13,500 acres within the site, about 3500 acres outside and 500 dwellings from the tax rolls.
"Growth in that area at that time was about 400 new homes a year," Heitzmann said, adding, ?For a long time, people wouldn?t build near the buffer zone for fear it would be extended.?
The test site, now the National Space Technology Laboratories, "did away? with the communities of Logtown, River Hills, Santa Rosa, Gainesville, Rogue Home Heights and Lake Pearlington,
GEORGE HEITZMAN
Heitzmann said.
NASA later helped to rebuild the tax base, Heitzmann said, when employes moved into the areas and purchased homes.
Hurricane Betsy in 1965 also dealt Hancock County a severe blow. "We lost about $1 million then," according to the assessor.
More than 35 homes were destroyed in the low-lying areas around Ansley and East Ansley during the 1965 storm. Lakeshore and Clermont Harbor also took a beating from Betsy. Then North Bay area suffered, as did Shoreline Park which "was just beginning to catch on,? Heitzmann said.
It was Hurricane Camille in 1969 that did the real damage, said Heitzmann.
He estimated 2700 homes affected by the violent storm either "had to be removed from the rolls or adjusted."
Another $2.5 million in assessments was lost.
The North Bay area and Shoreline Park were virtually wiped out, and what Betsy left at Lakeshore and Clermont Harbor, Camille took.
The heaviest business losses occurred along the beachfront in Bay St. Louis and on Coleman Avenue in Waveland.
Now, six years later, Heitzmann said Bay St. Louis and Waveland "are blossoming? again. "Waveland Beach is almost fully recovered," he said, although there has been relatively little new construction in Lakeshore and Clermont Harbor.
Shoreline Park is one of the fastest growing areas in the county, Heitzmann said, despite the destruction suffered in 1969.
Even though the losses from disasters have been heavy, Heitzmann said assessments have increased because when residents have rebuilt, they have built better homes.
Diamondhead shows the greatest growth potential, Heitzmann feels. In two years, he said, it has ?given the county a big boost,? and could up assessments by $40 million over a 10-year period ?if
the influx continues.?
Heitzmann said he expects a number of Navy Oceanographic Office emplyes being transferred here from the Washington, D.C., area to settle in Diamondhead, as well as Belle Isles and Oak Harbor at Pearlington.
During 1976, however, Heitzmann said he believes Bay St. Louis and Waveland will be the primary growth areas in the county.
Heitzmann remembers when he worked as a deputy in the assessor's office, beginning in 1948. "As-
sessed valuation 1 million,? he recal
Although asse have increased since Heitzmann came associated ' county tax offii more than doubh he was elected t time 16 years ag has been ?very crease in taxatic 1960," he said.
"The only gen crease has been fr $10 on timber la millage is not rea different from whi 15 years ago."