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THE DAILY HERALD
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Biloxi-Gulfport, Miss., Thursday,' June 5," 1
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Legion pier proponents draw fire at hearing
ODELE H. PERANICIf
The Bay Bureau
More than 100 proponents of retaining and improving the storm damaged American Legion Pier at Washington Avenue in Bay St. Louis drew opposition from about 10 persons at a hearing Wednesday night.
The hearing was set by the Bureau of Marine Resources to consider whether the facility, damaged In a mid-April storm, will be kept and enlarged as a public rec-reational facility of beach, jetty, pier and
boat launching ramp.
Several of the objectors have filed suit in the case.
Public comment can be received on the project until June 20, said Joe Gill, chief of the BMR Wetlands Division.
Clement R. Bontemps American Legion Post 139 filed with the BMR a permit request to restore and expand the pier recently closed by the Post.
The Post plans to widen the T-portion of the wooden pier 10 feet on both sides and extend
an existing rip-rap jetty west of the boat launch to 150 feet. The jetty will also be widened to 15 feet if the permit is approved.
The jetty is needed, said Post members and supporters of the proj.ect, to protect boaters from the elements when launching and removing boats from the water. Civil Defense uses the pier for launching rescue boats.
The pier is one of two public piers in Bay St. Louis and the only place the public can launch
boats. The annual Children's Fishing Rodeo sponsored by the local Gun and Rod Club was held at the pier until this year when it was closed for storm repairs.
Some citizens oppose the continuation of the facility because, they said, it is a cause of a high fecal coliform count in the water, denying them swimming use in the area.
Several opposers said they object to an increase in traffic, people and noise they believe would result from extending the pier.
They said they object to trash, grass and activities which would be created by the project and want the facility to be torn down to allow the beach area to return to its original natural state.
Violation of property owners? riparian rights and trespass were charged against the Legion.
Several property owners said they were afraid the facility would become commercial in time and the public would eventually be
charged for its use.
However, a number of property owners said they purchased their property in the area principally to have access to the facility. They said their children and the availability of the recreational facility
were the main reasot to move into the are? Several persons sai the city closed t??o pi< just to annoy t ma boat owners. But L>egic members stated the pi< was closed on the advic of their attorney b* cause of its damage condition.