Working with the Panola Partnership, the City of Batesville, Panola County, and Northwest Community College, MER has taken the lead on concept development, cost estimating, and project coordination for this innovative plan.

As engineers for the City of Batesville, Mississippi, MER was tasked with preparing plans and specifications to combat stream bank erosion in three key areas along major drainage ditches in Batesville. In cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the City of Batesville secured a grant to help fund the nearly $600,000 project.

The City of Batesville, along with cooperation and funding from the Mississippi Department of Transportation Local Public Agency (LPA) funds, developed, planned, and constructed Phase 1 and Phase 2 upgrades and enhancements to the Batesville Downtown Square. The improvements included removing and replacing sidewalks to meet ADA standards, as well as the addition of new curb, lights, and handicap ramps to provide a friendlier and more accessible square for downtown businesses. The Eureka Street entrance to the Square was realigned to increase safety and to improve the accessibility of pedestrian areas. As part of the plan, landscaped islands, planters, and beds were added and/or improved. Additionally, green space was made available for events such as Spring Fest and the Polar Express™ Train Ride.

MER provided engineering services to the Panola Partnership for development and further improvements of the Panola County Industrial Park. An Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant helped to fund the development and construction of two 100,000 square foot building pads, as well as adding paved access and water and sewer utilities. Additional improvements initiated in 2017 included paving the entrance road, upgrading water infrastructure, and providing a gravel access road that could potentially be used in the future for access to parcels adjacent to 1-55.

MER provided engineering services to the Panola Partnership for development of the new industrial park located in Panola County, Mississippi. An Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant helped to fund the development and construction of two 100,000 square foot building pads, as well as adding paved access and water and sewer utilities at a 220 acre Airport Industrial Complex site.

MER worked alongside the North Delta Planning and Development District and Panola Partnership to provide the preliminary engineering services needed to secure an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant for sanitary sewer improvements to the Panola County Industrial Park. The improvements, which include a gravity interceptor, an 80gpm lift station, and 4” force main, were necessary for the park to welcome a new UPS facility. In addition, the improvements are important for the addition of future tenants as the park continues to expand and develop.

Beginning in 2011, the City of Batesville used funds from the Mississippi State Department of Health’s Drinking Water Systems Improvements Revolving Loan Fund (DWSIRLF) to upgrade their existing meters with an Automated Meter Readering (AMR) System for all drinking water customers. Mendrop Engineering Resources (formerly Mendrop~Wages, LLC) was contracted to provide engineering services including the development of the water facilities plan, the development of plans and specifications, preparing contract documents, management of the bidding process, and construction engineering and inspection (CE&I) services for this project to install approximately 3,700 new Automated Meter.

Upon completion of an evaluation of the long-term wastewater management needs, the City of Batesville contracted Mendrop Engineering Resources (MER) to develop a Wastewater Facilities Plan, including cost estimates and plans and specifications. Of the thirteen phases in the plan, Phases 5-7 are currently being funded using the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality’s Water Pollution Control Revolving Loan Fund (WPCRLF). These phases include pump station rehabilitation and upgrades, rehabilitation and upgrades to secondary clarifiers, and office and laboratory upgrades to include a new building.

In 2018, the City of Batesville requested Mendrop Engineering Resources (MER) help the City develop a plan of action to help locate potential infiltration and inflow sources into the sanitary sewer collection system throughout the entire city-wide system. Upon completion of the survey, MER helped develop a plan to rehabilitate the identified problems.

In 2019, the City of Batesville bonded $8 million for several projects, including sanity sewer improvements along Highway 35 and Sand Creek. Located on the north side of Batesville, the project will upgrade existing infrastructure as well as provide critical infrastructure for this rapidly developing area of the City of Batesville and Panola County.