Mississippi Transportation Commission approves increase for debris monitoring contract after Winter Storm Fern
The Mississippi Transportation Commission approved a supplemental agreement Tuesday to increase funding for debris monitoring related to Winter Storm Fern. The storm, which hit northern Mississippi and neighboring states in late January, caused widespread damage and debris that has taken months to clear.
MDOT officials said the storm impacted three districts, requiring extensive debris removal. David Kenney, MDOT’s Northern Public Information Officer, explained that the contract increase relates to monitoring efforts, not debris removal itself. The original debris removal contracts, which were expected to be completed by early August, are still ongoing, Kenney said.
During the meeting, Janie Bass, MDOT’s Assistant Chief Engineer of Field Operations, requested an increase in the monitoring contract from $2.1 million to nearly $2.88 million. She said the scope of work had expanded as more debris was discovered, including debris pushed into roads by residents that was not part of the initial assessment.
Commissioners discussed the contract extension and the significant increase in costs. Northern Commissioner John Caldwell asked about the timeline, and Bass replied negotiations are underway. Southern Commissioner Charles Busby expressed surprise at the size of the increase, noting the initial project scope was low.
Kenney emphasized that the current contract only covers debris monitoring and not the removal itself. He said additional extensions are expected as the cleanup continues. The storm’s damage was described by MDOT Executive Director Brad White as catastrophic, with crews working tirelessly to clear roads and assist recovery efforts.
Kenney noted that the amount of debris discovered exceeded estimates, which is common after natural disasters. The initial survey was based on visible debris, but as work progressed, more debris was identified, leading to increased costs and extended timelines.
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