Vicksburg-Warren District Rejects Kings Point Island Bid

The Vicksburg-Warren School District rejected the only new bid for a 643.92-acre Kings Point Island tract at its July 23, 2026, meeting, leaving the Section 16 property without an approved replacement lease.

The rejected offer came from current lessee Raymond B. May. The bid totaled $6,440, or $10 per acre. Superintendent Toriano Holloway and board members said the amount appeared too low and was close to the existing lease payment.

What the board rejected

The action was a rejection of a bid, not a cancellation of the current lease or a completed re-bid. The Vicksburg Daily News report said the superintendent may seek additional bidders or higher offers. The current lessee reportedly retains a right to match a qualifying bid, but the timing and structure of any new bidding process have not been announced.

That leaves the district with another procedural step before a new lease or replacement use can be approved. Residents should watch for a future bid notice, school board agenda item or action involving the tract.

Why the earlier county bid was withdrawn

The July decision follows the district’s withdrawal or unapproval of an earlier $100,000 bid from the Warren County Board of Supervisors. County officials had described a proposed public use involving hunting, fishing and recreation, but questions arose about whether that use fit the land’s lease classification and applicable Section 16 requirements.

The Mississippi Secretary of State’s 16th Section lease guidance and frequently asked questions explain that local school boards manage Section 16 lands and leases on a day-to-day basis. The Secretary of State provides supervisory oversight and reviews lease terms before they are finalized. State guidance also says competitive bidding applies to certain hunting and fishing leases and that hunting on applicable Section 16 forest land requires a valid lease.

The county bid was not described in the available reports as permanently barred by the Secretary of State. Instead, the reports describe questions raised during the state review process and a subsequent district decision to withdraw or unapprove its earlier action.

The unresolved ferry connection

The lease dispute is also tied to Warren County’s continuing responsibility for access to Kings Point Island. The Warren County procurement page shows that public ferry crossing services remain an active county procurement and government issue.

A May report by the Vicksburg Daily News said the county was considering a ferry arrangement requiring 24-hour service. That report estimated the annual taxpayer cost at about $3.18 million, while a later report referenced a figure of roughly $4,000 per day. Those figures are reported estimates, not a final audited cost, and the May account said contract negotiations and final approval were still required.

For the school district, the tract’s lease value matters because Section 16 land is held in trust for public education. For the county, island access raises a separate question about how much public money may be needed to maintain ferry service.

As of the latest report, no new Kings Point Island lease or replacement public use has been approved. The next developments could come through a new district bid process, Secretary of State review or a Warren County update on ferry contract status and costs.

Sources

• Vicksburg Daily News: July 23 school board rejects Kings Point Island bid
• Mississippi Secretary of State: 16th Section Leases
• Warren County procurement page: Public Ferry Crossing Services