VIDEO: Pressure Rising in Winona

WINONA, Miss. (WCBI) – Earlier this month, Winona city officials held a special meeting, regarding their water system.

Currently, plans are being made to expand the system and also increase the water pressure.

It’s something that we’ve seen a bit of in our area for infrastructure development.

Have a property with water service already established, and businesses will come.

Winona is just another example of this development.

There’s a reason Winona calls itself the crossroads of North Mississippi.

The intersection of I-55 and Hwy 82 is a frequent stop for travelers, and city leaders see this as a business opportunity.

“What we did was we had a water analysis done of the whole city limits this past year, and with the results of that we are wanting to enhance the services that we have for the people out at the 82/55 corridor,” said Mayor Jerry Flowers.

While enhancing the water pressure for the city, the plan is also to expand the water system in that corridor, which is very appealing for businesses.

“We know that if you do not have water and you do not have the proper water pressure, no one’s going to build, no one’s going to come, and that’s the bottom line,” said Winona Economic Developer, Sue Stidham.

To increase the pressure, city leaders plan to either build an entirely new water tank or temporarily use the one that sits in their industrial park.

“…and hopefully in the next couple of years we’ll actually drill a well out in that area,” said Flowers.

They believe this investment will pay dividends down the line..

“It’s also going to be for any future possibilities, whether it’s housing, whether it’s business or industry on the east side of the interstate and even farther north and south along the interstate or highway 82,” said Stidham.

Already there is some interest from restaurants wanting to build in Winona.

“Within the next couple of months, 6 months, there will be some activity out there,” said Flowers.

Planners and leaders are excited to see what this means for the future of the city.

“Whatever the improvements may be, it’s always a top of the mountain for us because it just makes us look better, we are better, and that’s what’s important,” said Stidham.

Winona leaders see the infrastructure improvements as benefiting not only the city, but also the rest of Montgomery County.