Battle waged over tidelands leases

A battle over who controls the Tidelands continues to be waged, despite a State Supreme Court ruling.

Biloxi Mayor FoFo Gilich wrote a letter yesterday to State Attorney General Lynn Fitch and DMR Chief Joe Spraggins, thanking them for their support in honoring the high court’s March 2023 ruling.

That court ruled that cities and counties do not have to have a tidelands lease from the secretary of state to build and maintain piers, boardwalks, and small craft harbors.

Secretary of State Michael Watson took Biloxi to court over the lack of a lease and the State Supreme Court sided with Biloxi, citing precedence.

Mississippi Today published a report this week that said Watson accused Attorney General Lynn Fitch of failing to help him enforce public tidelands laws despite the Supreme Court ruling.