MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2022 Regular Session

To: Public Property

By: Representatives Morgan, Weathersby

House Bill 1343

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 386, LAWS OF 2017, AS AMENDED BY SECTION 3, CHAPTER 449, LAWS OF 2018, AS LAST AMENDED BY SECTIONS 1 AND 2, CHAPTER 363, LAWS OF 2019, TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO TRANSFER AND CONVEY CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT COLUMBIA TRAINING SCHOOL IN MARION COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, TO THE MARION COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT; TO AMEND SECTION 43-27-39, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 19-5-99, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 386, Laws of 2017, as amended by Section 3, Chapter 449, Laws of 2018, as last amended by Sections 1 and 2, Chapter 363, Laws of 2019, is amended as follows:

     Section 3.  (1)  The Department of Finance and Administration is authorized to transfer and convey to the Marion County Economic Development District certain real property located at Columbia Training School in Marion County, Mississippi.  The real property contains approximately 1,148.92 acres, more or less, and is more particularly described as follows:

Parcel 1 Description:

Commencing at a found iron pin at the Northwest Corner of Section 15, Township 4 North, Range 18 West, thence South 88 degrees 44 minutes 13 seconds East a distance of 1,320.20 feet to the NE corner of the NW ¼ of the of the NW ¼ of Section 15, Township 4 North, Range 18 West and the point beginning, thence South 88 degrees 44 minutes 13 seconds East a distance of 4,066.30 feet to the NE corner of Section 15, Township 4 North, Range 18 West, thence South 00 degrees 05 minutes 56 seconds West a distance of 242.83 feet along the East line of Section

15, Township 4 North, Range 18 West, thence South 47 degrees 12 minutes 45 seconds West a distance of 4,789.95 feet along the north boundary of the Columbia-Marion County Airport Authority property, thence South 44 degrees 56 minutes 53 seconds West a distance of 761.75 feet along the north boundary of the Columbia-Marion County Airport Authority property to the center of the SW ¼ of Section 15, Township 4 North, Range 18 West, thence North 00 degrees 09 minutes 35 seconds East a distance of 4,125.33 feet to the NE corner of the NW ¼ of the NW ¼ of Section 15, Township 4 North, Range 18 West back to an iron pin and the point of beginning, Said parcel containing 202.11 acres, more or less.

Parcel 2 Description:

Commencing at a found pine stake at the Southeast Corner of the SE ¼ of the NE ¼ of Section 27, Township 4 North, Range 18 West, thence North 00 degrees 05 minutes 56 seconds East a distance of 6,028.64 feet to a point on the East line of Section 22, Township 4 North, Range 18

West to the point beginning, thence South 89 degrees 44 minutes 33 seconds West a distance of 4,068.43 feet to the SE corner of the N ½ of the SW ¼ of the of the NW ¼ of Section 22, Township 4 North, Range 18 West, thence North 00 degrees 49 minutes 42 seconds East a distance of 1,648.69 feet to the South boundary of Columbia-Marion County Airport Authority Property, thence North 62 degrees 00 minutes 33 seconds East a distance of 181.98 feet along the South boundary of the Columbia-Marion County Airport Authority Property, thence North 62 degrees 00 minutes 33 seconds East a distance of 1,448.60 feet along the South boundary of the Columbia-Marion County Airport Authority Property, thence North 59 degrees 44 minutes 40 seconds East a distance of 3,023.35 feet along the South boundary of the Columbia-Marion County Airport Authority Property to a point on the East line of Section 15, Township 4 North, Range 18 West, thence South 00 degrees 05 minutes 56 seconds West a distance of 3,918.86 feet to a point on the east line of Section 22, Township 4 North, Range 18 West back to the point of beginning, Said parcel containing 256.81 acres, more or less.

Parcel 3 Description:

Beginning at a found pine stake at the Southeast Corner of the SE ¼ of the NE ¼ of Section 27, Township 4 North, Range 18 West, thence North 89 degrees 42 minutes 39 seconds West a distance of 1,323.60 feet to the NW corner of the NE ¼ of the SW ¼ of Section 27, Township 4

North, Range 18 West, thence South 00 degrees 23 minutes 21 seconds West a distance of 1,320.0 feet to the SW corner of the NE ¼ of the SE ¼ of Section 27, Township 4 North, Range 18 West, thence South 89 degrees 42 minutes 39 seconds East a distance of 662.10 feet to the NE

corner of the W ½ of the SE ¼ of the SE ¼ of Section 27, Township 4 North, Range 18 West, thence South 00 degrees 23 minutes 21 seconds West a distance of 1,320.0 feet to the SE corner of the W ½ of the SE ¼ of the SE ¼ of Section 27, Township 4 North, Range 18 West, thence

South 89 degrees 42 minutes 37 seconds East a distance of 662.50 feet to the SE corner of Section 27, Township 4 North, Range 18 West, thence South 00 degrees 23 minutes 21 seconds West a distance of 114.57 feet to a point on the north right of way line of Old Highway 44,

thence South 84 degrees 05 minutes 37 seconds West a distance of 2,278.91 feet along said north right of way, thence South 82 degrees 30 minutes 32 seconds West a distance of 1,164.47 feet along said north right of way, thence South 73 degrees 56 minutes 48 seconds West a distance of 1,400.42 feet along said north right of way, thence South 64 degrees 06 minutes 42 seconds West a distance of 277.68 feet along said north right of way, thence South 38 degrees 11 minutes 49 seconds West a distance of 240.36 feet along said north right of way, thence South 38 degrees 11 minutes 49 seconds West a distance of 69.88 feet along said north right of way to the north line of the S ½ of the NW ¼ of Section 34, Township 4 North, Range 18 West, thence South 89 degrees 45 minutes 36 seconds West a distance of 127.05 feet to the NW corner of the S ½ of the NW ¼ of Section 34, Township 4 North, Range 18 West, thence North 00 degrees 04 minutes 10 seconds West a distance of 3,929.52 feet to the NW corner of the SW ¼ of Section 27, Township 4 North, Range 18 West, thence North 89 degrees 49 minutes 47 seconds West a distance of 1,294.10 feet to the NE corner NW ¼ of the SE ¼ of Section 28, Township 4 North, Range 18 West, thence North 00 degrees 16 minutes 38 seconds West a distance of 2,649.20 feet to the NE corner of the W ½ of the NE ¼ of Section 28, Township 4 North, Range 18 West. thence East a distance of 265.82 feet to the west right of way line of Airport Road, thence along said west right of way line as follows: thence South 42 degrees 05 minutes 14 seconds East a distance of 107.03 feet, thence South 27 degrees 31 minutes 10 seconds East a distance of 185.56 feet, thence South 21 degrees 40 minutes 56 seconds East a distance of 1,482.37 feet, thence North 43 degrees 56

minutes 03 seconds East a distance of 497.83 feet crossing Airport Road and running along the south boundary of Marion County Economic Development District property, thence continuing along said south boundary North 43 degrees 58 minutes 36 seconds East a distance of 1,761.55 feet to the north line of Section 27 Township 4 North, Range 18 West. thence run East a distance of 4,097.68 feet to the NE corner of Section 27, Township 4 North, Range 18 East, thence South 00 degrees 05 minutes 56 seconds West a distance of 2,684.70 feet along the east line of Section 27, Township 4 North, Range 18 West back to the point of beginning said parcel containing 690.0 acres, more or less.

     (2)  The State of Mississippi shall retain any mineral rights to the property transferred and conveyed under subsection (1) of this section.  The Department of Finance and Administration shall have the authority to correct any discrepancies in the property descriptions provided in subsection (1) of this section.

     (3)  The parcels of property conveyed under this section must be conveyed to the Marion County Economic Development District without any assumption of liability or financial responsibility by the State of Mississippi for any known or unknown environmental defects contained thereon.  Upon receipt of the deed of title to the property, the Marion County Economic Development District shall indemnify the State of Mississippi for any damage, injury or loss.

     SECTION 2.  Section 43-27-39, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     43-27-39.  (1)  The purpose of this section is to ensure that Mississippi's juvenile justice system is cost-efficient and effective at reducing juvenile crime and to create a continuum of options for Mississippi's youth court judges so that they are better equipped to protect our communities and to care for our children.

     (2)  The Columbia Training School shall no longer operate as a secure training school for juvenile delinquents.  All youth, both male and female, committed to the custody of the Department of Human Services and adjudicated to training school shall be housed at the Oakley Youth Development Center.  The Oakley Youth Development Center shall provide gender-specific treatment for youth who are adjudicated delinquent.

     (3)  Any portion of Columbia Training School property and facilities described in Section 1 of Chapter 553, Laws of 2012, may be conveyed or transferred to the Board of Supervisors of Marion County, Mississippi.

     (4)  Any portion of Columbia Training School property and facilities described in Section 2 of Chapter 386, Laws of 2017, may be conveyed or transferred to the Marion County Economic Development District for the purposes prescribed under that section.

     (5)  Any portion of Columbia Training School property and facilities described in Section 1 of this act may be conveyed or transferred to the Marion County Economic Development District.

     SECTION 3.  Section 19-5-99, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

     19-5-99.  (1)  Subject to the provisions of Section 19-9-111, the board of supervisors of any county in the State of Mississippi, in its discretion, by order duly entered on its minutes, may establish economic development districts comprising all of the county, or one or more supervisors districts of the county, or may establish such economic development districts in cooperation with one or more other counties or with municipalities or with other local and private economic development groups.  The board of supervisors may do everything within its power to secure and further industrial development of the county or counties or district, to advertise the natural resources and possibilities of the same, and to maintain and support the same.

     All monies collected for the support and maintenance of such economic development district, in accordance with the tax levy  provided in Section 19-9-111, shall be placed in the county treasury to the credit of the county or district economic development fund and shall be expended as other public funds are expended, and in which event the employees of such economic development district shall be employees of the county and considered as such.  In addition to such funds provided by taxation, the board of supervisors of such county may accept gifts, gratuities and donations from municipalities in such districts and from any persons, firms or corporations desiring to make such donations.  Such appropriation, gift or donation shall also be placed in the county treasury and be expended in the support and maintenance of such district.

     At the option of such board of supervisors, or boards of supervisors if more than one (1) county is embraced in such economic development district, it may provide for the management of such economic development district by appointing not more than twenty-five (25) nor less than five (5) trustees, or if a multicounty district not more than five (5) trustees per participating county, who shall be qualified electors residing within such economic development district, to manage the affairs of such district, and in which event the funds made available by the county or counties for the support and maintenance of such economic development district may be expended by a majority vote of such trustees so appointed to manage such economic development district.  Each trustee who is an officer of the economic development district shall qualify by giving bond, with sufficient surety, to be payable, conditioned and approved as provided by law, in a penalty equal to Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), the premiums on all such surety bonds being paid by such economic development district.  If this option is exercised and such districts operated and maintained under this paragraph, then in such event the employees of such economic development district shall not be considered as employees of the county for state retirement or any other purposes.

     All funds secured and expended under the provisions of this section shall be public funds and the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Mississippi shall audit the same as other public funds are now audited.

     Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, the board of supervisors of a county having therein an economic development district established under this section or any other law and the governing authorities of any municipality located within the economic development district in such county may enter into a contract providing for the contribution of funds by the municipality or other local and private economic development groups to the economic development district and providing for the appointment by the municipal governing authorities or other local and private economic development groups of a number of trustees, as determined by the parties to the contract, to assist in the management of the district.  In like manner, any economic or industrial development foundation or private economic development group may enter into a contract with the board of supervisors of the county or jointly with the board of supervisors of the county and municipal governing authorities providing for the contribution of funds by the economic or industrial development foundation or private economic development group to the economic development district and providing for the appointment by the officials or governing board of the foundation of a number of trustees, as determined by the parties to the contract, to assist in the management of the district.

     (2)  Any economic development district established under this section may, when suitable office space is not otherwise available, purchase and acquire title to real estate within the district and make any improvements thereon to provide the office space it considers necessary for efficient operation of such district.  Provided, however, that no contract or agreement for the exclusive listing, sale or representation for sale of publicly owned property shall be entered into by such economic development districts with any real estate broker or brokers.

     (3)  (a)  Any economic development district established under this section shall have the authority to acquire by gift, purchase or otherwise, and to own, hold, maintain, control and develop real estate situated within the county or counties comprising such district for the development, use and operation of industrial parks or other industrial development purposes.  The district is further authorized and empowered to engage in works of internal improvement therefor including, but not limited to, construction or contracting for the construction of streets, roads, railroads, spur tracks, site improvements, water, sewerage, drainage,  pollution control and other related facilities necessary or required for industrial development purposes or the development of industrial park complexes; to acquire, purchase, install, lease, construct, own, hold, equip, control, maintain, use, operate and repair other structures and facilities necessary and convenient for the planning, development, use, operation and maintenance of an industrial park or parks or for other industrial development purposes, including, but not limited to, utility installations, elevators, compressors, warehouses, buildings and air, rail and other transportation terminals and pollution control facilities.

          (b)  Contracts for the construction, improvement, equipping or furnishing of an industrial site and improvements thereon as authorized in this section shall be entered into upon the basis of public bidding under Section 31-7-1 et seq.

     (4)  For the development of such projects, the board of supervisors of any county that establishes an economic development district under this section or that establishes an economic development district in cooperation with one or more other counties, or municipalities or other local and private economic groups, may, upon receipt of a resolution duly adopted by the trustees of such district, issue, secure and manage its bonds in the manner prescribed by Sections 19-9-5, 19-9-7, 19-9-9, 19-9-11, 19-9-13, 19-9-15, 19-9-17, 19-9-19, 19-9-21, 19-9-23, 19-9-25 and 19-9-29.  Such bonds shall be sold in accordance with the provisions of Section 31-19-25.  The full faith, credit and resources of the county shall be irrevocably pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on the bonds issued under this section.  Any income derived from the sale or lease of the property authorized to be acquired under this section shall be applied in one or more of the following manners:  (a) the retirement of bonds authorized to be issued under this section; (b) further improvement or development of such industrial parks or other related industrial development activities; or (c) payment into the general fund of the county to be used for any lawful purpose.  Any amounts so paid into the general fund shall be included in the computation of total receipts and subject to the restrictions of Section 27-39-321.  The board of supervisors may covenant with or for the benefit of the registered owners of any bonds issued under this section with respect to the application of any or all of such income and shall, by resolution adopted before or promptly after receipt of any such income, determine, in its discretion subject only to the restrictions set forth above and any covenants made to or for the benefit of any registered owners of bonds issued under this section, the manner in which such income shall be applied.

     The bonds authorized by this section and the income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation in the State of Mississippi; however, any lessee or purchaser shall not be exempt from ad valorem taxes on industrial sites and improvements thereon unless otherwise provided by the general laws of this state, and purchases required to establish the project and financed by bond proceeds shall not be exempt from taxation in the State of Mississippi.

     (5)  Economic development districts established under this section are authorized and empowered:

          (a)  To sell, lease, trade, exchange or otherwise dispose of industrial sites or rail lines situated within industrial parks to individuals, firms or corporations, public or private, for industrial and warehouse use upon such terms and conditions, and for such considerations, with such safeguards as  will best promote and protect the public interest, convenience and necessity, and to execute deeds, leases, contracts, easements and other legal instruments necessary or convenient therefor.  Any industrial lease may be executed by the district upon such terms and conditions and for such monetary rental or other considerations as may be found to be in the best interest of the public, upon an order or resolution being spread upon the minutes of the district authorizing same.

          (b)  To sue and be sued in their own name.

          (c)  To fix and prescribe fees, charges and rates for the use of any water, sewerage, pollution control or other facilities constructed and operated in connection with an industrial park or parks and to collect same from persons, firms and corporations using the same for industrial, warehouse and related purposes and are further empowered to deny or terminate such services for nonpayment of said fees, charges or rates by the users of said services.

          (d)  To employ engineers, attorneys, accountants, consultants, licensed real estate brokers and appraisers, and such executive and administrative personnel as shall be reasonably necessary to carry out the duties and authority authorized by this section with funds available for such purposes.  Such districts may also contribute money directly to the development and cost of operation of any industrial development foundation or other private economic development group in the county.

     (6)  Any county board of supervisors authorized to issue bonds under this section is hereby authorized, either separately or jointly with the governing authority of any municipality within the county, to acquire, enlarge, expand, renovate or improve an existing building or buildings located in the county or municipality and to issue bonds for such purpose in the manner provided by this section.

     (7)  Economic development districts established under the provisions of a local and private act enacted before July 1, 1997, are authorized and empowered to employ engineers, attorneys, accountants, consultants, licensed real estate brokers and appraisers, and such executive and administrative personnel as shall be reasonably necessary to carry out the duties and authority authorized by this section, or by such local and private act, with funds available for such purposes.

     (8)  The enumeration of any specific rights and powers contained in this section where followed by general powers shall not be construed in a restrictive sense, but rather in as broad and comprehensive a sense as possible to effectuate the purposes of this section.

     SECTION 4.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.