MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Local and Private

By: Senator(s) Furniss

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF COAHOMA COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY AND CONSTRUCT AND EQUIP A FREIGHT HANDLING FACILITY TO RECEIVE RAW MANUFACTURING FACILITIES BY TRUCK OR RAIL; TO PROVIDE THAT UPON THE COMPLETION OF SUCH FACILITY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF COAHOMA COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, MAY LEASE SUCH FACILITY TO CLARKSDALE, MISSISSIPPI, UNDER SUCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS IT CONSIDERS NECESSARY AND PROPER; TO PROVIDE THAT AFTER SUCH PROPERTY HAS BEEN LEASED TO THE CITY OF CLARKSDALE, THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES OF THE CITY MAY SUBLEASE THE FACILITY TO A MANUFACTURER UPON SUCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS IT CONSIDERS NECESSARY AND PROPER; TO AUTHORIZE THE CLARKSDALE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO PROVIDE ELECTRICITY AT A SPECIAL RATE TO ANY MANUFACTURER OPERATING THE FREIGHT HANDLING FACILITY AUTHORIZED BY THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. The Board of Supervisors of Coahoma County, Mississippi, is authorized and empowered, in its discretion, to acquire property and construct and equip a freight handling facility to receive raw manufacturing materials by truck or rail. Such facility may be built by the county using the proceeds from the Development Infrastructure Program of the Department of Economic and Community Development, the proceeds of a loan under the Local Government Freight Rail Service Revolving Loan Fund and, if necessary, any other available funds of the county.

SECTION 2. Upon completion of the construction and equipping of the freight handling facility authorized in Section 1 of this act, the Board of Supervisors of Coahoma County may lease such facility to Clarksdale, Mississippi, under such terms and conditions as it considers necessary and proper. After such facility has been leased to the City of Clarksdale, the governing authorities of the City of Clarksdale, Mississippi, are authorized and empowered, in their discretion, to sublease such facility to a manufacturer upon such terms and conditions as such governing authorities consider necessary and proper.

SECTION 3. As an inducement to industrial development, the Clarksdale Public Utilities Commission is authorized and empowered, in its discretion, to provide electric service at a special rate to any manufacturer operating the freight handling facility authorized by this act during the term of any lease of such facility from the City of Clarksdale by such manufacturer. Such special electric rate shall not be less than the amount determined necessary by the Clarksdale Public Service Commission to recover the actual cost of providing such service.

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