MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2023 Regular Session

To: Public Property

By: Representative Weathersby

House Bill 876

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 386, LAWS OF 2017, AS AMENDED BY SECTION 3, CHAPTER 449, LAWS OF 2018, AS AMENDED BY SECTIONS 1 AND 2, CHAPTER 363, LAWS OF 2019, AS LAST AMENDED BY SECTION 1, CHAPTER 412, LAWS OF 2022, TO AUTHORIZE THE MARION COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR ALL OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES FOR WATER, SEWER, ROADS, BRIDGES, AND ELECTRICAL, OR ANY OTHER PROPERTY ENHANCEMENTS OR IMPROVEMENTS EXPENDED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FORMER COLUMBIA TRAINING SCHOOL PROPERTY IN MARION COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, BEFORE THE PROCEEDS FROM THE SALES OF ANY PARCELS OF SUCH PROPERTY IS EQUALLY DIVIDED BETWEEN THE MARION COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AND THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI; 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 amended by Sections 1 and 2, Chapter 363, Laws of 2019, as last amended by Section 1, Chapter 412, Laws of 2022, 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.

     (4)  Upon sale or conveyance of the parcels of property conveyed hereunder, the Marion County Economic Development District shall first be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses for development of the parcels of property for water, sewer, roads, bridges, and electrical, or any other property enhancements or improvements and any remaining funds from the sale or conveyance shall be divided equally between the Marion County Economic Development District and the state.

     (5)  The parcels of property conveyed hereunder shall be sold for * * *not less than the fair market value as determined by the average of at least two (2) appraisals by qualified appraisers, one (1) of which shall be selected by the Department of Finance and Administration and both of whom shall be certified and licensed by the Mississippi Real Estate Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board such consideration as will best promote and protect the public interests, convenience and necessity.

     (6)  The Columbia-Marion County Airport Authority and the Marion County Economic Development District shall provide the Mississippi Department of Human Services six (6) months to harvest and sell any timber located on the property transferred using a company of the department's preference prior to any improvement or development being made on the property by such entities, the revenue generated from which shall be deposited into the State Treasury and earmarked for use by the Department of Human Services for all administrative and program purposes deemed necessary by the executive director.  Upon harvesting the timber on the property described in subsection (1) of this section within the time specified in this subsection (6), the Department of Human Services shall forfeit all future rights to any timber remaining on or regrown on the property, as well as any right of easement for accessing the property, and such rights shall then rest with the Marion County Economic Development District.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.