County denies rezoning
Steven Williams, with McCarty Granberry Engineering, appeared before the board of supervisors on behalf of his client to seek approval for rezoning of a lot in a subdivision off Highway 309 South near Watson.
His client wants to put a Dollar General Store on a front lot in the subdivision.
Joe Pegram is the property owner, he said.
“It seems no reason why he couldn’t rezone,” Williams said.
District 3 supervisor Keith Taylor has opposed the rezoning of the property to commercial and objects to the property being used for a Dollar General.
“I work for the citizens of Marshall County,” Taylor said. “Overwhelmingly, everybody out there is against it. A lot of local businesses feel threatened about another Dollar General coming in.
“The main thing that bothers me is about the traffic. It’s a dangerous intersection there, until the state gets that curve (out). If you were opposed to it, I’d be right there fighting for you.”
Zoning director Ken Jones said two groups of individuals brought petitions opposing the rezoning, one with 187 names and another with about 131 names.
“My view, is if we rezone this commercial, we have no control over it,” Jones said. “They were 100 percent against it.”
Williams said Pegram wants to put in a new prototype.
District 1 supervisor Charles Terry asked where would the business be located within the subdivision.
Jones said on lot 7 or 8. “It would be bringing traffic into the subdivision?” Terry asked. “It’s on the front row,” said Taylor. “I’ll always stand up for people I represent. I don’t want to hurt moms and pops (stores) already there. Putting more traffic on that road would make it more dangerous.” “Existing populations would use it,” Williams said. The board then passed a motion unanimously to uphold zoning and to deny the rezoning of the property.
The board heard a pitch from Michael Schunmann with Chempro on herbicide application schedules. The company has contracts with over 20 counties in Mississippi, he said.
Spraying for winter weeds takes place in January, February and March to control winter weeds while keeping desirable winter grasses.
The application cuts down on bush hogging and labor.
Schunmann said the rate is $93 per mile covering both sides of the road. A summer application is also recommended, he said.
Some counties using its service include Tunica, Alcorn, Tishomingo, and Tippah. District 1 supervisor Charles Terry asked if the price is better than it costs to do the work by county employees.
Schumann said in some cases counties have used their service then took back over the spraying themselves.
District 3 supervisor Keith Taylor said the county needs to research what the county can do the work for before making a decision.
“We buy locally and give local people a chance to bid on chemicals,” Taylor said.
County road manager Mario Jeffries said the county used Roundup and Oust.
Chancery clerk Chuck Thomas said the company will need to know if the county wants to do a burn down or just apply enough to control growth.
“If you do a right-of-way kill it just grows back,” Schunmann said. “We want to leave good grasses and control erosion. We don’t want a scorched earth. We spray this time of year to get rye grass and use less chemical.
Then we apply in June, July, August or September – the summer spray.” Taylor asked how many days it would take to cover the roadsides so a bush hogging or more could be skipped.
“It will also cut down on the number of times to cut,” said Terry. “Is it better or similar to what the state does?”
Schunmann said weed and grass control “is more of an art, than a science.” “Timing is important and do the control when it needs to be done,” Schumann said. “Winter weeds, anything that is green, it will delay the first mowing cycle. It leaves you with fewer mowing trips.” Discussion completed, the board passed a motion to table the matter allowing time for the road manager to do research.
In other business, the board signed off on an emergency management grant presented by Leland Reed. He said the grant helps pay his salary.