Planners offer services to county

Mike Slaughter and Nathan Willingham offered comprehensive zoning and planning services at the May 20 meeting to help Marshall County Board of Supervisors manage growth.

Slaughter helped with planning in Holly Springs and owns as an urban planning firm out of Oxford.

Slaughter said their firm helped update Lafayette County’s zoning ordinances and also works with Oktibbeha County and Pike County.

The firm offers a longrange physical health plan and plans for housing, shopping and restaurants.

Slaughter said he worked for the Town of Byhalia about 12 years ago.

District 1 supervisor Charles Terry asked what the first step Slaughter would take if hired to develop a comprehensive plan.

“Would you look at ordinances, or the general layout of the county to get the chosen community by choice, rather than chance?” Terry asked.

Slaughter said the firm would get a full understanding of the ordinances, then find out what county concerns are.

Then they would recommend changes and tell the county how to go about making the changes.

“It starts right here at the board of supervisors office,” Slaughter said.

The technical part of zoning would be outlined.

“There are no surprises. We proceed to produce, adopt and implement the plan,” he said.

District 3 supervisor Keith Taylor asked what the first step would be, to advertise for bids? Slaughter said it would not be advertised because it is a professional service.

Taylor said the county has had issues over previous years with legal issues in zoning.

Slaughter said the first step is to make sure any plans follow state law requirements for the process of rezoning.

“I think it’s long overdue, but this board has to talk about it,” Taylor said.

Slaughter prepared a comprehensive plan for Benton County several years ago.

He said development is coming with the construction of I-22. And the county needs to make sure the quality of development is held up or property values will drop.

“On a retainer fee and then bill?” Terry asked.

Slaughter said there is no retainer fee and the county would be billed for the detailed work monthly.

State representative John Faulkner dropped in the board room to praise the county for bringing in the $350 million funding for Project Poppy, a battery manufacturing facility.

“Economic people all over the state are happy for Marshall County,” he said.

District 4 supervisor George Zinn III commended the representative for trying to get a Medicaid expansion bill through the Legislature.

“Rural hospitals are suffering, not being able to take advantage of Medicaid expansion,” Zinn said.

The bill passed the House and was sent on to the Senate. He said the Senate sent a bill back that was hardly recognizable as the House bill.

“It was Medicaid expansion in name only,” Faulkner said. “Some people consider it not a handout for working people.”

Taylor thanked Faulkner for the work on setting state retirement contributions from employers at 0.5 percent.

Faulkner said the support for rural hospitals and support for the Holly Springs Utility Department was turned down.