Bank of Holly Springs

Thieves hitting county property

Security at the Marshall County Fairgrounds will likely be stepped up due to breaking and entering and theft, according to Ken Jones, director of zoning and fairgrounds.

He said the fairgrounds has been broken into two or three times, and equipment was taken. He said burglars cut off chains at the gates and broke down the doors in every building, taking things out of freezers and refrigerators in the concessions area.

Chain saws and a side-byside were also taken.

Approximately $15,000 in damages and loss resulted. He said thieves used screwdrivers to pop doors open. The side-by-side was worth $6,000, he said.

District 3 supervisor Keith Taylor said Sheriff Kenny Dickerson should be consulted to find out what is needed for security.

Anyone who has information regarding these break-ins is asked to call the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department at 662-252-1311 and provide tips to the sheriff and investigators.

Zoning codes Jones said with the upgrading of zoning codes by the State of Mississippi, he would like to see if the codes can be made available online. New Albany, Union, Tate and Lafayette counties are putting the zoning codes online, he said. Jones also reported that more and more large buildings, about 50 feet long and 13 feet tall, are being located on 1.5 acre lots in platted subdivisions. “They have to be approved,” he said. “And people are using 24 foot by 24 foot double garages for storage. That’s an awful lot of storage in somebody’s backyard.” He said these large spaces are being used for business purposes in a lot of cases. Operating a business out of a platted subdivision on 1.5acre lots is prohibited by the zoning ordinances.

IDA report Justin Hall, executive director of Marshall County Industrial Development Authority, reported on investments and jobs in the Chickasaw Trail Industrial Park. In 2020 over 420 new jobs were created in the manufacturing and distribution sector, he said. Capital investments came to $210 million and included equipment and building investments. He said he is excited about getting a prospect for the new Springs Industrial Park this year. “I think we will see continued growth in industry and jobs,” he told the board of supervisors. “There are job opportunities if you want a job.” District 4 supervisor George Zinn III asked if there are any prospects for a site with a rail spur. Springs Industrial Park has a certified rail-spur site and there are landowners interested in working to get a large site opened up. A site with about 1,400 acres located on Highway 178 has railroad access, Hall said. “Having that certification is huge,” he said. “So when they come in they know they can come in with the environmental studies already done.”

Holly Springs South Reporter

P.O. Box 278
Holly Springs, MS 38635
PH: (662) 252-4261
FAX: (662) 252-3388
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