The Dawson County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 7 approved a memorandum of understanding that will convey county-owned property off Burke Creek Road to the Development Authority of Dawson County to support an industrial park.

The agreement, approved by motion and second during the board’s voting session, transfers disposition authority for the identified parcel to the development authority and clears the way for the authority to pursue site development and marketing.

The county’s vote followed a motion to move forward with the memorandum of understanding. Commissioner Gaines made the motion; Commissioner Stowers seconded. The board approved the MOU (vote tally not specified in the record).

Representatives of the Development Authority of Dawson County addressed the commissioners after the vote. A development authority representative thanked the board “for entrusting the development authority with what we consider to be this exciting opportunity, with significant impact for decades to come.” The representative said the industrial-park project “could take us the next 10 years,” and that board members have worked for years to prepare for a project of this scale.

The development authority described the MOU as a step toward bringing new industry to Dawson County, diversifying the local tax base and creating jobs that, the authority said, could help keep future graduates in the county. No timetable for conveyance or specific development commitments were included in the county’s action; the MOU delegates disposition to the authority and allows it to pursue further planning and partner recruitment.

The board briefly staged photographs with development authority members after the vote. No additional project financing, specific tenants, or deadlines were identified during the session.