Rankin County supervisors adopt flexible tax-exemption policy, approve two conditional-use permits and set fire-district millage hearing

Rankin County supervisors on Aug. 4 adopted a new policy for property-tax exemptions for new and expanding industries, approved a conditional-use permit for a small mining operation and a conditional use for an accessory pool-house, voted to support Rankin First in seeking state site-development funds for an industrial park in Florence, accepted bids for three surplus fire trucks and set a public hearing Aug. 28 on a proposed millage increase for the Reservoir Fire Protection District.

The board adopted a revised tax-exemption policy that removes fixed minimums for investment and job creation and leaves both the dollar amount and term of exemptions to supervisors’ discretion on a case-by-case basis. County and Rankin First officials said the change was intended to give the county flexibility when negotiating with prospective companies while remaining subject to qualifying requirements in state law.

Supervisors approved a conditional-use permit for R and J Construction Inc. to mine a four-acre, MDEQ-exempt site on Rankin Road, subject to standard conditions: limited hours of hauling, no Sunday operations, a daily requirement to keep public roads clear of debris, on-site dust control (a water truck), posting of truck-warning signage and a 200-foot gravel construction entrance. County staff reported one written complaint about noise, dust and pre-permit operations; the board acknowledged the complaint and approved the permit.

The board also approved a conditional use for an accessory pool-house at 1215 Patriotic Circle requested by property owner Katie Barber. The board required permit language making clear the structure may not be used as a dwelling (that is, it may not contain the combination of bedroom, bathroom and kitchen that would constitute a dwelling).

Rankin First asked the board to adopt a resolution supporting a Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) grant application to advance a proposed industrial park in the city of Florence. The grant would aim to extend water and sewer service and install park signage; if awarded, the local match was described as $125,000 each from Rankin First and the city of Florence. The board approved the support resolution.

The board accepted high bids from Deep South Fire Truck for three surplus vehicles offered for sale; staff reported Deep South submitted the highest offer on each truck and the board authorized completing the sales. The board also approved final payout paperwork that will require AJ Construction Inc. to reimburse the county $4,336.29 on the Brandon Road overlay project because of MDOT final-quantity adjustments.

In other business, the board acknowledged receipt of a written request from the Reservoir Fire Protection District to raise its annual millage from 9 to 13 mills and adopted a resolution of intent to publish notice and hold a public hearing at 9 a.m. Aug. 28 in the board’s offices. County staff said the hearing notice must be published for three consecutive weeks and posted in three county locations under code section 19-5-189.

Public comments during the meeting included two items the board noted for follow-up. Tim Salem of FastCAD asked the board to schedule a meeting on Aug. 11 to resolve questions about a county purchasing/haul contract; county staff said they would continue to arrange a meeting. Alan Siegler, a journalist with Mississippi Today, said he had filed a public-records request showing $509,000 in opioid-settlement money received by the county and said his request had not produced documents explaining how the money is being managed; the board acknowledged the request but did not provide additional documents at the meeting.

The board made several routine administrative approvals during the session: consent agenda items were approved; the tax collector was authorized to void specified mobile-home tax bills (account 134520 for one mobile home relocated to Simpson County, and account 134578 for a mobile home demolished in 2022); the board acknowledged objections to the 2025 tax assessments and other assessment-petition items brought forward by the tax assessor; and the board appointed Supervisor Steve Gaines to fill Rankin County’s vacant seat on the metropolitan planning organization policy committee. The board also recessed into an executive session to discuss ongoing litigation, economic development negotiations and a personnel matter.

The board’s actions that required further administrative steps—publication of notices, certification to state agencies, or follow-up inspections—were repeatedly noted during the meeting. Staff and Rankin First representatives said state review and certification steps (for example, state review of property-tax exemptions and MDA grant requirements) remain part of each process.