Rankin County board approves purchase agreement for 15-acre parcel near Old Whitfield Road in Pearl

The Rankin County Board approved a purchase-and-sale agreement on Aug. 7 to acquire a 15-acre parcel adjacent to a 200-acre economic development site along Old Whitfield Road in Pearl for $36,666.67 per acre, about $550,000 in total. The agreement includes a 90-day due-diligence period before closing, which county staff said would likely put a closing later this fall.

County staff described the parcel as part of a 215-acre combined site and said the tract would resolve a utility-relocation issue affecting the larger development. Staff also reported no known wetlands, drainage or flood zone concerns for the 15-acre parcel.

Board member Steve moved to approve the purchase-and-sale agreement; Jay seconded the motion. Board members voted in favor, and staff said they would circulate a clean copy of the agreement to Samantha for execution once finalized.

The purchase is intended to add to the county's economic development site in Pearl and to clear outstanding utility-relocation issues tied to the adjoining acreage. The board did not provide additional details about the funding source for the purchase during the discussion, and staff gave no breakdown of how the acquisition would be paid for at the meeting.

Next steps stated at the meeting: county staff will complete due diligence during the 90-day period and, after a final contract is prepared, submit the document to Samantha for signature and closing preparations. No specific closing date was given.