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Rankin County board declares several nuisance properties, schedules others for hearing
Summary
Supervisors declared nuisances and sent several properties to justice court, closed at least one public hearing with no action and set a public hearing for a long‑running commercial nuisance review; actions came after staff showed photos and documented certified notices.
The Rankin County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 6 reviewed multiple nuisance‑property complaints, declared several properties nuisance conditions and set further proceedings for others.
Key actions and context
- Marie Chrisman, 279 Garth Farm Road (District 3): The board declared the property a nuisance and voted to send the matter to justice court after staff presented photos showing "rubbish and debris and inoperable vehicles". Certified and regular mail were sent and staff reported no contact with the property owner.
- Thomas Blair Newsons, 264 Garth Farm Road (District 3): Staff reported a complaint for rubbish and garbage. The board declared this property a nuisance and voted to send the matter to justice court after a staff presentation of photos and mailed notices.
- Dretzel and Crystal Porter, 307 Mill Creek Drive (District 2): Staff presented photos reporting inoperable vehicles parked in the street and explained the Reservoir Community District (RCD) prohibits on‑street parking. After discussion and a chance for the property representative to address the board, the public hearing for this item was closed with no action taken; the minutes will reflect no action for the review hearing.
- Dustin Toygo, 783 Whippoorwill (District 5): Staff said a certified letter was delivered and the homeowner requested more time because he was working out of town; the board cleared the nuisance (motion carried) and asked staff to monitor compliance.
- Property Group LLC, 1149 Old Fannon Road (District 2): The board held a review hearing on a long‑running complaint about grass, rubbish, parking‑lot and walkway repair and the condition of a strip‑mall parking area adjacent to residences. No representative from Property Group was present; the board set an explicit public hearing for Jan. 30 at 9 a.m. to address the matter formally.
Why it matters: Several of the properties reviewed are cited as recurring complaints (staff referred to "frequent flyers"). For residential nuisances the board repeatedly cited the complaint‑driven process—staff will follow up on further complaints and, where noncompliance continues, the county can pursue justice‑court action.
What the board recorded: For multiple items staff documented the initial complaint dates (examples: Oct. 2 and Oct. 17, 2024), circulated certified mail, and provided photographic evidence taken on the complaint date and on a recent follow‑up visit. Where owners or representatives attended, they sometimes described mitigation steps or asked for additional time.
Speakers and attributions: County staff (identified in the record as Brian) presented photographs and described complaint and notice history for each parcel. Supervisors asked follow‑up questions about occupancy, power, HOA rules and options for remediation. The record shows motions and seconders for each formal declaration and for setting the Jan. 30 hearing.
Next steps: Staff will pursue justice‑court filings on those properties the board directed for legal enforcement; the Property Group LLC matter will return for a formal hearing on Jan. 30.
Speakers quoted in this article appeared during the Jan. 6, 2025 nuisance property review portion of the meeting.
