Rankin County board approves Project Blue Horizon development agreement and authorizes land negotiations

The Rankin County board voted to approve a development agreement for Project Blue Horizon and authorized staff to negotiate acquisition of a 32-acre parcel linked to the project during the meeting.

Speaker 3 presented two additional-business items: the proposed development agreement for Project Blue Horizon and authorization for right-of-way consultants to extend an offer and negotiate the purchase of county property from private landowners associated with the project. "The first is the proposed approval of a development agreement for our project called Blue Horizon," Speaker 3 said, and the board placed both items on the agenda.

On the development agreement, Speaker 3 asked that the board consider approval and grant authority for the board president to sign on behalf of Rankin County, with a condition that the agreement be subject to final review and approval by the board attorney and contingent on approval by the City of Pearl. Speaker 2 moved the motion to approve the development agreement and Speaker 2 seconded; after a recorded "Aye," the chair announced, "Motion carries." The board also recorded that "there was no action taken during executive," reflecting that nothing from the earlier executive session required formal action.

The board then agreed to authorize right-of-way acquisition consultants to extend an offer and negotiate the potential purchase of a 32-acre tract identified in the meeting as "Rankin County Parcel F8-four" on terms described as commensurate with a prior county purchase across Spauld Whitfield Road. Speaker 2 moved the motion to authorize negotiations; following an affirmative vote the chair said, "Motion carries."

At the meeting's close Speaker 1 moved to recess to a later February date (the motion text references both February 5 and February 13 at different points); Speaker 3 confirmed there was no immediate action required on pending litigation. The provided transcript ends before a recorded vote on the recess motion appears.

The approvals for the development agreement and land-negotiation authority are recorded as contingent: the development agreement requires final review by the board attorney and approval by the City of Pearl before the board president's signature is to be affixed. No dollar amounts, purchase prices, or detailed contract terms were presented in the transcript.