Rankin County board authorizes officials to pursue property transfer from Exide bankruptcy trust

The Rankin County board voted to authorize county officials to negotiate an agreement with professionals associated with the Exide Battery Corporation bankruptcy trust to transfer a parcel near the downtown Florence battery plant to Rankin County, and set a cap of $15,000 on related professional fees.

A board member moved to add the item to the agenda and the motion was seconded; the clerk recorded that “Steve seconded that motion” before the board carried the addition on a voice vote. During the subsequent motion that established the fee limit, the clerk recorded that “Brad seconded that motion” and the board again approved the motion on a voice vote.

The board also recessed the meeting until April 30 after a separate motion to recess was made and seconded; the clerk recorded that Steve seconded that motion and the motion carried on a voice vote.

The record also notes that, following an earlier motion to exit executive session, the board directed that “let the record reflect there was no action taken during executive.”

The authorization gives the board president, the county administrator or the board attorney authority to enter into an agreement with professionals connected to the Exide bankruptcy trust for the specific purpose of effecting a transfer of the identified parcel to Rankin County. The transcript states that professional fees associated with the transaction will not exceed $15,000; no further funding or contract details were provided in the meeting record.

Next steps were not outlined in detail during the session recorded here; the board recessed until April 30.