The Lafayette County Board of Supervisors approved the sale of a 22-acre lot in the Max D. Hipp Industrial Park to current lessee Magnolia Materials, LLC at its Tuesday, Sept. 8 meeting. The board subsequently waived the county’s 30-day public notice requirement for the proposed property sale, where Magnolia Materials plans to construct a hot-mix asphalt plant on County Road 166.
The board also rezoned parcels on Mississippi Highway 7 to commercial medium density zones, approved several infrastructure projects and recognized the Regents School of Oxford baseball team for its May 2026 state championship title.
Magnolia Materials moves toward purchasing industrial park property
“The county Board of Supervisors (has the authority) to sell county property without the need to advertise for public bid and without selling to the highest bidder, provided the board determines that the property … is surplus, … the sale will promote and foster the economic welfare of the community and … the sale is on terms constituting good and valuable consideration,” Brent Larson, president of the Board of Supervisors, said at the Tuesday meeting.
Supervisors approved Magnolia Materials’ request to purchase property from Lafayette County at the proposed asphalt plant site. The board also approved the company’s request to waive a 30-day notice requirement regarding an intended mortgage and deed of trust, allowing the company to move forward with financing without waiting for the full notice period required under its lease.
District 2 supervisor John Morgan challenged whether waiving the 30-day notice requirement was necessary before abstaining from the vote. County officials did not offer a response at the board meeting, and the remaining four supervisors voted to waive the notice requirement.
In a request from Magnolia Materials’ attorney to the county administrator on Sept. 3, the company justified that waiving the 30-day notice was necessary due to time constraints and the “necessity to close the contemplated action as soon as possible,” per reporting by the Mississippi Media Lab.
No public comment period was allowed at the meeting regarding the proposed sale of land to Magnolia Materials.
“Because the lease purchase agreement includes Magnolia Materials’ contractual right to purchase the property, the board has little, if any, discretion to sell the property as long as Magnolia Materials has met all contractual requirements and is in good standing under the lease,” Larson said.
Supervisors voted to obtain two fair market value appraisals for the property subject to the purchase notice. Elliott & Britt Engineering, PA, an engineering company based in North Mississippi, was also hired to prepare a legal description of the property.
Once the county obtains two appraisals, it will offer the property for sale to Magnolia Materials based on the determined fair market value. Magnolia Materials will then have the choice to accept the offer or reject the sale and remain under the property lease.
These developments represent the latest development in Magnolia Materials’ ongoing battle to construct an asphalt plant in Lafayette County.
The board signed a 35-year lease with Magnolia Materials in December 2025 for property in the industrial park. Under the agreement, Magnolia Materials is to pay Lafayette County $5,000 annually for use of the property.
The industrial park site was not Magnolia Materials’ original proposed location. Local developer JW McCurdy, owner of Magnolia Materials, initially sought to construct the plant on Mississippi Highway 328 near Taylor, Miss., but withdrew the rezoning application in October 2025 following opposition from nearby residents. McCurdy then moved his plans for the plant to the Max D. Hipp Industrial Park.
Opposition continued following the relocation. In May, supervisors voted 3-1 against a request from residents to rezone portions of the industrial park from I-2 heavy industrial to I-1 light industrial. The change would have prevented the proposed plant from operating at the site without obtaining a conditional use permit.
Residents opposing the plant subsequently appealed the board’s decision to the Lafayette County Circuit Court.
Highway 7 property approved for commercial zoning
Supervisors also approved a request from Alex Crossroads Properties, LLC to rezone two parcels in the 490 block of Mississippi Highway 7 South, north of Cross Creek Drive, to C-2 commercial medium density zones.
The properties were previously rezoned R-1 residential low density — an area with residential single-family homes with an average of 0.4 to 1.2 homes per acre. A C-2 commercial medium density zone is meant to accommodate community commercial businesses, such as retail centers or restaurants.
The decision followed a public hearing during which residents of the nearby Cross Creek neighborhood raised concerns about future development of the property, including additional traffic, construction and the negative effects that commercial development could have on surrounding homes.
Cross Creek residents questioned how additional commercial development could affect an area already experiencing traffic concerns. Residents asked for the impact of development on families living nearby to be considered as the property is developed.
Tyler Gorum, speaking on behalf of the property owner, discussed plans for retail development and indicated that a future development would undergo site plan review.
The board ultimately approved the rezoning request. District 4 Supervisor Scott Allen cast the lone dissenting vote.
Roads and further approvals
Supervisors approved a supplemental agreement for additional maintenance-of-traffic costs associated with the closure of the intersection of County Roads 166 and 101, where a roundabout is being constructed. The State Aid Road Construction program approved the supplemental agreement.
The board also authorized the advertisement of bids for a bridge replacement project on County Road 436, acknowledged a $93,936.29 law enforcement officer grant awarded to the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department for equipment purchases and approved final site plans for a warehouse addition at Fat Possum Records and the Eagle Tee LLC-Yocona Station Golf Club.
Regents Lions recognized for state championship
The board adopted a resolution recognizing the Regents Lions as the 2026 MAIS Class 2A Division I baseball state champions.
Regents finished its season 24-7 overall and was undefeated in district play with a 9-0 record. The championship marked the first state baseball title in school history.
