By Rupert Howell
Panola County Land Commissioners approved a classification variance that will allow Cecil Franklin Still, Jr. to sell and repair used vehicles and farm equipment on property located at 12427 Highway 35 south of Batesville at last Monday’s monthly meeting held in Sardis.

Still explained that he would soon be retiring and would be working in a shop next to his home repairing and cleaning vehicles and small farm implements that he would sell from the lot on the next to the highway’s right-of-way.

A request to reclassify property from agricultural to commercial to operate an auto body and repair shop on property at Hentz and Green Road near Pope and the I-55 interchange was withdrawn by Ted Stewart who was encouraged to resubmit the proposal next month as a request for a variance.
The variance would put a time limit on the property’s use and allow commissioners another look at the property’s classification when the landowner returns at the end of the variance’s time, usually 5 to 10 years or more.

The next meeting is scheduled for November 10 at the Batesville Courthouse at 6 p.m.