Approval given for meat packing plant 5/15/2015

Published 12:00 am Friday, May 15, 2015

Approval given for meat packing plant


By Rupert Howell
Panola County Planning Commissioners approved a retail outlet store at a proposed meat processing plant near Como that will be the only USDA approved hog processing operation in Mississippi according to developer Mike Bartlett, whose son will operate the business.

Located east of Como on Home Place Road, the operation only needed commercial status to retail meat to local customers as the property is designated ‘agricultural’ which covers the processing operation.

Marshall Bartlett who will operate the business said Home Place Farms is currently having meat processed in a USDA approved facility in Tennessee. The USDA approved designation allows meat to be sold from state to state the younger Bartlett explained noting viable markets in Memphis and New Orleans.

Sign up for our daily email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

His father explained that USDA designation will require them to meet more stringent standards than the local planning commission would seek.

“USDA approval means you have to jump though a lot of hoops,” the elder Bartlett stated mentioning requirements of paved roads, paved parking lots and a lagoon that meets the Department of Environmental Quality standards.

Home Place Pastures is using sustainable farming practices with none of their animals being penned, using no antibiotics or genetically modified grains for feed with their animals.

The Bartletts explained that he operation would increase in stages with the first stage, raising swine and selling the pork already underway. Another phase will be processing and selling their pork at the new facility.

Another phase will be processing for others with Mike Bartlett stating that hogs, swine and sheep will eventually be processed at the facility but added, “No chickens.”

Slaughtering animals to process for others will be a phase added later and Marshall Bartlett said processing deer for sportsmen was a possibility down the road while explaining that deer are classified as gamemaking illegal to sell venison in Mississippi commercially.

The Bartletts estimated five or six employees would be needed for the operation with as many as 10 as additional stages are added.

Commissioners approved the request with no descent however Commission Chairman Sledge Taylor abstained citing business dealings and kinship with the Bartletts prior to their request.
Commissioners also discussed procedures to have burned structures condemned and demolished during the May meeting with board attorney Ryan Revere recommending Commission Enforcement Officer Chad Meek discussing the issue with the supervisor board attorney as any action or condemnation would have to be issued by that board.

Meek agreed to talk with supervisor board attorney Bill McKenzie prior to the June meeting which is scheduled Monday, June 8 at the Sardis Courthouse at 6 p.m.