By Rupert Howell
Attorney Bill McKenzie alerted Panola supervisors to a hearing concerning an appeal to a ”Special Exception” issued last month by the county’s Land Development Commission to Magnolia Rocks LLC/APAC Mississippi concerning gravel mining, wash plant and gravel crusher proposed for property southwest of Sardis and west of Highway 51.

McKenzie addressed supervisors during the First District regular board meeting Monday in Sardis. The hearing will be held during next Monday’s Second District meeting in the Batesville courthouse at 9 a.m.

The special exception was issued for 380 acres on Harris Road that has little or no adjacent residences. During last month’s hearing, objections came from another  gravel mine operator and from H & G Land Company who had an earlier agreement with APAC that got tied up in court.

APAC representatives said the H & G site was no longer in their plans during the October 12 Land Commission Hearing.

The appeal from H & G signed by Nolan West questions the economics of taking the materials mined from the property out of state where APAC officials said last month would account for about 80 percent of the materials mined.

McKenzie laid out the hearing’s structure, stating the H & G who requested the appeal will go first followed by APAC who will respond.

“They’ve (H&G) got to make a record (of the issues),” McKenzie explained while explaining to supervisors they needed to ask questions and get as much informations as possible.

“This is the only chance to make a record while in court,” he said and added, “You need to get that (information) before the board.”

The board attorney then said, “Y’all have got to make a decision one way or the other,” and suggested supervisors take the appeal under advisement after listening to both sides, visit the proposed site and make a determination December 14 during the board’s next regular meeting in Batesville.