The purchase of about 50 acres of Sixteenth Section lands back to the Lamar County School District could provide an opportunity for the district by connecting two current parcels along U.S. Hwy. 98.
Board Attorney Rick Norton told the school board members about the $60,000 purchase during Monday night’s meeting at the district’s board room in Purvis.
“Leasehold interest was being held on 50 acres of land right across from Brett Favre’s property on U.S. Hwy. 98,” he said. “We have quite a bit of property there that is in two pieces. This land is in between those two pieces. So, we are going to deed this land back from Charter Land, LLC, so that we can connect the other parcels that we have.”
Norton said a marine sales and service business has about a 3-acre stake on the land. South Mississippi Marine is located at 7967 U.S. Hwy. 98, directly across from the Favres’ property.
Norton said the deal with Charter Land proved an economic benefit for the school district.
“Some of the board members know several years ago we had an opportunity to try to buy the property,” he said. “What we paid now is probably a third or a quarter of what they wanted to sell it for then.”
The acquisition of the land also gives the school district a larger, contiguous parcel to lease.
“Now, there is a large parcel for future uses,” Norton said. “We have secured that; we appreciate the assistance from Charter Land. That gives us a real opportunity for that tract of land.”
The Mississippi Secretary of State serves as trustee working with the local school districts to insure that the lands are managed well and that the revenue from leasing is maximized. Sixteenth Section lands are classified according to use for leasing: Agriculture, catfish farming, commercial, farm residential; hunting and fishing (forest lands) industrial, and other.