Auctions Planned As Cleanup Gets Underway On City Properties
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Industrial fans line the former Water Valley poultry plant, where thousands of pounds of scrap metal and equipment are expected to be auctioned.
WATER VALLEY — Aldermen approved a contract with Taylor Auction Company to sell surplus equipment from the former poultry processing plant during their March 3 meeting, a move officials hope could generate tens of thousands of dollars for the city.
The vote to approve the contract was unanimous.
City attorney Daniel Martin explained during that meeting that the mayor and city officials consulted with the state auditor’s office before moving forward with the sale. Following that guidance, the city compiled a list of surplus equipment from the facility that will be sold at auction. The list of items will be entered into the meeting minutes.
Under the agreement, Taylor Auction will receive a 10 percent commission for conducting the sale. An auction date has not yet been set.
Located on Lafayette Street, the former poultry plant building, the adjoining 28.4 acres and rolling stock on the property were donated to the city in 2022. At the time of the transfer, city officials indicated that equipment and rolling stock on the property — including tens of thousands of pounds of scrap metal and industrial processing equipment — would eventually be put out to bid.
During discussion at the March meeting, Alderman Joe Magnuson asked whether the list of equipment included items now associated with the city’s utility commission.
“Does that list include what would now be under the utility commission — the garbage trucks and stuff up there?” Magnuson asked.
“No sir,” Martin replied. “We are handling the chicken plant and the equipment that was used to run the chicken plant,” Martin added, noting that the utilities commission will handle the other equipment.
A second auction involving surplus vehicles and equipment from city property on Blount Street is expected to coincide with the poultry plant sale.
The poultry plant auction will focus on equipment and materials left at the former processing facility, while the second sale will include surplus vehicles and materials being removed from portions of city property now overseen by the Water Valley Utilities Commission.
The commission has begun removing junk vehicles, outdated equipment and surplus materials that officials say have remained on the property for years.
Debate Over Use Of Auction Proceeds
Magnuson also asked whether a portion of the auction proceeds from the poultry plant sale could be directed toward parks and recreation projects.
“Could we earmark it so parks and recreation is guaranteed some funding?” Magnuson asked.
Mayor Tommy Reynolds said that would be possible but suggested another option as well, noting that some municipalities fund parks through a dedicated tax similar to the tourism tax.
Reynolds suggested a one percent parks tax rather than the two percent used in some cities.
“Charleston, Mississippi, got $9,000 for theirs a month before last,” Reynolds said about a tourism tax in the neighboring city that includes revenue for parks.
Reynolds also said the Parks Commission is expected to make budget recommendations regarding long-term funding.
Attorney Martin noted that Fire Chief Mark McGavock had requested that the city consider using some of the proceeds to pave the parking lots at the police and fire departments.
Alderman Demetrius Ingram questioned whether the auction would generate enough revenue to cover multiple projects.
“I don’t know if there will be enough for that,” Ingram said.
Martin said the city hopes the auction could generate around $30,000.
“The gentleman is not out of line on wanting to fund parks and recreation,” Reynolds said. “The chief is not out of line on what he wants. But it has to add up. I am not convinced this is going to yield a huge sum of money.”
Magnuson then made a motion to allocate five percent of the auction proceeds to the city’s parks and recreation fund. The motion passed unanimously.
