On Monday, the Sunflower County Board of Supervisors voted 3 to 1 to extend a tax abatement to Indianola businessman Sam Rosenthal.
In the final vote, Supervisor Gloria Dickerson was the lone no vote. Supervisor Anthony Clark was absent.
The decision came after an extended debate that evoked questions from supervisors Riley Rice and Dickerson. Board President Glenn Donald stated at the onset that he was for granting the tax break.
By law, the county can only grant the reduction if the city does so first. However, the county has the option to not allow it, although in times past it has always followed whatever the city has done. The only stipulation is that the person or entity must make a formal written request.
At a special call meeting in June the City of Indianola decided to grant a 100 percent, 7-year abatement at Rosenthal’s (Sam’s) request for renovations on and the new construction of buildings located in the 200 block of U.S. 82.
Dickerson wanted to know how the abatement of tax was going to benefit the county. “What are they going to do for us?” she said. Rice inquired about the number of jobs the businesses were going to produce. “I just want somebody to tell me how many,” he said.
However, Rice made it clear that they were not against the tax break for the business owner, but would like to postpone a decision until their next meeting in order to have the owner appear before them to get their questions answered.
Attorney Johnny McWilliams explained that they have never in the past required the business owner to appear, but just submit their request in writing. He made it clear, “We don't have to do it, even if they (the city) do it,” he said. Donald said that Attorney Gary Austin submitted the paperwork for Rosenthal.
Donald insisted that Dickerson’s and Rice’s reluctance could stymie the economic growth of the county if it were to get out that county lawmakers were not for granting tax reductions.
During the lengthy discussion, Dickerson also raised a question about the reason why a recent Indianola business (Platinum Plus Care) was denied an abatement when they came before the county board. McWilliams reminded them that the city had not granted the tax reduction so the county could not. He said he understood that it was because the company had done the work and opened the business prior to making the request and that was not in alignment with the city's policy.
Donald stressed, “This board wanted to give it to her, it's just that we were not able to do it because the law says the city has to do it first and we follow suit.” Maple Campbell, owner of Platinum Plus Care, was present during that portion of Monday’s session and was asked by Rice to comment on why the city turned her down.
Campbell said that she was told that it was because she had an existing building and the renovations had already begun. She alluded to how it appears to be a similar situation to the Rosenthal request, but he was granted the reduction and she was denied.
Campbell contends that although Mayor Steve Rosenthal stated she had been in operation several months when she made the request, she had first mentioned it to him in 2016.
She said since her initial appearance before the city’s aldermen, she has also sought an attorney general's opinion and was told that it was up to the city. Campbell said she was supposed to revisit the matter with the city lawmakers, but when she attempted to get on the agenda she was told by the city clerk that she could not and when she inquired, she was told that the mayor disallowed her attempt to be placed on the agenda. Campbell further contends that the mayor also told her that the item would not be revisited.
Donald finally interrupted the discourse and advised that the session was not a “hearing” and that the matter needed to be addressed with the city. More discussion ensued and Rice finally relented and made the subsequent motion to approve, but asserted that the county needs to have a set policy from the city for future requests.
McWilliams said the city needs a good procedure that spells out the conditions under which an abatement will be granted so the county would know what to expect. The lawmakers voted unanimously to impose a moratorium on future requests until a written policy is received from the city.
In other business,
The county officials denied a request for office space, free of charge, for Dr. Rosie King, executive director, Rehabilitative Services, Inc. The officials said they have no space available and McWilliams reminded them of an attorney general’s opinion that said the board is not authorized to provide free office space for a non-profit organization.
Jonathan Troyka, South Delta Planning and Development, appeared before the county supervisors to request a resolution to apply for phase one of a Mississippi Home Corporation grant program through South Delta.
MHC is in the process of reenacting the home grant program and is in need of economic and population data from the county. The grant will be for $500,000 and normally the county is able to use the money to tear down and build five new houses when the grant is awarded.
However, this new process will split the grant and only two new homes will be built and the other $300,000 will be used for home renovations, which will allow more citizens to benefit from the funds.
