Lafayette supervisors to consider selling asphalt plant property

The Lafayette County Board of Supervisors will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 8 to consider beginning the process of selling property that is the site of the hot-mix asphalt plant under construction in the Max D. Hipp Industrial Park to Magnolia Materials LLC, according to a meeting agenda posted on Saturday, Sept. 5. 

 Five items on the Sep. 8 meeting agenda relate to the sale of the 33-acre lot to Magnolia Materials LLC, owned by J.W. McCurdy. The Lafayette County Board of Supervisors is currently leasing the lot to Magnolia Materials for $5,000 a year for 35 years. In the lease, which was signed by the board on Dec.18, 2025, before review of the plant’s preliminary site plan, a clause states that Magnolia Materials has the option to purchase the 33-acre lot.  

 One of the Tuesday agenda items states, “Acknowledge receipt of Magnolia Materials Notice of Intent to exercise option to purchase Industrial Park property.”  

Currently, the property lease says, “Landlord hereby grants Tenant the option to purchase the Premises (the Option) at any time following commencement of the Lease, subject to the terms set forth herein.” 

The lease goes on to say that after receiving Magnolia Material’s intent to purchase, the county must obtain an appraisal of the fair market value of the property. Item 14 of Tuesday agenda asks to approve obtaining two fair market appraisals.  

 “Approve obtaining two fair market appraisals for Industrial Park property subject to Magnolia Materials Notice of Intent,” the agenda item states.  

 The lease indicates that the board must return to Magnolia Materials with a price within 15 days after the appraisals are completed. 

Included in the agenda is an item to “approve Magnolia Materials’ request to waive 30-day Notice requirement regarding intended mortgage and deed of trust.” If the waiver is approved, the county will not have to provide the 30-day notice to the public that the lot would be sold. 

 Two legal actions have been taken against the asphalt plant. On May 14, Meg Faulkner DuChaine, John DuChaine and Ronnie McGinness filed an appeal to the board’s May 4 decision not to rezone portions of the industrial park from heavy industrial to light industrial, which if approved, would not have permitted the construction of Magnolia Materials. 

 On July 10, Meg Faulkner DuChaine and Thomas Faulkner filed an adverse possession lawsuit against the county for a disputed 1.37 acres of the Magnolia Materials lot, arguing that the acreage belongs to the Faulkners. Hearings have not been set for either lawsuit.