JACKSON - A lawmaker says the aim of a bill that abolishes the Land, Water & Timber Resources Board is to put all economic development projects under the authority of one agency - the Mississippi Development Authority.
Sen. Charlie Ross, R-Brandon, introduced the legislation, the bill that would transfer the board's duties to MDA. The bill was amended in the committee to add an advisory panel that would offer nonbinding recommendations on agricultural projects.
The Senate Finance Committee approved the bill on Thursday. It now goes to the full Senate for a vote.
The board came under fire after Mississippi Beef Processors LLC closed its Oakland plant after only a few months in operation last year. The company's president, Richard N. Hall, cited malfunctioning equipment when he closed the $43.5 million facility, leaving 400 people out of work.
Hall has defaulted on a $35 million state-guaranteed loan. The total cost to taxpayers to date on the project is $54 million.
Ross said the aim is to hold one state agency responsible and accountable for economic development projects.
"With this cattle processing plant, Land, Water & Timber, where the idea originated, claims that MDA was supposed to be in charge of evaluating and administering, despite the fact that Land Water & Timber did the initial $5 million grant," Ross said. "I'm tired of agencies spending money, and then when it goes wrong, saying it's somebody else's fault."
Scott Sullivan, a spokesman for the state Department of Agriculture and a member of the Land, Water & Timber board, declined to answer questions about who was responsible for evaluating the beef processing project.
"The fact is the Land, Water & Timber Resources program is a legislative program. As in every year, whatever the Legislature decides is what we will support," Sullivan said.
State officials and the FBI are investigating the plant.
State Auditor Phil Bryant and Attorney General Jim Hood said they are in the midst of a criminal investigation as they track how the state money was spent.
Senate Finance Chairman Tommy Robertson, R-Moss Point, said the bill doesn't authorize additional funds.
"Whatever money is in there at this time, we will try to recoup what we can from the beef plant. It looks like we're going to have to take over this beef processing plant," Robertson said.
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, D-Brookhaven, said the advisory panel will ensure agricultural projects will be on the forefront at MDA.
She said MDA has 400 employees, but only two work on agriculture, which is the state's largest industry.
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