A lease agreement has been finalized between the Board of Supervisors and organizers of the Tate County Fair for use of the former Chromcraft property.
County Administrator Cole Massie outlined a few of the main points at the Supervisors’ monthly meeting Monday, Feb. 3.
“The lease will automatically renew for one-year terms unless the county gives a 30-day notice,” Massie explained. “The two parties, the county and Fair board, agree the county reserves the right to continue marketing the property. If the county sells the property, the agreement will void on the date the property is sold.”
President Bo Humphrey and other members of the Tate County Fair Board appeared before Supervisors in January requesting permission to use of the southwest and central sections of the property on Norfleet Drive, which has essentially been known as the Tate County Fairgrounds the last several years, for this summer’s fair June 19-21.
Humphrey asked Supervisors to put something in writing to prevent organizers from making the repetitive annual request. A previous lease agreement between the Fair and county was signed in January 2020 before another lease, which ran from 2021 through 2024, expired December 31.
One of the directives outlined in previous leases includes provisional use for the Fair if it does not interfere with future development of the property which is owned by the county.
Northwest Business Park was recently developed on the southeast portion of the 100-acre site and is home to First Security Bank and Sawyer Scott Eyecare. Both of those businesses previously operated in other buildings in Senatobia.
Clerk Stacey Suddoth reported to Supervisors January was another solid month for Tate County Justice Court with a sharp increase in revenue.
Suddoth said $65,010 was generated in January compared to $46,436 in January 2024. TCJC handled 297 criminal and 121 civil cases in January, a rise from 273 criminal and 62 civil in January the previous year.
Justice court collected $22,353 in general fines last month including $11,253 for traffic violations, $5,333 for uninsured motorists and $1,616 for other misdemeanor offenses.
Some very special guests were present at the meeting as Shelbie Helton and Jo’Siah Shaw, sixth-grade students at East Tate Elementary, led the pledge of allegiance and Kenai Williamson, a senior at Independence High School, provided the opening prayer.
Supervisors approved the following items on the consent agenda:
• Circuit clerk and election commissioner claims for for purging poll books (Wooten – $550.00; Johnston-$550.00; Dowl-$550.00; Floate-$660.00; Blount-$660.00; K. Blount-$550.00).
• Receipt of the monthly credit card report for the previous month.
• Receipt of the Comparative Budget Report for the previous month.
• Payroll claim of $1,850.00 for 10 completed reports for Coroner Ernie Lentz.
• Payroll claim of $185.00 for one completed report for Deputy Coroner Whitney Nickels.
• Payroll claim of $740.00 for four completed reports for Deputy Coroner Jeffrey Sowell.
• Justice Court Settlement of $65,010.33 and warrant list.
• Travel (to include registration, mileage, meals and lodging) for Tony Sandridge and Cole Massie to attend Tate County Council of Governments Legislative Trip in Washington, DC March 2-5.
•Circuit clerk claims for a grand jury session.
