NATCHEZ &045;&045; The Adams County Board of Supervisors agreed several weeks ago to purchase 6.84 acres of port land from Riverside Central Services for $660,000.

The 3-2 vote in favor of purchasing the land was taken at a Dec. 10, specially called executive-session meeting. The minutes from the meeting were approved at Tuesday morning’s meeting. Supervisors had previously declined to comment on the matter until the minutes were approved.

The land, currently owned by Butch Brown, includes a bulk loading facility, the scales and all related equipment and a 1,600-foot railroad spur. Almatis AC, Inc., of Vidalia, La., is one of the largest companies that uses the facility’s bulk commodity facility.

The purchase of the land and facility is not final and depends on the county obtaining financing.

The minutes from the meeting read, &uot;…upon payment…Riverside Central would simultaneously pay all real and personal property taxes owed to Adams County…including taxes for the year 2004. Additionally, Riverside Central Services, Inc., would immediately pay the Adams County Port and indebtedness owed by Riverside Central Services, Inc., up until the date of closing.&uot;

Board President Darryl Grennell, who voted against the land purchase, said he felt the county was overpaying for the land. Grennell quoted the appraised value of the land to be $380,000, though other supervisors quoted a much higher number.

Official records from the chancery clerk’s office were not available at press time.

&uot;We are paying $660,000; in addition, are taxes owed to the county and money owed to the port,&uot; Grennell said. &uot;I just don’t agree with that at all.&uot;

Brown, who said he has owned the land for about 30 years, would not comment on any debt.

Brown said he originally paid over $600,000 for the land and has made numerous improvements since then. He said the land was probably worth around $1.3 million.

In addition to Grennell, Henry Watts voted against the land purchase while Thomas &uot;Boo&uot; Campbell, S.E. &uot;Spanky&uot; Felter and Sammy Cauthen voted for the purchase.

Felter said the purchase would increase revenues for the county and pay for itself within a few years.

&uot;It’s an income producing piece of property,&uot; Felter said. &uot;They (Riverside Central) were making the money and we weren’t. We are going to make the money. I don’t think it was a bad move.&uot;

Felter referred to numbers gathered by the board during research saying the county previously collected $2.65 per ton loaded at the site, but will now collect the full amount of $8.50.

Grennell acknowledged the port commission recommended the purchase of the land and the port commission said the buy would pay for itself.

&uot;Personally, I think there were alternatives,&uot; he said. &uot;In addition, I think the county is taking on too much debt.&uot;

Watts said he simply felt $660,000 was too much to pay.

&uot;It’s creating more debt than we need,&uot; he said. &uot;The projected tonnage, the revenues, going in and out of the port did not have enough contingences in it; therefore, it was unrealistic in my opinion.&uot;

Campbell said owning the property and having a five-year contract with Almatis would give the county the opportunity to make thousands more each year.

&uot;In five years, we will make a profit that will clear the debt we incurred for it,&uot; Campbell said. &uot;It would be a huge asset, buying the part that is making money now, it’s enough for the port to be self-supported.&uot;