Supervisors move on court building, hear complaints on development

DeSoto County supervisors this week moved forward in building a new Justice Court facility. Specifications were approved and board members voted to solicit for bids to construct the building. The project, at about $7 million, will be built next to the Adult Detention Center on Industrial Drive West in Hernando. When finished, part of the construction will be a secured covered walkway between the jail and the court.

A public hearing on rezoning property on the southwest corner of Laughter Road at I-269 was moved to be held on Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. 

The property was rezoned from AR to C2 two years ago with stipulations of no showers and sleeping areas at fuel stations. There were statements several times that a truck stop would not be built there. 

In the current request, however, developers now want the sleeping and shower restrictions removed, with the belief being that there would be a truck stop built there, such as a Love’s Truck Stop. 

At Monday’s meeting, the developer asked for the delay so it may hold a meeting with citizens on Monday, Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. in an attempt to answer questions from property owners about the development. While the meeting is to be held in the Supervisors’ Board Room at the County Administration Building, the board itself is not holding the meeting.  

While the public hearing was moved, the board still heard from residents in attendance who spoke out about the project, all in opposition to a possible truck stop being constructed.