Walls Mayor Pledges Cooperation With State Auditor Probe
Walls Mayor Keidron Henderson says the town will fully cooperate with the state auditor’s investigation into the town, even though he says no one from the auditor’s office has contacted him and he does not yet know what the inquiry is about. Henderson’s comments on Thursday, Oct. 29, were his first public response since State Auditor Shad White confirmed the probe a day earlier, according to the DeSoto Times-Tribune.
“I’m not sure what the investigation is or what it’s for,” Henderson told the newspaper.
What the Walls Mayor Told the State Auditor’s Office
Henderson said Town Attorney Emily Parker is expected to contact White’s office this week to find out what prompted the investigation. “We’ve got to figure out what is going on,” the mayor said.
Until then, town leaders have few details. White confirmed on Wednesday that his office had opened an inquiry. “We are aware of the allegations and have started our process, but we do not comment on the status of any investigation,” he said. The auditor’s office has not said:
- what allegations it received,
- who made them, or
- which town offices, funds or decisions are under review.
The Office of the State Auditor investigates suspected violations of the law by public officials, officers and employees, including the misuse of public money. An open investigation is not a finding of wrongdoing, and no one has been charged.
Rezoning Fight Over 1,200 Acres
The investigation comes as Walls, a small town in northwest DeSoto County, is divided over growth. At the center of the debate is a request to rezone about 1,200 acres to industrial use. The land is owned by brothers Robert and Will Abbay of Abbay AG Services. Will Abbay has said industrial zoning would allow large projects that could bring money and needed infrastructure improvements to Walls.
Many residents disagree. At a Sept. 22 meeting, the Walls Planning Commission voted against the rezoning after a crowd of residents spoke out. Many said they feared the change could open the door to a data center like the SpaceXAI facilities in nearby Southaven.
Key points in the dispute so far:
- The Planning Commission’s vote is a recommendation. The Walls Board of Aldermen has the final say, and the request has not yet gone before the board.
- Henderson has said the town has no current plans for a data center.
- The mayor held a series of listening sessions in October, where residents continued to voice frustration and worry about a possible data center.
What Comes Next in Walls
No date has been announced for an aldermen vote on the rezoning request, and the auditor’s office has given no timeline for its review. Because the office does not discuss open cases, updates may come slowly. When an investigation ends, the auditor can issue a demand for repayment, refer the case to prosecutors, or close it with no action.
Anyone with information about possible misuse of public funds by any Mississippi government body can call the State Auditor’s fraud hotline at 1-800-321-1275 or file a report at osa.ms.gov.
DeSoto County News will continue to follow the Walls investigation and rezoning request.
Related: Walls State Auditor Investigation Opened Amid Data Center Fight | Walls Residents Push Back on Data Center at Listening Session
Source: DeSoto Times-Tribune
