Mississippi § 55-3-7 - Transfer and dedication of lands for use as state forests, parks, etc.

§ 55-3-7. Transfer and dedication of lands for use as state forests, parks, etc.

The commission shall investigate and determine whether or not the public interests may be served by the utilization of any lands owned by the State of Mississippi, for state forests, parks, game and fish preserves, recreation centers, and for other public purposes, and the findings of the commission shall be submitted to the board of supervisors of the county wherein such lands lie. Thereupon the clerk of the board of supervisors shall post, or cause to be posted, in three (3) public places in said county, one (1) of which shall be the courthouse of said county, a notice setting out the findings of the commission and describing the lands involved and reciting that a hearing will be had before said board at its first regular meeting held after the expiration of twenty-one (21) days from the date of posting such notice, and that at such meeting any objections to the proposed transfer and dedication will be heard. Furthermore, the chancery clerk shall send by registered mail, with a return receipt requested, a copy of such notice to each person shown by the assessment rolls to have been the owner or of any of the lands concerned should such lands have been sold for taxes. However, any irregularity in the giving of such notice, either by posting or by mail, shall not invalidate any transfer or dedication made. After such hearing, the board of supervisors shall spread its findings upon its minutes, and if the transfer and dedication be approved, a certified copy of such findings shall be forwarded to the commission. The commission upon receipt of such resolution shall forward the same, together with its findings as to the description of such transfer and dedication, to the Governor. If he finds that the board of supervisors of the county wherein such lands lie has approved such transfer and dedication, he may, in his discretion, set aside and dedicate any lands owned by the state for such purposes above mentioned. After the Governor has proclaimed, set aside and dedicated any lands for such purposes, the same shall not thereafter be sold. However, no lands forfeited to the state for nonpayment of taxes thereon shall be so transferred and dedicated until after the expiration of eighteen (18) months after the date of maturity of such tax titles in the state.