The Board of Supervisors received a request from Jeff Arrington on behalf of the Clarke County Riding Club requesting 10 acres at the Industrial Park located off Highway 145 South to be used for equine events in the county.
The Clarke County Riding Club is hoping to provide horse riding opportunity for residents of Clarke County including barrel racing, roping, team penning, western pleasure, trail riding and rodeos.
“There are probably over 1,000 horses in the county and we want to be able to give people a place to ride,” said Arrington. “We think this will be good for the community to have big shows once a month and even rodeos. There are many in the community who own horses but do not have anywhere to ride and this will provide trail riding opportunities.”
The board did not take any immediate action but did state they would be willing to sit down in a work session with members of the Riding Club to work out the details and discuss it.
The county has owned 325 acres for the development of an industrial park on Highway 145 South and Highway 18 west for over 14 years; however there have been no industries or development to date.
“We are hoping for a 10 acre easement of dedicated space for the riding club with 30 acres for overflow parking in the event of large shows or rodeos,” said Arrington. The extra space would be needed because of the size of trucks and horse trailers.
“We would not be exclusive and it would be open for anyone to use the property for riding events,” said Arrington. “Also, the state of Mississippi passed a no fault insurance law that releases property owners if someone gets injured in an equine event. Riders ride at their own risk.”
The Riding Club is hoping the board will approve the 10 acre easement and bush hog the area east of the power line and remove stumps and downed trees, remove top soil from arena area and push trail around industrial park for trail riding.
Linda Breazeale of Mississippi State Extension Service also supported economic benefits in a recent article stating that communities with strong equine programs and facilities for events reap economic and recreational benefits across the state.
Lauderdale County has an Ag Center that has created an economic boost to the county where many events are held throughout the year.
In other business, the board approved the hiring of Amy Chandler, Leah Cook, Jared Ivy, Gregory Perry and Tammy Pitts as part time trainees for 911 Dispatchers on a 90 day probationary period.
•Approved the placement of speed bumps to be put on Clarion Street in DeSoto as a high speed deterrent
• Approved appointing Sheila Johnson to serve as a justice court clerk with the sheriff’s department along with Sherry Tucker
• Approved the publication of a public hearing for the road closure of CR 1151 in District One.
• Approved the advertisement of bids for a bridge replace on CR 474
• Approved 4H Club to use the county van for Club Congress at MSU May 31 – June 3rd
• Approved a resolution at the request for Honorable Polly Covington for Joshua G. Clarke in the Hall of Fame.
