TERRY, Miss. (AP) — This small Hinds County town just outside of Jackson will be 60 percent larger in a few weeks.
Terry, because of a chancery judge's ruling last month, will annex about 250 undeveloped acres south of Jackson. Commercial and retail growth is expected along the Interstate 55 corridor.
"How this land would be developed would have a definite impact on the economic and quality of life of the town," Mayor Rod Nicholson said in an e-mail.
If the town follows the lead of places such as Ridgeland and Madison, it could become the next hot spot in metro Jackson. I-55 will be a draw for business.
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"Many companies will not locate in your area unless you do have an interstate," said Tim Coursey, executive director of the Madison County Economic Development Authority.
One business — Skinners Chevrolet Buick Pontiac GMC — already has moved to Terry because of the highway. The dealership, which relocated from the Crystal Springs area, opened about six weeks ago, and business has been steady, sales manager Clyde Dearman said.
"The move afforded us to stay in the area and also move into highway frontage for more visibility," Dearman said.
The location also provides the dealership with access to potential customers in larger cities such as Jackson and Vicksburg.
"There's some flight to the county, but people want to be close enough to the city" so they can take advantage of what it offers, Dearman said.
Terry's population has more than doubled in the past decade, to about 855 people. The population is projected to top 1,000 by 2010.
Those who live in the annexed part will pay a 129.49-mill tax rate, which includes Terry's 27.85 rate and the county rate. One mill equals $1 of taxes for every $1,000 in assessed value.
Terry will expand its volunteer fire department, police department and water and sewer services to the annexed areas. Nicholson said the town has a master plan, but there's no time frame for when anything will get done.
Terry and Byram, which is in the process of incorporating, are neighbors. The annexation will extend Terry's northern border to meet with Byram's in the area of Wynndale Road.
This effectively blocks any future expansion of Byram to the south, but the community still would have room to grow to the west.
But it's way too soon for Byram to be concerned with expansion, interim Mayor Nick Tremonte said.
Terry's plan for commercial development along the I-55 corridor is something that fits in with Byram's future plans for growth, Tremonte said.
"We're just going to worry about building a city right now," he said. "Growth is not a priority."
About 10 homes and six businesses are in the areas to be annexed. The majority of the acreage is empty lots.
Several residents opposed to annexation fought in court to keep it from happening because they don't want to pay more taxes.
"We don't like it," said one opponent, Freddy Geiselbreth, whose farm will be annexed. "But there's not a lot we can do about it."
Coursey lauded the town for annexing the land.
"That's the only way really that you can stimulate more growth than you've already got," he said.
Terry was settled in 1811 by settlers from Virginia. In 1867, the town of Terry was established when the railroad was built through the area. Terry was the home of Albert Gallatin Brown, the 14th governor of Mississippi.
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Information from: The Clarion-Ledger, http://www.clarionledger.com