Mississippi Official Criticizes High Court for Biloxi Tidelands Decision
The Mississippi Secretary of State, Michael Watson, is expressing his disapproval for the state Supreme Court's decision on a tidelands lease in Biloxi.
Last year, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that local officials in Biloxi had the legal right to hire a private company, RW Development, to construct a new pier with accessible facilities for the disabled. The Harrison County Board of Supervisors and the City of Biloxi both agreed with RW Development to create the $3 million pier.
However, RW Development isn't investing $3 million into making the pier accessible for the disabled out of kindness. Their ultimate goal is to acquire control over the tidelands at the southeast corner of Beach Boulevard at Veterans Avenue. This will enable them to pursue gaming on the property.
For the past 15 years, RW Development has aspired to create a casino resort in Biloxi, but their plans have been consistently rejected by the Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC) due to the distance from the Gulf's mean high-water line. Mississippi's gaming statute authorizes land-based casinos, but only if the gaming floors are within 800 feet of the coastline.
By acquiring the pier development and the adjacent vacant property, RW Development will be able to build a casino space and a resort on the land they initially intended.
State Secretary Reacts
Watson critiques the political motives behind the Biloxi casino project, which has been approved by county and city officials and endorsed by the state gaming regulators.
Watson believes the RW Development situation is more politically driven than a legal issue. "The issue here really smells more of politics than a legal development," he said in an interview with the Magnolia Tribune.
Watson disagrees with the state Supreme Court's decision that allowed Biloxi officials to proceed with the pier project without needing state approval, since the tidelands in question are state-controlled. However, as an elected official and attorney, he plans to adhere to the law.
Watson expressed his surprise at the MGC's recent approval for the casino's site application.
The Court believed that Biloxi did not require a new lease from the State for the pier project, confining it solely to rebuilding a public pier. The Commissioners determined that the existence of the original lease to rebuild a public pier made it possible for RW Development to enjoy private advantages on public land and file the necessary permits, even though they had previously been denied three times.
"As the legally designated trustee agent for the State's Public Trust Tidelands and a Gulf Coast native, I am committed to safeguarding the Trust and guaranteeing its benefits for all Mississippians," Watson stated.
Casino Details Not Yet Revealed
RW Development has yet to divulge any information about the scale of the casino resort they intend to build in Biloxi. The company is led by local businessman Ray Wooldridge.
The MGC's recent approval of the casino's site plan grants RW Development three years to submit a detailed proposal and secure the necessary approvals from state and local authorities.
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