By BRIDGETTE R. OUTTEN, News Messenger

In a move that city attorney Todd Fitts said he does not agree with, Marshall Independent School District attorneys have rejected a proposed agreement regarding ownership of the tax delinquent properties where football player Ed Jasper wants to invest $4.5 million in favor of an interlocal agreement.

"It's a difference of opinion between counsel," said Mayor Ed Smith Thursday evening at the city commission regular meeting. "But the point is that we need to cooperate and work with the school district as this is the way they feel they can best approach it, so we're going to proceed.

"It shouldn't take that much longer in the scheme of things," he continued.

In a meeting held between city representatives, including Fitts and City Manager Frank Johnson, and school district representatives, the district's attorneys disclosed that the initial agreement between the city, Harrison County and the district would not be in the best interest of the district.