In any county having a population of more than thirty-five thousand (35,000) but less than forty thousand (40,000), according to the most recent federal decennial census, any water or sewer system for which a finding is made under Section 49-17-44.1 or Section 77-3-22 by a court of competent jurisdiction that it is appropriate for a receiver to be appointed, the receiver shall give preference to a municipality within the county or to the governing authorities of the county in making any transfer of ownership of the water or sewer system. The term "preference," as used in this section, means that no sale or transfer of the water or sewer system shall be approved by a court of competent jurisdiction or otherwise until two (2) years after the date of appointment of the receiver have elapsed. This right of preference may be waived by the local governmental entity given the preference under this section.
Miss. Code § 77-3-22.1