Ocean Springs board members have voted to begin the process to annex about 12 square miles of county land on the fringes of the city limits.

The vote came after a 20-minute closed-door session Tuesday night.

Board members went into the closed meeting to discuss possible litigation over annexing the unincorporated areas of Mississippi 57 and Interstate 10.

City leaders said the annexation would affect about 1,500 residents.

School district boundaries would not be impacted by the decision.

Jackson County supervisor John McKay said the process could take as long as six months if there is no objection to the move.

The city anticipates the initial annexation hearings to begin in the spring.