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Sheriff: Revoke Highlands’ resort status |
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Tuesday, 03 March 2009 |
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By KELLY DANIELS
Starkville Daily News
County officials are considering the resort status away from the Highlands Plantation development.
After a plea from Sheriff Dolph Bryan to undo the status for the sake of “Mississippi State students’ safety,” the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors discussed the possibility Monday during its regularly scheduled meeting.
Bryan said that his office received 198 calls last year for deputies to respond to disturbances and other incidents at the development which began as a golf course and single-family development but has evolved into a student housing area with numerous condominiums.
The golf course operation — which included a clubhouse and restaurant where alcohol was once sold — shut down in December.
Bryan points to the sports bar, Cowbell’s, which is open until 3 a.m., and the high number of intoxicated people densely placed in the area.
“This county is dry, except for Highland Plantation,” said Bryan, recommending that the board write a resolution mandating the end to Highland’s resort status.
Revocation of the resort status would impact the sale of beer and liquor at Highlands. Beer sales are prohibited in Oktibbeha County outside the city limits of Starkville, but liquor and wine sales are allowed.
“If we do that, it’s going to have a great economic impact,” said District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer, adding that he does not drink.
Urging the board to look at other options, Trainer said that alcohol brings in sales tax.
“The owner has followed all the laws,” he said. “I think we need to bring the owner in to have this discussion.”
John Young, board president and District 5 supervisor, said, however, that it would be “premature” to bring the owner in during preliminary discussions.
The supervisors voted to further study the matter.
In other business Monday, the board voted to further evaluate the appraisals of property owned by Clay Richardson, who is considering swapping The Girls and Boys Club, which he owns, with property owned by the county.
Richardson gave the club’s first six to eight months free and now charges the club $2,100 a month.
“I’m not in the business of selling property,” he said. “I’m in the businesses of buying it and renting it out... We’ve got to have an equitable swap.”
The club services 125 children daily.
Trainer said he would like for the Boys and Girls Club to have a free place to work.
“That’s my ulterior motive,” he said.
Editor’s note: A followup story on this issue will be published in another edition of the Starkville Daily News this week.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 04 March 2009 )
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