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November 2008 |
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Changes in grant match requirements threaten project |
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Thursday, 09 October 2008 |
By KELLY DANIELS
Starkville Daily News
Either the Mississippi Department of Transportation has made a mistake or it has pulled a fast one on the City of Starkville, local officials say.
It was revealed during Tuesday’s meeting of the starkville Board of Aldermen that the proposed Lynn Lane bike path project may be a futile effort, due to sudden changes in conditions of the MDOT grant.
Proposed was a multi-use path on Lynn Lane that would extend from McKee Park to South Montgomery Street, where it would continue down and onto Locksley Way. MSU has pledged to hand over funds in order to connect the path from Locksley Way to campus.
The project’s total funding is $1,262,372, requiring an estimated $315,000 match from the city.
This match was previously considered acceptable as coming from in-kind services, meaning they city could pay through projects such as utility movements.
The city recently learned, however, that MDOT is requiring the city’s match in cold cash.
“In dealing with various agencies here, we’ve learned this grant is no longer pliable,” said Camp, who announced the news.
If the city cannot pay the match, it does not receive the grant.
“We don’t have the money,” said Vice Mayor and Ward 6 Alderman Roy Á. Perkins. “The taxes were just raised by 3.4 mills; the economy is tight, things are tight.”
Ward 3 Alderman P.C. “Mac” McLaurin said that during every conversation he had with Ron Cossman, who was instrumental in applying for the grant, he understood that the city’s share was an in-kind match instead of an upfront payoff.
“We just don’t have the cash lying around for that,” said McLaurin.
In addition, if the bike lanes are built, the city would be required to maintain them. City Engineer Edward Kemp said that the city has spent between $25,000 and $30,000 in engineering costs for the project.
On Wednesday, Starkville in Motion President Devon Brenner, who just learned this news Tuesday, said that she and Cossman are still trying to figure out the source of the problem.
“Our application stated that the city will provide in-kind services as a 20 percent match,” said Brenner. “When we wrote that grant a couple of years ago, we received letter of support.”
Before this surprise was discussed during Tuesday’s meeting, Brenner informed the board that Starkville in Motion is available to help with any leftover costs in constructing the path.
CVB budget approval on hold
The aldermen voted Tuesday to further study the budget of the Starkville Convention and Visitors Bureau before giving it the final rubber stamp of approval
McLaurin said that he had no problem with the budget as presented.
“I commend our bureau and council staff,” he said. ”But I’d like to hold this until the city has a chance to talk with the new executive officer [of the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, Jon Maynard] about some matters of mutual interest.”
McLaurin did not say what those matters were.
Ward 4 Alderman Richard Corey made the motion to approve the budget. He did not receive a second, and no aldermen would give reasons on the record why it was not seconded.
Planning and zoning matters
Camp broke a tie Tuesday by voting in favor of a zoning change from and R-5 (multi-family, high density) to a C-2 (general business) located on the western side of Lincoln Green at the intersection of BlackJack Road.
The board can vote in favor of a zoning change only if a zoning error has been proven or if changes in the character of the surrounding area have occurred in such a way that the area would be better suited under the zone for which the applicant applies. The burden of proof is on the applicant.
While City Planner Ben Griffith made arguments that recent “improvements” were equal to “changes,” he did not explain how these changes warranted a zoning change to an R-5.
“I could sit here all night and come up with reasons to approve or deny,” said Griffith after a series of questions from Ward 1 Alderman Sumner Davis III.
McLaurin, Davis and Ward 7 Alderwoman Janette self were not convinced by Griffith’s statements and voted against Corey’s motion to approve the change.
Last month, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted 3-2 in favor of recommending the zoning change to the board.
Commissioner Jerry Emison made a failed motion, seconded by Ben Bounds, to deny the request.
Other agenda items
In other business Tuesday night, the Board of Aldermen approved:
• Appointments to vacant positions on Starkville boards and commissions.
*The claims docket as of Oct. 2 and the report of receipts and expenditures for the period ending on August 2008.
• A resolution authorizing the city’s participation in the Oktibbeha County Hazard Mitigation Plan.
• The engagement letter from Watkins Ward and Stafford, PLLC for Starkville’s 2007-08 fiscal year audit.
• A request to close Lampkin Street from Worley Street to South Montgomery Street from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on October 10 for the citywide tailgate party.
• The purchase of a Bobcat 323 Compact Excavator for the water and sewer enterprise division from the lowest bidder, Equipment Incorporated, in the amount of $19,223.83, which will be charged in the fiscal year 2007-08.
• The rental of a high capacity pump from ICM of Memphis, the submitter of the lowest quote, to drain the Sand Creek sewer lagoon in preparation for closure at the monthly rate of $2,305.
• The hiring of Kayla M. Gilmore as a temporary full-time secretary in the absence of Carol Joy in the Sanitation Department.
• Changes in job classifications of the chief operator and associated wastewater jobs.
• A pay request from Renrock Construction LLC for improvements to George M. Bryan Field in the amount of $29,752.55.
• A pay request from Clearwater Consultant Inc. for a contract of engineering services to George M. Bryan Field in the amount of $21,253.40.
• An invoice from Clearwater Consultants Inc. for project development, bidding and construction of improvements to George M. Bryan Field in the amount of $8,000.
• A pay request from Master Craft Builders Inc. for mobilization and construction of 36 percent of the T-Hangar Foundation improvements to George M. Bryan Field in the amount of $44,770.50 from the 2009 MDOT multi-modal grant.
• A change order from Renrock Construction LLC for fencing modifications and concrete pipe bedding material to George M. Bryan Field in the amount of $26,604.
The board also authorized:
• Advertising for certified police officers to fill vacant positions.
• Advertising to fill a vacant apprentice lineman position within the operational division of the Electric Department.
• Stidham Construction, the lowest source of supply bidder, to install an 8,000 feet of a PVC water pipe in the amount of $62,216.
• Suncoast Infrastructure, the sole source of supply bidder, to perform smoke tests of 30,100 feet of sewer line in the amount of $12,040.
• The purchase of a fiber optic cable and mounting hardware from the low bidder, Stuart C. Irby, in the amount of $8,379.45.
• Camp to sign a letter to the Mississippi Development Authority indicating the source of funds for the payment of a revolving loan for the airport purchase of the Global Aircraft Property. |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 10 October 2008 )
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 |  |  |  |  | | Before our prayer of thanks for the big meal, each person
gets 2 kernels of corn. We pass around a small basket. As we each drop in the
kernels we share 2 things that we are thankful for during the past year. Later on
each person writes what they shared in our family journal and again on a plain white
cotton dish towel with a fabric pen. The dish towel is given as a gift to the
family who joined us that day to help them remember our celebration together and our
blessings from the Lord. - Linda Temme (Angola, IN)
After my husband and I moved away from Mississippi family
gatherings became more important than ever. We hold several traditions close to our
hearts. My cousin Susan (Good) Craig always makes the dressing. It was handed down
from my my Great - Grandmother Good. She used to say, " stand back kids - I gotta
stir the dressing." We still carry on this "stand back tradition" even though we
really don't know why we have to step back....My Dad, Johnny Upchurch
always fries the turkey and we all clamor to get the first sample.
Another tradition that my Mom, Nancie Upchurch, started is our annual "killer
dominos" game after the big meal. Even though the big meal is the main attraction
we never forgot all of our blessings and how much family means to each of us. Happy
Thanksgiving! - Robin Walters (Canton, GA) My sister & I cook everything for the entire family (parents,
neices, nephews, aunts, uncles & more). Our invitations always say something about
it's time to gather & give thanks for our bountiful blessings. It also says come,
enjoy and bring only your appetite. We use the china, crystal & silver - it's our
gift to our family. We are blessed! - Sharon Helms (Montgomery, AL)
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