City divisions merge under budget plan

editor — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:34:21 +0000

KELLY DANIELS

Starkville residents can expect a slightly higher sanitation bill after the Board of Aldermen voted Tuesday to combine several departments under one umbrella.
Beautification and landscape services will now operate under the Sanitation Department, thereby increasing the standard residential sanitation fee by $2.50 for a total monthly charge of $13.
The idea was proposed by Mayor Parker Wiseman a year ago and since then has been both championed and opposed by other board members.
The board approved it Tuesday with a 4-2 vote with Ward 7 Alderman Henry Vaughn and Ward 6 Aldermen Roy Á. Perkins voting against the measure
While Perkins argued that there seems to be no logical reason for the regrouping, Wiseman said it would unnatural to separate landscaping and landfill operations from the sanitation department.
Additionally, the city approved higher wages for city employees who are under federal
poverty levels and made it a policy to do so every year — both actions also opposed by Perkins.
It also addressed unequal pay among city employees, which was opposed by Perkins and Vaughn, who called the action unfair.
When asked, Personnel Director Randy Boyd said he preferred seeing an across-the-board cost of living adjustment before he would an equity adjustment.
Vice mayor and budget chair Sandra Sistrunk said that an across-the-board salary adjustment would cost the city $90,000 more than it could afford at this point in time.
“The money is just not there, in my opinion,” she said.
Salary inequities, however, naturally arise with compensation plans and continue at a fixed percentage rate if not addressed.
“These are people who are not paid consistently with their peers,” Sistrunk said, explaining that some department heads are paid less than their subordinates.

Tax increase

On the table for next week is consideration of a .45-mill tax increase, which would generate about $80,000 to help staff the new Fire Station No. 5 and begin to address a $2 million depletion over 3 years of the city’s ending fund balance, which is now only about $200,000, and provide a contingency fund.
Sistrunk, who did much of the work to put the budget together, presented it again on Tuesday during a public hearing on the tax increase. She received support from Ward 1 Alderman Ben Carver last month, but on Tuesday, he recused himself from budget discussions.
Ward 5 Alderman Jeremiah Dumas, however, said he thought the city should have raised taxes last year.
“Job well done,” he said, referring to Sistrunk’s budget proposal.
As expected, Perkins publicly disapproved of the tax increase, as he has promised he would during meetings last month.
“It’s my opinion that no tax increase is needed for the upcoming budget,” said Perkins, proposing a budget that would allow for a 1.75 percent increase in employee salaries and cut funding for outside agencies except for the Starkville and Oktibbeha County Library, the Oktibbeha County Humane Society and the OCH Regional Medical Center.
Vaughn concurred with Perkins, stating that the poor would suffer from a tax increase. But many citizens who attended the meeting had different beliefs.
Describing the budget as “bleeding,” members of the public, some who consider themselves to be fiscally conservative, entreated the board to raise taxes.
Former Vice Mayor Mary Lee Beal described the current administration’s budget situation as a result of the sins its fathers, sharing some of the blame.
“I was a part of that,” she said, later explaining that she lacked mutual support from her colleagues for a tax increase.
Richard Mullenax asked Perkins why he didn’t attend the Board of Supervisors meeting to protest their decision to raise the millage rate by 4.48 mils — a decision that affects city residents.
“We cannot levy taxes based on the poorest man’s ability to pay,” Milo Burnham said.
Chris Taylor, however, supported Perkins’ plan, which was based on more positive revenue projections than what the city clerk’s office presented.
The board will meet again on Sept. 15 to make a final decision on the budget.

Editor’s note: Other actions by the Board of Aldermen, including discussion on the sidewalk ordinance, will be reported in Thursday’s edition of the Starkville Daily News.

Starkville, MS

Staff Writer

Starkville Daily News

6eb5daf758cf0a9f1a0cdafccf376ec9

Starkville to join Main Street group

editor — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:30:53 +0000

PAUL SIMS

sdnnews@bellsouth.net

Starkville will officially become the 50th Mississippi Main Street community in a formal designation ceremony Thursday.
The public event will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the Greater Starkville Development Partnership office, located at 200 E. Main St.
“The City of Starkville is in an ideal position to join the Main Street program,” MMSA Executive Director Bob Wilson said in a statement issued Tuesday.
“We look forward to working with the current city, university and county leaders as well as other local and regional partners who are investing in downtown Starkville to make it an even better place to live, work and play for residents, students, alumni and visitors.”
Starkville is the only community designated for 2010.
Jennifer Gregory, vice president for tourism development for the GSDP, will oversee the Main Street program and Robyn Cain will serve as the Starkville Main Street program coordinator.
“We are thrilled to become a member of the Mississippi Main Street Association primarily because of the vast amount of resources that will be available to us as a member community,” Gregory said.
These include grant opportunities, networking with other, similar communities and staff and at a regional and state level who can help local officials troubleshoot and plan for upcoming downtown events and overall beautification and revitalization projects planned for the upcoming year, she said.
Local officials also hope to receive a grant through the Appalachian Regional Commission for charrette, a community design workshop where professionals in marketing and branding, landscaping, community planning, design and preservation will come into Starkville, Gregory said. With feedback from community members – these professionals will evaluate Starkville and provide recommendations and resources “for taking us to the next level as far as appearance, aesthetics, preservation and functionality,” she said.
Gregory also said: “We did have to go through a pretty rigorous application process, so we’re pleased that we were selected and we look forward to working with downtown merchants and restaurants in the future.”
Jan Miller, MMSA Central District director, has conducted training for committees based on the Main Street Four-Point Approach® – Organization, Promotion, Design and Economic Restructuring. Miller and MMSA staff will work with Gregory, Cain and the Main Street committees on work plans to revitalize and promote downtown Starkville.
Speakers on Thursday will include: Mike Armour, director of the Appalachian Regional Commission, Office of the Governor; Wilson; Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman and Joy Foy, director of Asset Development with the Mississippi Development Authority.
For information, visit http://www.msmainstreet.com/, call Jennifer Gregory at 323-3322 or send her an e-mail at jgregory@starkville.org.

Starkville, MS

Staff Writer

Starkville Daily News

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Couey: School year sees very few problems

editor — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:28:29 +0000

SHEA STASKOWSKI

sdnedu@bellsouth.net

From our school board.jpg

Few problems have been experienced within the Starkville School District in the new school year, Supt. Judy Couey reported Tuesday.
Couey delivered a report on the beginning of the new school year to the SSD Board of Trustees after board member Keith Coble had requested the information. Couey’s report included a variety of topics ranging from enrollment to carpool.
Couey said that the district ended the 2009-2010 school year with 4,058 students. The 2010-2011 school year started with an enrollment on 4,069 students and has already increased to 4,105 students. The biggest increase was seen in the 10th grade population at Starkville High School, Couey said.
Fifteen students have withdrawn from the district for various reason, which is .3 percent of the student body population, Couey said.
“One of the most important differences this year, funded through grants, was to increase teachers’ ability to get data on their students instantly through Easy Test Tracker,” Couey said. “We’re putting a lot of technology into the hands of the teachers and administration.”
Couey reported that principal meetings are now conducted weekly as apposed to the monthly meetings they held previously, and now Couey and other administrators are meeting with assistant principals as well, which was not the case previously.
“Principals reported a calm and successful start to the school year,” she said. “Aside from carpool, very litte problems were reported,” she added.
District administrators have already worked to address the carpool and bus congestion at Henderson Ward Stewart, and Assistant Supt. Walter Gonsoulin reported a noted improvement to congestion on The Hill, and members from the audience made audible confirmation.
Couey added that a complete assessment of safety and athletics have been completed by Mississippi State University and results will be discussed at the next board meeting.
Parent Sarah Coleman addressed the board after Couey’s report to give a “parent’s perspective,” of the start of school, she said.
In her address, she talked about “miscommunication” and “misinformation” that parents she talks with are experiencing. She stated that those issues have resulted in several families removing themselves from the district due to the “loss of faith and trust in the administration,” she said.
“If we continue in our current path... our schools will flounder,” she concluded.
Board President Bill Weeks was the only member to comment. He asked Coleman if she had ever talked with Couey. Coleman replied that in the past she had sent e-mail messages to Couey.
Weeks suggested to Coleman that she arrange for a face-to-face meeting with Couey “to gain some perspective” of the superintendent’s position.

Editor’s note: Due to space constraints, other actions of the school board will be reported in Thursday’s edition of the Starkville Daily News.

Starkville, MS

Staff Writer

Starkville Daily News

6eb5daf758cf0a9f1a0cdafccf376ec9

Citywide Tailgate set Oct. 1

editor — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:25:04 +0000

SDN News Staff

Citywide Tailgate 2010.jpg

Organizers for the 2010 Citywide Tailgate Party and Competition are out to prove that “the ring’s the thing” when the event celebrates the Mississippi State cowbell tradition in a few weeks.
Set 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 1 — the day before the Mississippi State Bulldogs takes on Alcorn State — the seventh annual event is sponsored by the Starkville Daily News with assistance from the Greater Starkville Development Partnership.
This year’s Citywide Tailgate theme is “The Ring’s the Thing: Respect the Bell.”
“With the cowbell being a traditional spirit symbol for MSU and the fact that they are being rung legally at Davis Wade Stadium this year, we wanted a Tailgate theme that reflects the excitement over cowbell use and encourages people to follow the rules for ringing them,” said SDN Editor Brian Hawkins, who coordinates the event.
As in years past, various awards will be given to winners in the Tailgate Party competition, which will be judged by local celebrity panels to be announced the week of the event. To avoid problems encountered in previous years with judges being able to reach all Tailgate sites in a timely manner, two judging panels will be scoring this year’s event.
Participating businesses and organizations will be judged in the competition according to the following criteria:
• Appearance and street appeal of their tailgate site.
• Creativity in reflecting the theme.
• Food presentation.
Awards will be given to the first, second and third place overall winners, as well as overall awards for best use of theme, best tailgate food and overall spirit.
All winners will receive special recognition in the Oct. 2 edition of the Daily News. Numerous photographs will be taken during the event, many of which will be selected for publication the Daily News and possible use in future GSDP publications.
All participating businesses and organizations will be listed in the Daily News as they elect to participate.
Judging for the Tailgate Party competition will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 1 and continue until all participants have been visited by the judging panel.
Judging will be conducted along specified routes that will be published in the Daily News that day, Hawkins said.
Because of high public interest in the Citywide Tailgate, participating teams are being asked ahead of time to set aside food for the judging teams to sample to ensure all teams get an equal opportunity for judging.
To enter the Tailgate Party, simply contact Hawkins by telephone at 323-1642 or by e-mail at sdneditor@bellsouth.net.
In years past, many of the Tailgate Party participants have been concentrated in the downtown Starkville area. The newspaper is again offering use of its west parking lot to any businesses, civic groups, churches or campus organizations who want to participate in the Tailgate Party and be a part of the downtown atmosphere.
Non-downtown groups who want to set up in the SDN parking lot can do so by letting Hawkins know when they sign up to participate. The deadline to register is 5 p.m. Sept. 30.

Starkville, MS

Staff Writer

Starkville Daily News

6eb5daf758cf0a9f1a0cdafccf376ec9

OCSD upset as proficiency goal not met

editor — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 02:31:06 +0000

By BRIAN HAWKINS

sdneditor@bellsouth.net

From our school board.jpg

Though Oktibbeha County School District students showed marked improvement in state test scores for 2010, members of the district’s Board of Trustees say that improvement was not enough after their proficiency goal for the district was largely not met.
The county school board had set one of its goals for 2010 that at least 40 percent o all district students would score proficient in all tested areas on the Mississippi Curriculum Test II and in subject area tests.
Elementary students are tested in language arts and mathematics, while high school students are tested in language arts (seventh, eight and ninth grades), mathematics (seventh and eighth grades, students taking Algebra I) and biology and U.S. history.
Though the district made gains in seeing children improve from the minimal to basic levels, and basic to proficient levels, test scores for only a handful of subjects met the school board’s goal of having 40 percent of students score proficient or higher on the 2010 tests, according to a breakdown prepared by Supt. James Covington and presented to the board in a Monday morning meeting.
“This is simply unacceptable,” said board member Cynthia Ward, noting that the district spent a good bit of money hiring consultants to work with teachers in an effort to boost test scores. “How have we changed what we’re teaching. That definitely has to be tracked.”
“We need to be in the schools to know what’s going on and what teaching is going on with the children. After all the help we’ve brought in, this is unacceptable.”
According to Covington’s breakdown, only third grade students at East Oktibbeha County Elementary School met the school board’s goal of 40 percent scoring proficient in both language arts and mathematics.
At West Oktibbeha County Elementary, third and fifth grade students met the board’s 40 percent proficiency goal in both language arts and math, while fifth grade students did meet the goal in math, Covington’s breakdown shows.
At East Oktibbeha High School none of the students taking the language arts, biology and U.S. history tests met the board’s 40 percent proficiency goal and only those taking the Algebra 1 test met the goal among the mathematics tests.
At West Oktibbeha High, only seventh grade students met the board’s 40 percent proficiency goal in math and language arts, as did students taking the U.S. History test.
Scores on the biology test for both high schools show that students did not meet the 40 percent proficiency goal as set by the school board.
“We’re teaching basically to the tests,” said board member Yvette Rice. “We have got to have what it takes to proficient or advanced in these test scores.”
The areas where the board’s goal of 40 percent of students scoring proficient or better represents where the teachers of those students were “on task,” Rice said.
“The high schools in most areas did not meet the goal,” Rice said.
Covington, who again stressed that strides had been made in moving students from the minimal to basic and from the basic to proficient levels, said specific plans have been made to address meeting the school board’s proficiency goals, but declined to discuss them during the open session of Monday’s school board meeting because some plans dealt with specific teachers and administrators, which constitute personnel matters to be discussed in a closed executive session.
During a subsequent discussion, some school board members made a direct correlation to teacher-administrator absenteeism impacting student performance on subject area tests and the MCT2. Rice suggested that teachers not be absent from school at least 30 days prior to the scheduled tests unless in an emergency. Rice also suggest that teachers not be allowed to be absent from school to attend workshops when “it seems they go and bring nothing back” to help them improve student performance.
“Some people are taking these workshops as a means of getting away or taking time to get something in their lives in order, and we are not supporting that,” Rice said. “These people are going to have to be in the classroom during the school year to be sure the students score well on the tests.”
Covington reminded the board that MCT and subject area practice tests are conducted at various points during the school year to help gauge student performance. Practice tests for English II, Algebra I, U.S. history and Biology I and makeup tests for subject area tests are scheduled at the high schools from Sept. 20 to 24.
Board member Herman Ashford urged Covington to make sure teachers honestly report scores on all practice tests to ensure that student progress is monitored.
“Things have to be done to do more than just look good on paper,” Ashford said. “We have to instill in our teachers that they have to report from the beginning so we can help them improve scores.”
Ensuring that all students understand material being introduced is also critical, especially when it comes to assigning homework, Rice said.
“Parents aren’t idiots. They know when people are teaching and when they are show-boating. Teachers need to be explaining material to be make sure students understand it,” Rice said.
The county school board has previously set future proficiency goals for students on MCT2 and subject area tests for the following years:
• 2011 — 50 percent of all students will score proficient or better in all test areas.
• 2012 — 60 percent of all students will score proficient or better in all test areas.
• 2013 — 70 percent of all students will score proficient or better in all test areas.
• 2014 — 75 percent of all students will score proficient or better in all test areas.
In other business Monday, the county school board:
• Approved land management and forestry recommendations.
• Approved the district’s test security plan. Evaluations by state Education Department officials found no problems with security during MCT2 and subject area test administration, Covington reported to the board.
• Approved a supplemental bullying policy for the district as required by state law. The policy defines bullying, the process for filing a complaint and the procedure by which complaints will be investigated and action taken by school officials.
• Decided to hold off action in responding to the 2010-2011 Mississippi School Board Association survey asking the board members to rank the top three legislative issues for the 2011 session of the state Legislature.
• Approved consent agenda items for travel and per diem expenses as well as the district’s claims docket.

Starkville, MS

Staff Writer

Starkville Daily News

6eb5daf758cf0a9f1a0cdafccf376ec9

Camper trailer burns on highway

editor — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 02:29:32 +0000

Kirk Rosenhan

south25a 008.jpg

A northbound motorist on Highway 25 just north of Craig Springs Road was surprised to see smoke and flames emitting from the camper trailer he was pulling. The mid-afternoon fire drew volunteer firefighters from Craig Springs station of the Sturgis/District 4 Volunteer Fire Department. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire; however, the interior of the camper was destroyed. No injuries were reported in the incident.

Starkville, MS

Staff Writer

Starkville Daily News

6eb5daf758cf0a9f1a0cdafccf376ec9

Hearing set on proposed tax hike

editor — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 02:26:43 +0000

SDN News Staff

From City Hall.jpg

Starkville residents will get to have their say on a proposed tax increase this evening when the Board of Aldermen holds a public hearing on the issue and the city’s proposed budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.
The Board of Aldermen will meet at 5:30 p.m. today in the City Hall courtroom.
At a special meeting Aug. 23, the aldermen approved — in a split 4-3 vote — a budget proposal that would increase the city’s ad valorem tax collection from 19.55 to 20 mills.
The budget proposal also includes outfitting and staffing of the new Fire Station No. 5, creation of Environmental Services Department and finance salaries for an additional information technology staff members, another building and codes inspector and an assistant city planner.
The proposal, which was presented by Ward 2 Alderwoman Sandra Sistrunk on Aug. 23, also allows the city to keep allocating funds to outside agencies and the Mississippi Horse Park and beef up the budget’s ending fund balance.
In addition to the public hearing on the budget and the proposed tax increase, the board is scheduled to discuss the proposed renaming of the Sanitation Department to the Environmental Services Department and the moving the landfill and landscape divisions from the Public Services Department to that new department, as well as discuss a minimum standard for poverty level for the city and possible salary equity adjustments for city employees.
Other items on the Board of Aldermen agenda include:
• A public appearance by Golden Triangle Planning and Development District executive director Rudy Johnson to discuss the planned construction project for his agency’s senior adult services.
• A report from the board’s ad hoc sign committee on recommended changes to the sign ordinance and discussion on setting a public hearing on the changes.
• Appointments to the Storm Water Hearing Board, the Tree Advisory Board and the Library Board of Trustees, the Starkville Housing Authority.
• A report from the Transportation Committee on possible amendments to the sidewalk ordinance.
The Board of Aldermen agenda is subject to amendment at the outset of Tuesday’s meeting. Copies of the agenda are available for download from the city’s website at http://www.cityofstarkville.org.

Starkville, MS

Staff Writer

Starkville Daily News

6eb5daf758cf0a9f1a0cdafccf376ec9

Remembering 9/11: An SDN Retrospective

editor — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 02:24:09 +0000

9-11-c.jpg

This Saturday marks the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center towers in New York City and a section of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The attacks forever changed our nation and how we as Americans view our national security, beginning a war on terrorism that has no foreseeable end.

The weekend editions of the Starkville Daily News will take a look back at how 9/11 impacted our community, and the newspaper staff would like to include perspectives from readers on the impact of the attacks on their lives. Where were you when you heard about the attacks? What went through your mind? How has our nation changed as a result? What is your most vivid memory of that day?

Readers can send their thoughts by e-mail to sdneditor@bellsouth.net or drop written comments by the SDN offices at 304 E. Lampkin St. during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) today through Friday. All
submissions must be made by 9 p.m. Friday. .

Starkville, MS

Staff Writer

Starkville Daily News

6eb5daf758cf0a9f1a0cdafccf376ec9

An update on area gas prices

editor — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 02:20:58 +0000

BRIAN HAWKINS

sdneditor@bellsouth.net

Gas price chart 9-7.jpg

Here's the latest chart comparing gasoline prices in Starkville and other communities in north and central Mississippi.

Starkville, MS

Staff Writer

Starkville Daily News

6eb5daf758cf0a9f1a0cdafccf376ec9

Family loses home to fire in Longview Sunday

editor — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 22:03:19 +0000

edmonds 003xx.jpg

Central Oktibbeha Firefighters were called to Dido road in the Longview Community at 2:41 a.m. Sunday. Arriving firefighters found the Edmonds house fully engulfed in flames. The Adaton/Self Creek VFD also responded and a water supply was quickly established through the use of water tankers. No one was home at the time of the fire.

Starkville, MS

Staff Writer

Starkville Daily News

6eb5daf758cf0a9f1a0cdafccf376ec9