STARKVILLE — With the future of the Highlands Plantation resort community still up in the air, Oktibbeha County Sheriff Dolph Bryan and developers of the $60 million development came a bit closer to an agreement Monday.
The only resolution, however, came when the two sides agreed to meet again for negotiations.
The sheriff in recent months has asked the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors to contact the State Tax Commission with a request to revoke the resort status of Highlands Plantation — a 400-home community just east of Starkville, which also features Cowbells Sports Grill and a golf course that”s been closed since winter.
Bryan and Highlands Plantation developers appeared to have reached a compromise in recent weeks, where the county would ask the Tax Commission to revoke resort status on homes in the development, but allow Cowbells to retain its resort status. Without resort status, Cowbells wouldn”t be allowed to serve alcohol because Highlands Plantation is in Oktibbeha County, where the sale and possession of beer is illegal outside Starkville city limits. Although liquor and wine are legal for possession in the county, they only are allowed to be purchased in the cities of Starkville, Sturgis and Maben — and in Highlands Plantation because of its resort status.
Another issue on the table
But now a new issue has been thrown into the Highlands Plantation dispute, which caused the sheriff and the resort”s developers to leave the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors meeting Monday with nothing more than a tentative plan to meet again: Cowbells” hours of operation.
Citing concerns about drunken driving, Bryan wants Cowbells to stop serving alcohol the same time as establishments in Starkville, which is midnight on weekdays and 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Starkville doesn”t allow Sunday alcohol sales.
“That would be my ideal thing, if Cowbells closes the same time as (establishments in) the city,” Bryan said.
As it stands, Cowbells has the ability to serve alcohol 24 hours a day, seven days a week because of the resort status, although it only stays open until midnight Sunday through Wednesday and (until) 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.
District 1 Supervisor Carl Clardy said he understood Bryan”s concerns about after-hours drinking at Cowbells and at homes in Highlands Plantation.
“I think everybody in this room would understand that, if the city of Starkville closed at whatever time — 1 (a.m.) or 1:30 — and you all are still open out there until 3 (a.m.) or 3:30, they”re all going to leave here — because I used to be one of those — and they”re going to pile up out there (at Cowbells),” Clardy said. “Trouble after trouble after trouble.”
Willing to compromise … some
Although developers of Highlands Plantation were willing to see the resort status get revoked on homes in the community, they don”t appear willing to cut back hours at Cowbells to match businesses within city limits.
“We”re already making concessions,” said attorney John Brunini, who was representing Highlands Plantation at the supervisors meeting, and said the after-hours service gives Cowbells an economic advantage over businesses in the city. “We”re willing to go to the State Tax Commission with you to revoke resort status on homes in the community. We”re trying to reach an agreement that … hopefully will allow us to remain a viable business.”
Bryan agreed to meet with county attorney Jackson Brown, Brunini and owners of Highlands Plantation to negotiate again.
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