An attempt to provide developer Mark Nicholas with a new public financing option for his anticipated boutique hotel project failed Tuesday as a special-called meeting lacked a quorum of aldermen, but Ward 2 Alderman Lisa Wynn says she’ll call for another gathering before June 6’s regularly scheduled board meeting, which also coincides with election day.
At least four aldermen are needed to transact business at regular and special-called meetings, but only the two who called the session — Wynn and Ward 1 Alderman Ben Carver — and Vice Mayor Roy A. Perkins were present at City Hall Tuesday. Ward 3 Alderman David Little was out of the country Tuesday, while The Dispatch learned Ward 4 Alderman Jason Walker and Ward 5 Alderman Scott Maynard were out of town Monday.
Maynard arrived back in Starkville following the meeting, while The Dispatch could not ascertain the whereabouts of Ward 7 Alderman Henry Vaughn.
City Clerk Lesa Hardin said all seven aldermen were properly notified of the special-called meeting.
“It’s disappointing,” Wynn said of the lack of a quorum. “I’m looking forward to (Little) returning from vacation, and I do believe he will before June 6. Our city really needs this project. It represents $21 million worth of investment and more than 100 jobs.”
Nicholas is attempting to receive reimbursements for infrastructure costs through the Mississippi Tourism Project Initiative Act, which, if finalized, would divert 80 percent of local sales tax collected from the project for up to 15 years and pay for Mississippi Development Authority-approved expenses.
The move would negate the use of a tax increment financing package, one that pledged 75 percent of sales tax receipts for infrastructure reimbursements, previously approved by the board of aldermen in 2014.
While Documents provided for Tuesday’s special-called meeting state Nicholas will not pursue previously agreed TIF funds in exchange for the state tourism rebate, an estimate of how much sales tax would be diverted in either scenario was not provided.
A special-called meeting before June 6 is the only way aldermen can approve of Nicholas’ request before the general election, as no other regular board meetings are scheduled before then.
Carver, Vaughn and Wynn all face re-election challenges that day.
Project details
Although Nicholas revealed few details about the boutique hotel project Tuesday, he said he’s hopeful it will break ground in July or August.
Construction on the 100-bed facility should take about 10 months and position the hotel to open before Mississippi State University’s 2018 football season.
Previously, Nicholas said he planned to develop a Holiday Inn on the parcel between his Cotton Mill Market Place development and the Mill at MSU. The planned hotel is now part of a different national brand, but he did not confirm the moniker.
Nicholas, however, did say the development will feature Azlin’s Steakhouse, a restaurant previously anticipated in the prior hotel project, and a rooftop bar facing the university.
“It will put Starkville on even playing ground with Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Athens, Georgia, Baton Rogue, Louisiana, and other (Southeastern Conference) cities. They all have boutique hotels,” he said. “We have our commitment letter for financing, and we’re finalizing plans now. It’s a large investment.”
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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