The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors Friday approved a resolution stating the board”s intent to negotiate with the city and developer for an inter-local agreement for a hotel project on Highway 45 North.
The Columbus City Council earlier approved a resolution declaring the city”s intent to issue tax increment financing bonds, not to exceed $450,000, for a new Hampton Inn hotel, to be located between Belk and Sweet Pepper”s Deli, on property formerly occupied by Thomas Trucking.
The money will be used for water, sewer, road and power improvements for the hotel, which is being developed by Dr. S.L. Seti, who owns the Hampton Inn in Columbus and the Hilton Garden Inn in Starkville.
The city would issue the bonds; the supervisors voted for the county to potentially enter an inter-local agreement with the city on the project.
In other matters, supervisors:
n Approved a resolution allowing the county to issue up to $30 million in bonds, if needed for an economic development project.
The resolution, which does not mean the county will issue the bonds, allows a two-year period to issue all or some portion of the bonds for economic development purposes.
A similar resolution, earlier signed by the county, recently expired with no bonds issued.
n Approved a request from George Irby, the city”s federal programs and building inspections director, for the county to apply for a Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks grant to extend the Columbus Riverwalk, tying it into a soccer complex to be constructed in the Burns Bottom area.
The grant, between about $300,000 to $460,000, requires a 20 percent match, which would be paid by the city; the county would provide in-kind services.
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