A Lunch and Learn session, hosted by the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, offered a chance for city officials to discuss annexation with residents as Starkville continues work on an annexation ordinance.
Mayor Lynn Spruill gave a presentation — the same that consultant Mike Slaughter, who has been working with the city since it began its annexation study, presented to aldermen in early February — during the Lunch and Learn.
The presentation touched on a variety of topics, from how Starkville’s population will change to the number and type of housing units in the proposed annexation area, to the number of street lights needed for the new area and how much sales and ad valorem taxes it’s expected to generate.
The new area, which has been split into two study areas, extends east along the Highway 12 and 182 corridor to Highway 82 and Clayton Village. It also extends south on the east side of Mississippi State University’s campus to San Marcos Drive.
Should the city move ahead with approving the annexation ordinance, which Spruill said she hopes will be ready to go to the board in April, the new area will add 3.1 square miles and increase the city’s population, based on 2010 census figures, from 25,106 people to 27,146.
Spruill, who’s supported the annexation since the city began seeking it, said she views the population growth as particularly important in an effort to turn Starkville into the “star” of the Golden Triangle.
“Any growth, in my opinion, is a positive thing,” Spruill said. “Our neighbors are contracting. Columbus is losing population. It may not be the 32,000 that I had wanted us to be at — I wanted us to pop over 30,000 for this next census because I thought that would be a really dynamic number for us to be at — but that’s ok. I’ll take growth.”
An issue of fairness
During a question and answer session, Spruill said the city may not provide some services, such as water and sewage to certain areas. All of the proposed area already falls under water association service areas, and some falls under the service area of a sewer association. The city cannot provide its services to those areas unless the associations agree to allow it.
Some discussion also turned to the subject of hunting in the proposed annexation areas. Aldermen amended the city’s firearms ordinance to fit with Mississippi Code section 45-9-53, which sets forth guidelines for hunting on annexed territory, on Tuesday. The board approved the change 5-2, with Ward 6’s Roy A. Perkins and Ward 7’s Henry Vaughn opposed.
Under the statute, a shotgun, air rifle, air pistol, BB gun or bow and arrow can be used on land that is at least 10 acres and more than 150 feet away from a residence or occupied building located on another property. A center fire or rim rifle or pistol, or a muzzle-loading rifle or pistol of any caliber can be used on a piece of land that is at least 50 acres and more than 300 feet from a residence or occupied building located on another property.
Ward 3 Alderman David Little said the change should maintain what hunting regulations are already present in the county.
“Of course, prudent hunters aren’t going to be shooting — or shouldn’t be shooting towards any property or anybody else,” Little said. “That’s the state statute currently, so that should be applicable to anyone in the county as well, at this point.”
At another point of discussion, Austin Check, a training officer for Oktibbeha County’s volunteer fire departments, questioned how the city would provide water for fire responses in the annexed area before it lays line for fire protection water services.
He said the county has to use tanker trucks to carry water. Spruill said she will speak to Starkville Fire Chief about it, and the city may look into leasing or buying a tanker truck if needed.
Sistrunk said there was a question of whether people who live near the city and can take advantage of the services it offers are paying their fair share to help support those services.
“People who live adjacent to the city — they are paying some taxes when they pay food and beverage taxes — but they are not paying the fair share when it comes to streets, police, street lights, the kind of things they will use while here in town,” she said. “Most of the people who are adjacent to town come to town on the regular, to work, to get their hair cut, to shop, to whatever, and there is a fairness (issue). ”
Little said he thinks this annexation is much more conservative than the 1998 annexation, which added 10 square miles to the city which, at the time, was only 15 square miles.
“I think the 1998 annexation left a bad taste in some folks’ mouth and there’s been a bad perception as far as annexation goes when you mention that,” he said. “We hope to resolve that issue going forward, and this will become the new benchmark.”
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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