Starkville aldermen accepted three Ward 6 roads as public thoroughfares and approved “bare minimum” maintenance projects for them Tuesday but not before board members questioned the fairness of how the city will pay for those fixes and alluded to inappropriate, election-year hijinks.
Hendrix, Fannie Dale and Roundhouse roads will soon receive grading and graveling, and similar efforts could be approved for Jessie Road and Treasure Lane once all privately owned right-of-way is deeded to the city.
Tuesday’s action brings a deal previously struck between the city and Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors to fruition. In September, aldermen approved an inter-local agreement for road and drainage maintenance once the thoroughfares were accepted as public streets.
In the deal, the county offered use of its labor and equipment for the projects. It will split material costs with the city, and Starkville is also responsible for 50 percent of overtime labor costs.
In return, aldermen agreed to add certain county roads within five miles of Starkville to its mosquito spraying program. The county agreed to cover 50 percent of materials and overtime labor for spraying efforts in the extended territory.
Mayor Parker Wiseman told board members the cost to the city for maintenance could run at least $20,000. Funding for the projects will come from the city’s collective street improvement line item, not Ward 6 Alderman Roy A. Perkins’ discretionary fund for ward-specific projects.
In this 2016-17 budget, each alderman has $75,000 appropriated for discretionary street work. Originally, the budget included only $40,000 per ward, but Perkins pushed through a measure in December that added $245,000 (or $35,000 for each ward).
Carver: ‘I think everybody in this room knows what’s going on’
Without singling out Perkins directly, Ward 1 Alderman Ben Carver said Tuesday’s appropriation was “an act of design” happening in an election year.
“To see the street improvement fund not distributed fairly is something I’m not supportive of,” Carver said.
Ward 2 Alderman Lisa Wynn, who said she was supportive of improving infrastructure in all seven wards but uncomfortable with the mechanics funding Tuesday’s request, twice asked Perkins how much money remained in his ward’s discretionary spending account. Wiseman said he was unsure how much remained but “it does not approach” the projects’ total cost. Perkins yielded to the mayor’s defense of the projects, saying “Mayor, you’ve done a great job explaining it.”
Becoming frustrated with the lack of response, Wynn said: “That was just a simple question that I asked the vice mayor … then he’s going to say he couldn’t answer that question? Here I am trying to be supportive of him tonight.”
Carver also took issue with Ward 5 Alderman Scott Maynard adding Roundhouse Road’s acceptance and maintenance at the table during discussion. Carver called the addition “shady politics,” but Maynard said the item deserved to be on the agenda, as the last property deed needed for its acceptance was submitted to the city before the board meeting.
“This is something for show in an election season. You have the most vocal person on the board now that won’t say anything. I think everybody in this room knows what’s going on,” Carver said. “Having lived on Roundhouse Road myself, I understand the conditions more than anybody at this table. I think this could have been done in a better way.”
Ward 3 Alderman David Little suggested the city move away from piecemealing improvement budgets based on equally dividing funds between the seven wards, a policy change for which Wiseman echoed support.
If the city once again pools its money as it did in the past and allows City Engineer Edward Kemp to develop a comprehensive road plan, Little said aldermen could tackle major infrastructure issue more effectively instead of “putting Band-Aids” on problems.
Other business
In other business, aldermen also approved a $150,664 change order for the Starkville Police Department renovation project, which includes funding to cover requests by SPD Chief Frank Nichols — pavers, walk-off mats, vinyl tiles and other design changes — and unforeseen issues, like structural problems associated with previous renovations and infrastructure relocations.
The city has now approved three change orders for the project, totaling approximately $172,000, but is expected to remain on budget with contingency funding.
Starkville approved a resolution seeking $500,000 from the state this legislative term for the renovation effort. If fully funded, it will allow the city to add back portions of the project previously cut to help reduce costs.
Specifically, Wiseman previously said the city could spend the money on external security items — the construction of a sally port and installation of a secured wall for SPD’s parking lot — and tend to renovations to the former youth court space.
Renovations are expected to conclude in May.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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