The Starkville Board of Alderman will hold its biweekly meeting tonight at 5:30 p.m., discussing topics including Industrial Park sewer rehabilitation, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation plans and whether or not to allow dogs in cemeteries.
Public hearings will be held for the sewer rehabilitation project, which will require a CAP loan, and the resolution to adopt MEMA’s hazard mitigation plan. Also of note, Parks and Recreation Director Herman Peters will present the department’s first financial report since the city provided $60,000 to cover payroll, utility bills and other expenses in September.
As always, citizens are encouraged to attend and will have the opportunity for comment early in the meeting. The following provides topic backgrounds and brief explanations regarding agenda highlights:
Board Business:
Topic: Discussion and consideration of a resolution declaring the intention of the City of Starkville, Miss., to participate in the CAP Loan program for Industrial Park sanitary sewer rehabilitation and other projects upon completion. (A public hearing will be held for this resolution.)
Explanation: Worn cast iron pipes (among other issues) are in need of replacement at Starkville’s Industrial Park, especially as new developments arrives. On behalf of the City of Starkville, the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District is seeking a CAP loan, not to exceed $400,000, from the Mississippi Development Authority. After tabling this resolution last meeting, the board will hear a report outlining future sewer projects pertaining to this grant and the effects this plan will have on customer rates.
For more information on CAP loans, please visit this link: http://www.mississippi.org/index.php?id=54
Topic: Discussion and consideration of a resolution declaring the intention of the City of Starkville, Miss., to participate in the MEMA District 4 Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Explanation: In part, this plan will merge the existing Calhoun, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Clay, Lowndes, Monroe, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Webster and Winston County hazard mitigation plans into one regional plan – updating efforts to reflect current conditions. Adopting the plan will also keep Starkville eligible for federal assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Act in the event of a declared disaster.
Topic: Discussion and consideration of the Cemetery Board's recommendation regarding animals in the cemeteries.
Explanation: This motion recommends that no dogs (except those permitted by ADA law) be allowed in the three cemeteries owned by the city, a motion spurred by concerns surrounding Odd Fellows Cemetery on University Drive.
Public Appearances:
Helen Taylor will speak before the board on behalf of the Starkville Brickfire Project, a non-profit organization that provides child care, after-school tutorial services and summer enrichment programming to over 150 low-income student per day.
For more information, please visit the Agendas & Minutes section of the Starkville city website: http://cityofstarkville.org/index.aspx?nid=242