News and information about Starkville and Oktibbeha County
What a great quote in the SDN about the ad valorem tax situation.
Here’s the situation. Revenues are down. leaving a budget shortfall. The City has pared the budget down as much as possible. We’re borrowing to pave streets. Our water/sewer infrastructure hasn’t even been talked about. Taxes haven’t gone up in 20 years.
The question- is it time to raise property taxes in the City of Starkville?
Dennis Nordin, a local, made NPR’s weekend Sunday Edition this Sunday, August 17, 2008. The transcript is available from NPR.ORG.
The MS House decided they were going to fund Tyrone Ellis’s way to the DNC convention/Obama lovefest (not to be confused with the McCain war rally a few weeks later). After a public outcry, Ellis has said he would pay for his own way.
Shame on House Speaker Billy McCoy and House Majority Leader Tyrone Ellis. The Dems cry of partisan politics while point at the Senate and Gov ring pretty hollow now. Spinning the trip as an economic development exercise made it even a little shadier.
Nine years later, the Mississippi Horse Park keeps growing and bringing more revenue into the community. Year to date estimates put the impact at over $2 million thus far, compared with $3.4 million last year.
The Dispatch profiles expansion and events at the facility.
The SDN looks at the budget woes of the County and the effect on the paving budget. Interesting quote from Don Posey:
“I don’t have an answer for this,” said County Administrator Don Posey, who speculated that a pull out of Cadence Bank might have contributed. “They stopped paying their ‘intangibles,’ which, I think, are from bonds,” said Posey. This pull-out costed the county about $31 million.
So, what are their “intangibles?”
It also appears that you can pay the County to pave your road. Eight residents of San Marcos Drive are willing to pony up $1000 “donations” to the County if their road is paid.
UPDATE: The Dispatch chimes in with a little clearer article. Appears that Cadence had paid $30 million in taxes annually on bonds and other “intangibles.” The decided that they didn’t have to so all of a sudden, there’s a hole in revenues for the County.
So it hit me. What current TV show most resembles the GSDP saga? Battlestar Galactica.
Think about it. You have a group of human-appearing robots who follow their own agenda in an attempt to mold human society (the Cyclons/ Executive Committee) who have “boxed” their leader (David Thornell) while then try to find the Final Five (CEO candidate pool) who lead them to the Final One (the new CEO). Perfect, if not extremely geeky. This leads to all kind of parallels. Who would be Baltar? Tori? Bill Adama? Maybe that is the next poll question. (Shout out to the SDN-ers who read SN and enjoy BSG.)
Now is not the best time for the GSDP. With the resignation of COO Chance McDavid, it appears that the organization is in a holding pattern until the new CEO is named.
Interviews start Sunday/Monday for the new CEO with the aforementioned Final Five. The list was paired down from 7 to 5 early this week.
Several parties on behalf of one of those two candidates who got cut (we’ll call her/him Number 6) have phoned and email their concern with the process. Six’s resume is pretty impressive with major involvement at Miss. Development Authority on several levels, including helping to bring Nissan to the state. Six is also a Starkville native and MSU grad. I really question why this person didn’t make the final selection for interviews.
Here are two ways to look at it: either the other 5 candidates are much more qualified than 6 (or Number 7; my hope) or the GSDP powers want to keep the new CEO on a tight lease and want someone to fit into that role.
Here’s what I want: a proven leader who understands the dynamic between MSU, Starkville and Oktibbeha County. Someone who is young enough to be energetic and excited but old enough that this isn’t their first rodeo. Someone who has the vision and gravitas to take the organization beyond the restraints of it’s present boundaries, defy the status quo (if necessary) and LEAD the entire community.
Concern is starting to mount in some sections about the process (see post from yesterday referring to the SDN).
If you are in that group, let the GSDP Executive Committee know TODAY that the status quo isn’t good enough. They start interviews over the next few days.
Contact them if you are worried about the search (email would probably be best). Let them know that the public is watching.
Most names of the Executive Committee with contact info appear here.
Here it is in a list for ease of use (not all info is verified; there may be some dead links):
Terry Kemp – Board Chairman
COMPANY: Tennessee Valley Authority
LOCATION: 310 Research Blvd.
Starkville, MS, 39759
PHONE: 338-3160 (Phone)
FAX: 338-3192 (Fax)
EMAIL: tnkemp@tva.gov
Steve Langston – VP of Community Development
COMPANY: Sullivan’s Office Supply
LOCATION: 204 Main Street
PO Box 1007
Starkville, MS, 39760
PHONE: 323-5222 (Phone)
FAX: 323-8181 (Fax)
EMAIL: slangston@sullivansoffice.com
Albert Clark – VP of Economic Development
COMPANY: C. C. Clark, Inc.
LOCATION: 501 Academy Road
PO Box 966
Starkville, MS, 39760
PHONE: 323-4317 (Phone)
FAX: 323-6461 (Fax)
EMAIL: haroldclark@ccclark.com
Jack Wallace – OCEDA President
COMPANY: Boardtown Builders, Inc.
LOCATION: 1087 Robin Drive
Starkville, MS, 39759
PHONE: 323-3439 (Phone)
FAX: 323-3439 (Fax)
EMAIL: jandmjwal@aol.com
Michelle Amos – Chamber Chair
COMPANY: Coldwell Banker, S.R.E. Realtors
LOCATION: 411 East Lampkin Street
Starkville, MS, 39759
PHONE: 323-8700 (Phone)
FAX: 323-3051 (Fax)
EMAIL: cbsre@starkvillerealestate.com
Sumner Davis – CVB Chair
Contact info from msstate.edu
Dr. Melvin Ray – Secretary / Treasurer
Contact info from msstate.edu
Word on the street is that GSDP COO Chance McDavid has resigned from the Partnership to take a position at MSU.
Update 1: This just in from the GSDP.
Message from Partnership Chairman Terry Kemp:
McDavid to Step Down as Partnership COO
Dear Partnership Members and Media,
I have received official notification from Partnership COO Chance McDavid that he has accepted a position as community development project manager with the Mississippi State University Community Action Team. His last date of employment will be Friday, August 22, but he has agreed to be available to assist us as much as possible during the interim period.
Please join me in expressing my appreciation to Chance for his contributions to our organization and the community during his time with us. I’m confident he will still be a valuable resource even as he enters the next phase of his career.
Attached is a press release that will be sent to the membership, community leaders, and media later this afternoon. Thanks for your continued support of the Partnership.
Terry Kemp
Partnership Board Chairman
Update 2: Official Release
Partnership Official Leaving Post
STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Greater Starkville Development Partnership COO is stepping down to assume a position at Mississippi State University. Chance McDavid will soon begin a new role as community development project manager with the Mississippi State Community Action Team.
“On behalf of the Partnership, we recognize and appreciate the many contributions Chance has made to our community while serving in a leadership position at the Partnership. We wish him the very best in the next phase of his career recognizing that he will still remain a valuable contributor to the greater Starkville area,” said Partnership Board Chairman Terry Kemp.
“It’s been a pleasure to serve the Starkville and Oktibbeha County community. I’m confident the Partnership and the new CEO will continue to be a catalyst for promoting a healthy and sustainable environment for businesses, residents and visitors by encouraging collaborative relationships between the public and private sectors that result in positive outcomes for overall community betterment. There is no doubt the Partnership and the greater Starkville area are on the verge of even more exciting times.” McDavid said.
After joining the Partnership in 2006, McDavid has been primarily responsible for overall Chamber of Commerce initiatives and community development programs. He has been instrumental in the success of the Oktibbeha County Leadership Development Forum where four classes have graduated 70 alumni and ideas such as Jazz Night, Boardtown Ball, Johnny Cash Festival, and Moncrief Park improvements emerged to become successful community initiatives.
The Starkville Young Professionals (SYP) was launched under his leadership encouraging networking, civic engagement, and professional development opportunities by promoting the Starkville area as an ideal location for recruiting and retaining young talent.
Over 125 new members have joined the Partnership over the past two years, and the organization’s high retention rate earned the Partnership a Membership Achievement Award by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives. McDavid’s efforts will also result this fall in a major membership drive for the Partnership and a “buy local” campaign to encourage greater support of local businesses.
“One of the greatest assets of a community is the talents and skills of its people. We are fortunate to have so many businesses and residents actively engaged in diverse activities that positively impact our economy and quality of life. I’ve enjoyed immensely the opportunity to work with so many wonderful people. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to help bring the expertise and resources of MSU to communities and organizations across our state while remaining an active part of the greater Starkville area,” McDavid said
Depressing. No other word for it. Who thought this one up?
CVB board member Chip Carley was quoted in today’s SDN about his concern for the process:
“I’m concerned it’s being controlled by a couple of people. This position is critical.”
Carley noted he is not the only person who shares his views.“I just encourage you and the rest of the members of that committee to be very diligent and maybe expand the search to more candidates. … We can’t just settle this time. … We’ve got to have the right person in this job.”
Add to that mix this (unverified) quote from the comments section on the first CEO update:
“I was told Terry Kemp cut one qualified candidate personally that had much more experience than anyone being interviewed. He is afraid this candidate would come in and read the books and realize what a cluster the Partnership is and how bad the leadership has been the past 7 years. Trust me it wasn’t all David Thornell’s fault. Financially, the Parntership has been run so irresponsible and much money has been squandered. Terry Kemp cut this candidate because he knew he would be replaced on the board by this particular candidate and would not be involved in the process anymore. This whole process has been a sham and needs to be looked into and made public. This same good ole boy network is holding Starkville back again and it is ridiculous. We deserve better and we should start holding these people accountable for their actions.”
What makes that quote interesting is that it is from one of the posters who broke the Thornell resignation story.
I also was told that Craig Denson, Starkville native and former MDA employee, was cut from the “short list” pretty early on. Is that the above mentioned “qualified candidate?”
Are we heading down the same path?
From the GSDP offcies:
GREATER STARKVILLE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP CONTINUES THROUGH THE SEARCH PROCESS FOR NEW CEO
STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Greater Starkville Development Partnership continues to progress through the search process to fill the position of President & Chief Executive Officer. The development organization selected executive search firm The PACE Group to lead a national search to fill the position. The PACE Group is headquartered in Tupelo, Mississippi with offices in suburban Dallas and Chicago.
The PACE Group completed community leader interviews in June and prepared a Needs Assessment Report and Job Description. These reports were used to recruit candidates from all over the country as over 60 possible candidates were contacted from 16 states. Through these efforts 19 tier one candidates were identified and taken through the recruitment process to narrow the field to five finalists.
The five finalists were presented to the Greater Starkville Development Partnership Selection Committee for consideration. Four different states were represented in the finalists list including Mississippi. The Selection Committee will continue with the process and hopes to name a new CEO in the next 30-45 days.
CITY SALES TAX REVENUES The City of Starkville, Mississippi By Month as Collected … [More...]
Movie: Percy Jackson & the olympians: the lightning thief Showtime: … [More...]
Kiwanis of Starkville Partners with the Oktibbeha County Families First Resource … [More...]
Daniel L. Gardner Guest Columnist Those on the Left really do just want … [More...]
Sidewalks and bike lanes represent a major investment by the developers and … [More...]
Recent comments