TIM PRATT
With plans for the proposed Lynn Lane multi-use path at a standstill, Starkville officials this week asked the state to keep more than $1.2 million in unspent federal grant money until the project is ready for construction.
The city would have needed to obtain all the necessary rights-of-way, and utility companies would have needed to relocate all their utilities along the proposed route, to meet the Mississippi Department of Transportation’s Sept. 30 deadline, City Engineer Edward Kemp said. The city also needed to have environmental and cultural assessments done by the cutoff date.
But with the deadline approaching, it became obvious the project wouldn’t be ready in time to receive the funding, Kemp said.
Mayor Parker Wiseman Wednesday wrote a letter to MDOT and asked the state to keep the roughly $1.2 million — the city never actually possessed the funds — until the project is “shovel ready.” The grant comes from the Federal Highway Administration, but is being administered by MDOT.
Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.
This, in my opinion is why the city needs to create a “Grant Writer/Administrator” position. I have written and overseen the administration of several grants for the city. They are each unique. By not having a point of contact within the city, it can be difficult to identify the information you need in a timely fashion. I was fortunate to have Mack Rutledge as a go to person during my time on the park commission. He had many years of experience in dealing with municipal grants prior to becoming mayor. He was able to point out issues we might face in advance and help us avoid them.
I feel a person in this position would pay for their salary many times over. They would be in a position to assist groups in making grant applications for the city. They could also maintain the basic demographics needed for most grant applications and serve as the liason between the board, accounting, personnel, and other city departments in the administration of the grant. This individual could also be a resource in seeking out new grants the city could utilize to offset costs and extend our tax dollars.
Don’t you know the voters in Ward 5 are saying “Man, did we mess up!”
I’m not saying that. I have all the confidence in the world in Jeremiah.
If you are close to him, please tell him to stop trying to do so much on his first at bat. A single here, a bunt there and an occasional walk works a whole lot better than trying to hit every pitch out of the ball park.
Butch has a perfect game plan. JD needs to accept that it is acceptable to take a seat on the bench and sit out an inning or two. It doesn’t mean he’s a bad player. It just means there are others waiting to bat. After all, politics is most definitely a team sport.
I’m sure they all realize that. It takes every new board a few months to get their sea legs. You have to remember, for the most part, this is the first time they have ever worked together. The dymanics of this group will take a few months to even become established. I have no doubt the voters in each ward will communicate their thoughts to their alderman or alderwoman.
I stand by my Ward 5 vote. No offense Scott. I am glad that we have an aggressive Board who is not going to wait until the 4th year to get started. The Lynn Lane project was already in the dust before this Board took it over. There was not a “right” answer to that one.
Seriously though, what have they done so far besides vote to hold a public meeting about 7-day sales and agree to stripe bike lanes on a freshly paved, overly-wide road? Isn’t the point of a public hearing to hear what the public wants? Personally I want the Board to listen to our opinions instead of using blanket statements that “my constituents don’t want this.” Let’s have a public meeting and actually hear from the constituents!
I believe you Ward 5 vote has potential, but has some major growing to do.
Our new Mayor & Board has some weird definitions as to what constitutes a “public hearing”. 15 minutes per side is not a hearing. Ask the homeowners involved in the rezoning dispute.
Maybe they need to consult their traing manuals, BtDawg. Or find someone who can put a “guv-na” on their gas pedal so they can slow this thing down!