Planning the future of Oktibbeha County Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman, left, speaks with Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum Monday at the city’s Sportsplex while former Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck, who now serves as special assistant to the president, listens in. Officials from the city of Starkville, Oktibbeha County, Mississippi State University and the Greater Starkville Development Partnership came together to discuss the area’s long- and short-term goals. / Tim Pratt
Don Posey has been serving as Oktibbeha County Administrator for nearly 15 years and, in that time, has seen administrations come and go, whether it’s in the city of Starkville, at Mississippi State University or on the county’s Board of Supervisors.
One thing that’s always been lacking, however, is a willingness to work together for the good of the city, county and university, Posey said.
With the installment of new Mississippi State President Mark Keenum last year and a mostly new cast on the Starkville Board of Aldermen, Posey said Monday he feels the region finally has a group of people that is willing to work together.
Officials from the city, county, Mississippi State and Greater Starkville Development Partnership gathered Monday at the city’s Sportsplex for a roundtable discussion on how to improve the region’s future. The goal is to come with a list of short-term and long-term projects or objectives which the entities would work together on to benefit the entire region.
“Together, we’re stronger than three separate entities,” Oktibbeha County District 4 Supervisor and Board President Marvell Howard said.
Each of the three entities, plus the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, will come up with a list of short-term projects, which they will discuss at a meeting later this month. The plan is to apply for state and federal moneys to complete those projects, though no specific projects were discussed Monday.
“That’s what we have to come up with now,” Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman said of the list of potential projects.
The group also will try to come up with long-term projects and goals within 60 days. Those projects would help shape potential growth and development over the next 10 or 15 years.
The city, county and Mississippi State University already are working on comprehensive plans, and will come together to make sure those plans have common goals and objectives, Ward 5 Alderman Jeremiah Dumas said. Dumas is one of five new aldermen serving the city, but also works as director of Mississippi State’s Environmental Collaborative Office and is an expert on sustainability and planning.
The willingness of city, county and Mississippi State officials to work together on their comprehensive plans “is something that, over the years, will benefit us all,” Dumas said.
Keenum agreed.
“If we can demonstrate our unity, that empowers us as a community to move forward,” Keenum said.
Greater Starkville Development Partnership President Jon Maynard had heard what he described as “horror stories” about relationships between the city, county, MSU and the GSDP before he took the job in late 2008, but said Monday he is encouraged by the recent progress.
“I think this is a significant move and we’re really on track to make this a great place ...” Maynard said.
Likewise, Posey was pleased to see the different entities making progress, even though no concrete plans or projects were proposed Monday.
“I’m just as excited as I can be about this meeting,” Posey said.
Joining Wiseman and Dumas from the city were Ward 2 Alderwoman Sandra Sistrunk, Ward 4 Alderman Richard Corey and Chief Administrative Officer Lynn Spruill. Representing Oktibbeha County were Posey, Howard and District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer.
Mississippi State was represented by Keenum, former Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck, who now serves as special assistant to the president, Dr. Melvin Ray, vice president for research, Kyle Steward, executive director of external affairs, and Mike McGrevey, vice president for finance and administration.
“What we’re doing now will make the whole county healthy, and if the whole county is healthy ... it will make us much more attractive to industries looking to locate here,” Howard said.
