Starkville and Oktibbeha County seem to have difficulty with plaques and historical markers. Oktibbeha County has been struggling with the Unity Park designations so long the blue tarps covering the markers have faded.
Starkville has a similar history. Back when the Sportsplex was nearing completion, I was told by then director of the parks that the plaque ordered by the chairman of the Park Commission would not include the board of aldermen.
That was unacceptable so I ordered a plaque that recognized the board of aldermen who authorized and committed the city to the project. Alderman Perkins openly expressed a harsh opinion toward the chairman because he planned to deny the board that recognition.
My, how times have changed.
Starkville’s city hall is progressing nicely. It is on track for the completion date and is pretty much on budget, maybe even a little under. So what could be the controversy now? Would you believe the plaque for the marker of the building?
At the most recent board meeting Alderman Wynn decided the previous board did not merit recognition on the new city hall marker. Never mind that but for that board the project would not have happened. In fact, if memory serves, Ms. Wynn, Mr. Perkins, Mr. Vaughn and Mr. Carver all spoke in their reelection campaigns on the travesty that the building represented for the taxpayers of the City of Starkville.
Those are the same four who determined history be damned, there was no reason for those responsible for the building receive any recognition.
Those board members who voted for the private/public partnership making the building a reality were either defeated at the polls or chose not to run. What followed offered a revealing insight into human nature and an opportunity to show grace in victory. We currently seem to be in a graceless period.
Leaving the petty aspects of human nature out of the equation, let’s look at some history. As the Mayor so eloquently pointed out at this same board meeting, having more than one plaque on a city building is not unprecedented.
Four of the existing board members shouldn’t even be on the plaque. Four of the seven worked diligently to stop the project. If you guessed they are also the ones who voted to keep the prior board from sharing the recognition, you would be correct.
It is worth noting that at one point during the prolonged debate about the project, Alderman Perkins, expressed indignation that the city would proceed without taking the project to a referendum and vowed he didn’t want to have his name on the plaque. Why not honor that wish?
Fortunately that isn’t the way it works. Those who understand the importance of history and can see beyond the petty will accept that, like it or not, actions should be recognized. There should be two boards recognized, those in office when the building was planned, voted for, erected, dedicated and occupied.
That means three of the existing board members would be on both plaques. I am baffled that their self-interest is so wrapped up in denial of the recognition of those who actually made it happen that they would sacrifice acknowledgment of their own longevity. That too is history.
The Mayor has vetoed the action. If his veto stands the accuracy of history can be salvaged. Kudos go to the remaining aldermen who took the high road and grasped the importance of history and respected the need for it to be reflected in the plaque.
Aldermen Walker, Maynard and Little showed statesmanship and leadership. They acknowledged those who may have sacrificed their elected status for what they thought was right, thus according them their rightful position in Starkville’s historical commemoration.
A fun side fact to this little mini tempest is what they are sparring about is arguably not entirely appropriate. The City of Starkville does not yet own the building and won’t until the end of the lease/purchase period some 20 years hence. Perhaps the aldermen 20 years from now might like their names on the building as well.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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