County to pursue eminent domain claim near CalStar site

A landowner’s refusal to grant an easement to the Golden Triangle Development Link required for water and sewer expansion for the CalStar project has forced county leaders to pursue an eminent domain claim on the property.

Supes sign off on 2014 road plan

When Lowndes County supervisors passed their Fiscal Year 2013-14 budget in September, they set aside an extra $500,000 for road repairs.

City considers redevelopment committee

Columbus may soon have a five-member redevelopment committee aimed at breathing new life into blighted properties.

West Point takes next step on school kids sidewalk project

Some West Point school children will soon be able to walk to class on new sidewalks.

City exploring idea of allowing billboards

Although you might not know it by driving down Highway 45, there has been a ban on billboards in the city since 2000.

A committee formed last month made up of three Columbus councilmen, chief operations officer David Armstrong and city attorney Jeff Turnage is reviewing the law and considering the possibility of lifting the ban to allow billboard advertising in the city limits and charge advertisers fees to generate more revenue.

City council to explore urban renewal

Most of the blighted and vacant property inside the Columbus city limits is in the core of the city, surrounding downtown.

City planner Christina Berry has worked with a consultant through the past year to identify as many of those parcels as possible to develop an urban renewal district.

Officials say it’s too early to evaluate J5/Broaddus

City financial data shows that J5/Broaddus was paid $30,000 through four months for regular services since the firm was hired for a newly created project managing position for Columbus.

CL&W explores mobile water metering

Columbus Light and Water will soon choose a company to install a mobile water meter reading system citywide.

Clay supes shoot down night meetings

Clay County supervisors entertained the possibility of meeting in the afternoon twice a year, but a motion to enact the policy failed to get a majority vote and was subsequently withdrawn.

Applications for CVB vacancies adding up

So far, six applicants are vying for three seats that will be up for grabs next month on the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau board of directors.

City to use general funds to pay off FY 12-13 shortfalls

Columbus will have to pay more than $107,000 from this fiscal year’s general fund to make up for revenue shortfalls from last year.

MML to push for legislators to pass sales tax vote option

The Mississippi Municipal League will once again press state legislators to pass the Citizens for Economic Development Act when they convene today in Jackson for the 2014 legislative session.

County joins with others to cut cost of mapping

Lowndes County is one of 20 counties in Mississippi that will see substantial savings on aerial mapping photography by entering into a mutual agreement with state legislators and Mississippi Department of Transportation.

Local entities to be reimbursed $238K for Silicor investment

A year after the Mississippi Silicon project fell through in Lowndes County, entities are getting reimbursed nearly a quarter of a million dollars.

Progress equals less land at Lowndes port

Those who oversee the Columbus-Lowndes County Port say they face a good news/bad news scenario.

The good: The six industries operating at the port pay more than $1 million in taxes to the city of Columbus and Lowndes County, and about $350,000 to the port authority, each year.

The bad: They’re running out of land.

Legislators face myriad challenges in ’14 session

Representatives and senators in the Golden Triangle will meet with their colleagues in Jackson Tuesday for the 2014 regular legislative session to address budgetary, education and public safety challenges among others over the next three months.

City’s insurance premiums jump to 6-year high

The city of Columbus is going to pay $55,000 more to insure itself in 2014 than it did in 2013.

The overall 2014 premium is $315,621 — the highest amount in six years and an almost 18-percent increase over 2013’s premium, which was $260,038.

County grants tax exemption to Aurora

Lowndes County supervisors have voted to grant Aurora Flight Sciences a 10-year ad valorem tax exemption for its investment in the final expansion of its facility.

Ellis won’t seek re-appointment to CVB

Lowndes County supervisors were informed during their meeting today that Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau board of directors member Leon Ellis will not seek reappointment.

Residents have Christmas tree disposal options

Now that Christmas is over, Lowndes and Oktibbeha county residents have multiple options for disposing of their old trees.

Columbus public works director Casey Bush said city residents can leave their trees at the edge of their driveways to be picked up or they can bring them to the landfill on Armstrong Road.