STARKVILLE — The Starkville Electric Department now is located in a new building.
The SED had been located in an approximately 6,000-square-foot building at 101 Meigs Ave., near the west end of Main Street, but opened June 29 in its new location at Lafayette and Jefferson streets.
The Board of Aldermen in 2008 adopted a sustainability policy, which mandated all city-owned buildings more than 3,000-square-feet need to meet standards set by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system. The standards are a rating tool, developed to encourage energy efficient planning, which grade structures based on energy use, water efficiency and the types of materials used in construction, among other factors.
The new 9,000-square-foot, two-story Starkville Electric Department building is LEED certified.
“I”m just glad the city of Starkville has a new building that is nice and will be with the city many, many years in the future,” Starkville Electric Department manager Edd Hattaway said. “The old building served its purposes, but it”s really too small for our use.”
City officials have not yet determined what will happen to the old building.
Led by the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, past and present city officials gathered with business leaders at the new SED building Tuesday afternoon for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“Electric power is one of the most basic necessities people depend on in a community,” Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman said. “Also, it”s linked to the wellness and vitality of a community. As your ability to provide electric power to those who want to do business increases and enhances the value of the city, it”s often a critical factor in determining whether somebody will choose to do business in your city. When you consider all that and all that this is, it”s fitting in where this city is in its life and its history to open this marvelous facility that is truly something that will for decades be something we all are very, very proud of.”
The Starkville Electric Department serves more than 12,000 customers.
Former Starkville Mayor Dan Camp, who was instrumental in getting the new SED building constructed, praised the new facility.
“It”s not a police station, but it sure as hell is an electric department,” Camp said, in reference to his unsuccessful efforts to construct a new police station and City Hall.
Ward 6 Alderman Roy A. Perkins was excited to see the new building in service.
“This is a great day for the Starkville Electric Department,” Perkins said. “This is a day that we have been long awaiting. This is a day we are glad has arrived.”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.