A two-hour executive session ended Thursday without an agreement on a pair of inter-related projects, leaving developers frustrated and the Starkville mayor insisting the projects are still on the table.
The joint meeting of the Starkville Board of Aldermen, Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors and the Oktibbeha County Economic Development Authority was held to consider incentive packages for two projects — one brought by the Golden Triangle Development LINK and the other by developer Mark Castleberry.
But after two hours, the meeting ended without the approval of the Castleberry resolution from the board of aldermen, which lost its quorum in the middle of the session, preventing it from taking action. The city held its quorum long enough to approve the LINK’s resolution.
Although the board of supervisors did pass both proposals, Jackson attorney Chris Pace, representing the LINK, said approvals from the city were needed to move forward.
“The city and county each had multiple resolutions in front of them on two different projects that were interrelated,” Pace said. “The city took action on one, but did not take action on the other. They tabled that issue and will take it up on a subsequent meeting.”
Mayor Lynn Spruill said the city was unable to take action on the Castleberry project when Ward 3 Alderman David Little, who was participating via phone, had to leave the meeting.
With just three other aldermen present — Ward 2 Alderman Sandra Sistrunk, Ward 4 Alderman Jason Walker and Ward 5 Alderman Hamp Beatty — Little’s exit left the board without a quorum.
“The city lost its quorum before they could take a vote,” Pace said. “That was the whole problem.”
LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins declined comment, referring all questions to Pace.
Castleberry spoke only briefly.
“We’re very pleased the county passed our resolution,” he said. “We’re disappointed the city chose not to. That’s all I’m going to say.”
Pace said the LINK proposal is for development at a site at the county’s new industrial park. Castleberry said his project is for a retail development on a site in the city that is currently occupied by another company.
Neither Pace nor Castleberry would elaborate on plans for the projects.
“The party that did get approval does not want to announce their progress until approval is given on the other one,” Pace said.
Spruill insisted both projects are still viable.
“It’s a sensitive matter, so in order not to jeopardize the project, because they are inter-related, I’m going to choose not to talk about it because I don’t want it to go away,” she said. “I want us to take it up again and I believe we will.”
Spruill said she will call a special meeting of the aldermen, but she did not say when.
The city’s next scheduled meeting, a work session, is July 26.
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
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