The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors is expected to face tough decisions regarding economic development, taxes and infrastructure this year.
Today, the public is expected to get its first look at a proposed tax increment financing (TIF) package associated with an $11 million, 65,000 square-foot retail project — revealed only as a national athletic and outdoor merchandise chain by Golden Triangle Development LINK officials — when the matter is taken on by supervisors.
After declining to discuss the project last month, aldermen are also expected to hear the proposal Tuesday.
The TIF request represents one economic development decision the incoming Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors will handle this year.
Here’s a look at three other issues the board will face in 2016:
Industrial park bonds expected
Supervisors are expected to make their first major decision — whether to raise taxes about 2.5 mills to develop a new 400-acre industrial park — within the year’s first quarter.
LINK Chief Executive Officer Joe Max Higgins told The Dispatch in December that the park is under a purchase option, and handshake deals exist that would bring 60 megawatts of power and a speculative building to the site.
To fund the park, the LINK is expected to seek two $7 million bond issuances, one each from the city and county. Each issuance would add about 2.5 mills to the tax rate, and city property owners would pay both hikes since they fall under both taxing authorities.
“Do you or don’t you? Is the juice worth the squeeze? We’ve never, as a board, had a (county level) tax increase, but an industrial park plan like that would bring one. That’s why you have to examine and evaluate, to see if the project is worth it or not,” said District 1 Supervisor John Montgomery.
LINK officials have continuously said a new industrial park is needed because Oktibbeha County lacks the space for large-scale development.
Having space and attracting advanced manufacturing jobs could provide employment for segments of the local population who haven’t seen growth in opportunities, said District 5 Supervisor Joe Williams.
While he previously supported the $5 million intent notice for the failed Innovation Park, a 326-acre site abandoned after experts predicted the presence of cultural artifacts, Williams said he’d like to have an assurance that a business is ready to move to the new park before he votes to approve a bond.
“Most of the time, I’m voting in favor of (economic development),” William said. “Having a particular industry…ready to go ahead and land would be ideal. I don’t like the idea of just saying we’re going to build a park.”
County road crew expansion possible
Supervisors could also expand the number of shops and work crews servicing approximately 550 paved and gravel roads within Oktibbeha County.
The previous board discussed the issue numerous times last year, and an effort led by Williams and District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer could come to fruition this year.
Currently, Oktibbeha County is divided into three maintenance divisions. Three shops and road crews maintain about 180-185 miles of road each.
A fourth district would reduce each crew’s territory while eliminating lengthy drives across the county with equipment.
Road Manager Victor Collins previously said a new crew would require four hires, which means additional costs for salaries and benefits, and some new equipment purchases. Collins said he would study options to platoon current county-owned machinery to cut down on new purchases if the board added another crew.
“Developing a fourth crew makes us able to take care of the southernmost part of Oktibbeha County, which now is going pretty much unserved because of the locations of the other shops,” Williams said. “I think we need to move forward with that fourth shop. That’s going to be really important.”
Blackjack alternatives await funding
The county could begin a process solving infrastructure woes along Blackjack Road if supervisors identify funding sources this year.
Last year marked a surge in residents asking the board to fix the road, solve numerous safety issues and alleviate traffic after numerous housing developments and their associated construction and newly generated population led to many issues on the heavily traveled thoroughfare connecting the Blackjack and Oktoc communities, Mississippi State University and Starkville.
Supervisors previously approved a TIF district encompassing the new housing developments, one that would fund a variety of improvements, but the board has yet to move forward with the plan.
Costs and how to fund the project are the sticking points. Supervisors have routinely asked County Engineer Clyde Pritchard to come up with alternatives. Numerous ways to address the issues exist, he said in the last meeting, but it’s up to the board to figure out what it wants to do and how to pay for it.
Supervisors also tasked the Oxford-based firm Slaughter and Associates to write a 65-page proposal for subdivision rules that would hold developers to task when their large-scale projects damage local infrastructure.
That proposal has not been adopted by the board.
“It makes it so we will be able to make decisions whether or not developers are moving in a way that is suitable for residents,” Williams said. “It gives us some control. Hopefully it will have some (penalties for) the larger developers — I’m not talking about the small ones — that come from other locations and do nothing to help with infrastructure. It’s important that we move forward on this issue.”
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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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 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
