Robert Rhett vacated his board seat with the Columbus Redevelopment Authority just more than a month after his term was set to expire.
During its regular meeting Wednesday, CRA board attorney Jeff Turnage told The Dispatch Rhett resigned July 18 after submitting a letter to the board and city.
Turnage said Rhett resigned to focus more on his business, Rhett Real Estate.
“He has appreciated the opportunity to be of service and I think he’s just too busy,” Turnage said.
Rhett was a founding CRA member when the city council established the board in 2015 to target redevelopment in the city’s urban renewal zone, which includes Burns Bottom near downtown. He was the last founding member serving on the board.
In his letter, Rhett said after a period of prayer, he decided to leave the CRA and wished his fellow board members good luck on all future endeavors.
“I feel like I have done my best to help the city get the Burns Bottom Project to completion,” Rhett wrote. “I have enjoyed this board and appreciate all the hard work from each member.”
Board president Marthalie Porter said Rhett has been instrumental in moving along the Burns Bottom redevelopment project, which aims to turn 73 parcels between Third and Fourth streets and Second and Seventh avenues north into a new mixed-use development.
He has also assisted with the documentation for a planned unit development form, which the city council approved in July to combine the zoning requirements for the different-sized lots within the project area and establish more mixed zoning.
“We will miss his expertise, his connections and vision for the project,” Porter said. “He’s been a vital person here with his enthusiasm and knowledge that he’s brought to the table. We were lucky to have him here.”
Turnage added that without Rhett, the board would not have likely closed on a deal to sell the former Lee High School on Military Road, which the board sold on behalf of the Columbus Municipal School District to the late Scott Berry for $450,000 in 2018. The Berry family has now turned the 15-acre property into a multi-use facility.
“We wouldn’t have sold Lee had it not been for Robert, and I think that’s an understatement,” Turnage said. “He put in a lot of effort volunteering, going to Jackson numerous times and meeting with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. So, I’m just going to say from my perspective that he’s going to be missed.”
Mayor Keith Gaskin said the council is now seeking someone to replace Rhett and has advertised the vacancy. So far, no applicants have come forward for the position.
Gaskin added that Rhett’s term would have ended Sept. 1 if he had stayed, and the position is listed as a five-year term.
“He resigned early, and by doing that he’s obviously not reapplying,” Gaskin said. “We will just go through the natural process of selecting someone new.”
Gaskin said the council will move to appoint a board member at its Sept. 5 meeting.
Rhett did not respond to calls and messages from The Dispatch by press time.
Remaining board members include Porter, Chris Chain, Dennis Irby and Jason Spears.
Anyone interested in serving on the CRA board can apply in the mayor’s office at City Hall.
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