The city council voted in executive session Monday to suspend Assistant Public Works Director Bennie Coleman three days without pay for hitting a pedestrian in a crosswalk earlier this month while driving a city vehicle.
The suspension followed the recommendation of the city’s accident review board that was presented to the council during a special-call meeting at City Hall.
Coleman hit the pedestrian March 11 in the crosswalk on Fifth Street while turning left from Second Avenue North near Zachary’s restaurant, according to a police report The Dispatch obtained through a public records request. The pedestrian was then taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle for treatment and later released.
On Monday, the council also agreed to chip in its $275,000 share toward the Golden Triangle Regional Airport, purchasing 109 acres now in private hands.
The property is split into two parcels located between the southern end of GTRA’s runway and Airport Road. Tax records show Ropp Family Enterprises, with a Palmer, Arkansas, address, owns the property.
GTRA plans to bid $2 million for the parcels, with Federal Aviation Administration grant funds covering half the costs if the offer is accepted. The airport needs a loan, which it is asking its stakeholders to repay, for the other half.
Repayment of the $1,089,250 would run for 10 years, with financial responsibility distributed among the surrounding cities and counties proportional to their stake in the airport. That’s based on the airport’s estimate of a 6% interest rate on a conventional loan.
As presented, Lowndes County and Columbus, with 25% stakes, would each pay $37,500 annually. Oktibbeha County and Starkville, with 20% stakes, would each pay $30,000 annually. Clay County and West Point, with 5% stakes, would each pay $7,500 annually.
Betsy Young, vice president of economic development for the Golden Triangle Development LINK, told Starkville aldermen during a Friday work session that GTRA wants to use it for airport purposes in the future. The urgency comes after a bid from another potential buyer falling through, she said.
Instead of paying over time, the council on Monday opted to pay its share outright from the city’s capital improvement fund, Mayor Keith Gaskin said. If the deal doesn’t go through, GTRA would return the money to the city.
“We have the money,” Gaskin told The Dispatch. “That will save us $100,000 in interest (over 10 years).”
Young told The Dispatch the city’s decision to pay its share outright gives the airport more cash on-hand during the loan application process, which could result in a lower interest rate.
Clay County supervisors have approved paying their county’s portion over 10 years, and Starkville aldermen are set to discuss the matter this evening. Lowndes and Oktibbeha counties, as well as West Point, will consider the matter next week.
The city council will hold its regular meeting at 5 p.m. today at City Hall, as the Municipal Complex courtroom will be used for counting ballots in party primaries for city elected offices.
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
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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 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
