A rose to the city of Columbus, which for the second time this month is negotiating a sale of a long-vacant city-owned building. Doug Pellum, owner of Zachary’s restaurant, is in talks with the city about the purchase of the old Rollins and Crigler building on Second Avenue North, behind his restaurant. The building has been largely unused since the city purchased the property in 2013. Earlier this month, the city negotiated the sale of another long-dormant property, the former Woody’s on the Water restaurant located at the Columbus Marina. When an unused property owned by the city is sold and redeveloped, the city profits not only from the purchase, but tax revenue generated by the new development. Psychologically, the presence of empty buildings creates a negative image. When private parties invest in these properties, it sends a far more optimistic message. Pellum is a known-commodity, a civic-minded business owner whose charitable efforts, executed through his restaurant, are a model to be emulated. We hope the building will be put back on the tax rolls soon.
A rose to everyone who contributed to help a group of Columbus residents who lost practically all of their possessions when a Jan. 6 fire destroyed six units at the Chanticleer Apartments. United Way Executive Director Renee Sanders said the response has been overwhelming, with contributions coming not only from Columbus citizens, but from as far away as Calhoun City and Louisville. Immediate needs have been met, but as those displaced residents begin to settle into permanent housing, the needs will evolve for items such as furniture and household items or money to help their recovery. The outcome has been great, but the needs will likely continue well into the future. To contribute, contact United Way at (662) 370-1922 or visit uwlc-ms.org.
A rose to Mayor Lynn Spruill and the Starkville Board of Aldermen, which has agreed to reconsider how it will allocate its share of $6.2 million American Rescue Plan Act funds after getting clarifications on how that money can be spent. In September, the board voted to use $.5 million of those funds for city parks improvements, but now it has opened the door for using some of those funds for other projects, including Highway 182 infrastructure and Main Street improvements. The city will also be in talks with the Mississippi legislature to explore opportunities to combine those funds with state ARPA funds to pursue more costly projects. Those efforts, if successful, will maximize the impact of those funds in the city. We believe the city’s willingness to take a step back and consider all options is a wise move. It’s not always easy to put things back on the table once a decision has been made. We commend the city for taking that step.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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