Supervisors agree to tax compromise
As late as Saturday, Lowndes County Board of Supervisors President Harry Sanders said he intended to urge fellow supervisors during Monday’s meeting to stick with their February resolution calling for the floor to be removed from the county’s 2-percent restaurant sales tax.
His agenda in gridlock, Obama relishes roadshow
Welcome to Barack Obama’s split-screen presidency.
Spec building in limbo as LINK eyes research park development
Plans to construct a speculative building to lure potential industrial developments to Oktibbeha County are on hold as Golden Triangle Development LINK officials research the feasibility and costs associated with developing a new research and development park near Mississippi State University, LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins confirmed Monday.
LINK, researcher working on ‘road map’ for counties
Area leaders and Golden Triangle Development LINK officials are working with an economic researcher on five-year plans for development for each of the three counties that comprise the LINK.
Columbus, LINK resume retail partnership
Thirty-three days after ending a 10-plus year partnership on retail development, the Golden Triangle Development LINK and city of Columbus have renewed those ties.
School board won’t hear parent’s protest
In advance of today’s Lowndes County School Board meeting, Sherry Harris, parent of New Hope High School student and football player Javonte Ellis, filled out a form so she could be placed on the agenda to speak to the board.
Contract with Retail Strategies not on city agenda
Columbus councilmen are not expected to consider contracting with Retail Strategies during Tuesday’s council meeting.
Higgins: Details on LINK future forthcoming
In September 2012, elected officials in Clay, Lowndes and Oktibbeha counties and senior staff with what was then known as the Columbus-Lowndes Development LINK announced a two-phase plan to establish the Golden Triangle Regional Development Authority.
Link, Columbus call it quits on retail partnership
The Golden Triangle Development Link is no longer responsible for retail development in Columbus.
Link officials confirmed Thursday that after more than a decade of that being part of the economic development recruiter’s goals, the responsibility is now the city’s alone.
Mickens, Smith spar over agenda issue
Confusion over an item that did not get added to Tuesday’s city council’s agenda until councilman Joseph Mickens asked at the meeting for it to be added resulted in a testy exchange between he and Columbus Mayor Robert Smith.
Link has much to celebrate at annual luncheon
In the last decade, industries have made roughly $4.6 billion worth of investments in the Golden Triangle area. With that has come about 5,400 jobs.
That’s what Joe Max Higgins, the CEO of the Golden Triangle Development Link, said to begin the Link’s annual year-end luncheon on Wednesday.
Industrial park strategies geared toward prospects
Developing industrial parks can cost a lot of money, and there are certainly never any guarantees of a return on the taxpayer’s investment. What are the pros and cons of deciding to invest in the infrastructure needed to attract industrial and business development?
There is a saying: “No site, no project.”
Officials not ready to reveal retailer names
Officials are still not ready to reveal the identities of both retailers who will occupy a new facility where the unoccupied portion of the University Mall building currently stands, but Dick’s Sporting Goods appears to be one of the new stores coming to town.
LINK to seek tax incentive deal for retail development
Golden Triangle Development Link officials will be on the agenda for the next county and city board meetings seeking a tax increment financing agreement associated with a potential retail development in Columbus.
Council tables proposal for travel request policy
Columbus councilman Bill Gavin’s motion to require any city employee or official wishing to travel on taxpayer money to submit a written request and cost estimate will be reviewed in a future meeting.
Columbus Council rescinds pay raise
The Columbus City Council voted Tuesday to rescind the $4,000 pay raise it voted itself at the council’s June 18 meeting.
In the first meeting of the new term, councilmen also approved to limit the term of vice mayor to one year and appoint Ward 1 Councilman Gene Taylor to that post, replacing Bill Gavin.
Council votes to raise its own salaries
Columbus councilmen voted to give themselves a 23 percent pay raise during their meeting Tuesday despite applause from people in attendance for members who announced they would vote against doing so.
Rumored pay raises for council not on agenda
Though an item regarding pay raises for Columbus councilmen is not listed on an agenda emailed to The Dispatch on Thursday, leaders do have the option of adding such a resolution before today’s meeting.
Economic jitters compete with Obama agenda
Just as President Barack Obama is pushing new initiatives on gun control and immigration, the gloomy old problem of a sluggish economy is elbowing its way back into prominence. Consumer confidence is falling, the economy is contracting and large automatic spending cuts are threatening to hit the Pentagon and other programs, with uncertain consequences.
Council to discuss voting precincts, new police officers, board vacancies
The City Council on Tuesday will discuss moving the Lee Middle School and Mitchell Memorial Elementary School voting precincts. Mitchell has been sold by the Columbus Municipal School District and Lee is up for sale.