Proposed city code amendment could affect downtown business
Discussion over amending the city’s Unified Development Code and technical codes, including requirements for certain facilities to add features such as sprinkler systems and storm shelters, dominated Starkville’s regular board of aldermen meeting Tuesday, the first of two public hearings on the topic.
Aldermen vote to keep local mask mandate in place
With a 5-2 vote Tuesday, aldermen upheld its requirement for people to wear protective face coverings in businesses and other buildings where social distancing may not be possible.
Food sales requirement dropped for brewpubs, breweries in limited area
Aldermen voted unanimously Friday afternoon to allow brewpubs and small craft breweries in the city’s Leisure and Entertainment District to sell beer, wine and light spirits on premises without having to also sell food.
Starkville commits additional $1.2M to TIF at old Garan site
Aldermen voted 6-1 Friday afternoon to increase the city’s tax-increment financing obligation for the redevelopment of the old Garan Manufacturing site from $3 million to $4.2 million.
One mayoral, four alderman candidates join Caledonia races
When Bill Darnell announced he would not seek another term as aldermen for the town of Caledonia, it appeared there wouldn’t be a Darnell in town government for the first time since 1979.
As it turns out, that may have been premature. In the final 48 hours of the qualifying period, five candidates joined the race, including the wife and nephew of the long-time alderman.
Brewpub discussion bogs down in ‘nuance’
Confusion and uncertainty over the effects of a proposed ordinance change to remove the food sales requirement from brewpubs citywide has aldermen again rethinking the scope of what they should allow.
Aldermen consider allowing food-less brewpubs citywide
Starkville aldermen have reset the public hearing process on whether to exempt brewpubs that make and sell craft beer and wine on-site from food sale requirements.
If passed, the new change would apply citywide, not just in the Leisure and Entertainment District that includes downtown and the Cotton District.
Aldermen ‘leaning’ toward rule change that would allow brewpubs to operate without selling food
Starkville aldermen took another key step Tuesday toward granting another exception to its code of ordinances that would clear the way for a prospective business to locate downtown.
Public forums could help cigar lounge add brewpub
Starkville aldermen will consider allowing businesses in certain parts of the city to serve alcohol without food, the second change that would allow a Tupelo-based cigar shop and lounge to open a location downtown.
Wiggins will not seek re-election as Caledonia mayor; will instead try to return to aldermen board
Voters in Caledonia will elect a new mayor and at least three new aldermen this year, based on a poll of incumbents.
Spruill, 5 aldermen to seek re-election in 2021
Starkville’s first female mayor will run for re-election in 2021.
Mayor Lynn Spruill announced her candidacy in a press release Monday, in which she said she wants to focus on “continuing the growth in Starkville” if re-elected.
Aldermen to consider a new recycling program
Two months after suspending its recycling program, Starkville might get a new one Tuesday that is not expected to be the financial burden to the city that the previous one was.
Tupelo cigar lounge owner makes case to locate in downtown Starkville
Mayor Lynn Spruill had not considered that Starkville could be home to a cigar shop and lounge until a business owner from Tupelo approached the city with the idea about a month ago.
Aldermen Little, Walker not running for reelection
Two Starkville aldermen said at Tuesday’s meeting they will not run for reelection in April 2021.
David Little of Ward 3 told the board in a prepared announcement that “after several months of prayerful consideration and thoughts” he would not be running for a third term.
Aldermen vote to compensate employees who took pay cuts
Starkville aldermen approved a measure Tuesday that will “make whole” city officials and employees who took pay or hour cuts for nearly two months earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aldermen likely to request state funding to relocate library
Mayor Lynn Spruill and six Starkville aldermen decided Tuesday at a special-call work session to pursue three potential projects to ask the state to fund, narrowing down a longer list of ideas from earlier this month.
Painted University Drive bridge attracts citizens’ attention
The brightly colored paint on the University Drive bridge over the railroad tracks, just east of Old West Point Road, has been there for a week and is already the talk of the town, even at Tuesday’s board of aldermen meeting.
Aldermen debate several potential project requests for the state
Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill had been hoping she and the board of aldermen could come to an agreement Friday on what kind of project to request the state Legislature fund during its next session.
Aldermen decide to keep Starkville mask mandate indefinitely
Starkville’s requirement for people to wear protective face coverings in city buildings and businesses remains in place indefinitely after aldermen decided at Tuesday’s meeting not to vote on a resolution that would have rescinded it.
Starkville plans to improve heavily traveled roads, add sidewalk connections in 2021
It’s been 13 years since the last time the city of Starkville overlaid Main Street, and Mayor Lynn Spruill said it was obvious in a Southeastern Conference promotional video that included a shot of the main downtown thoroughfare.