The Starkville Daily News will sit down with each member of the Starkville Board of Aldermen, discussing previous and future accomplishments for the city as the new year begins. Our series began with Ward 1 Alderman Ben Carver, and will end with Mayor Lynn Spruill.
MOST PLEASED WITH THIS PAST YEAR
Ward 3 Alderman David Little said there are a few areas he was pleased with in terms of productivity in the past year.
Little said he has been impressed with the unprecedented economic growth and development throughout the city.
He gave a nod to both the development, featuring Academy Sports and Outdoors and the introduction of the new Walmart Neighborhood Market.
Little said the new Walmart will be an “economic magnet” for the surrounding area.
“I believe it’s going to spur economic growth and further retail development with restaurants and so forth right in that proximity.” Little said. “That’s going to be a great addition to the East side of town.”
One thing Little said he was most proud of was the completion of the Starkville Police Department headquarters.
He said even though it took a long time and different leadership, SPD now has one of the nicest facilities in the state.
“They were able to retain a lot of the character of the original structure, but also while providing modern day amenities and state of the art technology,” Little said. “It’s a top notch facility.”
Little said he is excited about the current movement on the new industrial park. He said it will be a great addition to Starkville, because it seems the city’s success falls and rises with the success of Mississippi State University and athletics.
He said this development would create a number of jobs in the area not solely focused on academia and would spark more opportunities for people in Starkville and Oktibbeha County.
“We need to have some sort of diversification,” Little said. “I think this will be another cog in the wheel, and help put us on the map in that area.”
GOALS FOR THE NEW YEAR
For the new year, Little said he is looking forward to collaborating with the county for the completion of the phase two of Lynn Lane and the multipurpose bike path.
“It makes for safer travel from the university to the parks,” Little said.
This will connect the MSU campus with the Sportsplex and McKee Park.
One task Little said he will be looking at closely is the code rewrite, in conjunction with the comprehensive plan. He said the city staff worked on it last year, but he would like to get the ball rolling this year.
Little said it would “streamline” the process involving the permits and zoning requirements. He said throughout the years the law continued to build up, making the process much more complicated for development.
“The code rewrite is one of the biggest things that we are going to be faced with this year,” Little said. “This should simplify it greatly.”
Little said he would also like to see the city look at minimum design standards and implement a sort of architectural review to help the aesthetics throughout the city.
He said Starkville only has one chance at a first impression and feels this would help create the environment they are aiming toward.
“They’re liking what they are seeing and liking the improvements that have been made and I think we are on the right direction,” Little said.
BIGGEST ISSUE FOR 2018
Little said he thinks the annexation study area may be one of the biggest issues in 2018, depending on the information they receive from the study area and the direction it takes them.
“We’re looking at potentially annexing the university,” Little said. “It would help us for potentially recruiting restaurants, retail and so forth based on the size of our city.”
Another topic Little said will be important to look at, is the discussion of Starkville Parks and Recreation and looking at how effective the system can be.
“I would like for us to decide which direction we want to go,” Little said. “Who do we want to be.” Little said.
Starkville has the ability to host both soccer and softball tournaments, but not quite the facilities to host quality baseball tournaments the same way the city’s competitors can.
He said just from discussion he’s had with residents throughout the community, people are wanting to become the destination town in terms of these athletic tournaments.
“To get there, it’s going to take community buy in,” Little said. “There’s going to be a cost associated with it.”
He said on the upside, when it’s slower during the summer, these tournaments would allow for the city’s hotels and restaurants to be packed with visitors, boosting the two percent sales tax revenue.
He said the return on investment just for the soccer and baseball tournaments would be a “significant” amount.
“I think it’s something I would like to look further into,” Little said.
Little said he has heard some interest about looking at the go-cup alcohol service law. Little said he would like to educate himself more to see what the benefits truly are for the city.
PERSONAL RESOLUTION
For Little’s personal New Year’s resolution, he would like to eat healthier throughout the year. Little said he visits the gym frequently, but needs to stick with a healthier diet.
Tomorrow the Starkville Daily News will take a look at Ward 4 Alderman Jason Walker’s New Year’s resolutions.