City residents debated Tuesday whether to build a new police center near Wal-Mart or use an existing building closer to the downtown area.
City officials said the purpose of the forum was to get citizen input before aldermen vote on where to build the $5 million “justice complex.”
“We will consider the comments, costs, and pros and cons of the sites as well as gather more information and come out with a suitable building that can serve the needs of Starkville now, 25 years from now and beyond,” Mayor Pro Tempore Frank Davis said. “We’re going to do this right.”
In debate for over half a year now, the proposed facility’s Miss. Highway 25 bypass location and projected cost have kept the issue undecided.
City residents and officials discussed several possible locations for the complex, including the proposed Highway 25 bypass site near Wal-Mart, the vacant VanLandingham Lumber building on Jackson Street and the vacant Sunflower building next to Rick’s Caf on Martin Luther King Drive.
To manage the meeting’s length and comments, citizens filled out a sheet composed of pros and cons on the three sites being discussed for a murmur-filled 20 minutes before presenting their questions and concerns.
“The bypass location would be visible for those coming in the town,” Starkville Police Department officer Laura Hines said. “A large, nice facility would put to ease parents’ anxieties about their children’s safety. This location would benefit the city as a whole.”
Dan Camp, the developer of the Cotton District residential area, said the proposed bypass site is near a swamp that would require filling, an expensive process.
Proponents of the site said it has adequate space for expansion, parking and training, and it is accessibile to visitors. It has room for multiple exits for officers and the ability to be built to department’s specifications. They also said the development that is already growing near the site is an advantage.
Opponents said the site lacks pedestrian access and would cause the lack of police presence downtown. They said it might clutter the bypass and noted that the site is not centrally located.
“Both Columbus and Oxford have moved their justice buildings and it hasn’t hurt these cities,” said Harry Cole, an MSU civil engineer. “When I go to a city’s downtown area, I look for other things besides a jail.”
Alderman at Large Vic Zitta added that a disadvantage is that the second exit crosses a railroad track. “Air approach must be considered, too,” he said. “It is located near Runway 360.”
If the bypass site is chosen, a completely new building will be constructed for the complex. A site closer to downtown would probably mean the renovation of an existing building, an option that could be more expensive.
“One of the advantages with using the VanLandingham site is that it’s downtown-a central location,” said city resident Jim Mills.
Another citizen said she had seen polarization in Starkville before and is concerned with building a complex on the west side of town.
“There is a potential for political lines between the university and city and the outer limits of town,” she said. “I feel that we should put money where we can bring the city together instead of tearing it apart.”
Other advantages cited for the VanLandingham property were the building’s high visibility, the utilization of a vacant facility and a prefab metal building located on the facility that could be used as a parking garage. They said it would also offer better street access and the possibility of upward expansion, and it is cost efficient and pedestrian friendly.
Cole said a disadvantage of the site is its existing structure.
“You can’t force a facility to meet a function,” he said. “It usually costs more to renovate a building than it does to start from scratch and get exactly what you want.”
The cost of land at the site, parking difficulties, school traffic near the area, lack of room for outward expansion, inability to produce a “finished” product and concern of safety issues due to surrounding residential areas were among the disadvantages listed for the site.
The other existing building considered, the old Sunflower building located near Rick’s Caf, offers many of the same pros as the VanLandingham site due to its central location and ability to improve a blighted area, residents said.
“This building offers adequate office space to the city because the building already contains so many offices,” Camp said.
Two other advantages stated are the site’s ability to serve as catalyst to Highway 182 businesses and the building’s existing infrastructure.
One of the major disadvantages listed were the site’s surrounding businesses.
“There are two day cares located near this site,” said one parent, followed by applause from the crowd. “Safety is a big concern, plus traffic on (old) Highway 82. There’s more potential that a wreck would involve a mother and children.”
Davis said the building is in poor condition and renovation, if possible, would be costly.
“The parking lot is beyond repair,” he said. “It would probably have to be demolished.”
Officials say Rick’s Caf is not included in site expense and if bought, would be very costly.
Hines added that a police department located near a bar would not send a good image, especially to visitors or parents of MSU students.
After arguments were given, residents gave closing comments to share what is most important to them regarding the issue.
“The most important thing to me is that the security forces identity with the people they serve,” Zitta said.
Other citizens said it was important that lessons have been learned and that citizens were given the opportunity to voice their opinions.
Some citizens felt that some of the issues that were important to them were not addressed.
“What’s important to me is that within two weeks 2,600 citizens signed a petition, and over a period of two months names were taken off in order for it to fail,” Camp said, referring to a failed petition drive that would have brought the issue to a public vote. “This is not democracy and something needs to change.”
Cole added that his name was put on the petition by fraud and that he asked for it to be removed. “The Police Department did not approach me. It was brought to my attention by another source and I had my named removed,” he said. “I don’t know who did that, but it is wrong.”
Camp said he was also concerned that some individuals may have signed their name to the petition with the intention of having it removed later.
Residents sought information about the next steps in the process and how long the city will have access to the $5 million loan.
Meeting facilitator Rex Buffington, director of the Stennis Center, said the center would have the comments compiled and documented within a week for the mayor and board to review before voting on the issue.
“The doors are open,” he said. “Certainly more comments are welcome.”
Robert Ford, a retired architecture professor, said he hoped that the meetings would affect the board’s decision. “I hope they will be open,” he said.
Buffington said he felt that although people disagreed on some the issues, this process still united people. “It’s encouraging to see citizens come together,” he said.
Police Chief David Lindley said he feels that the meetings have been productive and informative. “I’m pleased with the turnout and that the citizens are concerned with public safety and the future of the police department,” he said.
Addition comments, concerns and questions may be sent to the Stennis Center at PO Box 9629, Mississippi State, MS 39762.