Starkville aldermen approved road closures for the Student Association’s Old Main Music Festival at their regular meeting Tuesday.
The SA’s request was the first to be made to the board in preparation for the April 23 event.
During the public appearances section of the board meeting, SA President Adam Telle and director of external events Kristin Clemmer presented a request to close the area near the intersection of Main Street and Washington Street.
The festival is scheduled to last from 6 p.m. to about 12:30 a.m. Telle and Clemmer requested Main Street be closed from 8 a.m. April 23 to 6 a.m. the following morning to allow setup time.
Washington Street will only be closed from 5 p.m. to about 1 a.m., because it will not be a stage location, Clemmer said.
The SA has already discussed the matter with area merchants. Clemmer said the merchants were excited about the event, but some expressed concern that customers would not be able to access their stores.
Ward 4 Alderman Lee Beck suggested Lafayette Street be closed also, because that is what the SA did last year. However, Clemmer said that might not be necessary.
Beck made the motion to allow the closure of the requested areas, and the board passed it with a 6-1 vote. Ward 6 Alderman Roy Perkins voted against it.
“The board has been very supportive in the past,” Telle said.
The festival will be operated in conjunction with the Cotton District Arts Festival, and all advertising will be done in cooperative effort for both events, Telle said.
Some members of the board complimented the event. Alderman at Large Vic Zitta said he enjoyed going to the festival with his family.
“I hope y’all bring in some great bands,” Zitta said.
The SA is still scheduling artists, but will finish soon, Clemmer said.
One other concern was trash, but Ward 2 Alderman Frank Davis said he visited the area the day after the event last year and was amazed at the quick cleanup.
“It was like it didn’t exist,” Davis said.
This was the only request the SA made at the Tuesday meeting; the planning up to this point is complete until the SA schedules artists, Clemmer said.