Board of Aldermen Work Session, Friday, July 31, 2026

The City of Starkville Board of Aldermen held a work session on July 31, 2026, covering a range of municipal topics with significant focus on procurement and budget-related matters. Key procurement discussions included the presentation of the Mississippi Horse Park's activities and funding needs, and a detailed update on the public library renovation project with a proposed budget of approximately $1 million. The board also reviewed and consented to multiple procurement actions such as advertising for concrete and mowing service bids, approval of right-of-way acquisitions for construction projects, and the purchase of new stacking chairs for parks. Additionally, the board considered a request for FOIA software to streamline public records requests, a cloud-based phone system replacement, and an outage management system for electric and water utilities. A notable budget-related item was the fire department's request to restructure staffing by adding three firefighters, six sergeants, and three lieutenants to maintain operational effectiveness and insurance rating. The session included consent approvals for these procurement and budget items, as well as discussions on nuisance property ordinances and public hearings for zoning and tax matters. Overall, the meeting emphasized advancing capital improvement projects, enhancing city services through technology upgrades, and maintaining public safety staffing levels.