Oktibbeha County Faces Uncertainty in Lake and Hospital Restoration
Lingering Questions Over Funding and Feasibility
In a turn of events reminiscent of the long and ultimately unsuccessful endeavor to restore Oktibbeha County Lake, the community finds itself in a similar predicament regarding the old Felix Long Hospital property. The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors has struggled for ages with a lack of consensus, altering plans and witnessing potential funding streams evaporate.
The lake restoration project was bogged down by financial constraints and indecision, with the lake left to stagnate while the authorities await its study. A noticeably similar scenario is unfolding concerning the disposition of the Felix Long Hospital property.
The hospital, which the county owns, has lain vacant since 2022, having closed its doors in 1973 with the city’s hospital’s inauguration. The property has been on standby as the supervisors commissioned Major Design Studio, based in Columbus, to craft plans for its demolition, making way for a novel county facility.
Legal and Administrative Roadblocks
The intended new county establishment would host administrative functions and court operations. Last year, the local legislature even tossed in one million dollars to expedite the demolition process and jumpstart the project, but progress has been at a standstill since then.
The situation is further complicated by the incumbency of acquiring approval for all plans from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) because of the hospital’s location in Downtown Starkville Historic District, which is a proud entry on the National Register of Historic Places.
Cost Estimates Presented
In the regular meeting held on Monday, the supervisors invested over an hour discussing how to proceed. During the meeting, Ryan Ashford of Major Design Studio presented the MDAH updated estimates. The ranges fluctuated from $24.2 million for a complete overhaul totaling 38,200 square feet and $28.2 million for semi-renovation integrated with new additions to the existing facility, spanning an estimated 51,720 square feet, as per preliminary documentation.
However, rather than presenting the entire set of plans, the supervisory board decided to submit only the cover sheets of both estimates. The likelihood is slim that MDAH will be appeased with this approach. Preservation of historic sites resides heavily on the specifics, and supplying the bare minimum of the plans can only extend an already prolonged process that seems to be nowhere close to wrapping up.
Raising Funds: A Greater Challenge
The most pressing issue is regarding financing for the project. To date, no funds have been earmarked for the initiative, giving the project a particular similarity to the Oktibbeha County Lake’s fate. There are questions over whether the county can integrate these funds into its budget without resorting to a significant property tax hike, or if it should seek a bond to address these costs. These are challenging questions that require immediate answers as the rest is only speculation.
The most palpable option currently is to bring down the hospital and bide time until a suitable opportunity arises to develop and finance the project. This could be in the coming year or a decade down the line. Spending time and resources planning for a building that may not come to existence for an indefinite period seems counterproductive.
Concluding Remarks
As it stands, the county is engaged in a theoretical debate. Given the circumstances, demolishing the building appears to be the most sensible step towards addressing the issue. What ensues then is undoubtedly a topic for another day and another discussion.
