Starkville School District Revamps 16th Section Leasing Process

News Summary

The Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District (SOCSD) is updating its leasing process for 16th Section properties following a recent zoning law mix-up. With a commitment to ensuring compliance, SOCSD will now mandate legal surveys for properties before any leases are issued. This change aims to prevent issues like those faced by a local resident attempting to place a manufactured home on a leased property. Local aldermen support these modifications, as SOCSD works to clarify leasing practices and maintain transparency moving forward.

Exciting Changes in Starkville: SOCSD Gives 16th Section Leasing a Fresh New Look!

Starkville is buzzing with news as the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District (SOCSD) is shaking things up in its leasing process for the all-important 16th Section properties. Why all the fuss? Well, it’s all due to a recent mix-up with a lease that didn’t quite play by the rules of city zoning laws. Talk about a wake-up call!

What’s Happening?

In a recent session with local aldermen, Tim Bourne, the director of assessment, accountability, and accreditation at SOCSD, rolled out the latest updates about this big revamp. It turns out that after reviewing their properties for zoning compliance, SOCSD found a bunch of 16th Section properties flying under the radar without legal surveys. This discovery led to a firm commitment that every property lacking a proper survey will now be getting one. And here’s the kicker: those surveys need to happen before any leases go out the door. It’s a solid plan to ensure everything stays above board and in compliance!

What’s the Big Deal with 16th Section Properties?

These 16th Section properties are pretty significant, encompassing approximately 7,680 acres of land that SOCSD controls specifically for public school funding. In layman’s terms, this land is vital for keeping our local schools on their toes with resources. But managing it has not been easy, especially since the responsibility shifted from an external agent to Bourne himself a couple of years back. That change has brought on its own set of challenges as Bourne has had to navigate through a maze of procedures and regulations.

The Incident that Changed Everything

Moving Forward: New Measures in Place

SOCSD is pledging to ensure that any new lease applications within Starkville city limits won’t run afoul of the local zoning laws outlined in the Unified Development Code. Bourne has candidly admitted that had he known more about the zoning particulars surrounding Shumaker’s situation, he would have reconsidered issuing that lease in the first place. Since then, he has also turned down three other lease applications for the Louisville corridor after realizing the zoning conflicts involved.

All Eyes on the Board

The district is now laser-focused on putting together an inventory of both leased and non-leased 16th Section properties to figure out which ones need legal surveys. This systematic approach is crucial to ensuring that going forward, everything is compliant and straightforward.

Local aldermen have offered their backing for SOCSD’s decision to modify these leasing procedures, recognizing that fixing past issues won’t come overnight. Meanwhile, Shumaker’s appeal to place her manufactured home along Louisville Street is still on the table, waiting for the board of aldermen to take a deeper look at it during their upcoming meeting. It’s a mixed bag of opinions on her case, which has left many residents curious as to what will happen next.

What’s Next for Shumaker?

As it stands, SOCSD tried to find a different location for Shumaker’s lease, but they ran into legal complications with a previous tenant in that area. To add to the urgency, Shumaker has a 30-day deadline to relocate her manufactured home, sparking anticipation for the outcome of her appeal. The tension is palpable as everyone awaits to see what decisions the board will make in their upcoming Tuesday meeting.

Starkville is in for a thrilling next few weeks as these changes unfold. It’s all about getting things right for the future, ensuring every resident and stakeholder is on the same page. Stay tuned as we follow this story – there’s plenty more to come!

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

Starkville Revamps School Land Leasing Process

Additional Resources

• Columbus Dispatch: Lease Snafu has SOCSD Overhauling 16th Section Process
• Wikipedia: 16th Section
• Columbus Dispatch: SOCSD Reviewing 16th Section Properties After Zoning Mismatch
• Google Search: Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District
• Columbus Dispatch: Board of Aldermen to Review Shumaker’s Lease Appeal in Starkville Meeting