Aldermen to interview development director candidate in person
The Starkville Board of Aldermen is set to select the city's next community development director.
The board plans to conduct a faceto-face interview with its finalist for the position, Simon Kim, at its meeting Tuesday. Following the interview, the board will vote on Kim's hire. Kim is currently a consultant, and has served as director of community development for South Padre Island, Texas, planning manager for Deltona, Florida and in county government roles for Green Grove Springs, Florida. The board held a meeting to interview applicants for the position on Jan. 29, and also interviewed Richard Ashley Grana, who operates a consulting firm, Grana Development Services LLC.
Vice Mayor Roy A'. Perkins, who presided over Friday's work session in the absence of Mayor Lynn Spruill said he was not at the special call meeting when the board interviewed applicants. However, he said the board members who were present were impressed with Kim.
“It is my understanding that he has very exceptional credentials, and that he perhaps may be a very excellent fit and prospective employee for the city of Starkville,” Perkins said. “He was such an outstanding interview that the board would like to take another opportunity to interview him, and hopefully, this time all seven members of the board will be present. It's my understanding that when the board had the initial work session, or special call meeting, only five aldermen were present.
Kim would replace former Starkville Development Director Buddy Sanders, who resigned from the city in August 2018.
Parks and Recreation Director Gerry Logan also made a presentation to the bard regarding the potential purchase of a $66,752.32 John Deere 9009 Terraincut mower. The measure would give City Clerk Lesa Hardin approval to advertise for four-year financing for the machine.
Logan said the mower would primarily be used to maintain the city's athletic fields. He also listed ease of maintenance as a factor toward the John Deere. He said changing cutting height on the Deere could be done in a matter of minutes, while it would take an hour or more with other manufacturers.
“Currently, we cut all the parks with the Exmark 72 Lazer E Series,” Logan said. “That machine is obviously significantly less, but you'll notice, aside from being a much larger machine, this John Deere 9009 has a quicker rate of cut, being just a couple miles per hour faster. It's got a bigger tank. There's not going to be as much down time for going to refuel as often.”
The cost of the Exmark mower is $8,500. Logan said the Larger John Deere mower could also complete its work faster than the Exmark, due to size alone. The Exmark has a 72-inch cutting deck, compared to the nine-foot deck on the John Deere.
“What that means is that every person who uses our athletic fields is going to know the difference,” Logan said.