Video: Board Fails to Override Starkville Mayor’s Gate Veto

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- Residents of a Starkville subdivision are breathing a sigh of relief tonight.

The city’s Board of Alderman voted not to override Mayor Parker Wiseman’s veto to reopen an emergency access gate  in Green Oaks subdivision.

But the vote did not come without much debate from one Alderman on the board, Roy Perkins.

In a 3 to 4 vote, the Board decided they were not going to override Mayor Wiseman’s veto. Shortly after the vote, city chief administrative officer Lynn Spruill told the board there is no authorization in the board minutes from 2007 to actually put the gate up and that claims were never made in the docket. The gate was built in 2007.

With that being said, Alderman Roy Perkins argued that the gate should be taken down.

After a heated discussion, a motion was then made by Ward 3 Alderman Eric Parker for the gate to stay in place. After a second vote, the majority of the board voted again in favor of having the gate stay up. Charles Scarborough is president of the Green Oaks homeowner’s association and says he’s shocked at the surprise discussion.

“I don’t understand what Roy Perkins agenda is. I don’t understand what he’s got against Green Oaks. And I just don’t understand it. It’s completely irrational for me,” says Scarborough.

Residents living in the neighborhood did not want the access gates to open, saying they were afraid drivers would abuse the system and put their families lives at risk, especially their children. The road was closed in 1999.