I didn't feel good after Tuesday night's board meeting and have since been sick in bed. I wanted to make a quick post for two reasons.

1. There obviously are a lot of people wanting to talk more about the smoking ordiance. I will make a more in-depth post in a few days after I get to feeling better. I also want to make a post concerning the Borden house which is another growing issue for various citizens in the city.

2. A lot of people apparently read my blog and I wanted to say "thank you" to all of you. Above all I want people to feel like they can talk to me.

Tomorrow's meeting

Tomorrow's Board of Alderman meeting agenda has been posted on the city's website. Some of the more interesting topics will be the board hiring a receptionist for city hall, the possible creation of a cemetary commission, discussion and possible expenditure for a citizen survey, the city/MSU fire contract, an extension on Northland Cable's franchise liscence, and as always, drainage issues.

eBay's Rival?

It's already been dubbed by some as "eBay's killer" even though it hasn't even official launched yet. I am refering to Google Base. Google Base is another extension of Google which will provide users with an online datebase for storing... well just about anything. As an online, searchable database people will be able to store anything from recipes to local services they provide to even University researched information such as protein structures.

But how does this represent a threat to eBay? Well, this database can also be used to upload information about products and sell them much like one would do on eBay but with a critical difference. Google Base will be free. The service pays for itself through the now popular simple text advertisements centered around the products being featured. These ads use keywords in the document they're in so that the ad is relevant to whatever people are looking for. With the rising costs of selling on eBay many people have been searching for an alternative and are already lining up to take advantage of Google's services once they become available.

Further evidence that Google will soon be competing with eBay is the fact that they are in the process of setting up their own online payment service, called Google Wallet, which will be similar to the popular PayPal.

Ars Technica has an article concerning Google Base, as well as Outer-Court.com.

Scooter Libby Resigns

Dick Cheney's Chief of Staff Scooter Libby resigned today in the face of a 5-count, 22 page indictment. According to CNN, "Libby was indicted on one count of obstruction of justice, two counts of perjury and two counts of making false statements, court documents show." His attorney's deny that he is guilty of any criminal conduct.

The indictment can be read in pdf format here.

Comprehensive Plan Off Tonight's Agenda

Due to still needing to work out some issues with the Comprehensive Plan, city planner George Rummel has requested that final discussion and adoption of the plan be removed from tonight's agenda.

Daniel Melder Featured in Slate

I have forgotten to give props where they are due. Former College Democrat's president Daniel Melder was featured in Slate. The article also featured Ole Miss liberal Will Bardwell.

Maybe I need to start providing commentary so I can get mentioned in a national website? Anyway congradulations Melder!

Long time no post for me, due to the normal stresses of school life and city business. One issue that's been mentioned is the possiblity of a no-smoking ordiance for Starkville's bars and restuarants. Before I mention where I stand on the issue, let me first say be forthright in saying that I do smoke on occasion. Usually when I am out with friends at a bar myself. While I do believe smoking is bad, state law already requires seperate no-smoking areas for restuarants. I believe that the issue should be up to the individual businesses as to whether they should choose to allow smoking in their establishment. I certainly wouldn't mind a few smoke free bars in town; however, I don't think government needs to force that decision on those establishments.

Poplarville

Upon speaking to various people in Jackson, I learned that the Mississippi Municipal League (MML) is setting up a program where cities in north MS adopt sister cities in the south that were affected by hurricane Katrina.

I thought this was a great idea and asked to be given the name of a city still in need that hadn't been adopted yet. Smaller towns were having more difficulty with this as a majority of relief efforts have been focusing on larger areas such as Biloxi/Gulfport. The city suggested was Poplarville (pop. around 2,601 at the last census). I motioned at the last board meeting that we adopt Poplarville and in doing so see in what ways we can lend assistance to them. It was passed by the board and so I have been in contact with some city officials down there.

Their sole fire station was destroyed in the storm. Their police station suffered damage as well and had to have 3" of water pumped out of it. They've been able to restore power and water/sewer. Various homes and businesses were destroyed and of the businesses left, many of them received their goods from distributors out of New Orleans. Needless to say it will be a while before they fully recover.

Currently they are worked with FEMA to set up a temporary fire station. Once fire/police services are fully re-established then they said they will provide us with a list of whatever items they need.

Comprehensive Plan Workshop Scheduled *Important*

At Tuesday's board of alderman meeting city planner George Rummel gave a brief update on his work on the comprehensive plan for the city. It was at this meeting that the board requested a public workshop be held for the purposes of educating the public on the plan and changes made since when Shelly Johnstone was city planner. It is both an opportunity for citizens to learn about this plan and also to ask questions/provide commentary. Confirmation was made today for the time/location:

Greensboro Center
Tuesday, September 27th, 2005
6:00pm until 9:00pm

If there is any one meeting that you, my readership, attend this year, I would encourage it to be this one. Why? Once this plan is approved, and it will be soon, it will lay the foundation for the future growth of the city for the next 25 years. Although for some of you who are students who may not be in town much longer, you will have friends that will stay, along with possible younger brothers/sisters and maybe even one day children who will become residents of Starkville. Ask yourselves what you want to see for this city and then come to this workshop with those ideas in mind.

If you would like to read the current copy of the plan, it can be downloaded from the city's website:
http://www.cityofstarkville.org/government/documents/Starkville_Comprehensive_Plan.pdf

Starkville's Budget

Last Thursday, September 15th, the board passed the upcoming F.Y. '06 budget. If you are interested in learning more about Starkville's budget, you can download both of budget committee chairman Matt Cox's presentations below:

F.Y. '06 Budget Expenditures
F.Y. '06 Budget Revenue

The documents illustrate sales tax growth, distribution of funds, and other areas of concern.

In addition, the board of aldermen meet again tomorrow at 5:30pm at City Hall. City Planner George Rummel will be making a presentation concerning his modifications to the city's comprehensive plan.