A second consultant has recommended to McComb officials that the city hire its own economic developer — a proposal that received a chilly reception from some board members on Tuesday.
Economic development and the promotion of the city were hot topics during the city’s work session.
Mississippi Development Authority asset development division director Joy Foy gave city officials two-dozen recommendations to improve development during her presentation Tuesday.
Foy completed a city asset-mapping project in March, and said she hopes the city will implement at least three of her recommendations.
Much of the focus was put on the importance of attracting young professionals and embracing the area’s rich musical heritage.
Popular suggestions among board members included painting fire hydrants to look like train conductors and adding a themed hotel to the downtown area.
Foy also pointed out issues such as the lack of emphasis on tourism, the lack of lodging downtown and that no railroad-related souvenirs could be found in McComb.
But the recommendation that generated the biggest discussion was the one to hire a salaried community economic developer to promote McComb.
Foy recommended a salary of $36,000 for the position, mentioning that previous salary quotes for McComb were too high. Ole Miss economic development consultant Rick Duke also suggested last month that the city hire its own economic developer, with a recommended $65,000 annual salary.
Mayor Whitney Rawlings said most of the pitfalls Foy described were already in the works of being updated or corrected, but he made one thing clear: “We seriously need to consider looking for a community economic developer for our city.”
But Ward 2 Selectman Michael Cameron said he won’t be in favor of the addition of another position, noting that the Pike County Economic Development District already has an economic developer, and organizations including the McComb Main Street Association and Scenic Rivers Alliance also work to promote the area.
“We’ll all be spitting distance of one another trying to do the same thing,” he said.
Selectman at-large Tommy McKenzie also expressed concerns about multiple people from different organizations focusing on the same goals.
“We’ve got to have one voice for the area,” McKenzie said. “The city’s got to grow for anything to happen, and I think somebody to promote us is where we need to be.”
According to city administrator Quordiniah Lockley, the city paid a $24,000 Main Street Association director salary until 2008, when the budget no longer allowed for it.
“There are possibilities, and we’ve just got to promote it,” Rawlings said.
In another matter, the board heard updates on the progress of the city’s environmental court from Judge Brandon Frazier.
He said the case volume has picked up in the past two months, averaging 10 cases each for May and June. Most of the accused also are willing to cooperate and often did not know they were breaking any laws.
However, Frazier and code inspector Hiram Smith continually run into an issue with tracking down owners of blighted property. Many of the overgrown grass cases are properties belonging to either the deceased or out-of-towners, and if an owner cannot be found, no one can be prosecuted.
The board can require lawn maintenance and building repair in such situations by putting a lien on the property.
To report neighborhood blight, visit mccomb-ms.gov and fill out the complaint form for the public works department. Complaint forms for the police and zoning departments are also available online.
