Video: Starkville Drainage Project

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) — For some residents living in one Starkville neighborhood, an ugly dangerous and unsanitary ditch has been an eyesore for longer than many of them can remember. Now it looks like that’s going to change. For them a 678 thousand dollar project that for them is becoming a bridge over a long standing problem.

“I’ve been here for 32 years. 32 years and this ditch was not as bad. Its where my boys could jump over, and I have a 42 year old son and a 37 year old son,” said Margaret Mason, Starkville.

For Carver Drive resident Margaret Mason, the unsightly hole in the ground behind her house has been a problem she’s rather do without.

“This has been an issue for decades in this community. So it is very nice to see a solution not too far in the future,” said Parker Wiseman, Starkville Mayor.

“Well when I first moved down here the ditch was maybe about three-four feet deep. Its decaying ever since then, since I’ve been here,” said Wilson Gardner, Starkville.

Both Mason and Gardner are quick to point out possible health hazards and the erosion of soil where their garden is, some varieties of veggies they say they are unable to grow.

“When I go out work on my garden I prepare myself for it because I know whats happening. I wash myself down with mosquito spray whatever. Knowing I’m going to get bit up, so I protect myself when I go out in that ditch like that,” said Gardner.

“FEMA has approved this project and we have a contractor that has submitted a bid that, we have funding through a CAP Loan which is a loan offered through the MDA a low interest loan program for projects such as this,” said Wiseman.

And so it looks like a little more time and patience is needed, in the meantime some Carver Drive residents have the same wait and see attitude as Mason.

“I hope they do before I die, I really do,” added Mason.

Starkville Mayor and Aldermen agreed to go forward with the project during the past holiday season. Work realigning and cementing the ditch will begin as soon as weather permits and should be finished by this summer.