MHP Troop G Holds Breath For House Bill 3047

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – In recent years, all of Mississippi’s Highway Patrol sub-stations have been rebuilt or remodeled except for one, the Troop G sub-station in Starkville.

But a bill in the legislature could change that.

This isn’t the first time the Mississippi Department of Public Safety has asked for funding on this rebuilding project, but with Senate Bill 3047 about to take the House floor Troop G hopes this will be the year it finally comes through.

While the Troopers of Highway Patrol Troop G are fighting crime, their offices are fighting the ravages of Father Time.

“There’s only so long that you can upkeep it,” said Master Sergeant Criss Turnipseed.

The original two-story building was constructed in 1964, and added onto in the 1985.

Leaks, crowding, overflow rooms for the crowding, even converting storage sheds into office space, all are reasons this Troop is asking for an upgrade.

“Space is very very limited here,” continued Turnipseed.

Surprisingly, in the past the need at other stations outweighed Troop G’s.

“I think we’ve done exceptionally well here trying to upkeep it, so they kind of got around to the ones with the most desperate needs first and made it all the way around the state,” said Turnipseed.

The Department of Public Safety has brought funding bills to the Capitol floor several times, with no luck, but this year Senate Bill 3047 seems to be getting some traction.

“In the bill, there’s a bond for approximately $6 million to build a new facility,” said Turnipseed.

All of that money would go into the building.

The city of Starkville has already donated 10 acres to Troop G, right at the corner of Highways 12 and 25.

With the progress already being made in Jackson, Turnipseed hopes this will finally be the year.

“The community, the district, the truth, the people here in this area, the Golden Triangle deserve, I think deserve, a nice facility to come to and for us to serve them out of,” said Turnipseed.

Senate Bill 3047 has passed the Senate and is currently in a committee before heading to the House Floor.

If passed, we’ve been told the building process would only take two years.