SOUTHAVEN, MS (abc24.com) - Southaven aldermen are trying to keep the city from losing more than a million dollars.
The Mississippi Department of Transportation won't give the city any more money until the state investigation into Mayor Greg Davis is over.
It's one more economic blow thanks to Davis' money woes. As long as he's in the mayor's office, there's nothing anyone can do to change MDOT's decision.
"We don't want to be involved in the city of Southaven's internal politics," said Randy Battey with MDOT. "We're just concerned and want to make sure we're good stewards of tax payer dollars."
"For us to be held back like this, it's kind of unfair," said Alderman Ronnie Hale.
MDOT's decision does not affect city projects already in the works, but it will stop two Southaven was planning.
One is a plan to install traffic signals at Tchulahoma and State Line Roads. The other, an $850,000 MDOT grant to install three miles of walking trails connecting Southaven's parks.
"That's a big deal," said Hale. "That was going to be a big big improvement to a lot of people. The city is not under investigation, just the mayor's office."
"If the same situation was happening anywhere else in the state, we'd take the same stance," Battey said. "Until the situation or investigation is brought to a satisfactory resolution, we'll be freezing funds."
MDOT said the money isn't gone, just put on hold. But, Southaven aldermen worry what will happen if the investigation into Davis drags on.
"These funds have a time limit," Hale told abc24.com. "We could end up losing."
"We want the money to go to use somewhere in state," Battey said. "We have not discussed a 'what if' scenario, or if this thing drags on for years what we would do."
