Photo: Horn Lake Alderman and mayoral candidate David answers questions during a Saturday night forum at City Hall. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
Mar 23, 2025- What was set up to be a discussion between the three Republican candidates for Horn Lake mayor turned into a solo act Saturday night at the Horn Lake City Hall.
Soon after the qualifying period was completed and the three Republican candidates were set, Dave Young, candidate and Ward 4 Alderman, set up the forum debate with the two other candidates.
Danny Klein, Alderman at-Large and Nat Baker, a former mayor, were invited to take part. However the Saturday night gathering before about two dozen voters and interested parties saw Klein and Baker not take part. That gave Young the opportunity to answer questions from moderate Jon Stevenson without rebuttal from other two candidates.
On property taxes, Young noted the city’s high millage rate of 50 mills is too high.
“Our number to operate the city this past year was $42.87 million and it’s going to be more next year,” Young said. “Does that mean we need to raise our millage rate? No, it does not.”
Young said what needs to be done to lower the millage rate is to bring more businesses, developments, and more people into the city.
“My goal in the next four years is to drop the millage by two mills,” said Young. “It doesn’t sound like a lot but we have to start somewhere.”
Young said Horn Lake should see house development that is “obtainable,” which is different from what he termed “affordable” housing. Young believes that would help attract more business to the community.
“We better have the houses these people coming will live in,” Young said. “We have the schools and we need to have the houses that’s obtainable, from the COO of that business down to the person who is sweeping the floor.”
Young called the Horn Lake Creek Interceptor District a tremendous issue in front of the city.
Mayoral candidate Dave Young listens to a question during what was to be a forum with the three Republican candidates. The two other seats were for opponents Danny Klein and Nat Baker, who did not participate. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
The Horn Lake Creek Basin Interceptor Sewer District, established in 1971 by the Mississippi Legislature, serves as the exclusive provider of public wastewater collection services for Southaven, Horn Lake, and parts of DeSoto County. The district has relied on the city of Memphis to treat wastewater, but in 2018, Memphis said it was going to terminate the agreement so it could focus more on Memphis residents. A federal judge ruled in September 2023 that the district has eight years to develop and implement an alternative wastewater treatment solution. This includes constructing or expanding facilities to redirect wastewater away from Memphis’ system.
Young said the DeSoto County Regional Utility Authority, or DCRUA, is working actively on the issue with Congressional representatives. But he also said it is imperative to continue pushing the issue at all levels, from local to federal.
The candidate also talked a significant time about the Horn Lake Animal Shelter under construction, set to be the largest of its type in DeSoto County.
The cost of the 10,250 square foot shelter has become an issue when compared to another facility being built in Olive Branch and a new one currently open in Hernando.
Young said he has opposed the animal shelter since a $6 million bond was approved to cover the cost of construction, opposing it because he wanted the money to be on hand through grants, donations, and such, before construction started, instead of through a bond.
Young said the bond has added $13 million in debt to the city and when completed will mean an operating budget of more than $1 million annually, possibly closer to $2 million, he said.
“We have no play in the budget right now,” he said.
Young also talked about water issues in the Bullfrog Corner area, park improvements, and street improvements.
“We need action, not words,” Young said in his closing remarks.
The winner of the April 1 Republican primary vote in Horn Lake will face Democrat Jimmy Stokes II in the June 3 general election to become the next mayor, as current Mayor Allen Latimer is retiring. Stokes has already advanced to the general election as he has no opposition in his party’s primary.
