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What is this?
Rec complex will benefit citizens
Published Monday, November 2, 2009
Like many people in this community, I strongly support the concept of a recreation complex, but I worry whether our elected officials are capable of pulling it off. They haven’t been too impressive lately.
However, I discovered something that causes me to be able to wholeheartedly support the referendum. That something is the interlocal agreement that was signed by the city, the county and the school board; and it lays out exactly what will happen if the referendum passes. Have you read it? If not, you should before you cast your vote. You can get a copy from the city clerk’s office or at the library — or you can download a copy from the library’s Web site www.naw.lib.ms.us.
This agreement establishes a recreation commission, composed of three persons appointed by each of the three governing authorities. Although subject to approval by the governing authorities, the commission will do most of the work.
“The Recreation Commission shall make recommendation for the establishment, operation, and maintenance of recreational facilities and programs in Adams County; and shall make a report and recommendations to the three governing boards for the establishing, financing, construction, and operation of a countywide comprehensive recreation program for Adams County.”
Plus, the commission is to have other specified duties, including hiring a director of recreation and parks and other employees; entering into contracts, acquiring land, buildings and facilities; apply for grants or loans; authorizing studies or surveys; establishing and collecting fees; and so on.
Furthermore, the agreement requires the commission to hold public hearings to determine the opinions of the citizens.
All our elected officials have to do is appoint quality people to this commission and let them do their job.
The public will have to be vigilant to make sure these appointments are representative of our community and possess the appropriate skills for the job. Then we must involve ourselves in the process itself.
This represents an opportunity for the city and county to work together — by removing the politics and establishing instead a credible commission. Maybe this will provide an excellent blueprint for action on other issues that have proven so difficult.
I support the building of a recreation complex, because it can benefit our citizens and improve the economy at the same time. And I support the referendum because I think it lays out a plan for success that may not occur otherwise.
Casey Hughes
Natchez resident
Comments
Posted by lightcatcher (anonymous) on November 2, 2009 at 8:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well said.
Posted by 2008 (anonymous) on November 2, 2009 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Every adult that has commented pro Recreation center says it’s for the children. I believe that the Rec. center is for the betterment of the pockets of the adults that have a vested interest in building a Rec. center.
If the children’s best interest were at the heart of the issue then a Rec. center would be the last item on the list!
If the children’s best interest were at the center of this referendum then any monies available without taking out loans, or increasing taxes or doing a bond would be to reinvest in the Natchez School System.
The teachers should get a pay raise to get and hold the best teachers we can.
After school programs with tutoring for all public schools, should be mandatory when students grades fall below a C
Field trips for educational purposes
Updated resources, computers and software
Classroom supplies that are not paid for by the teachers and parents
Programs where the baby dolls are sent home with the student’s, let the babies cry all night and the kids and parents have to deal with them. Work study jobs for credits in Daycare centers, let the boys and girls change real diapers. Work study jobs at the local paper, local bank, local grocery store, hospitals, veterinary clinic, mechanic shop, lumber yard, etc. Or maybe Wallmart or the tourist industry where they could see what a wonderful pay minimum wage will bring them if they don’t get an education!
Bring in realistic trade schools, not everyone is cut out for college
The list goes on for all the needs the Natchez school district requires to be top notch educational facilities. The public schools are basically segregated in Natchez, why should financially struggling parents have to pay for their children to go to private schools. If the school system isn’t producing top notch graduating students who would want to invest in moving here? RECREATION SHOULD NOT COME BEFORE THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF YOUR CHILDREN! IF AS MUCH ENERGY TIME AND MONEY WERE BEING SPENT ON EDUCATION INSTEAD OF PLAY TIME MAYBE NATCHEZ WOULD HAVE MORE GRADUATES, HIGHER TEST SCORES AND LESS DROP OUTS.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on November 2, 2009 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
2008, This can be funded by eliminating the grossly overstaffed public school administration. They've been way to top-heavy for many years. They can easily do more with less (personnel) if they will quit hiring friends, relatives and those "consultants".
Then we can exercise the kids at school and at the new complex. The kids need the fat run off of them anyhow. With those silly uniforms they all look like a bunch of fat little nazis. What a world......
Posted by 2008 (anonymous) on November 2, 2009 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Selfish adults at the expense of your childrens education.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on November 2, 2009 at 11:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How are the adults selfish? Just look at how fat the kids are. Its obvious they ain't missing any meals.
Posted by niderbip (anonymous) on November 3, 2009 at 7:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
they aren't "three governing authorities"....they are three taxing entities.
unless you don't mind the BOA or BOS raising taxes for "education", the BOE should have zero involvement in this rec issue.
and the statement "A mere $500,000 covers annual maintenance"??? no one has a clue, as they don't know what's going to be built or what it really costs.
have any idea what it costs to maintain an "olympic size" pool ?? Ask your BOS rep; they say it's part of the "plan".
Posted by mrmojorisin (anonymous) on November 3, 2009 at 4:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To all the pepople against even considering this proposal...........Have you ever stopped to reason with the "why" you're opposed to a public recreation center?
I hear it every day. I read it between the lines of so many comments...
You're afraid the whole thing is going to turn out like the public schools, they are going to take your tax dollars and build something you will have to share with people of different races, and you won't be able to enjoy your tax dollars because your kids can't swim in the same pool with black kids any more than they can go to school with them.
Believe it or not, kids of different races, nationalities, and colors are swimming together all over the world, and actually going to school together, and no one notices.
Why not here?
Why are we so backwards in Natchez, MS?
--mojo
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on November 3, 2009 at 10:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, looks like we win. Yippie.
:)
Posted by mrmojorisin (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks, grungebob, for being a fiscally responsible person...and you're right, we probably can't afford the kind of complex they're pushing. Prejudice doesn't only mean intolerance against one thing or another, it can also mean, an opinion formed beforehand....and still, a public recreation facility is something we need to consider....among other things.
We need to consider all kinds of plans to help get our economy jump started. We need to involve all corners of our population and work out a plan best suited to get Natchez moving.
I still think the major thing we need to work on around here are the public schools. And that is such a mess, it's going to take some unprecedented cooperation and tolerance on all sides to work out. But, somehow we have to fix it....Me? I'm for firing all the people we presently have running our school system and hiring some people with vision...not unlike that woman the Chamber brought down here from Tupelo. Didya notice, Tueplo is the new "happening" place in Mississippi.
Our economy will not grow until we do something; until we help increase the amount of money our customers make, and the majority of our customers are local people. We need to do whatever we can to insure the average family income in this county increases. I believe that our social fabric and our economic fabric are pretty tightly interwoven. If we care enough to look for it, we can always find a thread that binds us. And, if you look at it, to say that we have an obligation to help each other out is actually a traditional American value, and very pragmatic,
Our community meetings are open to everyone and EVERYONE needs to come...at least we should have hundreds at the meetings instead of 20-30 people on a good night.
And our BOA, and BOS, and Mayor need to LISTEN to us. It is our county, they represent us, not themselves and their interests, but in order to get them to listen, we need a plan, right?
--mojo
Ps--- We also need to go downtown and support our local people instead of buying everything at Wal-mart. We need to rent those little scooters, and support what we have. When I went to Key West, everywhere I looked there were people on scooters and bicycles, and it made me want to rent one and scoot around. We can make our tourists want to scoot around Natchez, too...and seeing people on them goes a long way to selling the idea....
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