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Recreation needs clear cut plan
Published Friday, July 4, 2008
Let no one say that leaders of the small town of Vidalia, La., ever think “small.” Far from it, the river city that touts itself as the “city on the move” certainly lives up to its name.
Vidalia leaders announced on Wednesday the purchase of 30 acres of land for the development of a new recreation complex.
Such a facility could be a great thing for both the residents of Vidalia who will use the facility for generations to come and for the potential economic impact such a facility could have.
We applaud Vidalia leaders for having the vision to get moving on such an important project.
With the 30 acres the city purchased and a recreation district option to purchase an additional 20 acres, the complex’s construction could be a huge undertaking.
Such projects need a good, solid, public plan to help get off the ground and to help garner support.
If all of the property is purchased, taxpayers will have $850,000 of public funds invested in land acquisition. But most taxpayers don’t have a clue what, exactly, will be built there or how the facilities will be maintained.
Vidalia residents need a thorough plan developed publicly so they can be involved in the process, not just read about it once it’s over.
Vidalia’s recreation complex could be a major boon for the city and it could be another bit of momentum keeping Vidalia the “city on the move.”
However, residents need to know exactly where the recreation complex is headed.
Comments
Posted by fatherof4 (anonymous) on July 4, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Its amazing that after trying to pass a tax, for this project, they had the money all along!
Posted by vilou (anonymous) on July 4, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
fatherof4, When a tax for recreation came about there wasn't money to be had. The citizens didn't want to foot the bill so recreation had to wait till a revenue source could be obtained. The city got this money from lease of property to the Riverview RV Park. Vidalia has been fortunate to have a progressive Mayor and board of aldermen to make the right choices . hope everyone supports this project . Everyone should come to the meetings concerning this and put in their ideas. This is not going to be an overnight project but it will be worth it in the end.
Posted by fatherof4 (anonymous) on July 4, 2008 at 11:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think its a great idea, but why ask for more tax, when they had money coming from the lease to do it with?
Posted by vilou (anonymous) on July 4, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Fatherof4, The money from the lease was only available in the last few months. This leasing money was for more years and more area. You can't spend something you don't have. Go to the city meetings and you will know what is happening in your city.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on July 4, 2008 at 12:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Someone with deep pockets needs to build an apartment complex to house all the future Vidalians that will be relocating.
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on July 4, 2008 at 1:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That's a big 10-4 destiny. These Natchez city taxes are devouring me.
Posted by fatherof4 (anonymous) on July 4, 2008 at 6:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
vilou, I guess if the tax had passed, and the city then found out about the lease money, they would have said never mind about the tax!...........yea. The city knew the about the lease money all the time, its an ongoing lease. They tell you at the meetings, what you want to hear, not the truth.
Posted by vilou (anonymous) on July 5, 2008 at 2:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Fatherof4, The new lease money did not come about until recently. If the tax had been voted on and passed the lease money would go to other projects, which there are many. You might can predict the future to see what money will be coming in but the mayor and city council can't. Please tell me all the untruths that you know about, and tell me how many meetings have you attended. How many times have you talked to the mayor or aldermen about any problems you are having? How many times have you tried to make a difference by giving your suggestions to the board members? If you can't try an help don't complain about things you know nothing about. Ask and I'm sure you will be told the truth. Don't you think it would be unwise for the mayor and board to say things that are not true, it would surely not be in their interest to do so. Go talk to the mayor about the lease and I'm sure he would be glad to show you all the details.
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on July 5, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Vilou -- sometimes it's just hard to have a good conversation. But you are doing a good job of your side of it.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on July 5, 2008 at 1:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Vilou, the mayor has stated that all progressive cities of the future will have a recreation complex. Is this an idea that came to him of its own, or did he get this idea from somewhere else? If the idea came from somewhere else, where did it come from? What exactly is a "progressive city of the future"?
Is it a city in which the city government and business are inextricably linked as the US Department of Commerce desires, where business has "more than a seat at the table"?
You seem to have an inside source of knowledge; it would be nice if you would support the mayor by sharing some of his vision with the people through explaining what you know of the above concepts.
Let's keep Vidalia moving forward in the most progressive way.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on July 5, 2008 at 9:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Vilou, when the citizens decided to vote against a tax to buy this land were they not saying a recreation complex was less important to them than fiscal conservatism?
You say that thankfully we have a progressive mayor and board of aldermen, one that makes the right choices by going against the wishes of the people and buying the land anyway. Is this progressivism? Please help me understand.
When is the will of the people important to a progressive administration? Only at election time, or all the time?
The money used to buy that land also belongs to the people, just as much as the money that was unsuccessfully taxed out of their pockets.
Given that the project begins against the will of the people, how are the people to be assured that future developments on the site won't also be against their will?
Is progressivism imposing things on the people whether the like it or not?
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