Columbus City Council on Tuesday unanimously authorized Mayor Robert Smith to send the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors a letter saying the city wants to meet to discuss the future of the Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority.
Last week, supervisors agreed to ask Smith if the city wants to hold meetings to discuss the future of the inter-local agreement between the two entities that governs the recreational body.
A letter from Board of Supervisors President Harry Sanders that Smith provided The Dispatch references media reports that indicate some councilmen wish to terminate the CLRA agreement.
Supervisors issued a notice of intent to withdraw from the inter-local agreement on Sept. 6. Lowndes County must wait one year before it can formally leave the CLRA.
“If a majority of the council agrees with the board of supervisors, then there is no need for any further discussion,” Sanders’ letter reads. “If the council does not agree with the board of supervisors’ decision to terminate the interlocal agreement, I suggest that we set up a meeting between the two boards no later than October 15th to further discuss this issue.”
In a phone interview with the Dispatch after the county issued its notice to withdraw, Ward 4 Councilman Marty Turner said he believed the city could effectively run its own parks department and said a split would draw attention to how supervisors make decisions without considering the city.
On Tuesday, he said he wants the city-county partnership to remain in place.
“Supervisors need to realize that Columbus is in Lowndes County,” Turner said. “I spoke to officials at parks and rec, and I don’t want that agreement to end.”
Smith, who has repeatedly said he’s open to meeting with the county, again asserted he’s wants to meet with supervisors to discuss CLRA’s future.
“I think it’s in the best interest in the citizens of the citizens of the city and county that the two bodies get together to discuss the future of the Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority,” Smith said on Tuesday.
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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