More than a week has passed since the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau made a decision to pay one-third of a $400,000 grant match for the renovation of the old river bridge. And the CVB has yet to hear from either the city or the county — the entities who passed resolutions asking the CVB to foot the bill — concerning the matter.
“We have not heard from the mayor or from the county since the meeting,” said CVB Executive Director and CEO James Tsismanakis, during a Tuesday meeting with The Commercial Dispatch editorial board.
Both the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors and the Columbus City Council passed resolutions at their respective meetings requesting the CVB pay the $400,000 needed for a 20-percent match of a $2 million Mississippi Department of Transportation grant to renovate the bridge — over the Tombigbee River, near Highway 82 — into a walking path.
Representatives from both the city and county presented the idea to the CVB board at their April 19 meeting.
On a recommendation by CVB board member John Bean, the board unanimously agreed to give one-third, or $133,333, toward the bridge project and deduct $10,000 of the $50,000 the CVB annually gives to the city.
CVB Board President Dewitt Hicks, who was also present at Tuesday”s meeting, said it is important for the city, the county and the CVB to work together.
“I feel all three need to work together on projects, and it is important to communicate,” Hicks said. “Several years ago, the CVB proposed splitting funding three ways with the city and county to fund the restoration of the Trotter Convention Center.”
The county owns the bridge, “but it is maintained by the city,” Smith said at the April 19 meeting.
The supervisors have not met yet to discuss the CVB”s agreement to pay one-third of the grant match, Lowndes County District 1 Supervisor and Board President Harry Sanders said.
“We have a meeting next Monday, but we do not know if this is going to be on the agenda,” he added.
The supervisors meet Monday at 9:30 a.m. in the supervisors” boardroom at the Lowndes County Courthouse.
Sanders doesn”t understand why the CVB feels they were not informed about the intentions of the city and the county.
“I don”t have a problem with them wanting to pay one-third of the cost, but they acted like they got their feelings hurt when we and the city went to their meeting last week,” he said.
Both the city and the county did the same thing other organizations do when they go before the CVB board to make a financial request, Sanders noted.
“We were just going to make a request, I do not know why they were upset about that,” he said.
Smith plans to discuss the one-third payment agreement with the Columbus City Council at their next regular meeting, May 4 at 5 p.m. at the Municipal Complex. He also plans to speak with Sanders to see how the county feels about the agreement.
“As for myself, I am for it. But I want to talk to Harry (Sanders) to see where he stands. I feel comfortable he will stay on board with this,” he said.
Both Tsismanakis and Hicks think the bridge can have some merit in terms of tourism.
“It could bring arts and crafts vendors and other things to the area,” Tsismanakis said.
“There are ideas to be explored. It could be another attraction for the city,” Hicks added.
Along with Smith, others representing the city at the April 19 meeting were Federal Programs Director George Irby, Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin and Ward 1 Councilman Gene Taylor. City Engineer Kevin Stafford was also present.
County Administrator Ralph Billingsley and Lowndes County District 4 Supervisor Jeff Smith also were in attendance.
During the city”s presentation, Smith gave the board background information about the money the city received from MDOT.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.