The issue of Crawford”s dilapidated Community Center wasn”t on the agenda for Monday”s Lowndes County Board of Supervisors meeting. But the sore spot was again the center of discussion.
Near the end of the meeting, District 4 Supervisor Jeff Smith, who represents Crawford, expressed his dissatisfaction with a story printed in The Dispatch explaining the saga of the community center. He felt the article implied he chose to leave Crawford off a list of city and county recreation projects being jointly funded by the City of Columbus and Lowndes County.
The article quotes Board President and District 1 Supervisor Harry Sanders as saying “They (Smith and District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks) had a legitimate opportunity to put both of those towns (Crawford and Artesia) in there. I did Anderson Grove and (District 3 Supervisor) John Holliman did New Hope.”
Smith was quoted in the article rebutting Sanders claims, stating “At no point was there an option on the table to choose one site or another. It was agreed upon by the city and the county to allow (the CLRA) to bring us back their final recommendations.”
Presented with his quote following Monday”s meeting, Smith acknowledged he was given a chance to address the accusation.
“Maybe it”s just my frustration with this whole process. I just want to clarify. I want it stated properly that I did not choose one disparaging condition over another,” said Smith.
Sanders reminded Smith during the meeting the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve the Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority”s list of projects. He also stated Crawford”s gym, which is located next to the community center, is one of the CLRA”s best-kept buildings.
Brooks proposed money could be taken from several projects slated for funding through a $7.75 million bond issue and redirected to recreation projects in Crawford and Artesia.
A public hearing on the bond issue, which will fund renovation of the Lowndes County Courthouse, construction of a new justice court building, the county”s portion of the Burns Bottom soccer complex, and paying off the remaining balance from the construction of the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center, was held at the outset of Monday”s meeting.
“Fifty-thousand (dollars) from each wouldn”t kill those projects,” said Brooks.
Smith proposed the county draw funds from $750,000 in earned interest from the $30 million sale of Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle. However, Sanders said the interest money is both the county”s “prudent reserve” and needed to offset $800,000 loaned to the road department for street repairs.
Amid the back-and-forth between supervisors Brooks accused Sanders of using “inflammatory” speech and Sanders pointed out District 4 has the greatest number of recreation facilities.
Sanders also reminded the board nobody had approached the city or the CLRA about Crawford”s facilities.
Incidentally, Gwen Buckhalter-King, who appeared before the board of supervisors Oct. 15 to ask for assistance with the Crawford Community Center, was scheduled to speak at the CLRA”s Monday meeting but did not appear.
No resolution was reached on the Crawford situation, but Brooks and Sanders agreed the people of Crawford need to develop a plan including desired facilities and estimated costs.
In other business the board:
n Asked Sheriff Butch Howard to reach out to the Columbus Police Department to split the placement of an officer at the entrance to the Columbus Fairgrounds on Highway 69 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday to notify voters the voting precinct formerly located at the Fairgrounds was moved to the Columbus National Guard Armory, also on Highway 69.
n Granted a 10-year tax exemption to Brislin Inc.
The air duct manufacturer recently spent $348,000 on a new building, land and equipment. The company employs 13 workers and intends to add two more.
The tax exemption, which is extended to manufacturers, will save Brislin Inc. approximately $45,000 over 10 years.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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