Speaking on behalf of Columbus Mayor Robert Smith, Vice Mayor and Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin Tuesday told the Columbus Rotarians the city is “doing really well.”
“Our city”s doing fine,” he said, noting Columbus employs 261 and going to a four-day workweek enabled the city to “be conservative with money” and resulted in less employee absenteeism, less utility usage and fuel savings.
Noting the city expects to collect between $350,000 and $500,000 in Municipal Court fines as part of a court amnesty program, he added, “We do not have a lot of money, but we”re not broke.”
As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, $287,000 had been collected.
The city has “over $5 million saved in the bank,” and the council”s goal is to “invest wisely,” Gavin said, relaying Smith”s vision of making “sure the city remains fiscally solvent by spending conservatively.”
Borrowing a quote from Columbus-Lowndes Development Link CEO Joe Higgins, Gavin explained sometimes it”s necessary to spend money to make money.
Although he noted the city earlier lost funding opportunities to widen Bluecutt Road, he detailed upcoming projects to pave Military Road from 15th Avenue to Third Street, portions of Highway 12 and Highway 69, as well as portions of Airline Road.
Additionally, Mississippi Department of Transportation will pave Highway 182 from Plymouth Road to the Alabama state line.
Gavin also noted work to improve the city”s drainage problems, although he admitted Columbus “always will have drainage problems,” since the city was built on “70 percent swampland.”
“If I had known it was going to rain this much this year, I probably would not have run for City Council,” he joked.
Regarding ongoing efforts to repair potholes in the city, he said, “We”ve had a very bad winter and right now we”re playing catch-up, (but) we will come out of this.”
Gavin also spoke of efforts to clean up Columbus and noted 439 notices of property violations have been served since October, 41 dilapidated buildings have been demolished and 47 overgrown lots cut.
“The city”s trying to take a stand,” he said. “We”re cleaning up the city to make the city look better. It”s been a slow process, but we”ve made great progress.
“Community appearance is a big factor,” he continued, noting the Columbus Police Department is continuing to “fight crime” and enforce the city”s curfew ordinance. “Image is everything and we”re looking to change our image and make our image better.”
Gavin also reported an Oxford firm, Bridge and Watson, is continuing to gather data on annexing areas into the city.
“There”s more to annexation than just taking in a neighborhood,” he said, noting data is being gathered and analyzed to determine if the money brought in through additional tax revenue will offset the cost of providing required services, like fire protection, to annexed areas.
Gavin reported construction on a six-field soccer complex for the Burns Bottom area is expected to begin this summer and improvements at the Columbus Riverwalk, including the placement of concrete steps in the staging area, cleaning a large ditch and the installation of signage, will be made.
And he noted the city has secured a $1.8 million grant to renovate the old Tombigbee River pedestrian bridge.
“We have the power for us to make Columbus better, but it”s got to be all of us working together,” Gavin concluded. “Our city”s decreased in population. We have to look at a way for our city to grow. If we don”t grow, if we don”t prosper, you and I will pay the price for it.
“Progress costs money,” he added, quoting Higgins. “We have to be willing to invest in ourselves, if we”re going to ask people to come in and invest in our city.”
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 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.