A county-commissioned study of the Columbus Lowndes Recreation Authority is now complete.
The nine-page study takes a broad look at CLRA, rather than an in-depth look at the parks system’s operations.
Lowndes County Board of Supervisors voted to hire the Clinton-based RF Outdoor Consulting, LLC to conduct the study in June. Board President Harry Sanders, District 2 Supervisor Bill Brigham and District 3 Supervisor John Holliman voted for the study, while District 4 Supervisor Jeff Smith and District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks opposed it.
Supervisors paid the consultants $4,000 for the study.
The study found CLRA’s facilities are generally in fair condition, though some parks are under-utilized. It notes the need for repairs or upgrades at some facilities, though it doesn’t go into detail other than to say there should be “coordinated departmental planning consisting of what specifically needs to be done in the next fiscal year and what must be completed through future approved capital plans.”
The study spurred concern from the city leaders in June after Sanders sent a letter to Mayor Robert Smith informing him of the county’s intention to hire a consulting firm to review CLRA’s performance and make recommendations.
Smith, worried the study was the county’s first step toward ending the inter-local agreement CLRA operates under to form its own recreation department, responded with a request that supervisors delay the hiring to allow the city and county to jointly interview potential consultants during a public meeting. Sanders rejected the offer.
On Monday, Sanders said the board will have to decide what to do with the study’s results. He indicated he’s not opposed to splitting from the inter-local agreement with the city.
“Either we’re going to have to a put a whole lot more money in every year to keep it up to snuff, or we can go out on our own and maintain all of our own community centers, build us a nice little park and ball fields and everything for the same amount of money we’re putting in right now. And we won’t have to go in and put in additional money,” Sanders said.
CLRA’s structure
CLRA operates under an inter-local agreement between Columbus and Lowndes County. The agreement was enacted in 1990 and requires one year of notice before either party withdraws.
CLRA is governed by a five-member board of directors, with two members appointed from the city, two from the county and one member jointly appointed by both entities. The board consists of president and county appointee Scott Hannon, county appointee Donnie Sanders, city appointee Harry Ford, city appointee Bennie Coleman and at-large appointee Shane Edwards.
CLRA received $1.42 million in revenue for fiscal year 2016. Most of the funds came from the city ($649,693) and county ($730,000). The rest came from a projected $20,000 in sports program income, $20,000 from building rentals and $5,250 for a concession contract.
CLRA maintains 18 facilities, most of which are within the city limits.
Stay or go?
Brooks told The Dispatch that he wasn’t impressed by the study, and he’d like to see something more in-depth before considering a split from the city.
“The study itself — we could have accomplished that by the city and county and recreation board sitting down,” he said. “I thought the study was kind of simple on its face with no serious recommendation. I think there are some guys who are interested in forming their own separate county parks and recreation operation, and if that’s the case, they’re going to have to hire somebody to do a more comprehensive study.
“Before I vote to do anything, I need a lot of clarity on what it is they’re proposing to do, how much it’s going to cost and why it’s necessary to break from the city,” Brooks added.
Sanders did not say on-record if the county would conduct an in-depth analysis of CLRA.
The study does not recommend whether the county should remain a part of the inter-local agreement that maintains CLRA. However, it does offer some considerations if the county decides to do so, such as a partnership with Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks for maintenance and Lake Lowndes State Park to provide playing fields for residents during the baseball and softball seasons. The study further suggests an agreement with Lowndes County School District to use playing fields for residents west of the Tennessee-Tombigbee waterway.
It also says the county’s proposed CLRA fiscal year 2016-17 funding request of $759,307 could support an operations budget of $659,307 for a separate recreation department, as well as $100,000 to retire debt for a $2 million general obligation bond to start construction on a new sports complex.
Brigham told the Dispatch he’s still undecided on if the county should split from the city.
“(The study’s) so broad,” he said. “That’s kind of what we paid for. We didn’t pay for a detailed study. We just wanted to see if there was potential there. That’s kind of what we got.”
‘They want to ride our coattails’
Sanders repeatedly questioned the city’s ability to meet additional funding requirements for repairs and capital improvements for CLRA. He said the concerns are some of his motivation for splitting from the inter-local agreement, saying at one point that he doesn’t “know if (the city) can afford it.”
“Their problem is they don’t have any money and want us to spend all the money and just ride our coattails,” Sanders said.
Smith, when contacted by The Dispatch on Monday, took strong issue with Sanders’ statement.
“How are we riding their coattails?” Smith asked. “The city can stand on our own two feet. We’re financially solvent. As far as that, the city and county might as well look at all the inter-local agreements.”
Smith noted the consultants did not contact the city during the study, even though supervisors indicated consultants likely would. The study only mentions meeting with CLRA Executive Director Greg Lewis.
Brooks said he would like to see the city, county, and CLRA board meet to discuss and attempt to resolve issues before any decision is made. Brooks expressed concern that a hasty move to split could sour city-county relations.
“We should have been concerned about what’s not good and what should be improved and if we can improve it,” he said. “I think there’s a move to separate the parks, and I think it could set in motion a desire to separate other (agreements).
“There needs to be a dialogue,” Brooks added. “If we are anticipating the city and county to be working on other projects, if this project leaves a bad taste in everyone’s mouth because of how it was handled, it may set into motion some other things. Let’s follow some proper protocol.”
Sanders also cited a portion of the study that found the county contributed $5.59 million to capital improvements since fiscal year 1993-94, compared to the city’s $1.22 million. The study notes the bulk of the county’s contribution is from the construction of the Lowndes County Soccer Complex, which opened in 2012.
However, Smith said that isn’t a fair comparison, noting the city continues to offer many in-kind services to CLRA, such as assistance with equipment repairs. He also pointed out the city offered in-kind service during the soccer complex’s construction, such as clearing the land with city labor.
Smith said the city agreed to shoulder a $2.1 million renovation of the Trotter Convention Center as part of the agreement with the county for the soccer complex.
‘Recreation segregation’
In June, Smith said that Sanders’ proposal, if it led to the county leaving the inter-local agreement, could lead to “recreation segregation.”
On Monday, he reiterated that charge.
“The sooner, the better that Harry realizes that the city is part of the county,” he said. “It’s obvious that he wants to segregate. It’s obvious what he wants to do.”
Sanders, however, said he doesn’t intend to segregate recreation and said he didn’t understand why Smith accused him of it in June.
“It’d be open to anybody who wants to play. It’s already integrated,” Sanders said. “If you have a park in New Hope, anybody who wants to can come in and play. I don’t know where he’d get this idea.”
Smith said he doesn’t believe the city will make further appeals to the county on remaining with CLRA, saying that he thinks “three supervisors” have already made their decisions.
‘There would have to be some changes’
Should the county decide to end the inter-local agreement, Lewis said it would impact CLRA’s ability to continue offering services. He also questioned whether taxpayers would save money if the county duplicates recreation services.
“If you lose $730,000, you’re not going to be able to do the same things you were doing,” Lewis said.
Smith said a split could lead to considerations for contract changes, as well as what in-house services could be removed to control costs. He also said it would likely force personnel adjustments.
Lewis said CLRA draws participants from the city and county. He said there’s a possibility CLRA could lose some participants to a new county-run recreation department.
Sanders said safety concerns are pushing people away from Propst, Sim Scott and Townsend Park.
Lewis said the concerns are unfounded.
“Sim Scott is full during the summer,” he said. “Summer program participation numbers at all of our facilities are up. Propst has been without incident for the last two years. Something may happen in the neighborhood, but nothing has happened in the park in the last two years.”
The Dispatch could not reach supervisors Holliman or Smith by presstime.
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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