City responds to claims in Lollar letter
I want to clarify talking points that continue to be repeated and passed around as fact in endless letters and comments despite their inaccuracy concerning the City of Columbus. A letter-to-the-editor recently published here contained several of those repeated incorrect points.
The statement that “We have an amphitheater and new fire department building not finished because apparently there is no funding…” is incorrect. Work is being done daily to prepare the amphitheater to host events at the site. The February flooding damaged all the electrical components at the site needed for events and will soon be replaced. Mud, silt, and debris have been removed, and work is being done to remove graffiti safely. Also, meetings are being held to plan events at the site soon.
In October 2019, the state of Mississippi will make $500,000 available to the city for continued work at the amphitheater. That money was appropriated in the last session of the state legislature in Jackson. That money will allow the city to begin to use the facility once the work is completed.
The comment about the fire station funding is also incorrect. By redrawing plans and rebidding much of the construction details and allowing firefighters to complete much of the work, almost $1 million will be saved. I have yet to see these million-dollar savings praised by any letter or editorial writer.
Second, we did not pay $100,000 for a street light survey. That cost was only if the city did not go forward with the project to change the lights in town. In fact, once the lights are installed, the city will see a first-year savings of $64,942. Over the life of the program, millions of dollars will be saved; the streets will be brighter and safer.
The comment concerning a millage increase that added “…the debt is anyone’s guess based on what information the public gets…” is laughable. Every step of the city’s budget process is clear and open to the public with questions encouraged by the public. Three different public budget hearings were held, all open to everyone and all covered in the press extensively.
Regarding the cleaning of rights of way, city employees clean streets and public areas every day. Workers from the court division assist in working off fines by collecting litter every week. However, the number of persons littering is far more than those that are cleaning the streets. I challenge readers and volunteers to do their part to join in and help keep our city clean. City employees, leaders, and those on the work program can’t do it alone.
Joe Dillon
Columbus Public Information Officer
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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