After volunteering his time to repair local baseball fields, a citizen was met with high emotions from one county supervisor who said his “agenda” was “disrespectful.”
Nathan Burton appeared before the Yazoo County Board of Supervisors last Friday, requesting $5,200 from the board to be given to the Parks and Recreation Commission to purchase 48 tons of top dressing.
“We have already started this project,” Burton said. “This is a project that I have taken on and wanted to do for all the boys and girls in the county and the city.”
Burton said the Dixie Youth League has already provided the first 24 tons of top dressing for the project, which will be installed at the Wardell Leach Recreational Complex. The county’s funds would be used to cover three fields at Campanella Park and Sam Nicholas Field.
“I am volunteering my time to do this installation,” Burton said, adding that installation can normally cost about $1,500 a field.
But Supervisor Willie Wright took issue with Burton presenting the project to the county board. He said Henry “Jughead” Campbell, director of parks and recreation, should be in charge.
“Why ain’t Jughead doing this,” Wright asked.
“Cause he hasn’t taken the initiative to do it,” Burton replied. “For years, I have talked to him about it.”
Burton said he attended the last Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, and its board approved him installing and proceeding with the project.
“I am not here representing parks and recreation,” Burton said. “I am here representing Nathan Burton, a concerned citizen and willing to volunteer my time to organize this project and install on all baseball fields in the city and county at no charge. My concern is the kids who are playing on these fields.”
Wright continued to express his frustration with Burton’s presentation.
“I am a supervisor, and you gonna talk over me, man,” Wright asked.
Burton said baseball has not been played on the fields since last June. With practice beginning in March, he said it is time to get the project completed.
“Nothing has been done,” Burton said. “There is no initiative. All I am asking from the County Board of Supervisors is to provide $5,200 to Parks and Recreation.”
Wright said Burton was “sent by another supervisor.”
“What supervisor had you come up in here,” Wright asked. “If this board here has a problem with parks and recreation, then let’s get out of it. Stop putting our money in it. Now I don’t know which one of ya’ll got him (Burton) to do this here. But I got a problem with it.”
Wright said Campbell should be presenting the project, not Burton.
“Maybe you should be asking him that question,” Burton said.
“Nathan, you know I know you are no (expletive) good,” Wright replied. “I am telling the truth to your face.”
Supervisor Van Foster said that he has approached Campbell a few times with concerns. But he said Campbell always responds that he can’t do much due to lack of manpower.
“This is disrespectful,” Wright continued.
“It is not,” Burton replied. “It is a concerned citizen taking the initiative to do something.”
Supervisor Cobie Collins said that he and Wright would talk to Campbell about the project, but that the county board should contribute to the project.
“Let’s go ahead and do this,” Collins said. “I think it’s going to be good for the kids.”
Supervisor Jayne Dew also agreed the project would be beneficial to the children.
“Bottom line, the kids need this,” she said.
Despite his frustrations, Wright said he supports the project. But he still wants to speak to Campbell first.
“I love doing anything for kids, but it’s wrong and disrespectful,” Wright said. “If a man is in charge, and Jughead is in charge until they do something different…Jughead should be sitting here.”
