Ward 2 Alderman Dr. Jack Varner said he wants to set the record straight following statements made during the last Yazoo County Board of Supervisors meeting.
During most recent Mayor and Board of Aldermen meeting, Mayor Diane Delaware and Varner suggested that the city needs to take over the Parks & Recreation Department. They said they don’t believe the county is contributing its fair share, and the best way to fix the problems in Parks & Recreation is to make it a city department that answers directly to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.
Members of the Board of Supervisors took issue with the suggestion that the county isn’t providing enough support, noting that the Yazoo County Convention and Visitors Bureau also contributes, and the county has provided dirt and equipment when needed.
Varner said one statement that particularly bothered him was the suggestion that the county “gave” the city the land for the Wardell Leach Recreational Complex.
“That’s not true,” Varner said.
Varner said the city traded the property on Washington Street that currently houses the Yazoo County Juvenile Detention Center for the county-owned land where the complex was built. He said much time and effort was spent ensuring that the two entities were exchanging properties of equal value.
Varner was also critical of the county suggesting that the $45,000 given to Parks & Recreation annually by the CVB is part of the county’s contribution.
“That money comes from a tax on hotels and restaurants,” Varner said. “All of the hotels, and over 90 percent of the restaurants, are located inside the city limits. Where do you think that money’s coming from?”
Varner said he’s not interested in arguing with the county about contributions – he just wants to fix the program. He said the only way he can see to do that is to make Parks & Recreation a city department.
“They have a board that is ineffective,” Varner said. “We have a hard time finding people to serve, and they sometimes have trouble getting enough members to show up to have a meeting.”
Varner said a city-operated program that is held accountable would be much more effective.
“We used to have a much better program,” Varner said. “We can have that again. Right now it’s just a grass-cutting operation.”
Varner said the city is paying off the bond to construct the Wardell Leach Recreational Complex, which means the city will have more money that could be invested in parks.
“We can fix our parks,” Varner said.
