It was a refreshing sight to see at the recent Yazoo County Board of Supervisors meeting, and it was a sight long overdue. Newly-elected Mayor David Starling appeared before the county board in an effort to encourage dialogue and to re-establish the working relationship between the two vital boards.
And the county leaders were very receptive, agreeing to assist the city of Yazoo City in many ways and offering Starling an opportunity to meet with them to discuss the future concerning the partnership of both Yazoo City and Yazoo County.
It is no secret that many interlocal agreements and even common working relationships were destroyed over the last eight years. We were not privy to the workings behind closed doors, but what we did witness, firsthand, was a toxic relationship and aggressive personal feelings among certain elected officials. Many of those at fault are no longer in office, so it’s safe to say the voters noticed those shortcomings as well.
With a community as tight-knit as Yazoo City and Yazoo County are, a productive relationship between the two governing boards is vital for us, as a community, to move forward in a positive direction. Whether it be fire protection services or crime fighting tactics or road repair assistance or even beautification efforts...there are many areas where the two boards can work together. It is these same areas where the two boards have worked together in the past, for many administrations. The results may not have always been perfect, but at least the conversations were made to make our community, as an entirety, better for her people.
We have no way of knowing what the future may hold. And the end results may not be what we hope for in the long run. But seeing the two boards meeting in a cordial and professional setting together is a start. And it is a start that has been halted for far too long.
