Mayor Diane Delaware said she is tired of the parks and recreation department always approaching the city for money and never asking Yazoo County for their fair share.
Her statement came after a heated discussion surrounding the opening of the swimming pool at the Wardell Leach Recreational Complex. With budget cuts, the parks and recreation department has been up in the air as whether they can afford to operate the pool this summer season.
Wardell Leach appeared before the Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting Monday on behalf of the children he said deserve a place to swim.
Alderman Aubry Brent Jr. suggested the city council approach the Public Service Commission for surplus funds that can be used to open the pool. But he said Delaware was against the request, stating that Parks and Recreation Director Sedric Hudson needs to seek funding from other entities.
“I want to assure Coach Leach that the kids will swim,” Brent said. “They will swim this summer. I am working pretty close with Sedric.”
But Delaware said the city of Yazoo City has funded parks and recreation “abundantly.”
“And for years the custom has been for the parks and recreation board to come to Yazoo City and for Yazoo City to continue to give more.”
Delaware said the city would be happy to assist with opening the pool. But only after Hudson has approached Yazoo County and other entities for funds. She said the parks and recreation board expect the city to “give more than its fair share.”
“We really want the pool to open,” Delaware said. “We were told about this four months ago. I talked to the parks and recreation director yesterday, and he has not approached the partner (Yazoo County Board of Supervisors). We expect him to do it.”
Leach said it should be noted that the city cut its contribution to the parks and recreation department by $38,000 this fiscal year.
“You put in $130,000 last year, and it seems as if this year you are going to put in $93,000,” Leach said. “It’s like somebody has a budget and they lose $38,000 from one year to the next. How do you expect that to operate?”
“We expect to seek other funding,” Delaware replied. “They have not sought any funding from anyone else other than us. Parks and recreation needs to go out and perhaps get some additional funding.”
Delaware said the budget cut was necessary to provide services to the citizens. She said the public works department needed trucks, tires and equipment.
“We had to stop running the public works department as if it was a stepchild of the city, which is what we were doing,” Delaware said. “Our budget for them increased. Last year, we cut out manpower in our budget. We cut manpower by one in every department. We cut those budgets because we had to; because the funding we have is the funding we have.”
Delaware admits the county has assisted in the past. But she said they have not been approached at all about the opening of the swimming pool.
“I know you want to improve the quality of life in Yazoo,” Leach said. “I am here on behalf of the children. The children can’t come and ask. My question is where you propose the black kids swim this summer?”
Delaware said Hudson needs to “find money.” She said he needs to first approach the county board then return to the city council.
“This board knows what needs to happen,” Leach said. “It is up to this board to make a decision. You took away $38,000.”
“The partner (Yazoo County) has never stepped up to their responsibility, “Delaware replied. “Because we stepped doesn’t mean that we always must step up for that. You must go and talk to that partner (Yazoo County) and get some responsibility.”
