Skip to main content

User account menu

  • Log in
  • Rss
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
Shopping cart 0
Cart

Search

Search
Home The Yazoo Herald

Domain menu for Yazoo Herald (mobile)

  • Post
    • Leaderboard
    • Post Dashboard
    • Payment Settings
  • Home
    • Contact Us
    • FAQ
    • Monthly Website Statistics
    • Our History
    • Our Staff
    • Privacy Policy
    • Submit News
  • Most Read
  • Most Recent
  • More News
    • Cartoons
    • Crime
    • Documents
    • Politics
    • Public Notices
    • Lifestyles
    • Videos
  • Sports
  • E-Editions
  • Social
  • Opinion
    • Submit a Letter
    • Columns
    • Comments
    • Editorials
    • Letters
    • Polls
  • Calendar
  • State
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising
    • Website Rates
    • Legal Notices
    • Newspaper Rates
    • Place a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Post
    • Leaderboard
    • Post Dashboard
    • Payment Settings
  • Home
    • Contact Us
    • FAQ
    • Monthly Website Statistics
    • Our History
    • Our Staff
    • Privacy Policy
    • Submit News
  • Most Read
    • Most Read This Week
    • Most Read This Month
    • Most Read This Year
    • Most Read All Time
  • Most Recent
  • More News
    • Cartoons
    • Crime
    • Documents
    • Politics
    • Public Notices
    • Lifestyles
    • Videos
  • Sports
  • E-Editions
    • Archives
  • Social
    • Anniversaries/Births
    • Engagements/Weddings
    • Schools
    • Submit an Anniversary
    • Submit a Birth
    • Submit an Engagement
    • Submit School News
    • Submit Wedding
  • Opinion
    • Submit a Letter
    • Columns
    • Comments
    • Editorials
    • Letters
    • Polls
  • Calendar
  • Subscribe
  • State
  • Advertising
    • Website Rates
    • Legal Notices
    • Newspaper Rates
    • Place a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary

Mayor and Varner say city needs its own parks program

By Jason Patterson , READ MORE > 1,752 Reads
On Wed, 07/27/2016 - 09:20 AM
Mayor Diane Delaware and Ward 2 Alderman Dr. Jack Varner say it’s time for the city to cut ties with the county and establish its own parks and recreation program.
Ward 1 Alderman Ron Johnson said he doesn’t understand why the city would take on any additional expense when there are already problems that the city cannot afford to fix.
The debate surfaced during a report on the financial status of Parks and Recreation Monday. 
During his report, Ardis Russell, who serves as the bookkeeper for the Parks and Recreation board, told city leaders that the parks board is currently crafting its budget for the upcoming fiscal year. He said that now would be a good time to offer suggestions.
Delaware said that her suggestion would be that the county stop contributing to the program.
“We should go to the county and tell them that we’ll take it off their hands,” Delaware said. “We appreciate the $57,000, and we know it’s a nuisance to them to have to provide that money. I’ll raise the $57,000 myself. Then we can start charging some user fees for folks who use our parks who don’t live in Yazoo City. That’s what we should do.”
Varner said he thinks the city could do a better job on its own.
“We need to junk the whole thing and do a city recreation program,” Varner said. “We used to have a good city program. We ran it, and there wasn’t anything wrong with it. We can do it now.”
Varner said with the bond issue on the Wardell Leach Recreational Complex paid off, the city can afford to invest in recreation.
“We’ve got plenty of money – we can do it,” Varner said. 
“If the county doesn’t want it and doesn’t want to put any more money into it, I think it would be benevolence on our part to take it off their hands,” Delaware said.
Johnson said he thinks it’s foolish to consider taking on additional expense when there are more important issues.
“They do a lot of things,” Russell said. “They have to answer questions in relation to the audit. There are contracts that have to be drawn up.”
“What contracts,” Delaware asked.
“Things like the concession stand,” Russell responded. 
“That changes from year to year,” Delaware asked.
“They review it every year,” Russell said. 
“We’re hollering about we’ve got plenty of money, but we can’t fix our streets,” Johnson said.
“We’re never going to be able to fix our streets,” Delaware said. “There is not enough money for Yazoo City to be able to fix our streets by itself. This is a different subject.”
“It’s the same thing,” Johnson said. “I know you can’t fix them all, but you’re fixing to take on something else when we don’t have enough money to fix one street.”
“I just told you I would raise the $57,000,” Delaware said. 
“That’s crap,” Johnson said. “Come on.”
“Nothing in this world is free,” Delaware said. “We need to take over the parks.”
Varner and Delaware said county residents can pay a user fee to use the city parks.
“If you want your children to participate, you can pay us a certain amount of dollars a month,” Varner said. 
“The county has demonstrated to us in no uncertain terms that they don’t want to be bothered with parks and recreation,” Delaware said. “They don’t like it, and they don’t want to do it. It’s a nuisance to them.”
Ward 4 Alderman said the city needs to be careful what it asks for because the county might agree to stop contributing. 
“We’re going to get a letter from (county board attorney) Jay Barbour saying, ‘OK take it over, we’re out of it,’” Brent said.
“I hope we do,” Varner said. “Let them send it on.”
“That would be fantastic,” Delaware said. “I’m looking forward to it.”
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
‹ PreviousNext ›

News

Shots fired into 18-wheeler on I-55 Friday

Investigators believe road rage was the cause of an incident where shots were fired into the cab of… READ MORE

Chance of snowfall increases
Time to file for Homestead Exemption
Thomas said city board needs to use its strength in the new year
New fire truck arrives for Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department
State superintendent recommends waiving of passing requirements for statewide tests

Sports

Lanie Potter scores 21 points to lead Lady Mavericks to victory

Manchester Academy senior center Lanie Potter was recognized before tip-off of this past Friday’s… READ MORE

Dendy and Poe power Mavericks past Raiders
Slideshow: Benton Academy boys vs. Greenville Christian
Slideshow: Benton Academy Girls vs. Greenville Christian
Indians return from layoff with a 20-point victory
Lady Indians drop district opener at Gentry

Sign Up for Notifications of Local Breaking News

Start E-mail NotificationsStop E-mail NotificationsStart Mobile NotificationsStop Mobile Notifications

E Edition Button NEW

Obituaries

Carl McDaniel

Carl M. McDaniel, ,91, of Benton passed away Thursday January 14, 2021 at his residence. Carl was a… READ MORE

Dennis Burrell
Annie McMaster
Jerry Burton
Bill Smith
Frances McBride

Most Recent

Carl McDaniel

Carl M. McDaniel, ,91, of Benton passed away Thursday January 14, 2021 at his residence. Carl was a… READ MORE

Shots fired into 18-wheeler on I-55 Friday
Dennis Burrell
Wicker Hails $2.377 Million Award for UMMC Connected Care Pilot Program
Health department clarifies vaccine supply, new appointments available Jan. 25
Health department clarifies vaccine supply, new appointments available Jan. 25

Most Read News Article

  • Week
  • Month
  • Year
  • All Time

OPINION: Attack on capitol fueled by Internet conspiracy theories

OPINION: Hopes for a much calmer 2021 compared to 2020 were quickly dampened by the horrific attack… READ MORE

Mississippi Economic Council's Virtual Capital Day 2021 Draws Over 500 Leaders on Livestream
Bay St. Louis Mayor, Councilman switch to MSGOP
Carl McDaniel
DPS Most Wanted list proves successful with multiple captures in under a week
Dennis Burrell

Indianola Doctor Who Suffered Effects of COVID Among the First to Get Vaccine at Clinic

When Dr. Eddie Donahoe heard that a COVID-19 vaccine was on the way and had the potential to be… READ MORE

Former Governor William Winter dies
Leora Smith
Editorial: Polio and Covid
Harold Fisher
Frances Harrison

Governor Reeves explains "Safer at Home" policy

On his Facebook post, Gov. Tate Reeves explained that Mississippians are now "encouraged" but not "… READ MORE

Holmes Community College hosting football tryouts
Timmy Lloyd Helms
Shannon Marie Lungrin
Indians remain unbeaten in district
Warrene Chisolm

Riding After a Dream

It all began when she was a little girl riding a stick horse. Her love of horses has provided a… READ MORE

Crimm completes term as president
Bill Beeson
Albert Woodley Cook Jr.
Shirley Summerlin
Roberta Ann Pyles

Opinion

Editorial: We need more men like William Barbour

Judge William Barbour Jr. was a man whose actions spoke louder than his words.

Freedom to speak and freedom to listen
What's new Yazoo?
I learned a lot from Diane Makamson
Too many conspiracy theories
Our 2021 Goal: Investing in Mississippi’s Greatest Asset, Our Citizens

Weddings and Engagements

Lifestyles

From the Kitchen: Book brings back memories of my own father-in-law

One

Rare snow day in Yazoo
Let it Snow!
Building bridges made of loving memories
Yazoo Lodge #42 donates to Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital
Annual MLK event set for Jan. 18, adjustments made for COVID-19

Social

Copyright 2020 • The Yazoo Herald • 1035 Grand Ave. • Yazoo City, MS 39194 • (662)-746-4911.

Emmerich Newspapers proudly serve the following Mississippi communities:

Click on the city name to visit its website.

ACKERMAN • CARROLLTON • CHARLESTON • CLARKSDALE • COLUMBIA • EUPORA • FOREST • GREENVILLE • GREENWOOD • GRENADA • HATTIESBURG • JACKSON • KOSCIUSKO • INDIANOLA • LOUISVILLE • MAGEE • MENDENHALL • McCOMB • NEWTON • PETAL • QUITMAN • SENATOBIA • WINONA • YAZOO CITY

As well as: DUMAS, Ark. • TALLULAH, La • FRANKLINTON, La.

For more information on how to extend your advertising message to these communities, click here.