A new learning center for children could be in the works for the community if the city can assist with repairing the road of its potential location.
Roschanda Riggs spoke with the Board of Mayor and Aldermen during its Monday meeting about her desire to open Child’s World, an educational center for children on Murray Street, which is near East Second Street.
“I am starting a learning center for children in 2017,” Riggs began. “I was in the hopes of appealing to the board and also the mayor of having Murray Street paved.”
Riggs distributed photographs of the road’s condition to the board in an effort to paint a visual of what could be repaired by her opening date.
“There are two drainages, however, because the grass and other debris have come above it is not draining properly,” she said, pointing to the photograph. “Also, since 2010, I have been upkeeping the ditches of Second Street...that is also a problem because of the drainage and the ditches. It is not kept up properly because I cannot afford to have someone do it anymore.”
Riggs said her desire to pave and repair the area surrounding Murray Street is not only about beautification. It’s about public safety as well.
“When it rains, it just floods,” she said. “It actually floods in my front yard. I have planted vegetation, well over $300 worth of flowers to try to aid it. But I have been putting a Band-Aid over it.”
Riggs said she is also using railroad posts and rocks to deter some of the flooding in the area.
Buddy Fish, a doctor of early childhood education, plans to partner with Riggs in establishing a learning city within Yazoo City.
“We wish to develop a learning center in addition to caring for the children, but the first need are safety and health,” he said. “The lack of pavement on this street presents a safety problem. The drainage issues present a health problem. If the city can resolve those issues on their end, I am satisfied that Child’s World can resolve the issues on our end and create a positive environment for children in Yazoo City.”
Fish said the center’s service is needed for the community, particularly with children in the ages between three and five years old.
“We would provide jobs and education,” Fisher said.
Since the presentation was delivered during the meeting’s public comment section, no action was taken by the board.
Mayor Diane Delaware asked that the photographs be given to Walter Williams, the city’s public works director.
“Feel free to come down to the office and see me,” she added.
