Resident Questions Parks Commission’s “Requesting Donations” for Sadie Johnson Center
November 9th, 2012 by Joe BurgessAt Thursday night’s Parks & Recreation Committee meeting, a local lady asked the Parks Committee about local residents and businesses being asked to “make donations” to furnish the soon-to-be-completed Sadie Johnson Community Center.
Mayor Allen Maxwell, among others, responded to Vera Parks’ comments about the situation, where the committee seems to have found a way to re-designated around $8,000 in funds intended for other projects to furnish the community center.
At first, they discussed using other funds for the almost-complete facility, then using funds provided by renting the building to reimburse the original projects. This concept was dismissed, when it was pointed out the the former community center was always partially funded by the city.
A video is being uploaded which contains the full conversation.
The project is nearing completion and a tentative opening date was projected for March 2013.
Choose another article
Newer article: Parks Committee Discusses Charging Fees to Reserve Pavillions & Amphitheater
Older article: New Pet Store Grand Opening, Saturday
how about the busted sidewalks all over town and water lines how much did the water co drop box cost a new lock would have been cheaper. people want everyone to donate furnishings give up your own bigscreen tv and living room set
The Sadie Johnson Community Center holds a special place in my heart. I pray the committe does whatever is necessary to properly fund, furnish, and present this facility to the community.
just dont let someone burn it down again
The issue of the Sadie Johnson Community Building that was funded during the Joe Rogers Administration and finally near structural completion under the Maxwell Administration remains in discriminatory controversy over inclusive Chattel issues. The agreement was to put the facility back as it was with all chattel(simple replacement).Now a serious issue of discrepancy arises in asking African Americans to raise funds to Chattel the facility when in fact baseball, soft ball, soccer fields or being constructed and enhanced with funds from this Administration while Sadie Johnson was/is a Rogers Administration funded project. The Mayor, Park Commission and City Council had an alternative Architect rendition when the over budgeted first rendering replacement facility was constructed which would have been 6000 sq ft. plus and went back to the drawing boards. Taylor Wallace Designs(Architect-Engineering Firm in Downsville, LA-Licensed in Arkansas) offered a full Metal facility with a beautiful Brick or Stone front facade 6000 sq. ft for 480,000 dollars, leaving 20.000 dollars of which would have been more than enough to Chattel the facility. I agree with Mrs. Parks and Parks Commissioner James Scott it is not fair for the people of the God Forsaken East End Sector of this flagship Community of Southeast Arkansas to raise one dime in personal fund raisers for that facility when funding is persistently being spent in the Western Sector for yes much needed facilities and projects. It is down right discriminatory to the people of the Eastern Sector. the Administration I agree is working had to repair what should have been repaired 20 years ago, our infrastructure and OSHA, EPA, Army Corps Engineers and other regulatory Federal & State entities have a no tolerance mandate on this and this was a neglect and not an oversight after the Stellar James Jordan & Billy Hartness residential/community development era. It should have taken place and was in the feasibility and enhance-ability study during the vast Commercial Real Estate Development of Charley Fred, Chuck&David Dearman transformation of US 425 into the most viable commercial real estate infrastructure and facility development in the history of the Lower Mississippi Delta and Mid-South for a town under 10,000 population. The same USDA/RDA that played a major component with their making Monticello the Capital of Southeast Arkansas was there via their community facilities program as it is today for sewage, water, streets, curves and guitars. The Obama Administration was good to Monticello the last three years whether credence was given or not as was the Clinton Administration. The American Recovery Act Funds and the Affordable Care Act of this Administration in Washington has/is enhancing Monticello and the investment they made in the new Forestry Resource Center at UAM via the stellar leadership of Dr. Lassiter gives validity according to my fellow associates who with the Presidents Council of White House Advisers etc. can be a targeted entity for Green Energy Research & Clear Energy Development in this God forsaken Region for decades. The simple issue to prevent regulatory evaluations/accountability which is a primary with this Presidential Administration is to just turn key the facility and be done with it. The East End cannot be on the back burner any longer it is an Occupational, Health and Safety Hazards(OSHA)& EPA detrimental zone. Godfrey Ditch is third world in a first world required regulatory zone and has been addressed and USDA, Department of the Interior& Commerce can resolve this issue, yes it will require the same as being initiated in Wards 2&4. Wards 1&3 in Monticello are now 2nd and third world entities all because of partisan bias interest and perhaps it would have maintained the same if the other entity been elected the 45th President of the United States, but the 44th remains and that agenda is for all the people and not the special interest which is not critical or downplay but-enhancement opportunity that will make this city the most opportunity entity in the rural sector of Arkansas and perhaps the Lower Mississippi Delta and Mid-South. Mayor, Park Commission, City Council, write a check and be done with the Sadie Johnson Building and secondly get the Army Corps of engineers in here so they can devise a plan the Mable Gibbs & Lawrence McCullough of USDA/RDA apply for Grants and loans that can bring Godfrey Ditch can become in compliance and not the safety, Health and flood is it to my elderly parents and countless other residents along it’s path. It is a regulatory duty/mandate.