NATCHEZ, Miss. – The Adams County Board of Supervisors voted Monday to get an financial audit done of the Natchez-Adams County Recreation Commission’s operations.
Questions have arisen about how money the commission gets from the county and city is being managed. “We need to know where it’s going,” said Supervisor Mike Lazarus.
The Recreation Commission has told county and city officials that funds are in disarray and payments have not been received. “Somebody somewhere is not paying somebody,” Lazarus said as he urged the four other supervisors to support hiring an accountant to review the commission’s finances.
The nine-seat Recreation Commission – appointed by city aldermen and county supervisors – has struggled in recent months to function, according to supervisors. Rec commission members have failed to show up for meetings and they haven’t properly handled the money received from Natchez and Adams County.
The YMCA was managing the city-county recreation programs, but the contract with the suburban Jackson-based organization expired in March without it being renewed in a cloud of uncertainty. The Y was being paid about $100,000 a year.
In consolidating their recreation efforts in 2015, the Adams County Board of Supervisors and Natchez Board of Aldermen each pledged to put up $100,000 annually for recreation construction. The most visible new recreation structure is the Natchez-Adams County pool that was built last year at Liberty Park
However, county supervisors in recent months have expressed disappointment in the lack of progress upgrading other recreation facilities at the city-owned Duncan Park and county-owned Liberty Park..
In addition to the $100,000 each pledged annually for infrastructure, the county board yearly allocates $334,000 to combine with $550,000 from the city board for the recreation commission to use.
—
The Adams County Board of Supervisors is being urged to help pay off a $12,000 debt left for Natchez’ new civil-rights monument and plaza. However, supervisors aren’t legally allowed to do this, said county board attorney Scott Slover. “We are limited in what we can donate to,” he said Monday.
Natchez had the monument constructed on the grounds of City Auditorium with municipal, state and private funds to honor more than 400 black marchers who were unjustly arrested in Natchez and imprisoned in 1965. The “Proud to Take a Stand” monument was dedicated last month.
The Board of Supervisors has rebuffed past pleas to help fund the project, which was originally budgeted to cost about $115,000.
In asking the county board again Monday for money, monument commission chairman Robert Pernell said the project is about $12,000 “in the hole.” Funding is needed for the costs of landscaping and plaques at the black granite monument and plaza located on the corner of Jefferson and Canal streets on the Natchez City Auditorium grounds.
Slover said the state Legislature could pass a law specifically allowing the Adams County board to give money for the monument. “If we can find a way legally, we need to do it,” said county Supervisor Ricky Gray.
The Legislature begins its annual session in January.
Comments