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Sportsplex, golf course are community strengths
To the editor:
It seems the city of Blytheville is looking to solve the tax debt to the IRS by selling its land and maybe closing the golf course. Everyone knows this will not satisfy the debt, not even close.
The money indicated as a loss by golf course is mis-represented. The city passed a permanent tax increase to be used to maintain the Sports Complex and golf course. The money, as I understand it, went to the General Fund to be used for whatever those responsible needed to pay on a daily basis.
The Sports Complex and Thunder Bayou Golf Course is about the only thing in Blytheville worthy of praise. If you don't believe it, ask visitors that come here from all over. The Sports Complex holds district, state and regional baseball tournaments here. Local high school golf teams have been developed here because of Thunder Bayou (Blytheville, Gosnell and Armorel). The boys and girls state golf tournaments will be held here this year and years to come if it stays open.
Our local Industry uses the golf course to hold events for their employees, and visitors.This all brings prosperity to Blytheville and helps bring industry, and business here. The First Tee golf program for children is growing and developing our children for more than a life of drugs and crime in this area.
I have not seen nor heard of our City Council or mayor even coming out to look at the facilties we have to offer. I did see the mayor at the Sports Complex but not the Golf Course. You would think if they have to make some tough decisions about our future in Blytheville, they would want to get involved with what is happening out there.
We have one of the best Sports Complex and 18-hole golf courses in the state and the best in the region. If you don't believe it, ask the visitors who come here; I have.
Citizens, you don't want the federal government to take over and do what they do best -- ruin this city for any future Industry or business to come here or those that are here now from wanting to stay. You think property values are low now? Wait until that happens. Think small, be small, and Blytheville is getting smaller because of this kind of thinking. Blytheville, can't you see how the more you dig the deeper the hole gets? "Stop digging" and fix it!
The money owed for payroll taxes not being paid has nothing to do with Sports Complex/golf course but only being used for finger-pointing and a resolve that will resolve nothing but more discontent about the outlook of Blytheville.
None of this is Mayor Sanders' fault, but the decisions he makes from this point on is. I go along with the tax increase to pay the debt off and get it behind us as quickly as possible. The City Council and mayor need to be more diligent in the future to protect us from this kind of thing of ever happening again. Our future and the future of Blytheville depends on it.