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City must be diligent with parks money
To the editor:
I'd like to thank Mark Brasfield for his recent article in Thursday's paper, concerning the parks and recreation tax money that will generate about $700,000 for the purpose of maintaining our parks and recreation, including our museums. The City Council should read Mark's article and remember to be diligent in ensuring the citizens that their tax money will be spent wisely and not squandered as it was under our past administration.
I enjoy seeing the Courier News' involvement in these matters, as they are the spokesperson for all of us, and when they search for the answers that we all wonder about, it helps give us patience and understanding. Every time I turn around, I hear about more funds that disappeared with no explanation as to where it went. The citizens want and deserve answers about the $3,500,000 that disappeared under or former mayor's watch.
I recently wrote a letter to the editor, voting against the 1 cent sales tax to pay our debt to the IRS and stating that Harrison should be removed from office until this matter could be resolved. The attacks on Harrison's position on the BGRAA has made some of the BGRAA council members upset because they felt their personal character was being attacked since they were the ones who hired Barrett Harrison. Let me assure them that I never intended to insult them or attack their character. They might be doing a fine job and I commend them for a job well done. But they should be the first to admit that they might have appointed Harrison to that position without considering his character.
I believe the missing funds were discovered before Harrison was appointed to that position, and if not, the BGRAA council has an obligation to the citizens of Blytheville too. And to allow a man to remain in office without answers is not fair to the citizens, and that's why I'm still against the 1-cent sales tax. Tell the IRS to help us find answers ... we want to know where the money is.
I have another question that has been on my mind. What happened to all the money that was supposed to have been spent on remodeling the museum and the bus station? That was over a million dollars. And can anyone tell me why Main Street Blytheville has taken it upon themselves to move into the Bus Station and use it as their offices? Wasn't the Bus Station supposed to be a museum all by itself?
My thanks again to the Courier News. Please keep reporting on these issues until you help us find answers.