Friday, September 16, 2016

They don't get it. They just don't get it.

Is Jackson going to have to go bankrupt for these people to learn anything? There is apparently much gnashing of teeth over the closure of the Grove Park public golf course.  It is not known if the city council and Mayor wore sackcloth and ashes over the death of Grove Park but time is yet left for this to happen.  The Clarion-Ledger reported:


Jackson's Department of Parks and Recreation began the process of planning the closure of Grove Park Golf Course as well as identifying personnel cuts on Wednesday, according to city spokesperson Shelia Byrd.

Byrd said the personnel cuts could impact as many as four positions.

The course closure and personnel cuts are in response to the city council's recent adjustment to the FY2017 budget. On Tuesday, the Jackson City Council voted to cut an additional $150,000 from the Parks and Recreation budget. The new budget takes effect Oct. 1.

The Department of Parks and Recreation already had made $1.3 million in reductions for the upcoming fiscal year, Byrd said.  Jackson Mayor Tony Yarber responded to the course closing and personnel cuts, saying he hoped the council would reconsider.

"My administration presented a balanced budget that did not include closing a golf course of cutting additional staff at the course," Yarber said in a news release. "Those suggestions came from the City Council. I'm hopeful the council will reconsider."

Councilman Melvin Priester said that from 2014 to now, the city has spent $1.2 million operating both of the municipal golf courses and only taken in $164,000....

 If we can find a way to keep both golf courses open, that would be amazing and we're going to keep working on that front. Americorps helps feed the poor and gives young people a critical chance to afford college. A budget without Americorps is not a balanced budget," Priester wrote on Facebook Thursday.

 Ward 1 councilman Ashby Foote said Thursday that, while he wishes the city could continue to maintain the golf course, “first tier” services took priority.

“I’m all for golf courses and having them available to the citizens, but while the golf courses are a nice thing for the city to offer, they’re not as high priority as police and fire services.”

Over the last 11 months, Foote said the golf course generated $45,000 in revenue. Payroll and expenses of maintaining the course cost approximately $360,000, he said.

Foote said the if administration wanted to keep the course open, they would have to be more efficient at management. “They’re going to have to make ends meet and tighten their belt and operate them in a more efficient manner,” he said....  Rest of article. 
  Councilman De'Keither Stamps, who voted against the budget, said the golf course adds to quality of life in the city and he doesn't believe savings made through the closure outweigh the cut.

Kingfish note: The real story here is that NO ONE  wants to close Grove Park.  The city is losing OVER $300,000 on Grove Park.  Keep in mind that there are not one, not two, but THREE public golf courses in Jackson (if one counts Lefleur's Bluff).  This should be a no-brainer for these guys.  The roads are falling apart, property taxes are going up, there is a humongous consent decree coming down the turnpike, businesses leave along with their tax revenue and Jackson's leadership doesn't want to close something that is losing over $300,000 per year when there are two other public golf courses.  

If the leadership wants to increase some golf course revenue, it should install a credit/debit card machine at Sonny Guy Golf Course.  Bring it into the 21st century, that sort of thing, so users can actually use the course.  Private businesses can get one installed within days or weeks.  However, these guys will screw that up. First the council and Mayor's office will debate it to death.  Then the city attorney will take six months to draft an agreement, wait, I forgot, we first have to issue an RFP. Wait a month or two for bids on one credit/debit card machine.  Then maybe two years from now one will be placed at the golf course.  How much money is left on the table because we can't offer what is stanard practice at most private businesses? 

This is not leadership.  This is governing by trainwrecks and icebergs.  Meaning city leadership is governing by swerving away from disasters instead of getting aggressive and doing what needs to be done to right the ship.

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

The only possible answer that makes logical sense is that a majority of the population has a profound lack of understanding of basic mathmatics or no sense of what the impending consequences will be when the city runs out of money.

Anonymous said...

While Grove Park is in the middle of a fairly low income area, there is no reason these people cannot play at the Golf Course near the Zoo and Hawkins Field, unless of course they object to paying to play. The Grove Park Club House has been plagued with vandalism for years.

This closing does not have to be permanent, just closed until there are funds to redo the entire place. But, it cannot be allowed to become overgrown and dangerous. Perhaps it could be public gardens or a frisbee golf course which only requires mowing.

Anonymous said...

Shut down everything but LeFleur's Bluff and sell the land. These courses are garbage anyway (which is why no one uses them and they generate no revenue). Our roads are literally falling apart and the City is wasting money on GOLF COURSES???

What is the end? The only possibly positive resolution I see is (1) bankruptcy, followed by (2) State takeover. For that reason, LUMUMBA 4 MAYOR.

Anonymous said...

Chane, author of the popular fad t shirt designs with logos like

South Jackson
Meth Lab

should start a new series now.

Chapter 9
Lil "D" (Detroit)

or

Chapter 9
We writes it
You lives it

Anonymous said...

They are saying Grove Park brought in an average of approx. $170.00 a day from 2014. This reeks of embezzlement and needs investigating. One foursome a day with green fees and cart fees would bring in more than this.

PittPanther said...

Unfortunately 10:04 is likely correct. Keeping the golf courses a cash only business means much of that income is being pocketed. And we know how well the city does oversight, so we have no way of knowing how much revenue the courses really bring in.

PittPanther said...

Why do we have twice-weekly trash pickup? How much money would once per week trash pickup save us?

Jackson is the first city I've ever lived in that has twice weekly trash pickup. In a househokld of four, my trash can is never filled.

Anonymous said...

10:04

we should be able to just add greens fees and cart fees to their cable bills.....that bill always seems to get paid.

Anonymous said...

every single thing in Chimneyville that is a want (golf courses--zoo)instead of a NEED(water--roads) should be shut down IMMEDIATELY!!! How can this be a complicated issue??

Anonymous said...

Think of all the small businessmen that Municipal supports! I know for a fact that there were some very industrious young men as far back as the mid 80's that would run across the fairways and gather balls from play to use in their golf ball salvage business.

Anonymous said...

10:26 am Our Capitol city needs to try to keep a zoo and one public golf course.

Trying to re-create those things later will be prohibitively expensive.

It still astounds me that Mississippians seem to want Jackson to fail. Don't you understand that if that were to happen it will make us a national laughing stock and hurt ALL the State , not just part of it in the recruitment of business?

If Mississippians don't have pride in their State and bash their own State capitol and tell anyone who'll listen that 40% of our people are either criminals or incompetent and our schools will always be a horror, then why should anyone else value us?

And, if we can't get along among ourselves and work well together and solve our problems, why should anyone want to come here?

Anonymous said...

If your family was DEAD BROKE u wud have to make hard choices--food vs new phone-----governments are no different roads vs golf course-------easy decision but no leadership!!!

Anonymous said...

How do you propose to pay for the zoo and golf course 11:10 AM? Be specific.

Anonymous said...

10:20am
Totally agree. Never heard of twice weekly trash pick up before moving to Mississippi. Humidity?

Anonymous said...

11:10am...Why should we distort the truth? You may like to put on rose color glasses and lie to yourself and others, but I don't. We all know that the first step in solving a problem is recognizing the problem. If you don't, the realities will eventually catch up with you. It's time to pay the reaper.

Anonymous said...

" it will make us a national laughing stock "

You're about 50 years behind the times, Skippy.

Anonymous said...

Shut Jackson down , damm the pearl at byram ,flush the jackson hood rats north,

Anonymous said...

Trash pickup is once a week in Madison county.

Anonymous said...

Jackson has already failed.

Anonymous said...

I don't question the paltry income. I foursome at Grove Park pays less than $1 per hole even on weekends, cart and all—and many golfers pay for 9 holes and just play all day. What I question is the $360K for admin. For that piece of crap course? CLOSE IT. The government has no business being in the golf business anyway.

Unknown said...

I agree with most if not all reasonable and non-sarcastic barbs comments posted.

Also remember that not 10 minute away from Grove Park Course is Sonny Guy Municipal Gold Course. Better course. Better facilities.

How much will it cost to cut the grass at Grove park? Will one foot tall Johnson grass be acceptable?

It has been reported Jackson has over 30 million dollars in uncollected fines. I'm not talking water system I'm talking probably, parking,traffic, misdemeanor, etc fines.

Council voted down 4-3 suggested by other Councilmen to make collecting these past due fines a priority. Even Kenny Stokes voted for enhanced collection and enforcement.

Simple measures were suggested such as:

1. Sending a post card saying if fine not paid or responded to in 30 days warrants will be issued. No new software need. COJ has Excel data base. Do a mail merge.

2. Add $25 for late payment.

3. Add another $25 for having "off duty" JPD officers (off duty JPD officer idea was not presented at Council meeting)) to serve the warrant.

4.If not paid or responded to within another 30 days pay "off duty" JPD to make arrests.

5. Add another $25 to cover the expense of the off duty JPD officer.

6. COJ already has the pay online option.

Once the word gets out, COJ would probably have to re-open Grove Park Golf Course to handle the flood of late payers.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like they are running the city of Jackson like they run the state of Mississippi...and Hinds County, Didn't they just cut the state budget for a staff error... and Hinds County has to dip into their reserves to the tune of $4mil..all these guys need help with accounting principles

Anonymous said...


Send in the clowns.......Sad thing is it is going to only get worse. The death spiral continues. The Hood needs more "golfers".

Foote used to play golf. Wore dark dress socks with his shorts.

Anonymous said...

It's a lot harder to steal a credit card receipt then a cash receipt. That cash can go in the pocket the debit card machine puts it in the bank.

Anonymous said...

The answer is yes. Yes, jackhole is destined for chapter 9. There is no other option.

Anonymous said...

Jackson needs to be split up and absorbed by surrounding counties.

It will be a cess pool of crime and decay with no growth until some actual hope can be shown.

Anonymous said...

County in about the same shape - and jimmy gates reports that the county is giving $100 per YEAR raises
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2016/09/16/almost-4-million-gap-hinds-county-budget/90494188/

surely he meant $100 per month!?

Anonymous said...

Jackson is in bad shape
Hinds county is in bad shape
Mississippi is in bad shape
The entire U.S. is in bad shape.

Look at the amount the U.S. owes to other countries. Spending money you do not have will do that. It isn't hard to understand but politicians know it isn't their money. We keep electing politicians with the same results.

Anonymous said...

In the 1980's the Sonny Guy Golf Course was profitable. At times I play there, jut for old times sake. The course could again be profitable if: (1) The city replaced present management with someone with a background in golf course management (2). Lease the pro shop and eatery (3). Accountability- have anyone in city government observe the method of collecting fees at the golf courses. It is ripe for theft (4). Hire a competent golf course superintendent whose only job is to maintain the course. (5) You get out of it what you put in. Put money into the course and clubhouse and people will come.
I recently played in a tournament at the course with golfers from all over the southeast. I had the opportunity to meet a representative from Parks and Recreation who knew absolutely nothing about a golf course. While raving about how wonderful the course was,out of town players were vowing never to return the next year.
Improve Sonny Guy, close Grove Park, raise fees, upgrade equipment, hire competent staff, including fairway and green cutters, remodel clubhouse and make the facility and its managers accountable.

Anonymous said...

8:56, the people in every department in the Jackson govt. are crooks. They get their jobs for favors in getting people elected and being friends and family. They have a license to steal.

Just one example. I had a friend who had a car stolen then found and sent to the city impound lot. When he went to pick it up all 4 tires were flat. The attendant told him he would sell him 4 wheels and tires to fit his car from the other cars in the impound lot. He just had to pay $10 each and remove them himself. He got to pick from any car there.

Anonymous said...

"Trash pickup is once a week in Madison county."

That's not true but who gives a shit.

Anonymous said...

It is in the unincorporated areas of the county. We had once a week trash pickup, then when our neighborhood got annexed into Madison the City a few years back, one of the "benefits" was twice a week service.

Kingfish said...

I think BR and Mobile went to once a week over ten years ago.

By the way, BFI might lose the contract it's held for 22 years. Lost bid but council sent matter to rules committee.

Anonymous said...

BFI should loose the contract. I do not enjoy asking my garbage collector if I can buy a tag for my cars. Can't really see what he has to do with the tag office.

Anonymous said...

WTF ? A bankrupt city with high crime, a non-functioning public school system, a water department that can't provide clean water or collect water bills, crappy roads, a catch and release system for criminals, and incompetent officials like stokes thinks losing 300K on a THIRD golf course is in any way acceptable? We need to close all nonessential services. And the Jackson Arts Council - totally useless, we have many arts organizations that do more and raise funds successfully because donors see results. The zoo? I used to take my kids to the zoo in 1976, but the area is so crime-ridden and run down that it's not salvageable as a feather in the cap of the state capitol. They can't even keep a decent grocery store on that side of town, much less a zoo or park facility worth visiting. Some people need to face the reality - Jackson doesn't have a tax base and in the name of "progress" they have given away money in corporate tax breaks and an endless stream of "consulting" fees when any idiot could see that it's time to shut down everything nonessential and start by improving infrastructure. And twice a week trash collection is a luxury JX cannot afford.



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In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


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If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

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