|
|
Bumgarner:When the annexation was approved in July 2007, the city immediately provided fire protection, police protection, and rubbish pickup to the newly annexed areas. I must say, these departments are to be commended for their professionalism and determination in making a smooth transition occur with these services.
Because of the expected annexation ruling, many of the roads in the newly incorporated area had been neglected for several years. Some of these roads have already been paved, and I, as mayor, will set aside money in the yearly budget to pave as many miles as possible. I will allocate this money to each ward to make sure the entire city is being served.
Since water district associations have sole authority and responsibility to the customers of that district, there are only certain things that the city can legally do. The city has already provided water and sewer services to many households in the annexed areas. If I am elected mayor, I will pursue grants and other means of funding in order to provide water and sewer to the additional areas.
I am presently working with the city on a 85/15 matching grant for water and sewer projects for existing and new areas of Brookhaven. We are also working on a 50/50 grant for a water loop to provide fire hydrant protection in the newly annexed area. These needed services can also be obtained by the use of municipal bonds, which are fully funded by the taxpayers. This method would be the most costly; therefore it would be my last choice.
If elected, I, in conjunction with the Board of Aldermen, will develop and execute a plan to provide municipal level services to the newly incorporated areas. We have made some progress, but there is still much more to be done.
Palomarez:At the present time I am not aware of all the details concerning the 2007 annexation of Brookhaven. I do know the police and fire protection were provided immediately for those areas. I am sure Mayor Massengill and the city board already have an effective plan to provide the annexed areas with the municipal level services they are entitled to have. As Mayor I will work toward carrying out the final stages of this project with the plan already set forth.
Wilson:The next day annexation took effect police, fire department, solid waste started. Most hit ground running to get services in the newly incorporate areas. We did an inter local agreement county, mayor, board of aldermen thru Southwest Planning thru a grant working together made it happen and the engineers to do a sewer project of Ole Brook Road in that area. Engineers are now doing a study on city water city sewer expansion to the newly annex area. The engineers will help with any available funding. Within 5 years these services need to be in place so working with Woody Sample Southwest Planning, CDBG and going to Washington D.C. to get appropriation whatever entities that is out to help out so that it will not be a burden on the people to fund this. Every little help. Need fire hydrants in these newly annex area. I was told when city annex the newly area a fire broke out. One of the area annex house burn down because wasn't enough water no hydrant to hook up to so we need the services in place as soon as possible. Must hire more people to accomplish task.
2. The Dr. A.L. Lott Baseball League Program has had difficulty attracting participants, with the program being canceled for the 2007 year due to a lack of participation. What is your answer for increasing participation, and what would you do in situations where parents have trouble paying league fees?
Bumgarner:Having served on the Recreation Board for 16 years, I have a good understanding of the problems that board members face and the concerns parents have.
The City (Board) gives money to the School (Board), Library (Board), Hospital (Board), Chamber of commerce (Board), Recreation (Board) and many others with the understanding that we will work with them; but, it is not our place to get involved in their day-to-day operations. They each have their own boards, and their own chain of command. Problems and solutions should be addressed at their board level. To bring the city elected officials into the equation leads to dismantling the whole system. Of course, that is what some want.
The Recreation Board is made up of our citizens who care about our children's recreation and participation. The more people that participate in the programs provided, the happier they are.
If any board member who was appointed by Brookhaven's City Board had a disregard for his duties, I would be the first to recommend he be removed from that board; but to abolish an entire board is out of the question. All boards are created so problems can be solved and operations can be conducted. If you abolish one board, where does it stop?
If elected mayor, I will work with the Recreation Department Director and his board to encourage participation at the beautiful A.L. Lott Complex. A system is in place to scholarship needy children, but it was not utilized this spring. As with anything, there are rules and guidelines that must be followed. I think there are plenty of people and businesses in this community that would happily help a needy child play summer baseball.
The success of the 2008 baseball program at A.L. Lott Complex shows what a community working together can accomplish. This is something that we needed to build on, but somehow we got away from it in 2009. Getting people to work together for a common cause is more difficult if some are pointing fingers and playing the blame game. The will to have a good program is important, but the will to prepare for that good program is vital.
Palomarez:When you have a special program separated from other programs of the same nature you should have a special committee specifically for promoting this program. After, the recreation department does their annual advertising this committee should step up and begin their support. The committee could have a "Registration Day" at the field. Under privileged children could be recognized and proper forms could be filled out right there. The committee could have fund-raisers and seek out sponsors for these children, but cannot wait until ball season starts to begin this process. Keeping special programs alive takes year round work. As Mayor I would love to help form and assist community in keeping this special program alive and be self sufficient.
Wilson:Get the word out to the people sometimes you have to go door to door. That very good. Fundraising. Get the parents involve. The community involve people know your purpose why you raising money. People will help. Get the word out to the churches. Talk to the pastors to get the congregation involve, and pray and watch the results.
3. The subject of liquor sales came up during a recent city planning discussion. Proponents of legalized liquor sales cite the benefits of increased sales tax collections while opponents worry about negative social consequences. What is your position on the issue? If opposed, what suggestions do you have to find new sales tax revenue for the city?
Bumgarner:The discussion at a recent city planning meeting was about why Natchez and McComb had a higher percentage of their sales tax revenue from restaurants than Brookhaven does. Answers to that question were: (a) They might have more restaurants than Brookhaven, and (b) They can sell liquor at their restaurants. There never was a debate but an understanding of the differences of percentage of sales tax. We are not losing sales tax revenue from liquor sales; we never had it to start with. The question is "Do the citizens of Brookhaven want to raise sales tax revenue by legalizing the sale of liquor?" Previously the people of Brookhaven have said "No" to that.
The Mayor and Board of Aldermen are currently working on a Shop at Home program in order to maintain and/or grow our sales tax revenue. We have been blessed with good numbers in the past and, hopefully, that will continue to be the case in the future.
The sales tax revenue question will be decided by employment, wages, shopping locally, supply and demand, goods and services, competitiveness and accessibility.
I will promote and try to help people understand that shopping locally provides a major source of revenue, and this revenue will help provide for better city services. On average, about 60 percent of the city's budget comes from sales tax revenue.
Palomarez:I will start by saying, I do not drink any type of alcoholic beverage nor do I encourage or promote the use of alcohol by anyone else. I will, however, drive to McComb to Ruby Tuesdays or The Santa Fe Steakhouse to eat. There are many nice restaurants that cannot establish themselves in Brookhaven due to the liquor sales issues. Being a dry county has not stopped people from drinking, it has stopped Brookhaven from growing. People who would buy or drink this alcohol is already drinking it right here in the city. They are just going somewhere else to buy it. The negative consequences will be no more than they are now. We as a city could limit the sale of alcohol without hindering commercial growth or tarnishing the face of our beautiful city.
Wilson:I don't think it good for the community. Negative social consequences is underage teens will pay others older than them to go in and buy for them. That not good.
Get mall in here that attract people to go out and buy. Like Dillard, Belk, J.C. Penney, Sears clothing store. That will boost sales.
4. Brookhaven has an acute shortage of assisted living facilities. What is your vision for creating and furthering development of assisted living facilities in Brookhaven? How do you plan to accomplish this goal?
Bumgarner:The City of Brookhaven is ready to move forward with the plans already proposed by a developer. While the decision whether to continue with this project is his, it still has a chance of becoming a reality. With an aging population and longer life span, it is of utmost importance to be able to keep our citizens here in Brookhaven. The opportunity is here and, hopefully, this much needed service will be met. I will welcome any discussion with anyone or any group about providing us with a first class assisted living facility in Brookhaven.
Palomarez:Brookhaven has always had the reputation for taking care of our elderly and those with special needs. My question would be what type of "assisted living" facility are you referring to. Any facility that houses people where local, state or federal money is used could be construed as "assisted living." My answer to this question would depend on what type of "assisted living" facilities do you have in mind?
Wilson:Find a private investor who is willing to and build this facilities in Brookhaven. One who have run one before. Brookhaven is drawing a lot of retiree from all over. Back here some one brought this assisted living facility to the board about building one here. But something happened to the gentleman. I think he get sick. I hope he bring it back up. I think it good for the city. Its expensive but the senior citizen that can afford it will be great. They will have liberty, and independent to come and go not like a nursing home. Its expensive to run but you get enough senior citizen in it, it will do well. To accomplish this goal you have to attract our senior citizen and draw them here. Showing them Brookhaven is the Place To Be. It a more settle place. That investor must really have a heart for this. 5. If elected mayor, you will be responsible for providing a vision of leadership in the city for the next four years. Name three specific goals you like to see accomplished during your first term if you are elected mayor. How will these projects be financed?
Bumgarner:Our city has been blessed the past few years with a growing economy and an increase in sales tax revenue. I am seeing a slowdown and a rising unemployment rate. The next mayor will have some difficult decisions to make in order to ensure the taxpayers' money is spent wisely.
Some things I will work on are:
(A) I would like to get some industries in our new Linbrook Park. I know the timing is not right just now, but I want to be prepared when the economy starts to recover. I believe having space ready and available will work in our favor. With I-55 and four-laned Highway 84, we are in a prime position to compete with other cities. I will work with state officials in hopes of landing a Supersite Industry for southwest Mississippi in Brookhaven's Linbrook Industrial Park.
(B) I would like to enact laws that would do more to encourage affordable housing construction in the city limits. The requirements and regulations for builders are often cost prohibitive. The county has little or no restrictions, and in the city we have too many. I would like to find some middle ground so when housing construction begins to flourish again, we will get our fair share.
(C) I would apply for as many water and sewer grants as possible so we can replace the aging infrastructure and service the newly annexed areas of our city. This fits in with the goal of making Brookhaven a "Home-Seekers Paradise" for everyone. Because water and sewer lines are underground and out of sight, they are taken for granted by the public. When one stops flowing, it becomes a major concern. A lot of our water and sewer infrastructure is 50 to 60 years old and very brittle. We need to replace some every year until it is all taken care of.
Palomarez:I want to Brookhaven grow. I want there to come a day when our citizens do not feel the need to go out of town to shop or eat. I want to see structured activities for all of our youth especially during the summer months. I want to see a place where families can go and spend the day together. I want to see more activities downtown. I am not going to make premature promises just to get a vote. I have one goal as mayor and that is to work as hard as I can to make Brookhaven a place where we are all proud to be from.
Wilson: 1. Continue to have a city and county relationship. Unity in our city and county, where everybody can come together and work together. A harmony in our community. When you got people pulling together businesses, industries would love to come here. The businesses see that that a good thing. There a scripture in the Bible says where there unity there is strength. We need the strength of unity. To survive. We can survive any economy storm come our way. So together we stand divided we fall. Coming together working together don't cost nothing. You can't put a price on that.
2. Create jobs and maintain the jobs we already have. We have a LinBrook Business Park preparation is being done and now the process is in motion to bring jobs in good paying salary jobs so when our children go off graduate from college they could back and get some of these jobs and give back to the community. We got good people who want to make that happen. The chamber, IDF, MDA, Southwest Electric Power Association, Entergy and other entities. It a must our governor, senators, house of representatives and it will happen.
3. As being 2 time alderman and present county supervisor I always wanted to get job done quickly so if elected mayor it will be more efficient with city services. (Job done quickly)
6. Open meetings and public records laws are designed to ensure that the public's business is conducted in public, but there are some topics in which a board may go into executive session to discuss. How frequently - if at all - should the city board close their meetings?
Bumgarner:The Mayor and Board of Aldermen should go into executive session for only three reasons: personnel matters, contract negotiations, and litigation. Open meetings are essential in gaining the trust and confidence of the voters. The Mayor, the Board of Aldermen, and the public are, I believe, all served best when the city's business is conducted in public.
Palomarez:I cannot think of a reason or a topic that I as a citizen of Brookhaven should be left out of. So I would have to say at this point never.
Wilson:When Executive Session is call some things need to be behind close doors. Personal, medical situation of an employee. For example. And then there something you can discuss outward. Just according to what it is. Some things need to be discuss before making a decision out of Executive session. You just need to talk about it.
