Johnson takes the reins of Neighborhood Center rehab

Johnson takes the reins of Neighborhood Center rehab

West Memphis mayor assumes administrative control of project to reopen shuttered facility

news@theeveningtimes.com

Mayor Bill Johnson told city council during the final July meeting, he had seen enough. The project to repair and remodel the L.R.

Jackson Neighborhood Center has been a political football that no one has pushed across the goal line. City Council closed the center after vandalism was found as it was set up as a 2014 polling site. The building remained closed ever since.

Some general repair to the building at 1300 East Polk was reported during a special city council committee meeting in June. City Council traditionally yields to plans presented by representatives where a city asset is located. Set in Ward 2, neither Councilman James Pulliaum or Councilwoman Melanie Hutchinson have persuaded council with an organized plan.

Pulliaum led the way to reject the school district offer on the building and adjacent Horton Park. He again took initiative steering Community Development Block Grant funds into refurbishing the center. The $80,000 allocation was tapped for roofing, HVAC and plumbing. Funding was initially thought to be enough to open the center, but repair expenses exceeded the balance on hand. One big unknown remained – how to make finishing touches suited to serve the function of the center. City council could not agree on a regular building tenant, reserving the building solely for community events, or for a mixed use. After the four year ordeal, with no utilization plan defined and the block grant tapped out, Mayor Bill Johnson asked city council for a clear purpose, along with sufficient means to complete the work and fund operation expenses.

“We’d set up a committee on the neighborhood center, and we talked about it, we talked about it, and talked about it,” said Johnson.

“We have been fixing one thing at a time which is not the proper way to do it. I ask for a recommendation to the administration to tell us what you want to do.”

Johnson felt if the administration could begin with the end in mind, the project would move on toward a finish and a successful reopening. He asked city council to settle on a directions and find the money to move forward.

“Tell us how you want it fixed,” said Johnson. “Tell us what you want it to do.

Tell us where to get the money and what we are gong to charge for it when we are through. That way the administration can proceed, but we are in limbo now. We don’t know what you want.”

By John Rech