City officials said over and over this week that bond money obtained from a recent referendum in Clarksdale can only be spent on projects outlined on the ballot.
Clarksdale has $5 million following the approval of a bond issue by voters and they are trying to leverage that with state and federal dollars to pay for projects that could total over $25 million
“The money has to go where we said it will go in the referendum and it can’t go in the the general fund,” said Ward 1 Commissioner Bo Plunk. “If we spend it on anything else we break federal law and go to prison.”
Plunk’s comments were part of the city’s quarterly public forum where the community is invited to come and ask questions and voice complaints.
More than 40 people attended Monday’s meeting with a sizable portion of the crowd from the Pearson Street area that was devastated by flooding in 2016.
The city prioritized five projects totaling $8.25 million. However, after allowing for $3 million in funding from the Mississippi Department of Transporta-tion and a $300,000 Community Development Block Grant, the city’s share would be $4.91 million.
The referendum has been tagged “Building for the Future” with city leaders pointing out this is an investment that will reap immediate rewards.
Building for the Future projects include:
1. Replace Second Street Bridge: $3,800,000.
2. Sasse Street drainage: $800,000.
3. Pearson Street levee and/or pump: $2,025,000
4. Sidewalks/Lighting: $1.1 million.
5. Street rehabilitation: $500,000.
6. Friars Point Road Bridge: $3,600,000.
Projects are listed by priority and Friars Point would be added if fund become available through possible grants.
Engineers have said the Second Street Bridge is the most heavily traveled in Clarksdale and is more than 80 years old. The bridge was cited by the state for major repairs two years ago and load rated to only four tons.
Pearson Street residents pointed out there are other bridges across the Sunflower, but when their homes flood they have nowhere else to go. They asked the city to make Pearson Street a priority.
Susan Baliff of Pearson Street said there are 230 residents in her neighborhood who were affected by the flooding. She also voiced concern over the city’s timeline of two years to get the projects funded and completed.
Mayor Chuck Espy said the city can get federal and state dollars to pay up to 100 percent of bridge construction and that will leave more dollars for other projects, like Pearson Street.
City Grant Writer Teresa Jones presented the numbers and timeline for obtaining grants and spending the bond money in the two years required.
Plunk pointed out that the clock on spending the bond funds does not start until Jan. 1 and the city can get a one-year extension lengthening the projects to three years.
The time line has grants being sought this fall, the bond contract to be signed at the first of 2019, grant applications accepted by the summer of 2020, projects announced in the fall of 2020 and work also starting at that time.
Espy said the city has already started work with engineers and met recently with state and federal agencies to find out what kind of government assistance is available.
“This is one of the first things I got to work on when I took office,” said Espy. “We have done our due diligence and put together the very best plan possible.
“We’re trying to take $5 million and turn it into $25 million,” said Espy. “We are trying to fix infrastructure problems that have been going on for 50 years. These changes won’t happen overnight.”
It was also explained that two or three project could be started earlier on the time line and construction on those projects would all go on at the same time.
“We have a lot going on in Clarksdale right now,” said Espy. “That’s a good kind of problem to have. I just ask that you be patient and work with us on this.”
Residents also brought up issues related to mental health and homeless people walking Clarksdale’s streets to traffic concerns and the need to speed up sewer service to recently annexed area.
Ward 2 Commissioner Ken Murphrey thanked those in attendance and urged them to call him or city hall to get details on any city project or concern.
“I hope these meeting clarify some things that are being spread in the community that just are not true,” said Murphrey. “If you have questions and want answers, to ask people who may or may not know and don’t believe everything you read on Facebook. Come to us. Come to me and we’ll give you the fact and figures. It may not be what you want to hear, but it will be the truth.”
