Once again the Marion County Courthouse will be arrayed in a dazzling display of Christmas lights now that the Marion County Board of Supervisors voted Monday to allow Experience Columbia to decorate the courthouse. The vote was four to one with Supervisors John Moree, Tony Morgan, Raymon “Tater” Rowell and Calvin Newsom voting for the lights and Eugene “Blue” Green opposing.
Green said his sole reason against placing lights on the historic structure was because of a fire risk. With the courthouse being a historical building, he did not want anything to happen to it. Green was the owner of L & W Glass in 1990 when the Kalil building, which housed the building, was destroyed by fire.
Downtown business owners and others were on hand for the nearly 90-minute discussion.
Nik Ingram, director of Main Street Columbia, addressed the board first to speak about the lights. Ingram had called the supervisors at the beginning of last week to get the opinions of the supervisors regarding lighting the courthouse. Ingram then made a post on a social media platform about some of the supervisors being against the lights, setting off a firestorm until Monday morning when everyone had a chance to speak face to face.
“On behalf of Main Street we want to ask for your permission and participate with us for a third year to allow the company that is the best in country at decorating buildings to decorate the Marion County Courthouse for free,” Ingram said during Monday’s meeting.
Ingram presented the board with a letter from Experience Columbia requesting permission to decorate the courthouse and also with a copy of the economic impact study that was completed by students at Southern Miss.
Morgan asked Ingram if there was anything else, and he said he just wanted to know if it could be done, decorating the courthouse. Newsome said he had no problem with the courthouse being decorated.
At first the supervisors were going to take the matter under advisement until they knew what the insurance would cover. Ingram was advised they would let him know.
More than one supervisor made a comment about how the matter was made public on social media and expressed their displeasure at the way it was done. One of the speakers, Larry Jenkins, told the board that social media was a part of life now whether people utilized it or not. It was something he said that could be used as a positive or a negative. Mickey Webb commented that social media has become an outlet a way to get information out.
Miss. Rep. Ken Morgan, R-Morgantown said he believed the way the word was spread was not the right way and reminded the board and everyone in attendance that the board was there on behalf of the people. He talked about how the city’s citizens pay for city and county taxes and stressed the importance of everyone working together.
“As far as people coming over here and enjoying the lights and the activities that have taken place, I’m 100% for lighting it all back up like it was. Because one thing about it is a lot of people do not take the initiative to do things for themselves financially. This opens the door for that community,” Ken Morgan said.
Morgan also discussed how with tourism in the state that for every one dollar spent is a return of nine dollars.
Several people spoke about the safety of LED lights and how important the lighting of the courthouse was not only in its beauty, but how the event, including the decorated courthouse, had an impact on the celebration. A couple of business owners stressed the importance of having an event such as this to bring people downtown.
Megan Sauls, a resident of Beat 1, spoke. Sauls said while she lives in the Improve area but considers Columbia her hometown. She told the board, she believes the people who will be installing the lights will be careful of the issues and desire to work with the board. She said she hopes they would continue it.
Green responded, “I told him (Ingram) I thought it was beautiful, I asked him about alternative lighting for the courthouse and he said they are going to do it in the future. If you are going to do it in the future, why can’t you do it now?”
Green said he came downtown last year three times and asked Sauls how often she came, she said she was there every night. Green said he was not against having fun or making downtown pretty, but he was for safety.
Sauls said it was her understanding that with the LED lights being used, the roof at the courthouse would get hotter during the summer months than it would with lights on it. Sauls said she knows whenever there has been an issue with anything in the previous two years, it has been addressed and procedures were modified incorporating the concerns to make everything work better.
Green responded, “Google LED lights it says as plain as day that LED are the coolest they are but the wiring that furnishes it is hot and there have been some fires from the wires feeding the LED lights.”
Sauls said she knows the group will be happy to work with everyone to make all happy.
Ron Matis said he has traveled all over the state and was most recently in Natchez. When Columbia is mentioned and the downtown Christmas celebration comes up people are jealous because they do not have any events that create that kind of a draw. Natchez is older than Mississippi, he said, and yet Natchez was eyeing Columbia for the cutting edge technology that is being used here.
He said it does not matter where he travels in the state, Columbia has made a name for itself as a place where people want to come spend the holidays. He said the success of the event is something to credit the leadership with. Columbia has created a wonderful family event.
Ann Sanders, owner of Ann’s Embroidery, said being a business owner on Main Street is very tough. She said Columbia is a wonderful place. She said she has picked up business from people who came downtown because of the lights. As business owners and investors in real estate, she said they need people to come downtown. She said regarding the fire hazard that it would be a concern for all of the buildings, not just the courthouse.
Sanders said if the celebration stops now, it will be very damaging to the businesses.
Jacob Harrison with Experience Columbia said the LED lights are cool to the touch, but the lights have to have wires. He said the lights were commercial grade and stored very carefully to protect the lights from anything getting to them. Per the request of the board last year, the lights were installed on the courthouse using a lift so no one was on the roof, and they used non-invasive clips to attach the lights, Harrison said.
Harrison said the power source will be on the ground and not on the building and the last thing anyone wants is for a structure to burn.
“We will do whatever we got to do to make sure it is done safely, appropriately and inspected. The lights do not come on unless someone is there,” Harrison said.
“A vote against lighting the courthouse is not a vote against Kristian, Jacob or Experience Columbia. It is a vote against the people,” Kristian Agoglia with Experience Columbia said.
Agoglia personally requested Green to vote in favor of the lights. He said he has received other offers to decorate nearby areas but has denied them because it is something right now that is making Columbia stand out.
“It is sad that an opportunity to make something spectacular has to be debated. This is something unique,” Agoglia said.
Agoglia said he had never had anyone not get behind decorating something to make it special.
Tony Morgan thanked everyone for coming and sharing their thoughts and views.
Eventually a motion was made by Newsom and seconded by Rowell to light the courthouse. Morgan asked if everyone was in favor of it, and when it came to Green he said “opposed.”
The lighting of downtown will take place Nov. 28.
