Marion County Leadership Class of 2019 President Kevin Buckley approached the Columbia Board of Aldermen Tuesday about creating a green space downtown.
The area in question is a city-owned parking lot between JMH Graphics and Houston Cleaners on Second Street, and Buckley said the goal is to make it a more welcoming community area that can be enjoyed downtown.
Buckley presented a drawing featuring a grass play area and dining area and eventually maybe even a place for musicians and special events. Buckley said members of the class communicated with the surrounding businesses to check and see if fixing up the lot would interfere or inconvenience them, and he said the owners were all on board.
“We support it and are excited about it," Second Street Bean owner Paris Schepemaker said.
Buckley said the next step is the construction phase and obtaining estimates.
Alderman-at-large Edward Hough asked about funding. Buckley responded once they have an idea on estimates, they would begin fundraising efforts to pay for it.
Also during Tuesday's meeting, Mayor Justin McKenzie said he met that morning with engineer Sean Burns and the Mississippi Department of Transportation. He said the state is pursuing some federal funding in the nature of emergency funding for State-Aid roads damaged from the flooding.
Mike McDaniel with the water department advised everything on the lift stations are back going with the exception of two of the smaller ones, which went completely underwater on Old Foxworth Road when the Pearl River crested 25.6 feet on Feb. 23. McDaniel said one aerator panel at the North Lagoon off of Dean Griner Drive had to be replaced as well.
Both Fire Chief Jeff McKenzie and Police Chief Michael Kelly requested to send officers and firefighters to Active Attack Integrated Response training in Meridian. The training is provided by Homeland Security to prepare emergency personnel on response in an active attack. The board approved.
