I sincerely hope the members of the Meridian City Council vote solidly AGAINST the Threefoot Building Project which would obligate fourteen million of the taxpayers money in city-backed loans.  For several years I was contacted by the Meridian Tourism Bureau when I was the Executive Director of the Mississippi National Guard Non-Commissioned Officers Association to bring the annual conference to Meridian.  I explained to them that we needed  a facility (hotel or motel) which would house all our attendees and be able to provide banquet space for approximately 300 to 400 people in the same facility. 

Since nothing like this was available in Meridian, we ended up going to Jackson, Tupelo and the Gulf Coast.  The facility that Mr. Lala is talking about would provide this type of facility for a lot of other associations to come to Meridian at last.

     Let me give you a few reasons why the Threefoot Project should not even be considered:

First:  A new fire station with equipment, sewage and water, and police protection must be provided for the recently annexed area for the city of Meridian.  This is going to cost a great deal of money but it must be provided for those individuals who reside in this area.

Second:  How much is it going to cost the taxpayers of the city to finish the work on the City Hall?  I have not seen any figures on how mush this is going to cost.  This needs to be considered as well.

Third:  I understand that a new Police Station is going to have to be built as the old one is falling apart.  Mr. Mayor: how much is this going to cost the taxpayers? 

     In addition, I read in Friday’s paper that the Threefoot Building is in such poor condition that single lane traffic is going to be in effect now.  I cannot believe that HRI or any other responsible organization   would subject their employees to work in a building which is apparently about to fall down.  I would suggest that a company which is in the implosion business be contacted immediately to bring this building down as it has served its purpose many years ago and is now a danger to all individuals who have to drive by this area.  This is something that should be considered by the members of the City Council when they meet again.

     In view of all the above, it appears that a lot of taxpayers money is going to be spent on a new fire station with equipment and personnel, water and sewage and additional police personnel and automobiles; not to mention the unknown costs for the city hall and the new police station.  It also appears that the City of Meridian does not even have the funds to buy white and yellow paint to re-paint the traffic lines all over the city.

     I hope the members of the City Council will take all the above into consideration when they have to vote on Meridian going into the hotel business.  Private enterprise should come first in managing a hotel.

 

Jim Knowles

Meridian