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Post by Rachell on Feb 22, 2017 14:53:44 GMT
linkSo look at this folks. The county is looking to sell off the properties for the Mars Hill and Marshall Community Centers. I know the Mars Hill one is all boarded up and not in use following a fire history, but as far as I know, the Marshall one has still be used by various folks in the community. Well, if these 2 properties sell, what chance will our towns have of having community centers in the "downtown" areas? Does anyone besides me care about this? If so, perhaps we ought to make sure the Commissioners realize our interest in having community centers at these locations now and in the future. Please share this post around and please let me know if you know of other local groups where I can share this information. As I see it, property is only going to gain in value/expense with time and if the county already owns these sites, it might be a better value to make good community use of them than to just sell them to private folks. Message me if you have more thoughts on this.
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Post by Christopher Brown on Feb 23, 2017 11:34:47 GMT
I've had conversations with commissioners and the economic development office about this matter and the importance of community centers. Their perspective seems to be: Community Centers don't sustain themselves; and the County can't afford the upkeep.
I strongly believe community centers are important.
I would be very happy to be part of a group that addresses this issue.
That said, right now, I don't have the capacity to lead a initiative of this nature. I would, however, be happy and able facilitate and organize the first 2-3 meetings with decision makers and pertinent folks.
First steps recommendations:
1. Create CONTACT LIST of members who want to work on this and ARE ABLE to commit time to this...
2. Have it on the agenda of this Sunday's meeting and the next couple to POPULATE the above list and GATHER INFO (recorded, organized, and reported) about people's capacity, experience, and knowledge on the matter...
3. Schedule 2-3 meetings with decision makers and pertinent community members to voice our concerns and determine next actions needed
4. Get together as a group to develop strategies for solutions
I will commit to doing number 3 after 1&2 are in progress. I can not be at this Sunday's meeting.
Please keep me posted as, and if, there is movement on this.
Thank you Rachell for bringing it back to the forefront!
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Post by Rachell on Feb 24, 2017 21:51:16 GMT
Chris thank you for your response and the information shared. I will do my best to raise awareness for this situation, as I for one think it would be a real loss to the community for the county to sell off those properties. I see so much enriching potential that will be hard if not impossible to ever gain back. That said, I have never done anything remotely like this and therefore have no idea what I am doing.
From what I understand, the first thing I need are like-minded others who are willing to speak publicly at a Commissioner's meeting in opposition to them selling off these holdings. Even just a handful of us is enough to give them pause otherwise these properties will be listed with a realtor and then that is that.
I will make it a point to be at the Sunday meeting for this group (as I assume that is the meeting to which you refer) and hopefully I will find some folks who are willing to speak up to this regard as well.
In the meantime, THANK YOU Chris, for being willing to participate in the effort, should it take off. Please feel free to send me any relevant links that you think might prove helpful. I am due to receive a call from the County Manager on Monday per his office.
I am only sorry I didn't realize sooner that Community Centers are not managed and made possible by the community governing boards in this area. Had I known they were waiting on us, the citizens to make things happen I would have acted sooner as I personally see great value in providing communities with centers to help foster opportunities, build community strength and enrich the lives of the people in those areas.
Anyone reading this, PLEASE let me know if you have any interest at all in speaking at a Commissioners meeting to this effect, participating in a group to save and/or renovate these places or if you can at least share with folks that you think may take an interest in this cause.
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Post by Christopher Brown on Feb 24, 2017 22:30:21 GMT
Thanks again Rachell.
I just want to reiterate the IMPORTANCE of being prepared BEFORE signing up for public comment at the commissioners meeting.
If it is just a "bunch of concerned citizens" stating what they "don't want" without a clear explanation of a SOLUTION, the effort will not produce any tangible results. Understand this ball (to sell the community centers) is already rolling with momentum - we will have to really make an impression for any hope of slowing the momentum down.
Please see the 4 STEPS listed above.
If we can not get those accomplished by 3/14 (the next commissioners meeting), then we need to, at the very least:
-have a list of names of folks who've committed to be a part of this coalition to save the community centers,
-a report of what we've accomplished up to that date (i.e. your meeting with Forrest) and clearly laid out next steps,
-and hopefully a petition with XXX signatures of folks who want the community centers to remain county held, tax payer supported, community centers.
If we don't do this professionally and organized our words will fall on deaf ears and we WILL be brushed to the side.
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