Parks proposes $7.9 million budget

Friday, June 1, 2012

The Jefferson City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department is preparing next year’s budget, planning for $7.9 million in spending.

Director Bill Lockwood told a special Parks and Recreation Commission meeting the proposed budget includes a 2 percent across the board pay increase for all permanent employees, something that may or may not survive the City Council budget sessions.

The proposed budget also includes a projected 2 percent increase in local park sales tax collections and a $1.3 million contribution to the fund for a multipurpose building.

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JCsleeper 11 months, 3 weeks ago

Wonder if they'll be able to open the pools on Memorial Day Weekend next year?

JCLifer 11 months, 3 weeks ago

Instead of building a puny little rec center and a puny little convention center, how about pooling resources and building a bigger, much nicer multi-purpose building that can serve both purposes?

The answer here is so obvious, but greed between entities will probably keep them from collaborating and building a better facility that helps serve everyone much better.

centerguy56 11 months, 3 weeks ago

Lifer: Please make yourself aware of the program needs and issues with each of these projects before 1) you make a declaritive statement that this will work and 2) that somehow "greed has anything to do with it. FYI there were numerous discussions about this very thing in the Transformation planning process and the recent town hall meetings. The general conclusion is that these uses are not compatible. As stated in the town halls presentations and discussions, scheduling local use necessary for P&R and conventions and conferences would make the space not work for either. There could be some co-use of portions of the facility but not enough to make a combined facility useful or cost effective.

Sequoia 11 months, 3 weeks ago

But, centerguy, isn't it much easier to read a few sentences on the internet and toss off some snotty, fact-free one-liners alluding to greed and bad faith... rather than attending meeting and wrestling with the issues?

It is so much easier and entertaining to cast dispersions on those who make the decisions, rather than actually getting in there and thinking through the issues. So much easier to act outraged at the system than actually trying to solve the problems.

The Jeff City system, man! The Jeff City powers that be!! They just want to control you! The elite ruling class who use small-town city government as the perfect vehicle to satisfy their GREED AND UNQUENCHABLE THIRST FOR POWER!!! I'm so outraged!

I mean, if I was greedy, I would definitely try to rise through the ranks of city government. Wouldn't you? That's where the dollars are.

See how fun that is?

JCLifer 11 months, 3 weeks ago

You have your opinion and I have mine. Your's is no more "correct" than mine is "correct". You have no idea what meetings I attend and who I talk to.

There is more than one way to do things. Just because a decision was arrived by groupthink doesn't mean that it is the best alternative.

Once again, you are more concerned with the poster than you are the opinion. Instead of attacking posters who you do not agree with, why not just state your opinion. Are you a bully who is used to always getting your way? Are you of so low self-esteem that you always have to be "right"? I do not attack you or comment on your personality until I have had enough of yoru personal attacks. I stay focused on the issues.

It seems you cannot stand that others might have a different opinion than you, and it scares you that someone with a different opinion might be able to have a small voice. You are a piece of work (but your attitude is very common to the JC good ol boys.) Bet you played for Coach Pete too!

Sequoia 11 months, 3 weeks ago

All I'm asking for is a fact. Just put a fact in there that supports your opinion. That's all. If you're going to accuse someone of hampering public business out of greed, you ought to have a fact to back that up.

I can stand a different opinion, but I can't stand a reflexive opinion unsupported by facts.

I'm not saying the good ol' boys don't need to be challenged. But with facts, not with reflexive assumptions about people's motivations. "Greed will probably prevent them from collaborating..." You just toss that off without any support whatsoever. Who is being greedy for what? How can you tell? It is so cynical and reflexive, and the casual attitude about alleging bad faith (on the parks and rec board!) without factual support is what really bothers me.

It's a complaint I have about the media. People make a lot of money on TV with "analysis" that consists of making themselves sound smart by alleging all sorts of conspiracy and critique of power without a single fact to support it. It's the cool thing to do. People on one side just assume, out of hand, that their opponents must be motivated by evil. I mean, of course, right?

Suckers lap that stuff up, and it becomes the only lens they have to view any public event, so that even a local parks and recreation budget issue is actually a conspiracy. Concocting a conspiracy theory becomes the only way they know how to discuss a public issue, because that's all they see on TV.

That's a pet peeve of mine. I'm not saying you did all that, but please: It's not fair to allege bad faith without some reasonable factual support.

JCLifer 11 months, 3 weeks ago

I see no facts in your posts. This is a comment forum, not a scholary work of absolute truths and statistically validated laws of science. If reading other peoples' comments make you angry, you need to stop reading them or else get some counseling.

Here is a fact for you: Many folks are against what is being done with several issues around this town. How about another fact: There are not many good-paying jobs available in this town. Another: Young people cannot stand to live here-- more young people are moving away than are moving in. Another: Keep doing what you have always been doing and you will probably keep getting the same result. Another fact: Close-minded leadership that ignores the wishes of its constituents does so at its peril. Here is another fact: You don't have all the answers-- if you do, how come things are still so messed up?

Sequoia 11 months, 3 weeks ago

Actually, my post contains two important facts: 1) a factual quote from your post, 2) my post states the factually correct observation that your post contains no facts that support the quote. These are both observable, objective, verifiable facts on which my opinion was based. See how easy that is?

I won't deny that "many" folks are "against" "several issues," although that's not very specific. I can point to at least one relatively young person who moved to this town from somewhere much cooler, who can afford to make a decent life for himself and his family, and likes living here quite fine. So, again, your generalities may or may not be true... I can show actual counter-examples, and your so-called factual statement can't really be verified because it is too vague.

Your statement about closed-minded leadership is actually a "premise" or a "hypothesis." I won't argue with it, but a "fact" would be a story about a specific time and place where that actually happened. See the difference?

And I certainly agree I don't have all the answers. I do agree Jeff City could use some improvements. You don't have to be a scholar. Just don't accuse people of wrongdoing without some evidence. That's not high falutin'... that's pretty basic.

JCLifer 11 months, 3 weeks ago

Where did I accuse any people of wrongdoing? I may have talked about "entities", but I did not accuse any specific people.

The paper did not list any "program needs and issues" for these projects. The paper did not list any reasons why the two projects cannot be combined. I have friends and family that are not aware of any reasons why the projects cannot be combined. It is not disputed that the proposed convention center is much smaller than what has been desired, and I doubt that you will find many people who will think that $1.3 million will build much of a community center for a capital city like ours. Heck- didn't it cost something like $12 million just to REMODEL the auditorium for the performing arts center? What will $1.3 Million get us-- a pole barn and a parking lot?

I have personal experience with other cities that are very succesfful in having different groups collaborate and work together for the common good. I have lived in this town long enough to know that elitism and siloism is the name of the game here. I am far from the only one who thinks this and I am hardly the only person who expresses this on this opinion forum. We have State of Missouri government, Lincoln University, JC Public Schools, the City Hall, Parks and Rec, the YMCA, and the Chamber of Commerce all needing and using large space. Surely there is some way that these entities could work together, and with the taxpayers' support, we could all benefit from having some really nice multi-purpose community/convention center? I refuse to accept that it is impossible to make it happen. If past history repeats itself, we will have several little and expensive facilities around here, but nothing real nice or real useful. Look at all the money spent on the Performing Arts Center-- $12 million or so, and it only seats 800 some people, and it doesn't even have a parking garage! Look at Lincoln's Richardson Auditorium. Look at the YMCA. etc.

centerguy56 11 months, 3 weeks ago

Lifer: just because the Paper didnt say something does that mean anything? I have family and friends too but i dont take their thoughts for gospel! It is probably true that the Conf Center will likely be much smaller than is needed but it is what we have! you stated $1.3 M for the community center! where did you get that number? you stated $12M for the Miller remodel. where did that number come from?

JCLifer 11 months, 3 weeks ago

If you will read the article above you will see where the $1.3 million comed ftom. As i indicated, i think i recall that the performance art center was around $12 million. I dont know what it was exactly. You can probably hoogle it if you really want to know.

centerguy56 11 months, 3 weeks ago

some info on your two cost $.

Miller cost $4.5m to build

the $1.3m cited in the article on P&R is the proposed 2013 allocation to the project not the total committed to building a MP center which around $4.5m total

JCLifer 11 months, 3 weeks ago

The fact of the matter is that people here like their little kingdoms. They like being small. They like having it their way to benefit their few friends and not the masses.

Columbia and all it offers is looking better and better every day. Sure, Columbia has crime, but if you are paying attention, jefferson City also has regular murders, drive-by shootings, gangs, drugs, and the problems that Columbia has.

Jefferson City also has a real problem with people not wanting to send their kids to the local high school. Ask the realtors--they will tell you that folks want out when their kids get near high school age. Do a study and see how many professional-level state workers commute from Columbia and would not ever consider living in Jeff City. Many move to Columbia or Wardsville or anywhere just to get away from this one huge high school. The residents have been screaming for two smaller high schools for years, but yet the only thing the controlling class will allow is to continue to have one great big high school.

centerguy56 11 months, 3 weeks ago

Lifer: let me agree with you about the High School and about JC not being attractive to some people so how would you fix that or create policies by the city council to move us in the direction you advocate! heres your chance.

JCLifer 11 months, 3 weeks ago

Centerguy56, please provide proof to your allegation that the city council controls the public schools. Most folks believe that the school board makes decisions about the schools.

See how your posts come across?

centerguy56 11 months, 3 weeks ago

OH i fully understand who governs the JCPS! LOL did i really allege that the Coucil did? anyway I am simply asking about ideas the COUNCIL use to make the city more attractive to young people. i already know your solution to the unattractiveness of the HS. just build a second one!

JCLifer 11 months, 3 weeks ago

I could go on and on-- even bring up the gas prices that are nearly always higher than other nearby towns large and small.

However, all this is off topic. What I am most concerned about is a small group of posters here who do not want opinions different than theirs posted here. This is the Internet. This is an opinion forum. The purpose is to discuss issues, not bash other posters or accuse them of things or name-calling like they do in JC Junior High or between the cliques at the high school.

If yu don't like the opinions posted on the Internet, then don't read them. Simple as that.

There is no requirement that postings to this forum be backed up with citations and proven research. To my knowledge, no one here other than the NT staff have been granted the position of Judge or Prosecutor of Advere opinions. Until I am booted off by NT, I will continue to state my opinions as I see fit whether you like them or not. You see, I care about this city and the people who live here. I want to see this city take the high road and flourish. I want this city to be about serving all people, not just a few certain cliques.

centerguy56 11 months, 3 weeks ago

if the last statement were true you would be participating in a positive dialogue on this forum. i challenge you to join me in this positive discussion. this forum is created to stir peoples opinions not to create positive change. you and i can change that. the city is currently working on an rfp to try to leverage the lodging tax and a private entity to create conference center space needed in JC. It is very very unlikely that the multi Purp center being discussed by parks and rec comm can be combined with the CC. not because "entities" can coop but b/c it would not work! now if your family and friends what to show the city how that could work then they would love to hear it.

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