Hope City Board Holds First Meeting of 2024 Including Public Hearing On City Needs

The Hope City Board met in the City Hall Boardroom on Tuesday (1-2) for their first meeting  of 2024.   After a call to order, invocation, pledge, and a review of the minutes there was a recess for a public hearing. The hearing was on what proposed projects the public thinks are needed.  The city was hoping to find what the public wants and what they will support through a tax initiative.

The proposed projects included a new central fire station, improvements to Northside Park, the Soccer Complex, Kelly Fields, Kiwanis Fields, and the Tennis Courts. It could include a new Fair Park Pool with water features and a recreational center or a Pickleball Court.

Many people showed up for the Public Hearing. City Manager JR Wilson opened up the meeting, talking about the aims of the city and potential projects. He was followed by Mayor Don Still who talked about Hempstead Hall and the Courthouse being the two successful sales tax projects.

The meeting was opened to the public with Marsha White being the first speaker. She said safety was first so the new Fire Station was the top item. After that she spoke in favor of the splash pad, Fair Park Pool and kid’s pool.

Jodie Coffee  spoke in favor of pickleball and basketball. She stated she is a sporting enthusiast.

Amy Knoll who is a coach and a parent for the Piranha Swim Team brought a group and talked about how much more the team could do if there was a year round facility with an indoor aquatic center.  She stated there could be therapy, and she has had a passion for jt for a long time. Swimming isn’t big here but it could be the way basketball, baseball and soccer are.

Clay Lance spoke in favor of swimming and the fire station.

Oscar Rodriguez, a fireman, spoke about how the old fire station has crippled the department.

Sylvia Brown spoke about the realities in the city and county with 20,000 people with 5,000 being youth. She talked about the need to bring in the County and the Quorum court.

Judy Watson spoke on those with special needs being able to participate and agreed the Fire Station was quite important.

Anna Powell said she was there from the county and talked about having to pay for private swimming lessons for her son in a private pool. She talked about who needed to be addressed with a large poverty community and the need for low cost as well as opportunities for businesses. She also talked about Hope being a regional hub.

Danny Watson said he had worked at the fire department and encouraged the group to narrow it down and be patient given public concerns about taxes.

John T. Miller who started the Watermelon Treasure Hunt encouraged people to make copies of the survey and pass it around so more people from the community were involved.

Edmundo Dominguez encouraged the community to unite. He stated he loves Hope and talked about what Hope is known for elsewhere – a President who left and the Watermelon festival.

City Manager JR Wilson made a closing statement that a lot of good things were said and this is simply a beginning.

Mayor Still said he was excited by the enthusiasm.

After the public meeting the next item on the agenda was the consideration of of 2024 appointments which included one position for HWL, two for Planning and Zoning, one HHA position and one industry tourism position.  The HWL, Planning and Zoning and HHA positions were re-nominations.

City Manager JR Wilson caught an error with the sewage rate increases as those already went up in 2021 and don’t need to increase as much as expected to be eligible for a grant. The expected increase quoted was 35%. The issue was set aside until they hear back.

While Christy Burns couldn’t attend, the partnership between the City and Chamber of Commerce for Downtown Network services was renewed after a motion passed.

A Ford Truck that hasn’t been used since 2020 was successfully declared surplus. Permission was given for the Fire Department to apply for a SUBS grant.

The first two items on the City Manager’s Report were related to the Public Meeting with the desire to bring on two firms to help with the process. Representatives from Mclelland Engineers and Friday, Eldredge, and Clarke LLP are expected at the next Board meeting. A third person also should be there, Taylor Marshall, the Bond Counsel for Tyson. Tyson is currently constructing a new hatchery on Rocky Mound Road. They will deed the property over to the city for a bond that functions as a tax-free city bond. Once the bond is paid the property will be returned to Tyson.

Sylvia Brown spoke about Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on the third Monday. There will be two interfaith days with a transition on Monday to Vander Lloyd housing, where there will be a march and parade.

Fixing 6th Street and the water runoff into the school was the next topic and there was discussion on who will fix this problem.  The cost of the repair will be $11,000. Board Director Ttevor Coffee wondered how long it would take to fix and it was noted it shouldn’t take more than two days.

For Citizen’s Requests, Marsha White spoke about pens and t-shirts that could be bought to fund Martin Luther King’s celebration.

The meeting adjourned.