Three Attempts And Still No Meeting For Land Deal
The area shaded in red is the property a Water Valley industry has expressed an interest in purchasing.
Three Attempts And Still No Meeting For Land Deal
By Jack Gurner
Reporter
WATER VALLEY – It took two-and-a-half weeks and several attempts to get a quorum, but the Water Valley Board of Alderman finally met Friday morning at 8 a.m. Well, at least they almost met.
The special meeting was called to discuss the sale of 2.7 acres of land behind the Big Yank building.
After waiting for just over 20 minutes, Mayor Bill Norris called off the session when only Aldermen Lance Clement and Tommy Swearengen showed up.
Alderman Sherry Martin had to recuse herself because of a conflict of interest and Alderman Charlie Harris was unable to attend because his wife is in a Memphis hospital.
That left only Alderman Fred White to make the quorum. He had been notified of the meeting the day before but didn’t show.
Lee McMinn of the Yalobusha Economic Development Foundation said, “This is one of the most disappointing efforts I have been involved in.”
McMinn, who attended the almost meeting, added that city officials couldn’t take the land sale seriously enough to show up to vote. “This is an issue that should have been voted on the night it was presented.”
Alderman White, who was located by a Herald reporter at his Quick Lube business on South Main Street said, “S***! I forgot it. That was the last thing on my mind when I went to bed last night was to get up early to go to the meeting.”
White added there are other people who want to buy the property. “They want to sell it to one individual. I don’t think that’s right.”
Mayor Norris said that the issue will not be brought up again until the regular board meeting on Nov. 6.
