Dave’s World Is Looking At Strike Three
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DAVE’S WORLD
By David Howell
Well, Dave’s World Is on Its Third Strike!
Strike one came a few weeks back when I speculated that an electric rate increase might be on the horizon as work continues on long-needed upgrades for the electric department. Water Valley Electric Commission Chairman Brandon Presley put that one to rest in his monthly report to the Board of Aldermen on Sept. 2.
“In working our budget so far, there is no anticipated rate increase in 2026,” Presley stressed.
Raising rates right now, he explained, would be fiscally irresponsible when savings cannot be clearly and honestly communicated.
“The easy way would be to raise rates, but that is the wrong thing to do. Right now, we have to figure out how to live within our means.”
Presley’s comments closed out the commission’s report, and Mayor Tommy Reynolds followed with strong words about the city’s future. He believes Water Valley has the potential to operate the best small-town electric department in Mississippi.
“There is no reason why we can’t do it. I’m tired of people saying we have to do it the old way,” Reynolds said. “Insanity is repeating something that doesn’t work mindlessly over and over again. It is time to join this present century.”
Water Valley Electric Commission Chairman Brandon Presley told city officials that the commission has no plans to raise electric rates in the next year.
Presley also cautioned that until improvements are made, the city has little chance of attracting industry.
“Until we get extra capacity in the city, we are going to have issues relating to serving industry, businesses and economic development. It is a fact.”
Reynolds quickly added an optimistic note.
“We are going to get there!”
And if you read the story on page one, you can see the huge strides already made by the electric department crew and commissioners.
Strike two came to light later in the same meeting last Tuesday night, when Parks Commission Chairman Robert Maze and other city officials explained that the broken globes at Crawford Sports Complex weren’t the work of vandals at all — but storm damage from months earlier.
I had just sent the paper to press with Dave’s World opining that the lights had been vandalized, tied to my suggestion that security cameras might help prevent problems like that. I based those comments on chatter from social media, where the story had already made the rounds.
But Maze set the record straight. The globes, he explained, had been down for months after strong winds during spring storms. Vandals weren’t to blame. That means my column — at least on that point — was a swing and a miss. I should have done a little more fact-checking before repeating what I saw online. After all, it’s my job to run down those rumors and separate fact from fiction.
Water Valley Fire Chief Mark McGavock discusses plans to repurpose the former poultry plant on Lafayette Street as a new headquarters for city departments during the Sept. 2 meeting.
Maze, who serves with other volunteers on the newly established Parks Commission, went on to say that ongoing maintenance must be a priority. He cited a broken urinal in the restroom as another example. The commission received authorization to research repair costs and begin what looks like a long-term effort to keep the city’s parks in working order.
Mayor Reynolds offered wise input. He reminded everyone that the challenge isn’t necessarily fixing one broken light or one restroom fixture — it’s the ongoing cost of maintaining everything, from parks to streets, sidewalks, and utilities.
I can think of no better example than the Civic Auditorium, which the mayor worked so hard to reopen after more than five years with no activity. It took upwards of $350,000 to bring that building back to life after years of neglect. The city’s electric grid tells the same story — years of neglect now requiring major investment.
“There are a lot of things the city needs to be doing that we just don’t have the money to do on a regular basis,” Reynolds said.
I’m glad he provided that perspective. There is a lot of work ahead for the mayor, the Board of Aldermen, and both the new and more established commissions — including the Planning Commission and the Historic Preservation Commission — and I believe they are up to the task.
Speaking of the Planning Commission, aldermen made two appointments during a special meeting last Friday night. Hosea Bradford and Meagan Backes were unanimously approved to fill vacancies on the board.
I was also encouraged when aldermen authorized Water Valley Fire Chief Mark McGavock to move forward with plans to convert the former poultry plant on Lafayette Street into the new headquarters for city departments. The property, visible from Wise Street — one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares — is home to one of the biggest eyesores in the county. The main building at the front of the site is partially collapsed.
McGavock has shared some exciting ideas, including revenue-generating options to help fund the project. The new facility would house the electric, water, street and other departments, moving them from their current Blount Street location — itself an eyesore on Main Street and vulnerable to flooding.
The aldermen instructed McGavock to move forward with a plan for the property, working with each department head for input — and I can’t wait to see what he comes up with.
Now, strike three for me? Let’s just hope it doesn’t come. I’m too old to learn a new sport.
