City's arts center donation cancels county's contribution

By By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
Nov. 19, 2003
When Meridian city councilmen voted to give the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center $100,000 Tuesday, their action killed a similar cash contribution from Lauderdale County.
County supervisors voted one day earlier to give the center $150,000 but only if the city gave the same amount. Because city councilmen didn't, the center now will receive only Meridian's contribution unless supervisors change their minds.
District 5 Supervisor Ray Boswell, who persuaded fellow supervisors to make the county's contribution contingent on the city's, and District 3 Supervisor Craig Hitt, the board president, could not be reached.
Lauderdale County Administrator Rex Hiatt confirmed today that the board's contribution is no longer valid.
Frank Farley and Duffee Williams, board members for the center, and Lester Spell, the state's agriculture commissioner who spearheaded the center's concept, asked councilmen for their financial support.
They said the early donations will be used for preliminary site design, permitting and engineering for the center which is planned at Bonita Lakes.
The total estimated cost to build the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center, which will include an amphitheater, studio space and a hall of fame, is $54.5 million. The city council voted unanimously and without discussion to donate the $100,000 to the center.
Farley, treasurer for the Arts and Entertainment Center board, said he planned to ask county supervisors to reconsider their contingency and vote again to donate money to the center.
In other matters
The Meridian City Council voted 4-0 Tuesday to announce its intent to borrow $2.9 million for water and sewer repairs. The money will be used in part to fund repairs at Bonita Lakes; about $200,000 of it will be used to provide sewerage service to the new industrial park. Councilman Bobby Smith was absent.