Negotiations continue on Watson Mill

MadisonJournalTODAY

RSS Feed

Email Alerts

Facebook

Negotiations continue on Watson Mill

Posted by

Zach Mitcham

in News

Thursday, February 2. 2012

Comments (15)

Watson Mill will remain a state park and clerks will remain at the park to handle reservations — provided Madison County provides about $26,000 a year for park maintenance.

State officials, who downgraded the park and laid off the staff this past fall, expect a $26,760 per year commitment from the county for Watson Mill. The Department of Natural Resources proposed a five-year agreement with the county for the park maintenance. If the county provides that funding, the state will continue to oversee Watson Mill as a “state park.”

County commissioners agreed to the deal recently on the condition that the county has the annual option of backing out of the arrangement.

Madison County will now seek a “non-renewal” clause in the contract, which must be amended, reviewed by the state once again and sent back to the commissioners.

Madison County leaders have spent several months negotiating with the DNR on maintaining Watson Mill.

In late 2011, the state announced that it was downgrading the state park to an “outdoor recreation area.” But county commissioners have fought that move, saying that the downgrade will hurt the local economy by significantly reducing the number of visitors to the park, who buy gas, groceries and other products in the county. Commissioners also say that the downgrade could transform the park from a recreation spot to a hub of criminal activity.

Trackbacks

Trackback specific URI for this entry

No Trackbacks

Comments

Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)

#1 Anonymous on 02/03/12 at 01:26 AM [Reply]

We CAN NOT AFFORD THIS!!!!

#1.1 SardonicVeracity on 02/04/12 at 10:47 AM [Reply]

If the last paragraph is true, you can not afford to not do this.

#1.1.1 Ms.K on 02/04/12 at 03:22 PM [Reply]

Why? That paragraph detailed how the state's downgrade of the park would hurt the county's economy and encourage crime there. Madison County would pitch in to keep that from happening by contributing $26,000 a year. That's not much, but it will keep some people employed in addition to keeping crime down and a portion of our economy from being hurt. The county will get some or all that money back in taxes from businesses that continue to do well because of the park.

Please, SardonicVeracity and anyone else, when you post your opinion here, say why you think your opinion is valid. Without support, your opinion means nothing, in fact, less than nothing because you appear to be not very bright.

#1.1.1.1 Anonymous on 02/06/12 at 02:50 AM [Reply]

The "crime" they are trying to stop is marijuana smoking. That "crime" isn't hurting anyone. People have been smoking marijuana at Watson Mill for decades, before and after it was a state park, and they will continue to do so with or without wasting tens of thousands of tax dollars. So save the money and spend it on necessities like a new patrol car or ambulance, not frivolities at the Watson Mill recreation area.

#1.1.1.2 Ben Had on 02/06/12 at 03:56 AM [Reply]

Although the $26,000 does not seem to be much money,and really it isn't, the fact is that it is money we do not have.

We do not take in enough taxes to cover our debts as it is. That's even before Watson Mill is re-classified meaning it will surely contribute less than it does now.

$30,000+ for ariel pictures, $26,000 for this park, the list goes on. We keep adding debt to a budget that is already projected to be in the red. Is that really okay?

Oh, and please don't run SV away, he's very bright, and a worthy adversary. He'll probably be back to prove my point shortly.

#1.1.1.3 SardonicVeracity on 02/06/12 at 10:43 PM [Reply]

Ms K, I believe that you did not carefully read my comment.

"If" the last paragraph is true and the park is so vital to the county's economy and not just the county's commissioners posturing in an attempt to retain an accustomed slice of the financial tax-pie, then, you can NOT afford to NOT do this.

The reason that ai did not elaborate further on my opinion, is... I thought it was obvious that I was rebutting the first poster.

For future reference, my opinion is valid because I am awesome. If I were working on a research project here, I would footnote.

My opinion always means something ...with or without supporting statements....who are you?

I'm sorry that I confused you with the double negative.

#1.1.1.3.1 MC on 02/07/12 at 06:10 PM [Reply]

Do not debate or worry about Ms. K views.

#1.1.1.3.1.1 Virginia Moss on 02/07/12 at 07:19 PM [Reply]

Why?

#1.1.1.3.1.1.1 MC on 02/08/12 at 11:22 AM [Reply]

Some persons you just can not reason with is why.

#1.1.1.3.1.1.1.1 Virginia Moss on 02/09/12 at 01:01 PM [Reply]

You could give it a try, then others could see how well you present reason and you might change other readers' minds. This board is about more than the individuals posting so remember that you are addressing everyone, not just a specific poster. Actually, you should be addressing the comment or opinion, not the person.

#1.1.1.3.2 Ms.K on 02/09/12 at 01:18 PM [Reply]

Well, it appears that, like Toni's long post, Madison Journal Online ate my appology earlier this week; highly annoying after one makes the effort to craft one's commentary.

While it did not confuse me, I did fail to take note of your double negative. Worse, I suspect it was out of assumption, which is embarassing. Please accept my aplogies for expecting your post to fall in line with others here that caused my assumption. I don't usually pay attention to who is posting, but perhaps I should in order to weed out the useless contributions. I will look forward to your thoughtful and reasoned contributions in the future.

#1.2 Ms.K on 02/04/12 at 03:27 PM [Reply]

Please, anonymous, say why we cannot afford this if you are so passionate about this issue that you would yell at the reader. Yelling LOUDER convinces no one of the validity and truth of your opinion. It only makes you appear ignorant.

#2 Ben Had on 02/04/12 at 06:37 PM [Reply]

Am I supposed to feel good about taxes being spent so the two gas stations in Comer can sale gas to folks pulling horse trailers, and Ingles can sale a few more groceries?
Let the merchants that benefit from it,pay for it.
Does the county police patrol in this area? I seem to recall them making arrest there recently. I feel safe.

Special Interest = alive and well.
Commissioners = Republicrats. All of them.

#2.1 MC on 02/06/12 at 02:37 PM [Reply]

Pethel had supporter on that petition drive that is a Democrat : my view some politicians note they are Republican to get elected when in reality they are Democratic. I think the entire lot in Washington and BOC need to go and new people need in office.

#2.1.1 Ms.K on 02/07/12 at 07:09 PM [Reply]

Something needs to change. When so many voters think like sheeple, who can blame politicians for making a move to ensure that the people they represent have more power than they would under a different label. If a politician wants to win, and the majority of voters have been brainwashed to blindly vote one way, then they select that label, even though that politician will do what is best for those voters. The more local politics is, the less parties matter so this strategy not only makes sense, but gets the people what they need.

Add Comment

Name
Email
Homepage
In reply to
Comment: E-Mail addresses will not be displayed and will only be used for E-Mail notifications.

To prevent automated Bots from commentspamming, please enter the string you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly.

Enter the string from the spam-prevention image above:
Phone*

What is two plus six?
: Remember Information? Subscribe to this entry
: Submitted comments will be subject to moderation before being displayed.

Community

Madison Community

Negotiations continue on Watson Mill

MadisonJournalTODAY

Negotiations continue on Watson Mill

Recent Stories

Recent Comments

Sister Sites

Archives

Community

Keyword Tags