Columbus Residents And City Leaders Come Together To Discuss Improving The Community

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Finding ways to improve neighborhoods and make them safer for residents, that was the goal during a community meeting in Ward 2 Thursday night.

The meeting was called by Ward 2 councilman Joseph Mickens.

The councilman said he wanted to hear from his constituents about some of their biggest needs and problems they believe are plaguing the community.

Some of those concerns include a lack of communication with city leaders and finding more recreational activities for the city’s youth.

Residents suggest implementing a playground for the kids to play on, as well as forming more youth league sporting events to give kids something to do.

Mickens said now that he’s heard from residents, he will take all of the ideas and suggestions from the meeting and bring it before the city council to discuss ways make these changes come to fruition.

“My biggest concern is that our children become fruitful and productive citizens, and in doing that they have to have opportunities to do so,” said Francine Jones, a concerned resident who was at the meeting. “For instance, we need to have opportunities for employment in the summer, especially internships for our children who are making the transition from high school into college, or even prior to that, and we need to have our local businesses partnering with us so that we can have those varied opportunities.”

“Each ward has different needs, so what we addressed tonight was the need of this particular ward,” said Columbus Police Chief Fred Shelton. “One of the things they wanted from the city and police department is they wanted more communication and we are going to give them that. We identified some issues that they have and we are going to bring in the people that can address the issues and get them to address them issues.”

This is the first meeting since the city council decided to suspend Sergeant Alexander for 30 calendar days after being pulled over by Starkville Police on the suspicion of DUI.

When WCBI asked Chief Shelton about the incident, he said he couldn’t give a comment because it’s a personnel matter.

City leaders plan to have another follow up meeting sometime next month..