Lived in Monticello most of my life, went A&M and have lived in either
Cleveland or New Concord since college.

Local adjacent town (Cambridge, OH) received couple of million in a will that
stipulated local population must match the willed funds within a period of
time. Then the combination of those funds would build an a community
center similiar to what is being discussed here.

Initial discussions where just like these, most doubting the need and
how to fund continuing operation.

I was in that group of thinking.

Surpisingly it has been a success.

This center as been used for everthing imaginable. gun shows, dog shows,
Chamber of Commernce sponsored events, local plays, high school graduations, weddings, government conferences
and more.

The center has made the town the place for events within a 30-50
radius.

Every weekend and most weekedays have lots of cars in parking lot
and events on the sign in front.

I don’t recall many weekends when parking lot did not have many cars in it.

mileseven more of a commerce and leadership
of this area. Just as Monticello with it’s college already is.

I would suggest you follow up with our center Pritchard Laughlin Center
in Cambridge, Ohio for more information.

Monticello is fortunate visionaries in past did what it required to
get the college. Everyone living in Monticello has received the
dividends of those people.

I grew up in a college town, live in a college town now, will be moving
to another college town this spring. Best living there is!

Good luck and I am proud Monticello is still leading the progress
in Southeastern Arkansas.

John Hunter

Thank you so much for making this forum available to the citizens of Monticello. I was born and raised in Southeast Arknsas and Monticello has been my home for 14 years. I have been a volunteer in the community and held employment positions that have allowed me to be very informed of political, social, and economic issues.

Reading through the posts on your site, I am reminded of how easily citizens can be mislead by morsils of truth mixed into a dough of misunderstanding. If I can offer one plea to all who read this post, it is to become involved! Attend public meetings as often as you can. Volunteer your time and talents liberally. Don’t make the mistake of snap-judgement. Do the research and use your intelligence. If you don’t agree with decisions made by our local leadership, your communication to them through the open forum of their respective meetings or personal visits with them allows you to ask questions and share views in a possitive manner.

Too often I am faced with the challenge of defending Southeast Arkansas and the delta to my peers. I always stand firm and say “We may not be perfect, but our region is full of intelligent, hard-working people who are busting their butts to make a difference.” Yes, we have made mistakes in the past. But, we will do better.

To everyone I issue this challenge: Remember that we are “One nation under God” PRAY! and VOTE!

If your vote is not guided by prayer you are not utilizing all your resources to make the right choice. If you are not voting, you are giving away your choice!

Thank you…

TOUGH TIMES AHEAD FOR CONVENTION CENTER
http://pbcommercial.com/articles/2002/04/13/news/export19559.txt

CONVENTION CENTER SEES $140,000 LOSS
http://pbcommercial.com/articles/2003/08/26/news/export23009.txt

CONVENTION CENTER STRUGGLES TO REPAIR WITHOUT STATE FUNDS
http://pbcommercial.com/articles/2005/07/16/news/news1.txt

CONVENTION CENTER NEEDS LOAN TO REPAIR ROOF
http://pbcommercial.com/articles/2006/01/20/news/news1.txt

BOND ISSUE OK’D FOR PINE BLUFF CONVENTION CENTER AIR SYSTEM
http://pbcommercial.com/articles/2003/05/19/news/export24454.txt

PB CITY COUNCIL TO HIGHLIGHT CONVENTION CENTER ISSUES
http://pbcommercial.com/articles/2002/04/13/news/export19562.txt

CENTER’S WALLET GETTING THINNER
http://pbcommercial.com/articles/2006/05/01/news/news2.txt

HOTEL EXECUTIVE BLAMES LACK OF (CONVENTION CENTER) BOOKINGS
http://pbcommercial.com/articles/2003/07/25/news/export23836.txt

No disrespect intended, but you have misunderstood my point entirely. I originally brought up the alcohol policies simply to counter the notion (which kept being stated) that Monticello is peopled by “progressives.” If there were progressive officials in Monticello, at least as that term is normally understood, the restrictions on the sale of alcohol would be repealed. This was a minor point. Your point about the tax structure is certainly a bigger reason why industry avoids moving to our city. Companies certainly don’t make decisions based on the availability of liquor stores, but I believe they do favor an environment that is “open” to progress versus one that looks oppressive socially or financially - like ours.

No one has yet argued against the idea that allowing the sale of alcohol and taxing it heavily would not be a good idea to combat both of these issues. The taxation would ensure that we are not overrun by “liquor stores,” but the sales would generate tax money which could then alleviate other current tax burdens. Until I hear a sound economic argument against this proposition, I will continue to believe that opinions against it stem mainly from repressive moral sentiment rather than sound economic judgments.

This does underscore the need to have an economic development fund that can be used in situations like that. It also underscores another point, that often, prospects are looking at our community anonymously and what they see can determine if they want to be a part of it or go on to the next community that has more to offer with regard to quality of life. And that is before incentives are even discussed. There are many communities that have more to offer than we do. More later.
Ron Echols

As for a convention center attracting industry, I don’t think that is what I would be looking for if I were considering locating a plant here. I don’t claim to have the answers as to how to attract industry but I do believe that our tax structure is a detriment. A sales or use tax at about 10 percent is prohibitive, not only to any business operations, but also to the owners and/or employees that might locate here. Add on to that a seven percent income tax and sky high property taxes, we have a tax structure that is not attractive to outsiders.

Just my opinion.

Edited: We’ve allowed this comment only to show that the person is now trying to find other IP addresses from which to comment since we’ve isolated his previous ones. It’s not that we don’t allow opposing viewpoints, it’s that we will not tolerate mean, malicious and defamatory talk directed at others, especially when it is anonymous. Anonymous posting is fine when it is done with sincere intentions to contribute in a helpful way to the ongoing conversation or discussion, not when it is used to cowardly demean others or their views… MLive