McComb’s recreation department could bring youth football back to its portfolio soon.
Mississippi Ravens coach L.B. Butler proposed bringing those teams, with age divisions 6-8, 9-10, and 11-12, under the city’s umbrella to keep them going.
“I’m getting old, and I won’t be doing this much longer,” Butler told city board members at Tuesday’s work session.
The Ravens grew out of the former Ironhorse football organization, as did the Southern Mississippi Titans, also based in McComb.
Butler said each of the Ravens teams usually has about 30 players, meaning about 90 area youths could get to keep playing football if the rec department takes over, or even more players if enough sign up to divide into additional teams.
Recreation Director Ron Kessler supported the idea of bringing the Ravens into the department, though he noted there would be some expense involved in getting helmets, pads and jerseys. He said the department’s special revenues account could help cover those expenses.
The board will consider that request Tuesday during the regular board meeting, as well as a request for use of the MLK Center for a summer camp.
Clinnesha Sibley of Southwest Mississippi Multiplex for Early Innovative Intervention Studies requested use of part of the MLK Center for free to launch her organization’s “creative camp,” which would focus on art, leadership and entrepreneurship.
Each registered child would be assigned a mentor and then work on an individual project based on the child’s strengths and interests.
Sibley said the program might eventually be expanded into a year-round after-school program with special summer activities.
Selectman Ted Tullos asked about the legality of allowing free use of the MLK Center, and board attorney Angela Cockerham, participating in the work session by phone, said she wanted to discuss liability issues with Sibley.
In other business, the board considered:
• Renewing a copier rental agreement for Fire Station No. 4.
• Ratifying travel expenses for several officials who attended a Scenic Rivers Development Alliance meeting in Meadville.
• Approving travel for City Clerk Servia Fortenberry and Deputy Clerk Nacole Garner to the International Institute of Municipal Clerks conference in Birmingham, Ala.
• Paying the sheriff’s department $11,059 for housing city inmates in December.
• Donating to the Pike County Mississippi Scholars and Tech Masters program.
• Paying Griner Drilling Service $319,726 for the Well No. 5 project, $8,121 to Neel-Schaffer engineering firm for the Railroad Boulevard improvement project and $103,070 to Webster Electric on the Railroad Boulevard project.
• Ratifying approval of permission for C Spire to install fiber optic cable to the Medical Arts building.
• Approving a utility easement for McComb Renal Construction.
• Starting quarterly department head evaluations.
