With relatively little discussion, the Greensboro City Council signed off on $200 million in bonds that will go the November ballot.
Which isn’t to say there wasn’t any discussion. In fact, Council member Mike Barber and City Manager Mitchell Johnson got a little testy whith each other during discussion of the $20 million parks and rec bond. Barber wants a 50-meter swimming pool (don’t call it a natatorium) on the bond, and he was frustrated at the two sets of numbers staff provided. One said the pool would cost $10 million, another said it would cost $20 million.
The difference, Johnson said, was whether or not Barber wanted a “pool” or a first-class swimming facility that the city could leverage as an economic development tool by hosting region-wide tournaments. A mere $10 mil wouldn’t get you that, Johnson told Barber.
But Barber also used the issue to vent his frustration over the lack of organization, information and serious discussion directing this bond package. Barber pretty much confirmed the Rhino’s version of briefing session where, according to John Hammer, it was “shocking how little the City Council knows about the bonds and how little the staff wants to tell them.”
Fighting Barber all the way were fellow members Goldie Wells, who asked sarcastically if “we need to stay here until we equal time to money,” and Dianne Bellamy-Small, who quickly moved each bond and outwardly showed her frustration when her motion to call the question on the parks and rec bond was ignored.
Something to think about.
