I am very concerned and disappointed in the Alderman of Ward 1 who both seek persistently agendas that are not related to their particular ward. They like all other alderman have to reason on issues that effect the general populace but they never address, nor they seek viable & eligible Faith Base & Community Base Non-Profit Organizations nor the new influx of upper-middle income entities into Ward One of the wide variety of resources available via State, Federal, Public/Private Philanthropies for the development and re-development of that second & third world condition Ward of Monticello, AR. That ward had the distinction during the Jordan & West Administrations of having the best/HUD up-to-date housing of any rural community in the Lower Mississippi Delta & Mid-South. A ward that had concerned and determined alderman such as David Anderson and Wayne Lawson who worked to make sure that all aspects of the ward were addressed and maintained to standards which were a primary initiative of the Jordan Administration and a carry over into the West Administration & there has not been any major development in that Ward since the Jordan Administration. To date, the Alderman have not sought through there respective Ward Citizens, Community Base and or Faith Base(Church)Non-Profits State/Federal entities nor apparently with the City Hall to secure available community health Centers, multicultural enrichment centers that Faith and Community Base Non-Profit CDC’s who could have applied and secured funding for programs and enrichment initiatives for Children(Preschooler), Children(Grades 1-5) Adolescents(Grades 6-12 the entity no one seeks assistance and the most need) Adults(/ages 18-50) and Seniors. Jordan Park once a thriving programmatic social enrichment center where Youth, Adults & Seniors gathered for wholesome athletic and cultural enrichment programs is now all but abandoned and there is the Initiative to rebuild a 600 thousand dollar facility with no pre-funded enrichment program for any mentioned group to give justification/validity for expenditure on such facility with public funds other than a meeting and gathering place, which is not practical with all of the available public and private facilities readily available.
The University of Arkansas School of custom Designs 10 year study for the Whaley Property in Ward 2 is justifiable and this present Monticello Administration is in agreement, a comprehensive Senior condominium Complex with Wellness & amenities of commercial development will enhance that Historic district and preserve the cultural realm and enhancement of the city. Ward 1 will be a problem to secure any Presidential community reinvestment Act funds for this Monticello community unless the Initiative by those whom are elected are solely consecrated on the development and re-development of that particular Ward for programmatic and facilities for children, Youth, Adolescents, Adults and Seniors.
The Alderman have a distinct opportunity during this Presidential Administration to assist in making a difference in their ward with the administrations Fatherhood, Health & Human Services, Dept. of Justice, HUD/USDA & WHITE HOUSE massive funded program initiative. in addition what we at World Link of Churches & Ministries vision as a long term development that will transform this once promising and prosperous Ward into a value component with Wards 2& 4 of the city and will be the long term Initiative for revitalization of that once prominent Ward.
Finally, If Ward One Alderman are not interested in focusing own and even making initiatives to personally develop or even relocate their initiatives there in a variety of available locales then the Ward needs to seriously seek entities who will represent it and seek outside the box of city hall and in cooperation with City Hall Federal, State, Public/Private entities who will take this new and innovative groups of retirees and probable investors in Ward one and develop and re-develop this Ward in conjunction/cooperation with City Hall. Granted the opportunity and cooperation SetFree Ministries Inc. & World Link of Churches and Ministries Inc. whose Research and Development Office is located here will work to achieve that agenda.
Bishop Sam Wherry
Research/Development Analyst, World Link of Churches & Ministries