The topic of the MRA land swap proposal was once again introduced to the City Council for discussion and some sort of definitive action. As I sat listening to the public and the different council members, I couldn’t help but somewhat wistfully wish that MRA stood for Merchants Retail Association. After all, what is there controversial in that? But… Motorcycle Riders Association? There’s more than a pink elephant in that moniker. There’s enough to go from pink to purple…at least for some people…and purple leads to anger and mistrust. In addition, where large sums of money are involved, trust, or lack of it, can become a major issue. Because this came up during the council session, and though Jeff Alvis attempted to explain the method wherein money from any sale would be accounted for, I think it bears further discussion…especially because it leads to other considerations.

First, the total money from the sale would not go into the General Fund. The best way to control its use, together with the surest form of transparency, would be to create a new fund…call it a Capital Transaction Fund since any sale money may only be used for capital purchases, capital asset repairs, or capital asset reconstruction. Example: If HARC were to ask the City Council for historical building repair funding for a given building, that would be an appropriate charge against this fund.

Second, and equally as important, the money would better serve the city when used as seed money for matching grants. A ten-percent match against a $180,000 grant funded the recently acquired sweeper. Using the proposed figure of $850,000 in cash from the land sale, and a more conservative factor of twenty-percent, the net result would create an effective use of the fund of more than $4,000,000. In anyone’s book that is a lot of money… money that can be used to:

Remove the hazard of the dam. This will have to be done with or without any sale transaction.

Build a real community center…one for all ages, all groups, and diverse communal cultural, social, and business activities. We already have Britt. With this we can grow into a true cultural center for the enjoyment of all citizens.

Historic preservation projects. Our brick and mortar downtown exteriors are crumbling. Recently, Dave Mills’ wife was almost killed by a falling brick. These buildings are the heart and soul of Jacksonville. They need attention. Now!

Earthquake retrofitting in the downtown core center. The need for this is self-apparent.

The above enumerates only some of the possible uses for this fund. However, let me address just one of them…the community center. Robertson Collins gave us the gift of an historic landmark status whereby the city body, or structure, was protected in a way that would insure its continuity, or presence, in future years…but what about its character…how would that develop? How would citizens know one another…not just as neighbors across the street but in a manner where they shared their lives with each other…where groups with diverse interests and assorted ages would interact. Properly designed, a community center provides all of this. It becomes the focal point for each citizen within the city. It brings the citizens together! It is their presence that helps define the soul of the city.

The list of activities or uses is as endless as one’s imagination. Music recitals, dance classes, small orchestra concerts, weddings, community service groups including the Boosters, JOBA, the Chamber, and the Garden Club, lectures/workshops, theater, group meetings and luncheons, business conferences, senior activities, a permanent home for the quilters…the list goes on. With seed money for matching grants, all this is within our reach.
Now there’s a legacy for the future!