Itta Bena is making progress toward adding a farmers market this summer.
Marven Cantave, an agent with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, returned to the city’s Board of Aldermen on Tuesday to provide more information about the project.
In March, the board approved the construction of a community garden, which will be done through the Advancing, Inspiring, Motivating for Community Health through Extension (AIM for CHangE) program in partnership with the Mississippi State University Extension Service.
The group has been active in the city with beautification projects and also approached the Leflore County Board of Supervisors earlier this month to offer its services.
Right: Marven Cantave, an agent with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, explains to the Itta Bena Board of Aldermen the next step of the community garden project: a Saturday farmers market. (Adam Bakst)
When the Board of Aldermen approved the garden, there was also discussion of expanding into a community garden. Now that the garden has a location behind Itta Bena City Hall, Cantave said he is working on the next step of the project: a city market that would sell food from the garden as well as items from local vendors.
Cantave said he has been talking with Beth Stevens, who co-manages the Downtown Greenwood Farmers Market with her husband, Glen.
“She’s going to guide us in terms of operation, so once we get all our volunteers and vendors in place, we’ll have him and her shadow them — learn the ropes from Greenwood so they have a good system in place here,” he said.
Cantave said he would like the Itta Bena market to be open on Saturday afternoons after Greenwood’s Saturday morning market, so that vendors can go to both.
Ideally, he said, he’d like to start the market in mid-July.
The board approved the market unanimously with two stipulations. First, the board’s attorney, Carlos Palmer, will review issues regarding insurance liability. Second, all further decisions are to come after the June 8 municipal elections.
Itta Bena parks, including the downtown park where the market is to be located, are still closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The current board said the incoming board will have to decide whether the parks can reopen in time for a mid-July start of the farmers market.
In other business:
- The board discussed whether absentee ballots are to be dropped off at City Hall.
Currently, City Hall does not have a licensed notary. Alderwoman-at-large Mildred Miller said it was her understanding that a notary had to be present in order to legitimize the ballots.
After a lengthy discussion, a review of the Mississippi secretary of state’s protocol and a call to Leflore County Circuit Clerk Elmus Stockstill, it was determined that City Hall clerks hold authority within the city, that they can accept the ballots and that ballots would be counted fairly.
- The board went into executive session for “consideration of disciplinary action against a city employee,” Palmer said. No action was taken.
- Contact Adam Bakst at 581-7233 or abakst@gwcommonwealth.com. On Twitter at @AdamBakst_GWCW.
