Itta Bena’s Board of Aldermen is so far withholding permission for a Juneteenth event to be held at its downtown park, causing a stir among organizers and scrutiny of a recently established ordinance.
In a long and heated debate Tuesday, Charlotte Carpenter, who lives just outside Itta Bena in the county, made the case for the Juneteenth celebration she has held for the past three years in the downtown park, to be held there again this year. Carpenter came to the board to secure the board’s permission and to ask that the city of Itta Bena chip in the cost of providing portable toilets.
Carpenter provided a list of entities that have already offered support of the June 23 event, including the Leflore County Board of Supervisors and the Greenwood Convention and Visitors Bureau. She said invitations have gone out to a culinary school in Memphis that will provide barbecue, to the Army National Guard and to numerous other groups both in and outside the county, including musical groups and citizens to be awarded special honors.
Juneteenth commemorates the June 19, 1865, announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas, and more generally the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans throughout the former Confederacy. The celebration, Carpenter explained, is a significant part of African-American history.
Alderwoman Mildred Miller informed Carpenter that the board had recently made a decision that no more community events may be held in that park, with the exception of the Itta Bena Community Women’s Club’s annual Octoberfest.
A debate ensued over why one event should have precedence over all others. The board failed to explain why, except to say that Octoberfest is an event by and for the people of Itta Bena. Miller pointed out that Carpenter doesn’t live inside the Itta Bena city limits and asked her what she has ever done for the people of Itta Bena.
Carpenter pointed out that in addition to financing a large portion of the cost of this event and organizing it in years past, she has regularly offered personal support to numerous citizens.
Alderwoman Johnnie Riley said the board’s decision wasn’t personal, but that once it has set policy, it cannot back down.
City Attorney Willie Perkins suggested that the board schedule a special call meeting to decide the matter, indicating that putting a decision off until the next regular board meeting would, in effect, be denying permission to Carpenter.
Miller indicated that the decision to stop having events at the downtown park stemmed from previous problems with trash left behind.
A special call meeting will be held next Monday to further discuss the downtown park policy and whether an exception can be made for Juneteenth.
In other business:
•Shane Correro of Willis Engineering told the board that two projects stemming from grants received in the last year have been bid on and are ready to move forward with the board’s approval.
The board approved a contract for $150,000 with Jackson’s Garrett Enterprises to re-do the shop area of Itta Bena’s public works building, and a $450,000 contract with Brookhaven company Greenbrier to fix five pumping stations, upgrading the town’s sewage system.
•Contact Kathryn Eastburn at 581-7235 or keastburn@gwcommonwealth.com.
