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Bob Weaver
Two years have gone by since the Minnora Community Center became the object of
discontent, starting with local resident David Corson wanting to put a nutrition
program in the building. He filed a lawsuit, claiming breech of contract.
Since then, board member Larry Cottrell began accusing his former associate Wanda
Richards, among others, with poor management and wrongdoing. Wanda and her
supporters have fought back, a down-and-nasty fight.
Bitter personal comments have become routine, some founded on fact, but often used
to degrade or wear-out the other side.
Cottrell goes for the "jugular" in flyers he distributes to the community. The war of the
words is now customary in community meetings called by Cottrell and official board
meetings. Noticeably, local residents who attended the last community meeting,
generally do not return to the next.
Cottrell claims he represents five MCC board members, but at least two of them have
missed more than three mandatory sessions, essentially disqualifying them from
being board members. Another board seat of the five remains in contention, leaving
Cottrell and Jordan the activists in reorganizing the center.
If you have had the privilege of listening to these out-of-control diatribes, you won't
know whether to laugh or cry. The battle for control rolls on with one certainty, the
vision and purpose of the Minnora Community Center cannot continue under such
stress.
It has been a wonderful idea for southern Calhoun, and has received a great deal of
support from various groups to make it happen. I thought it was the "right" idea to
bring needed services closer to Washington and Lee District, long neglected.
In money-tight Calhoun, the MCC encouraged and embraced a health clinic, the
Calhoun Sheriff's sub-station, recreation services, a computer class, a library, some
private businesses, the CCCOA Senior Citizen's nutrition program, among other
projects.
Additionally, Calhoun EMS has brought emergency medical services closer to the
people. In the past several weeks, those services have been critical to several life
threatening situations along Route 16 south.
Who is to blame for this debacle? Undoubtedly, there is much to go around. During
several meetings I have attended, some community people have called for reason, as
the situation has worsened.
Fascinating is the notion of mis-spent energy. Talented, maybe even well-meaning
people who live by their passions, have allowed themselves to go down a destructive
path. Can you imagine what these folks could accomplish if they could get along?
After Saturday's community meeting, Larry Cottrell approached me as President of
the Calhoun Commission, suggesting in some way the situation was my fault or that I
should be held responsible. When Cottrell was a commissioner, he was a leading
supporter in organizing the Minnora Community Center.
After the commission reluctantly took ownership from the school board,
Commissioner Cottrell and others gave MCC a 99-year lease. I told Cottrell making me
responsible seemed to be a mighty stretch. The commission, unless I'm missing
something, has no legal authority.
Since Cottrell's conversation, I have been trying to think of ways to help save the
center.
Calling for reason and professionalism has not worked.
The obvious certainty, if something does not change quickly, the center will go down
the tubes. A woman at Saturday's meeting said "This is sad for the community. A
house divided cannot stand."
Hopefully, there will be a positive resolution, soon.
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