MEXICO BEACH — The Mexico Beach Citizens Advisory Board — brought together by the City Council to pitch ideas on how to utilize $600,000 in insurance money for a new City Hall, a special events area and adequate storage for city records — has met twice to get the conversation going.
During its first meeting the group established ground rules and each member provided a short opinion on how the funds, received from an insurance claim after the historic Parker House burned down in 2011, should be used.
Members of the board, which includes Gene Cline, Linda Albrecht, Gayle Putnal, Mary Lee Raulerson and former councilman Bobby Pollock, along with alternates Jerry Wallace and Carol Brittain, asked for city staff to supply a wealth of information, including a city visioning plan from 2002.
The board, which the council tasked with meeting four times over a 30-day period, will be extended if no decisions are reached by the end of the month.
New city administrator Mell Smigielski, who was appointed as staff liaison for the board, provided an update on the process during a recent City Council meeting and said much “spirited conversation” had taken place. He said it was likely the board would request an additional 30 days for discussions.
The board also said a scheduled tour of City Hall would allow members to speak with city staff to further understand their needs.
The board members “do have differing opinions and that’s what makes the world go ‘round,’ ” Smigielski said.