By Karen Hall

Editor

Communication problems between the Downtown Alliance and the city council were addressed at a workshop Tuesday.

"Communication is the heart of this," said councilman Steve Thomas. "What you do is wonderful, but we need a way for you all to communicate with us.

"Come see us," he continued. "Let's talk as friends and partners."

"I agree 100 percent," said councilman Robin Minor. "Not a single councilman knew about Second Saturdays (this year). It's just a communication problem. Not a single person would have objected."

Councilmen were surprised when they learned just before the first Second Saturday that the Lewisburg Downtown Alliance was proposing to close both 1st Avenue and Church Street for the day, and to paint numbers on the sidewalk to indicate placement for booths.

Mayor Barbara Woods blamed herself.

"You followed what I told you to do (last year) when I worked with you as city manager," she said.

"Yes," agreed LDA member Ken Todd. "We notified the city manager, the police department and the fire department."

In this case, acting city manager Eddie Fuller and Thomas met with LDA members to talk about Second Saturdays, and also about electrical supply on the square, but somehow the message did not get passed along to other councilmen.

"We wouldn't mind a regular forum with you guys," Todd continued. "We would love your help whenever it can be given. You get notice of our meetings and you're always welcome to attend."

"Let's start over, so everyone is on the same page," suggested Fuller.

"We'd like to get together and coordinate with other groups planning to use the square," said LDA chairman Leland Carden. "We could get together once or twice a year to plan the calendar."

Carden reported the Second Saturday on May 11 was very successful, with over 2,000 people visiting the square, and more than 20 vendors in attendance.

The provision of restrooms on the square remains a problem, but Carden said some of the businesses allowed people to use their facilities and benefitted from it. Alternatives, like using the restrooms in the courthouse or the courthouse annex, are still being investigated for the next Second Saturday, on June 8.

Some councilmen have voiced the opinion that events should be held in Rock Creek Park, where the city has made a substantial investment in infrastructure.

"Our primary purpose is to get people downtown," countered Carden. "Since we started in 2008 there's been a tremendous amount of improvement downtown. The LDA is for all business and property owners, and its primary goal is to revitalise downtown."

"Everyone wants the downtown area to be successful," agreed Minor.

Mayor-elect Jim Bingham noted that when he bought his building 30 years ago, "there wasn't much on the square."

One business on the square had objected to street closings in the past, and objected again this year. Various ways of making a friend, rather than an enemy, of this business owner were mentioned.

"We've beat this to death," exclaimed Thomas, after many minutes of discussion. "I'm ready to move on."

"We appreciate all the help we've gotten from the city," said Carden.

"We can get past all this," Bingham assured the group. "We can have that vibrant square, but we have a long way to go. Let's hook up and pull together. I appreciate the (Marshall County) Old Car Club, and I think we're going in the right direction."

The next Second Saturday, on June 8, will probably start later in the morning, and definitely end earlier, to make way for theatre-goers coming to see the "Charlotte's Web" at the Dixie.