Mary Young, former mayor of Kilmichael, addressed the Kilmichael Board of Aldermen during their meeting Tuesday night. Young previously addressed the board at their June meeting after Mayor Bobby Howell told the board about a potential drug and alcohol rehabilitation coming to Kilmichael.
Young wanted to know why the directors of the rehabilitation center could get in touch with Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School Superintendent Teresa Jackson, but she has been unable to reach Jackson herself.
“This is about education and bringing education back to our community,” Young said.
She said she wouldn’t disclose who was included in “we” or the plans her group had for the former Montgomery County Elementary School building, which she informed the board last month that her group wanted to re-open in some capacity for education.
“I’m not going to tell what we’re doing because every time we are blocked,” she said.
Young added the group is trying to get the elementary school registered as a historical building. Young also said she’s attempted to get a walk-through of the school, but no one will return their calls.
Young also said that she didn’t feel that the Kilmichael Board of Aldermen should have thrown their support behind God’s House of Hope, a six to eight month Christian Discipleship Training program for people with drug, alcohol, or emotional issues, according to their Facebook page, coming to Kilmichael. She felt that the board should have denied it and gave them a chance to present their idea as well.
“It’s not our decision because it’s not our building, there’s nothing we can do about it,” Howell said.
Young went on to ask since the building didn’t belong to Kilmichael, she wondered why she had to get “permission” from the board and why she had to speak to the board about the matter.
“Well, you don’t,” Howell said. “It’s not our building.”
After Young spoke, Josh Hadet and Kerri Varnes spoke to the board. Hadet thanked the board for their contribution and told them they were not asking for an increase in their budget. Varnes then told of the progress of the Kilmichael Library.
She said the Friends of the Kilmichael Library were a big help, especially financially when she needed something the ladies are there to help her.
The board commended Varnes on the job that she’s doing at the library.
