Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Services Nonprofit Buildings topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
West Texas Community Mediation Center defends deed use of PolyMays Annex, offers building to local nonprofits and donates $5,000 to senior group
Summary
Danette Ross Watson, executive director of the West Texas Community Mediation Center, told the Big Spring City Council during public comment that the center remains in compliance with the deed for the PolyMays Annex and will ensure the building remains in nonprofit hands.
Danette Ross Watson, executive director of the West Texas Community Mediation Center, told the Big Spring City Council during public comment that the center remains in compliance with the deed for the PolyMays Annex and will ensure the building remains in nonprofit hands. "I promise you, as long as I'm living and breathing, I will make sure that that building only goes to a nonprofit organization and that they stay in compliance with the deed," Watson said.
Watson read language from the deed into the record saying the transfer requires the grantee to be a nonprofit and that the property be used "in a manner that primarily promotes mediation, mediation related activity, and community relations." She said the center renovated the building with donations from local partners and that donors expected the site to remain a long-term community resource.
Watson introduced two local nonprofit leaders who she said will assume operations at the end of the year: Becky Letts, who described her work with the Howard County Senior organization and said the group provides monthly food boxes and sponsors social programs; and Jewel Claiborne, founder and executive director of the Youth Leadership Center, who outlined a multi-grade mentoring program she called the "journey to leadership," which begins in fifth grade and includes mentor matches, free week-long camps and internship opportunities.
Watson also announced the West Texas Community Mediation Center had donated $5,000 to the Howard County Senior organization to help its operations for the coming year.
Mayor and council members asked that any formal transfer of operations or property be submitted in writing as a proposal so the council can place it on a future agenda. City staff confirmed that the council would not act on any transfer that night because it was not on the agenda.
The public comment closed after the introductions and donation announcement; council members thanked Watson, Claiborne and Letts for their presentations.
