To the Editor:
In response to Beverly Johnson’s letter to the editor last week, I wish to clarify the events she expounded on and as an act of transparency, present the facts regarding the museum studies.
The first study for the museum was a “Need Feasibility Study.” The goal of that study was to determine among other things:
What kind of museums are in Mississippi?
Did an American Indian museum exist in Mississippi?
What was the traffic count on the Natchez Trace?
If we had a museum, what size was anticipated?
Of similar size museums in a 5 state area, what was their operating cost and visitor count?
How does tourism dollars convert to economic impact?
The current study being conducted is a “Capital Campaign Readiness Study” to determine the level of potential local financial support.
This professionally-performed study has a cost of $20,000; however, it should be acknowledged $15,000 was paid by an anonymous donor and the remaining $5,000 is being paid by the Kosciusko-Attala County Community Foundation.
No city, county or taxpayers’ dollars have been spent on this study.
I do not possess the clairvoyance to determine what people think or their motive and no one has been or ever has “yanked on my ear or tail”; therefore, I rely on their words and/or their actions. I can assure the reader that every person who has been involved in this project has one single interest—-the betterment of Kosciusko and Attala County.
Jimmy W. Cockroft, Mayor
City of Kosciusko
