3
Official Minutes
BOARD OF HONOR
Meeting
July 15, 2015
Members Present: Mr. Milton Hirsch
Mr. Bob Hydrick
Mr. Billy Watson
Mr. John Wells
Members Absent: Ms. Beth Harris
Judge Bobby Peters
Mr. Robert Poydasheff
Citizens Present: Mrs. Cathy Thomas
Mr. Mike Thomas
Mr. Joel Lewis
Mr. Ronzell Buckner
The quarterly meeting of the Board of Honor was called to order at 3:05
p.m. in the Ground Floor Conference Room, at the Government Center. During
this meeting the board discussed four items and their recommendations are as
follows:
1. Request submitted by the Canaan Baptist Church, voted on as a referral from
Council, requesting an honorary street sign be placed on Branton Woods Drive in
honor of Reverend Dr. J. Harold Carter. (Delayed item.)
A motion was made by Mr. Wells to approve the honorary designation. The motion
was seconded by Mr. Watson, and carried unanimously by those four members
present.
2. A referral from Councilor Evelyn Woodson, requesting the Brown Avenue Bridge
is named in honor of the Community Activist Ms. Zelma Hennessey. (Delayed item.)
Chairman Hydrick explained to the board that at the last meeting there was a
discussion on what Ms. Hennessey?s connection was to the Brown Avenue Bridge.
He said that if they were to honor Ms. Hennessey on her contribution to the
community, maybe there is a more appropriate place other than the bridge. Mr.
Wells stated he remembered marches that were held to take back the streets from
drugs. Mr. Buckner, a citizen that was present during the meeting, gave some
information on the Fight against Drugs, which Ms. Hennessey was a part of.
During the discussion Mr. Buckner stated that the area that was focused on was
Kendrick Quarters. A motion was made by Mr. Hirsch to delay this item
indefinitely, but that the board recommends to Council that consideration be
made to place a sign in the area of Kendrick Quarters in honor of Ms. Zelma
Hennessey. The motion was seconded by Mr. Watson, and carried unanimously by
those four members present.
3. Request submitted by Mr. Ronzell Buckner of Turn Around Columbus, requesting
an honorary designation of the area of Ridgon Road, Illges Road, Martin Luther
King Jr Boulevard, and 10th Street as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Outdoor
Learning Center. (Delayed item.)
Mr. Bucker explained to the board that his original request was to change the
name of Ridgon Road, Illges Road and 10th Street to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Outdoor Learning Center, but he believes that it would be more appropriate to
do this in a more honorary way by going from Macon Road to Bay Avenue. Mr.
Buckner stated that he is working with the Knight Foundation, as well as other
foundations, to install walking trails and bike trails along the Outdoor
Learning Center. These trails would connect west Columbus to northeast
Columbus, and there are 32 historical sites along this corridor that would be a
tourist attraction. Chairman Hydrick asked if he had been working with Director
Rick Jones and Will Johnson of the Planning Department on this project, to
which Mr. Buckner replied yes.
Chairman Hydrick suggests that the board recommend to the Council that this is
meritorious project that deserves serious consideration, and since it is such a
big idea, it would need to be incorporated into the overall comprehensive plan
of the city. Mr. Buckner stated that he attended a meeting with the Council on
Monday, July 13, 2015, and that the city is incorporating the Outdoor Learning
Center into the comprehensive plan with Let?s Connect. The board members
present agreed that with this information there is nothing more for the board
to agree upon since the center is part of the comprehensive plan, and that the
Learning Center should possibly be called the Martin Luther King Jr. Learning
Trail versus Learning Center to cut down on some confusion.
There was further discussion on the Council?s involvement with this project,
during which Secretary Glisson brought it to the attention of the board that
Mr. Buckner had attended a Council Meeting where he addressed Council on this
very subject on the Public Agenda. Mr. Buckner stated that the Council has
already allocated funds to improve Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and the
idea is to piggyback on those allocations. A motion was made by Mr. Watson to
express that the board supports the idea of this project, but that this item is
outside of their purview. The motion was seconded by Mr. Wells, and carried
unanimously by those four members present.
4. Request submitted by Mr. Joel Lewis, requesting that Gunboat Drive be
changed to Chastain Drive in honor of Joseph B. Chastain, MD.
Chairman Hydrick stated because of a personal relationship he had with Dr.
Chastain, he must recuse himself from the discussion on this item. During the
discussion Mr. Hirsch said that the changing of an official street name is not
under the authority of the board.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, owners of a property on Gunboat Drive, were present to
speak in opposition to the changing of the street name. Mrs. Thomas explained
to the board that there was an issue regarding the way in which they were
informed and the dates they were told to respond. Because of these issues, they
were not aware of the 1st Reading of this Ordinance, and were not able to speak
to Council.
The board came to a consensus to refer this item back to the City Council, with
a recommendation there be a second 1st Reading where the citizens in opposition
will have a chance to be heard.
With no further business to come before this board, Mr. Wells motioned to
adjourn. The motion was seconded by Chairman Hydrick, and carried unanimously
by those four members present. Meeting was then adjourned, with the time being
3:43 p.m.
____________________________________
Lindsey A. Glisson, Deputy Clerk of Council
Recording Secretary
Attachments
No attachments for this document.