RAY VAN DUSEN/MONROE JOURNAL
BRAINSTORMING – Marcia Strong gives her input on how to make changes in Aberdeen while Marlin Presley, Jan and Mary-Ellen Krummrich and Marty Hansen listen during last week’s retiree town hall meeting.
ABERDEEN – Intended for retirees’ needs, a town hall meeting aimed at that demographic slid off course Nov. 19 to an overall picture of opinions to better the town for everyone.
“My reason for leaving Aberdeen when I was 24 was to make money support my family, but I came back 19 years ago after I retired. It’s my prayer and dream that we can have jobs right here in Aberdeen and in Monroe County so people wouldn’t have to drive so far for work,” said Bennie Clay, Jr., who retired from Ford Motor Company in Michigan.
Retirees present also represented Texas, Florida, Michigan and Minnesota. The favorable weather, small town charm and older homes acted as a magnet for their move to town.
“We moved here to fix up an older home, but this is where we staying. From the young people’s standpoint, I don’t think there’s a future and I think it’s going to take a generation for that to change,” said Mary-Ellen Krummrich.
A topic mentioned several times during the town hall meeting was the condition of the Aberdeen School District and how it is limiting younger families to move to town.
“You have to have the youth to make a well-rounded community adhere,” Krummrich said.
The crowd chimed in on how a better performing school system would alleviate the unemployment and crime rates. Aberdeen Visitors Bureau director Tina Robbins mentioned how the Aberdeen High School Junior ROTC program is seeking mentors to help their cadets prepare for the ASVAB test.
“Some of the cadets really want to serve in the military and the grades they make on that test may be the difference of them getting in or not. Some may need just an hour of somebody’s time,” Robbins said.
Aberdeen is among 20 certified retirement cities in the state, joining the list in 1995 when retirement cities were an emerging new industry for Mississippi.
“My wife and I have been here for eight years, but I don’t think this town takes retirees seriously. When retirees reside in a town, they’re paying the bills they’re supposed to, they shop locally and provide a major impact on the local economy,” said Marty Hansen.
Statistics from the Hometown Mississippi Living Retiree Attraction Program state that one retiree household equals the economic impact of three manufacturing jobs.
As an incentive to retirees, the first $75,000 of property value is exempt from residents 65 and older.
“After the election, some people wanted to do away with the retirement status, but these people deserve the incentive after paying property tax for so many years. So many people catered to don’t even pay property tax. Big industry may not be coming here any time soon, but we do have the potential of bringing people in with the retirement status,” said Marsha Ballard.
The city took note of the retirees’ concerns and will present suggestions to the board of aldermen. Some suggestions like historic district signage and stricter building codes are already in the works through an AVB project and the comprehensive plan currently being updated.
The next retiree town hall meeting is scheduled for Jan. 28 at 5 p.m.
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