(Editor’s note: The following editorial published January 12 by The Grenada Star encourages participation in that city’s upcoming municipal election. It is shared here to allow readers a perspective of how we are perceived by some of our neighbors.)

For as long as some of us can remember, community leaders have predicted “Grenada is on the threshold of great progress.”

We counted some of our assets as:
• Grenada Lake — the state’s largest body of water (at summer recreation level).
• The Illinois Central Mainline between Chicago and New Orleans.
• Grenada’s location on a vital north-south Interstate highway, halfway between Memphis and Jackson, a comfortable day’s drive to New Orleans.
• Grenada’s strong industrial base.
The sad facts today are that Grenada is no longer on the threshold of great progress.
Grenada is on the doorstep of demise.

• We still have the largest lake in Mississippi, but it is far from its peak. Years ago it had two functioning marinas, two docks, and two sources of gasoline for its many boaters. Certainly, the decline of Grenada Lake is not the fault of the Grenada City Council, but, on the other hand, look what the city government of Sardis did. Sardis Lake has a thriving marina, orchestrated by the City of Sardis’ mayor and council.

• Concerning the railroad, the track is still there, albeit in rather poor condition. The City of New Orleans does not come through here any more — it has been moved to Greenwood.

The tracks themselves would be gone except for the efforts of the Grenada Economic Development District, created by the Grenada County Board of Supervisors. A rail line does not guarantee we will get a heavy industry, but not having a rail line guarantees we won’t get one.
Grenada’s railroad was saved by the Herculean efforts of EDD Director Pablo Diaz and community leaders like former Grenada Area Chamber of Commerce President Dolly Marascalco, former County Attorney Jay Gore, and others. City leaders did little, if anything, to save Grenada rail line from extinction.

• True, we are still on I-55, but so is competitor Batesville. Consistently lower gasoline prices lure Interstate travelers to Batesville, where more modern hotels and a greater selection of restaurants capture tourism revenue that could have gone into local businesses, local sales tax, and local tourism tax.

The city council is not responsible for Batesville’s gas prices, nor is it responsible for hotels built in Batesville, but if you need proof of Batesville city leadership outstripping Grenada, just get off at Interstate 55 Exit 243 and look around.

• Fortunately, strong past leadership brought good industries here, but in this day and time, we need a broader base. All industries are subject to market downturns and foreign competition. We need a broader industrial payroll mix. We need a council that will join hands with the county and the EDD to produce additional jobs from new manufacturers.

More often than not, the Grenada City Council is an impediment to progress, rather than a stimulus.

Of course, the city council is not to blame for all the problems … when Grenada Bank, a.k.a. Sunburst Bank, abandoned the city, eliminating its headquarters and scores of executive jobs, that certainly did not help.

Unfortunately, however, that loss intensified the need for stronger city leadership.

Needed leadership is not coming from the current mayor and council. The clock is ticking, if we do not turn our city around, it will soon be too late. We are dangerously near becoming that insignificant exit south of Batesville.

We need new leadership. If you think you can make a difference and help improve Grenada’s future, please fill out the paperwork and run for city council or mayor. The deadline to get on the ballot is Thursday, Feb. 4.

Help turn Grenada around before it is too late.