Sunny South neighborhood residents and other concerned citizens gathered Saturday afternoon to organize a neighborhood association to address problem areas like drainage, crime and uncut lots.

About 30 people attended the meeting hosted at B-B-Q Express by owners Herbert and Patrice White.

COURTNEY CASE/News Messenger (ENLARGE)

City Commissioner Zephaniah Timmons discusses the issues facing the Sunny South neighboorhood Friday at B-B-Q Express.

"Basically, the community is falling apart. The trees are growing over, and the lights aren't maintained, and when they tear down these houses, they leave them laying," said White. "In all the other neighborhoods, they pick them right up."

City officials also turned out to show support.

"To get something you never had, you must do some things you have never done," said District 2 Commissioner Zephaniah Timmins, who encouraged attendees to not dwell on the way problems were handled in the past.

"We'll just worry about what's happening here today and looking forward," he said.

Timmins and Mayor William "Buddy" Power are helping citizens establish the association using personal resources and established practices for organizing residents.

"We have so much going on in our neighborhood these days, and the only way we can pick the neighborhood up is to do it ourselves," said Timmins.

"We have crime in the neighborhood, and if we don't report it, who is going to report it?" he asked. "The only way trouble makers will leave is if we get rid of them."

Two Marshall Police officers attended the meeting, and anecdotes were shared about the positive police influence on Atkins Boulevard.

Timmins and others who have seen Sunny South change over the years noted its historical significance, recalling streets with name changes and historic church buildings.

Church leaders are also expected to play an important role in the development of the neighborhood association and whether it thrives to fulfill its goals.

"If the pastors don't say get involved, people won't get involved," said Timmins.

Galilee Baptist Church will host the next meeting at 6 p.m. Nov. 17. Those forming the new association were also encouraged to attend the New Town Neighborhood Association meeting at 6 p.m. Nov. 10, at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church to have a better understanding of its structure.

City funds for improvements to the downtown area were also defended.

"Downtown is important as well. Downtown is the heart of the city," said Timmins. "We are the vein. If the heart dies, the city dies. We cannot let any part of it die."

His opening also included a passionate plea for volunteers to recruit others to take an interest in the neighborhood association and to "get people involved with the improvements."

Power outlined needed procedures for starting the association, like how to form a non-profit corporation and get a tax number for 501(c)3 status.

Once the association has been formed, they may also seek out funding from the Texas Historical Commission as well as other government agencies.

"How can you fail with the whole city behind you, unless you do nothing," asked Power, who opened with a reminder that doing nothing contributes to the problem.

He also distributed papers with blank spaces to be filled with issues facing the neighborhood. On either side of each issue, a concerned resident will also be able to place the order of importance and the project difficulty or amount of time they expect it will need.

One survey had already been returned by Barbara Alexander, who noted changes or improvements were needed for drainage, trash dumping, street repair, lighting repair, activities or sports for youth and adding a baseball or softball team.

"It's paramount that we get to doing things," said Power. "At the next meeting, we need to begin electing officers and establishing group captains and block captains."

Many others who attended the meeting were excitedly vocal about the changes they hoped to see and had to be reminded that those reasons were the cause for forming the association.

"If we can get all together in the neighborhood, we can get it straightened out," said White, who hopes clearing overgrown lots is an early priority, especially to prevent vehicle accidents with pedestrians and bicycle riders.

White is also disconcerted with drainage near his business, as water pools along the street.

"The water just stops right here in the road. I was raised here in the neighborhood, and I know what the drainage could be again. I know the way it was," said White.

White is concerned that people find the area rough and scary, which harms his restaurant in the heart of the neighborhood.