Northcutt wants pocket change to make a change
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?I think we should use the money for a charitable reason,? said Ruby Northcutt, who, along with her husband, donated the fountain to the city. ?I would like to see the change make a change in someone?s life.?
Since the fountain has been downtown, visitors have been making wishes and tossing change into the water. Occasionally, the fountain is cleaned and the change is removed by the Parks and Recreation Department.
Although nothing has been officially decided regarding the change, city officials see the money as being used for fountain upkeep.
?The fountain is not a budgeted item,? said Mayor Royce Davenport. ?As people throw money into the fountain they are helping to support the fountain, but we can consider this idea too.?
The request was made to the board at its regular session during the recognition of visitors part of the meeting. At this time, visitors are allowed five minutes to address the board with concerns or ideas they have regarding the city.
?This is one of the things we like to see when it comes to comments,? said Davenport. ?We want new ideas, fresh ideas, things we have never thought of. Thank you for the proposal.?
Included in her proposal, Northcutt suggested a Fountain Fund account be established to collect and store the change until it is donated to a worthy cause. ?If it?s not a burden on the city,? said Northcutt.
Northcutt believes other communities have established a fund from their fountain?s change. Serious consideration of the idea came after Northcutt witnessed small children placing their change into the fountain.
?I just thought that something wonderful should come from this,? said Northcutt. ?I think this could be great community-wide. When you know you are making a wish that could help someone else, that just makes you feel good.?
Included in her idea expressed to the board, Northcutt had these suggestions:
? Let the money from the fountain be collected by a designated city employee or volunteer. Determine a specific time each week for the money to be removed.
? Establish a fund in a local bank and allow the fund to grow to a preset amount in order to draw reasonable interest from one to three years, depending on the rate the money could collect. When the amount reaches a specified level, the money could be donated to the chosen individual(s) or humanitarian organization in order to meet the need.
? If needed, a committee of volunteers could be created to monitor funds and make decisions according to needs for withdrawals from the fund. The committee could establish criteria for organizations or individuals that benefit from the fund, establish a maximum amount of money that can be given and establish an initial fundraiser and create public awareness with an event to inform the public about the use of the money.
? Allow the concept to be a part of all activities downtown.