8/24/26: “Good Morning, Grand opening, Good afternoon, Goodbye”
crisp blue suits and fishing vests scattered in rows
fluorescent lights blur against the crowd
seated front row amongst reporters, an augmented harmony of pencil scratching against paper
council members hunch over crinkled information packets, eyes wandering the numbers
“1.1 million transferred into the city's balanced budget for the new fiscal year”
a woman in bright stripes, eyes widen at the numbers
lips quirk into a funny little smile, and shoulders shiver excitedly across from us reporters
christmas in August came early,
eighteen feet of pine and decor
approved before december comes
for the city square
while the farmers market shines as the heart of the city—
annual festivals,
chili cook-offs,
contests and fried apple pies,
a councilwoman volunteers herself as a taste tester
and the warmth of community gets rid of the chill
behind the warmth and banter
neighbors loving neighbors
and hopefully for the small price of
five hundred fifty thousand,
perhaps seven hundred fifty thousand dollars for a
pavilion. shelter. for vendors, their goods, from the weather, for storage.
a showman in navy approaches the podium, fingers clutching paper, long steps taking up the room
AmFirst Bank opens bright and early on Thursday, waking up before 9 a.m.
then a northerner — provoking the thought of a hotel
sixteen point five million dollars
of future tense
of an indoor pool
of fresh breakfast
of an enclosed patio
of no restaurant
the city asks about five years of investment
just to see what jacksonville could become
the university approved the placement behind campus
the baseball stadium, beside the new conference center
a northern man speaking of growth in our tiny town,
of students and visitors who might finally be convinced to leave campus and see jacksonville proper
breaking ground somewhere between six months and a year, jacksonville may make room
for what it is becoming
growth means outgrowing what is already there
carolina drive is its victim. the chief of police says
close it, reroute the traffic,
make room for the hotel
public parking and university parking
the council decides on a public hearing.
what would the town like?
by the end of this meeting, us reporters are shifting anxiously.
the council memebers are somber
as the city clerk is nearing the end of her time behind the desk
this is her final meeting of papers passing hands, calling names, ordinances, motions
one last evening to survey what jacksonville decides to become
it is a good morning, grand openings, good afternoon, and goodbyes.