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I regularly attend the meetings of the Mantachie Board of Aldermen, wherein lie some of the most interesting political confrontations in our county. Sometimes, this job can be pretty intriguing.

The town really is on the cusp of great change; or, perhaps more accurately is on the cusp of possibly being on the cusp of great change. With the giant Toyota Boshoku moving in next door, the small town has the chance to capitalize and profit on the growth it will likely bring. During a recent meeting, which you can read about in the Jan. 19 edition of The Itawamba County Times, the board entered a heated debate on whether or not to annex a portion of Fawn Grove that, in the wake of TB’s opening, has the potential to sprout a gas station or motel or small restaurant or brothel. I made that last one up. Sorry perverts. Absorbing the land is an investment — it will cost money, but it also might make money…perhaps a lot of money. Increased revenue means the town can do more for its citizens and possibly attract even more new business, which in turn brings in more revenue and so on and so on until the end of all time.

The question is, does the town even want to grow? To me, Mantachie always seemed to be the kind of place that reveled in being small; that its people clung steadfastly to the mythology of the small Southern town — quaint, quiet and quite satisfied to remain that way. Doors can be left unlocked and everybody knows your name. There’s nothing wrong with that.

But some, not all, of the board members feel that if the town does not grow it will simply stagnate. To survive, they argue, the town must grow. Others say they are happy with Mantachie remaining a small town: That’s part of its identity and charm.

Both sides, in a way, are right, putting the board in an interesting dilemma. Do they dare take that first step when they don’t even know if the destination is where they want to be? Or, should Mantachie simply sit quietly and enjoy what it is as the world changes around it? As one of mankind’s laziest humans, I can tell you there’s a lot to be said about contentment.

For certain, it will be interesting watching the ways in which that small Itawamba County town grows and changes in the coming years. Or doesn’t.