A Beaumont City Council member has shed more light on the group’s decision against renaming the Beaumont Municipal Tennis Center in honor of the late Allison Nathan Getz.
Getz had a lifelong love for the sport, was president of 17 local organizations over her lifetime and was elected as Jefferson County Tax Assessor Collector in 2014, among other community involvement. These were included in the reasons why the tennis center should now bear her name, according to Getz’s husband and Ward II Council member Mike Getz.
The request, which was brought to the council on Nov. 21, included resolutions in support of the rename from the Southeast Texas Tennis Association and the executive board of Temple Emanuel.
During that meeting, At-Large Council member Randy Feldschau said it he was uncomfortable speaking on the issue, since Allison’s death was so recent — fewer than two months prior to the naming conversation.
On Tuesday, he further clarified those comments, shining light on how other members of Allison’s family feel about the proposal.
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The morning before the initial vote was taken, “I was contacted by the Nathan family, and they communicated to me that the Nathan family does not support this, and they were asking the council not to do it, but it was requested that I not mention that at the time,” Feldschau said. “So, out of respect to them, I made the comment (that) the time is not right,knowing that there needs to be time for the Nathan family, Getz family to work out whatever differences they may have.”
However, after the Nov. 21 meeting, the Nathan family contacted him once again and gave permission to clarify the issue if confronted.
The Enterprise reached out to Allison’s father, Jerry Nathan, but did not receive a response by deadline.
Feldschau said it is uncomfortable for the council to be placed in the middle of a family dispute.
“It has nothing to do with Allison’s qualifications, it only has to do with the fact that the Nathan family has asked me, and I know other council members, not to support this,” Feldschau said. “This is an issue for the family. Allison’s passing is just recent. It is a time for grieving and recognition of her.”
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Feldschau’s insight came after additional comments from Mike regarding the naming. During a lengthy statement regarding the previous meeting, he said the elected body did not follow its own policy when discussing his proposal.
He added that “other citizens” had sent letters to the city clerk in support of the renaming. A public records request for all communications on the rename shows three letters regarding the naming, one sent after the Nov. 21 meeting and two before. Hundreds of people, however, have commented in support of the renaming on Mike’s Facebook posts.
No other council members commented on whether the naming ordinance was followed, and the proposal is not on the agenda for Tuesday’s council meeting.
