Good Afternoon MJ:
Wow, what a Fourth of July weekend!!!
What started about 3:00 p.m. to be a perfect Saturday afternoon, with thousands of visitors streaming into Providence Market Place in anticipation of our 9:00 p.m. fireworks extravaganza turned into a rain soaked postponement. Those that were there can attest that we couldn’t have had better weather until about 5:00 p.m., when what we hoped would be a short-lived summer squall tuned into an all evening downpour intermixed with a couple breaks and then some building winds. However, in spite of the weather, I have heard nothing but absolute raves for the volunteers and city staffers who made this a 4th to remember. I particularly want to thank the MJPD and the MJ Parks Department for a rock-solid, military precise plan that worked as designed. The decision to not shoot was not made lightly; we understood thousands would be disappointed. But if hindsight is perfect, then we all saw that by 9:00 p.m. Saturday night, Providence Marketplace was under a deluge of water, with tornado warnings topping it off.
Plans for Mt. Juliet’s Fifth of July Fireworks show began about 9:30 pm on the 4th! The challenge was Sunday evening started out to look about the same as the night before. About 4:30 p.m. on Sunday it rain harder than anytime I can recall here in Mt. Juliet. Then, like clockwork the rain stopped, then started, stopped again, then started again. . . over and over until about 8:00 p.m. Until Tom Needham lit the first fuse it was a guessing game whether we would be able to shoot or not. But “Providence” was with us, both literally and figuratively; and at 9:10 p.m., Tom and his crew were able to get party started. And it was a fantastic party for the estimated 10k brave souls who trekked to south Mt Juliet; they were the recipients of a justly rewarded 45 minute pyrotechnical display. I left about 10:00 p.m., but as I understand, due to some wet wicks, Tom was “still cranking some rounds down range” for the next hour or so. Where else but here in beautiful MJ can one get this kind of entertainment for free.
There were hundreds of volunteers and countless businesses, churches, non-profits, scouts, etc., etc., etc., who made 4 and 5 July truly special for our community. I can’t name them all so I won’t try; they know who they are. On behalf of the Board of Commissioners, the City staff and the citizens of our community, thanks for all you did.
Finally, a particularly bright spot on Saturday’s activities was the volunteers who turned out to help the MJ Animal Shelter Adopt-a-thon turn into an unparalleled success. Seven dogs and cats found new, loving homes thanks to the “can do” spirit of Reverend Jon Gray and a handful of dedicated volunteers. A heartfelt thanks goes to these remarkable men and women because the gift of their time and energy will make a lifetime difference for a pet.
On a different note, construction progresses well for both the N MJ Road and Curd Rd. (Reverse L) projects. So far we’ve not seen any accidents directly attributed to activities around this large scale efforts. Remember, plan your trips accordingly, build a little more time into your travel, and above all remain calm. As Karen Carpenter says, “We’ve only just begun.”
A warm welcome to Andy Wright, who is replacing Judge Steve Grauberger as the new Mt. Juliet Municipal Judge. Andy, you have stepped into some big shoes. I know the men and women of the MJPD and Codes Department look forward to working with you in continuing to keep our streets safe and our city clean. Best of luck.
Finally, I want to thank the nearly 30 clergy who joined us last Thursday for a City Update. What a great start to this initiative. I’ve heard some very positive feedback, and will certainly look to do this event again later in the year.
Until next time, take care MJ and talk with you later.
v/r
R. Robertson
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Update: 6/28/09
Good Afternoon MJ:
Some items of interest:
Are you a Minister? Reverend? Pastor? Lay Leader? Choir Director? All of the Above? If you’re any kind of Mt. Juliet church leader I would like to cordially invite you to a “City Update” brief, to be held at 1000, Thursday, 2 July, in City Hall. Ms. Sharon Bachelier, at 754-2552, is the point of contact. Even if you aren’t church leader but just interested in what’s happening in your city, then come on down! Sharon’s email address is: sbachelier@cityofmtjuliet.org
I want to extend my and the staff’s thanks to the Mayor, Vice Mayor and Commissioners of the City of Mt. Juliet for their leadership in developing and passing the FY2010 city budget. While it certainly wasn’t a totally painless process, it did demonstrate the spirit of collegial cooperation and compromise needed to continue our move towards the vision of this city they developed over a year ago. This is a solid, doable budget. Again, thank you.
I hope to see all of you and your family and friends at our 4 July Fireworks extravaganza! It will be at the Providence Market Place with festivities starting on Saturday at 3:00 and the fireworks lighting the sky starting at 9:00. A special thank to Mr. Tom Needham and his staff for the thousands of out-of-the-pocket dollars and the hundreds of hours he and his crew have spent on this year’s event. Tom tells me it is truly a labor of love. He also has promised that there will be more fireworks than ever! Again, many thanks Tom! As a reminder, there is no alcohol or grills allowed at Providence. The MJPD plans to be out in force to ensure we all have a great time. While you are there, up until 6pm we plan to showcase some dogs from the MJ Animal Shelter. If you’re looking for just the right “best friend” we hope you’ll see one at Providence on the 4th. Another special thanks goes to Reverend Jon Gray and all the volunteers of the Animal Shelter are donating their time and energy to make our “adopt-a-thon” a truly extraordinary one.
Next time you are in MJ City Hall, take a look at our new Police Department Dispatch Center. We just opened it up last week with two “Viper 911” emergency systems that provide real time call servicing and location directional finding for inbound emergency calls. This state-of-the-art center was recently accredited by the Wilson County 911 Board; and I am advised it is one of the best in Middle Tennessee. Again, my and the staff’s compliments to the MJ Board of Commissioners for the vision and resources to accomplish this desperately needed upgrade. As a bi-product of this initiative, we’ve also established a central server room in a “hardened” vault inside City Hall, as well as installing an automated generator capable of running emergency operations. These robust capabilities provides the police and other essential city services with the ability to seamlessly operate during a power failure for 2 days without refilling the tank.
The second set of construction workers at the intersection of Division Street and North Mt Juliet Road starting work on our sewer line relocation project. Work on the water lines is progressing well, with activity fast approaching the MJ Library. I make note of this because there are now two sets of construction workers along this portion of the road . . . please use every precaution and adjust your speed while in the area.
Our IT Director, Mr. Travis Taylor, has told me that the city manager blog seems to be picking up steam every day with more first time readers and new subscribers. If you want the blog “pushed” to you each time I post, simply go to the bottom of the page and follow the menu instructions. I hope those of you who do read this feel it is value added and remains true to the original posted precepts . . . this isn’t a place to banter personalities and relook ancient history about Mt. Juliet, or to cast aspersion, insinuation and innuendo on others; there’s other places for that. This is a forum to share information about your city. If you have things you would like me or the staff to look into, please let me know. Again, thank you for your support.
Finally, on a personal note, Darlene and I send our condolences to Mrs. Filiz Gencer and Mr. & Mrs. Doruk Gencer of Ankara, Turkey, and Mrs. Defne Gencer (nee: Robertson) of Washington, D.C. in the passing of Murat. Murat was a absolutely brilliant man and a loving and devoted husband and father. A man of the highest principals and values he leaves an unparalleled legacy of service and contributions to his nation and to humanity. He will be sorely missed but very fondly remembered.
Sonunda, kişisel bir notta, Darlene ve ben bizim baş sağlığımız ve göndeririz ve ( nee: Robertson) Washington , D . C . Murat geçiyor. Murat oldu her kesinlikle parlak adam ve seven ve adanmış bir koca ve baba. Her bir en yüksek müdürler ve o leave değerler adamı hizmet ve onun ulusuna ve insanlığa katkılar mirası. Fena halde o kaçırılacak ama çok sevgiyle hatırlanacak.
Take care MJ and see you on the 4th.
Sincerely,
R. Robertson
Some items of interest:
Are you a Minister? Reverend? Pastor? Lay Leader? Choir Director? All of the Above? If you’re any kind of Mt. Juliet church leader I would like to cordially invite you to a “City Update” brief, to be held at 1000, Thursday, 2 July, in City Hall. Ms. Sharon Bachelier, at 754-2552, is the point of contact. Even if you aren’t church leader but just interested in what’s happening in your city, then come on down! Sharon’s email address is: sbachelier@cityofmtjuliet.org
I want to extend my and the staff’s thanks to the Mayor, Vice Mayor and Commissioners of the City of Mt. Juliet for their leadership in developing and passing the FY2010 city budget. While it certainly wasn’t a totally painless process, it did demonstrate the spirit of collegial cooperation and compromise needed to continue our move towards the vision of this city they developed over a year ago. This is a solid, doable budget. Again, thank you.
I hope to see all of you and your family and friends at our 4 July Fireworks extravaganza! It will be at the Providence Market Place with festivities starting on Saturday at 3:00 and the fireworks lighting the sky starting at 9:00. A special thank to Mr. Tom Needham and his staff for the thousands of out-of-the-pocket dollars and the hundreds of hours he and his crew have spent on this year’s event. Tom tells me it is truly a labor of love. He also has promised that there will be more fireworks than ever! Again, many thanks Tom! As a reminder, there is no alcohol or grills allowed at Providence. The MJPD plans to be out in force to ensure we all have a great time. While you are there, up until 6pm we plan to showcase some dogs from the MJ Animal Shelter. If you’re looking for just the right “best friend” we hope you’ll see one at Providence on the 4th. Another special thanks goes to Reverend Jon Gray and all the volunteers of the Animal Shelter are donating their time and energy to make our “adopt-a-thon” a truly extraordinary one.
Next time you are in MJ City Hall, take a look at our new Police Department Dispatch Center. We just opened it up last week with two “Viper 911” emergency systems that provide real time call servicing and location directional finding for inbound emergency calls. This state-of-the-art center was recently accredited by the Wilson County 911 Board; and I am advised it is one of the best in Middle Tennessee. Again, my and the staff’s compliments to the MJ Board of Commissioners for the vision and resources to accomplish this desperately needed upgrade. As a bi-product of this initiative, we’ve also established a central server room in a “hardened” vault inside City Hall, as well as installing an automated generator capable of running emergency operations. These robust capabilities provides the police and other essential city services with the ability to seamlessly operate during a power failure for 2 days without refilling the tank.
The second set of construction workers at the intersection of Division Street and North Mt Juliet Road starting work on our sewer line relocation project. Work on the water lines is progressing well, with activity fast approaching the MJ Library. I make note of this because there are now two sets of construction workers along this portion of the road . . . please use every precaution and adjust your speed while in the area.
Our IT Director, Mr. Travis Taylor, has told me that the city manager blog seems to be picking up steam every day with more first time readers and new subscribers. If you want the blog “pushed” to you each time I post, simply go to the bottom of the page and follow the menu instructions. I hope those of you who do read this feel it is value added and remains true to the original posted precepts . . . this isn’t a place to banter personalities and relook ancient history about Mt. Juliet, or to cast aspersion, insinuation and innuendo on others; there’s other places for that. This is a forum to share information about your city. If you have things you would like me or the staff to look into, please let me know. Again, thank you for your support.
Finally, on a personal note, Darlene and I send our condolences to Mrs. Filiz Gencer and Mr. & Mrs. Doruk Gencer of Ankara, Turkey, and Mrs. Defne Gencer (nee: Robertson) of Washington, D.C. in the passing of Murat. Murat was a absolutely brilliant man and a loving and devoted husband and father. A man of the highest principals and values he leaves an unparalleled legacy of service and contributions to his nation and to humanity. He will be sorely missed but very fondly remembered.
Sonunda, kişisel bir notta, Darlene ve ben bizim baş sağlığımız ve göndeririz ve ( nee: Robertson) Washington , D . C . Murat geçiyor. Murat oldu her kesinlikle parlak adam ve seven ve adanmış bir koca ve baba. Her bir en yüksek müdürler ve o leave değerler adamı hizmet ve onun ulusuna ve insanlığa katkılar mirası. Fena halde o kaçırılacak ama çok sevgiyle hatırlanacak.
Take care MJ and see you on the 4th.
Sincerely,
R. Robertson
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Update: 6/21/09
Good Afternoon Mt. Juliet and Happy Father’s Day!
Today I have just a few short notes to share with you. Before I begin, many thanks to those of you who wrote or called me to express your condolences about the passing of our best friend, Blaze. It is absolutely amazing how much a pet can find its way into your heart, but hearing from so many of you let me know how common, yet special that can be. Darlene and I appreciate your thoughts and prayers.
Work progresses well on both the North Mt. Juliet Road widening project and the “Reverse L“ portion of the Eastern Connector. Chief Garrett tells me that he and the members of the MJPD are very pleased that despite the blasting that is taking place and the construction equipment along N MJ Road, drivers seems to be handling things well. Remember, this is likely to be a two year endeavor, so patience is a key. On that note we are looking for a late July or early August time to conduct another “Town Hall” meeting about the widening project. Watch Channel 3, the city web page, or our own local papers for specifics.
A special “tip of the hat” goes out to Reverend Jon Gray who recently took on the role of Volunteer Coordinator for the MJ Animal Shelter. If you haven’t visited the Animal Shelter you owe it to yourself to take a look. This is one of the newest facilities of its type in the region and is truly a professionally run operation under the leadership of Sergeant Keith Youmans and his dedicated staff. But it takes a lot more than a handful of paid staff to keep the Shelter open evenings and weekends and take care of the animals correctly; it takes lots and lots of volunteers. Jon plans to have the volunteers bring some of the pets to Providence Marketplace during the afternoon of 4 July; he and his folks are hoping for the state’s largest “adopt-a-thon” that day. Interested in helping? Call the Animal Shelter at 773-5533. Thanks Jon and all our Volunteers!
Speaking of the Fourth of July, a special thanks to another group of volunteers who have been working since 5 July 2008 to make the 2009 version a capstone event. If the weather holds I’ve heard forecasts of 30k to 35k participants and spectators around Providence Marketplace on the Fourth. On behalf of the Board of Commissioners and the staff I want to thank all of the volunteers who have spent hundreds of hours since last year preparing for our fireworks show. There are far too many to mention by name, and I might miss some, so I’ll simply say we truly appreciate all you have done. There is still plenty of time though it you would like to help. It take thousands and thousands of dollars to make Mt. Juliet’s largest event a success. I want to thank many of the merchants and private donors who have stepped up, but the Fourth of July Committee is still in dire need of additional contributions. If you are interested please contact Mr. Dennis Buchanan or Mr. Taylor Bates, at the Mt. Juliet Recreation and Parks Department, 758-6522.
This is a call to all clergy and church leaders in Mt. Juliet. On Thursday, 2 July, at 10:00, in the courtroom of the Mt. Juliet City Hall, we will be holding a special city update brief for leaders of all Mt. Juliet churches. These men and women touch and influence the fabric of our city. As community leaders they need to know what is going on inside the city . . . parks and recreation events, crime statistics, police activities, roads and infrastructure work, finances and economic development. This will be our first effort to bring this body together so if you are a minister, reverend, pastor, associate, lay leader, choir director, priest, etc., please make plans to join us. The point of contact is Ms. Sharon Bachelier at 754-2552. If you know someone who should be there bring them along as well. Sharon’s email address is: sbachelier@cityofmtjuliet.org
On a final note, I want to wish my alma mater a happy birthday. Last week was the 234th birthday of the United States Army . Every post, fort, forward operating base and patrol base containing America’s finest stopped for a few minutes on 14 June to commemorate this historic occasion. The tradition of service and professionalism of our great Army goes back to the inception of the Continental Army. Today’s soldiers . . . sons, daughters, husbands, and wife’s, from teens to their 60’s are among the best of their respective generations. They set the standard for valor, professionalism and integrity. No matter what the mission, our Army has always answered its county’s call. Darlene and I are proud to have been and will always be soldiers. Thanks and a hearty salute to the millions of others who have and continue to serve.
Take care and talk with you later.
R. Robertson
Today I have just a few short notes to share with you. Before I begin, many thanks to those of you who wrote or called me to express your condolences about the passing of our best friend, Blaze. It is absolutely amazing how much a pet can find its way into your heart, but hearing from so many of you let me know how common, yet special that can be. Darlene and I appreciate your thoughts and prayers.
Work progresses well on both the North Mt. Juliet Road widening project and the “Reverse L“ portion of the Eastern Connector. Chief Garrett tells me that he and the members of the MJPD are very pleased that despite the blasting that is taking place and the construction equipment along N MJ Road, drivers seems to be handling things well. Remember, this is likely to be a two year endeavor, so patience is a key. On that note we are looking for a late July or early August time to conduct another “Town Hall” meeting about the widening project. Watch Channel 3, the city web page, or our own local papers for specifics.
A special “tip of the hat” goes out to Reverend Jon Gray who recently took on the role of Volunteer Coordinator for the MJ Animal Shelter. If you haven’t visited the Animal Shelter you owe it to yourself to take a look. This is one of the newest facilities of its type in the region and is truly a professionally run operation under the leadership of Sergeant Keith Youmans and his dedicated staff. But it takes a lot more than a handful of paid staff to keep the Shelter open evenings and weekends and take care of the animals correctly; it takes lots and lots of volunteers. Jon plans to have the volunteers bring some of the pets to Providence Marketplace during the afternoon of 4 July; he and his folks are hoping for the state’s largest “adopt-a-thon” that day. Interested in helping? Call the Animal Shelter at 773-5533. Thanks Jon and all our Volunteers!
Speaking of the Fourth of July, a special thanks to another group of volunteers who have been working since 5 July 2008 to make the 2009 version a capstone event. If the weather holds I’ve heard forecasts of 30k to 35k participants and spectators around Providence Marketplace on the Fourth. On behalf of the Board of Commissioners and the staff I want to thank all of the volunteers who have spent hundreds of hours since last year preparing for our fireworks show. There are far too many to mention by name, and I might miss some, so I’ll simply say we truly appreciate all you have done. There is still plenty of time though it you would like to help. It take thousands and thousands of dollars to make Mt. Juliet’s largest event a success. I want to thank many of the merchants and private donors who have stepped up, but the Fourth of July Committee is still in dire need of additional contributions. If you are interested please contact Mr. Dennis Buchanan or Mr. Taylor Bates, at the Mt. Juliet Recreation and Parks Department, 758-6522.
This is a call to all clergy and church leaders in Mt. Juliet. On Thursday, 2 July, at 10:00, in the courtroom of the Mt. Juliet City Hall, we will be holding a special city update brief for leaders of all Mt. Juliet churches. These men and women touch and influence the fabric of our city. As community leaders they need to know what is going on inside the city . . . parks and recreation events, crime statistics, police activities, roads and infrastructure work, finances and economic development. This will be our first effort to bring this body together so if you are a minister, reverend, pastor, associate, lay leader, choir director, priest, etc., please make plans to join us. The point of contact is Ms. Sharon Bachelier at 754-2552. If you know someone who should be there bring them along as well. Sharon’s email address is: sbachelier@cityofmtjuliet.org
On a final note, I want to wish my alma mater a happy birthday. Last week was the 234th birthday of the United States Army . Every post, fort, forward operating base and patrol base containing America’s finest stopped for a few minutes on 14 June to commemorate this historic occasion. The tradition of service and professionalism of our great Army goes back to the inception of the Continental Army. Today’s soldiers . . . sons, daughters, husbands, and wife’s, from teens to their 60’s are among the best of their respective generations. They set the standard for valor, professionalism and integrity. No matter what the mission, our Army has always answered its county’s call. Darlene and I are proud to have been and will always be soldiers. Thanks and a hearty salute to the millions of others who have and continue to serve.
Take care and talk with you later.
R. Robertson
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Update: 6/11/09
Good Afternoon MJ:
Here’s a couple updates on city activities:
Progress is going well on both the North Mt. Juliet Rd (NMJR) widening project and the “Reverse L” off Curd Road. At this time work on both projects focuses on relocating the utilities but we expect to hear from TDOT in the next week on how the bids went for the actual NMJR widening element. As media and public announcements on the NMJR project have repeatedly said, the whole project will likely take about two years. As with any project of this magnitude, there will be glitches and unforeseen challenges; so if you are a driver, please slow down and be respectful of construction workers. Plan your trips accordingly. If you live along the either roads please be patient.
Some good news for the city. Yesterday we locked in “refinancing” the two variable bonds the city had taken out several years ago. For those of you who watch our own Channel 3 or read the local papers, you know that with the dramatic changes the financial markets have experience in the last year, many municipal funding mechanisms, like variable rate loans, were thrown into a state of uncertainty and sometimes overnight rate changes. That was conditions Mt. Juliet faced several months ago, with the initial assessment that it would take between $500k and $600k to buy our self out of the situation. Last week, with guidance and assistance of some great financial advice from Mr. Sam Crewse of the Stephens Company, we closed the swap at $187k; a saving to the city of over $400k less than projected a few months ago. While on the financial side, the Board of Commissioners decided to completely refinance and lock in the rates on the two variable notes. Together these added up to around $7m. To do this we went through a financial accreditation process with Standard and Poor’s. The great news is for the first time in the city’s history we had a double “AA” rating. This “gold seal of financial health” will well serve us by driving down interest rates on the refinanced bonds and possibly eliminating insurance costs from our lender. I want to again thank Mr. Crewse and John Rossmaier, the city’s Finance Director for their superb work in this area.
On a more personal note, this last week has been one of extremely challenging for me. In addition to being in legal depositions for most of the week, my wife and I lost our best friend. We found Blaze when he was just a few months old. A twin of the collie “Lassie” (Blaze actually thought he was better looking than her), Blaze led a rich and adventurous life. As our youngest son’s 15 birthday gift, his first home was in Washington D.C. The first year with us, while I was away at the Army War College in Pennsylvania, Blaze’s job was to keep stability and order in the house. Right after leaving the War College we were reassigned to the U.S. Army in Europe and Blaze took up residence in Eppelheim, a small suburb of Heidelberg, Germany. Blaze spent most of his life in Germany and travelling through Europe. He actually could communicate with our German neighbors far better me . . . I guess “woof” is the same everywhere. Without doubt in Eppelheim he was the most popular member of our family. Not too long after we got to Germany, September 11th hit, resulting in me being away from home a great deal of the time; so once again he was the bond that glued us together. We always referred to him as one of America’s best overseas ambassadors. The Germans absolutely adored Blaze. Part of that dealt with the fact that old “Lassie” reruns were very popular on German TV. Everywhere he went people would want talk to or pet our “Lassie” and tell us that “Timmy had fallen down the well.” Even the “kinder” next door would borrow Blaze for slumber parties and dress him up, and our son, who was in a DoD High School, referred to Blaze as his very own “babe magnet” down on the Heidelberg Hauptstrasse. Ute: Blaze immer euch geliebt und Marcus. Sie waren und wird immer seine sehr spezielle deutschen Freunden. Wir wissen, dass sie ihn vermissen fast so viel wie Darlene und ich. Blaze was simply extraordinary.
We left Germany for New Mexico’s White Sands Missile Range (WSMR); talk about a physical and culture change. Blaze was a base fixture for nearly a year and a half. We visited the gym every weekend and he would steer me past the “goat head” burrs that littered the running trail between the house and the athletic complex. Since I was WSMR’s Chief of Staff Blaze got to hang out with the General and all the muckety mucks that came to White Sands. He loved the attention, but quite frankly his thick coat and the desert climate weren’t complimentary of each other. When Darlene and I left the Army and White Sands we stayed several months at my mother’s home outside Cincinnati where he became “Ma’s doggy”. Those two absolutely adored one another. Every morning they took their walk; with Blaze sniffing out what seemed to be every wide spot on the ground in a three mile jaunt. Within a few months we were off to Ashland, Kentucky where I accepted the City Manager position. Again, Blaze soon became the most popular Robertson on the street. His smile and those large brown eyes melted everyone’s heart. In late 2007 we came to Mt. Juliet, where, according to anyone inside City Hall, Blaze has been a beacon of calmness and serenity in an usually chaotic and too often harsh working environment.
Quite frankly Blaze was our rock. With both sons in Washington, D.C. he gave us his full and undivided attention. He didn’t care how badly our day went, because he could change all that. He lived for back scratches and time for a walk or run. Every night he knew exactly where the bends and turns in the road were as we approached home; nipping at my heals to let him run off the leash just a little. He was my very best friend and my deepest confidant. He would listen to absolutely everything I had to say and would never argue. On Sunday his kidneys failed and on Monday he left. We miss him terribly.
I thought writing this might helpful to me. I’ve had dogs all my live and there was none like Blaze. He was remarkably and wonderfully special. I also thought writing might help convince others that right here in Mt. Juliet we have an amazing Animal Shelter, filled with cats and dogs who are looking for an opportunity to become someone’s Blaze.
Take care and talk with you later.
R. Robertson
Here’s a couple updates on city activities:
Progress is going well on both the North Mt. Juliet Rd (NMJR) widening project and the “Reverse L” off Curd Road. At this time work on both projects focuses on relocating the utilities but we expect to hear from TDOT in the next week on how the bids went for the actual NMJR widening element. As media and public announcements on the NMJR project have repeatedly said, the whole project will likely take about two years. As with any project of this magnitude, there will be glitches and unforeseen challenges; so if you are a driver, please slow down and be respectful of construction workers. Plan your trips accordingly. If you live along the either roads please be patient.
Some good news for the city. Yesterday we locked in “refinancing” the two variable bonds the city had taken out several years ago. For those of you who watch our own Channel 3 or read the local papers, you know that with the dramatic changes the financial markets have experience in the last year, many municipal funding mechanisms, like variable rate loans, were thrown into a state of uncertainty and sometimes overnight rate changes. That was conditions Mt. Juliet faced several months ago, with the initial assessment that it would take between $500k and $600k to buy our self out of the situation. Last week, with guidance and assistance of some great financial advice from Mr. Sam Crewse of the Stephens Company, we closed the swap at $187k; a saving to the city of over $400k less than projected a few months ago. While on the financial side, the Board of Commissioners decided to completely refinance and lock in the rates on the two variable notes. Together these added up to around $7m. To do this we went through a financial accreditation process with Standard and Poor’s. The great news is for the first time in the city’s history we had a double “AA” rating. This “gold seal of financial health” will well serve us by driving down interest rates on the refinanced bonds and possibly eliminating insurance costs from our lender. I want to again thank Mr. Crewse and John Rossmaier, the city’s Finance Director for their superb work in this area.
On a more personal note, this last week has been one of extremely challenging for me. In addition to being in legal depositions for most of the week, my wife and I lost our best friend. We found Blaze when he was just a few months old. A twin of the collie “Lassie” (Blaze actually thought he was better looking than her), Blaze led a rich and adventurous life. As our youngest son’s 15 birthday gift, his first home was in Washington D.C. The first year with us, while I was away at the Army War College in Pennsylvania, Blaze’s job was to keep stability and order in the house. Right after leaving the War College we were reassigned to the U.S. Army in Europe and Blaze took up residence in Eppelheim, a small suburb of Heidelberg, Germany. Blaze spent most of his life in Germany and travelling through Europe. He actually could communicate with our German neighbors far better me . . . I guess “woof” is the same everywhere. Without doubt in Eppelheim he was the most popular member of our family. Not too long after we got to Germany, September 11th hit, resulting in me being away from home a great deal of the time; so once again he was the bond that glued us together. We always referred to him as one of America’s best overseas ambassadors. The Germans absolutely adored Blaze. Part of that dealt with the fact that old “Lassie” reruns were very popular on German TV. Everywhere he went people would want talk to or pet our “Lassie” and tell us that “Timmy had fallen down the well.” Even the “kinder” next door would borrow Blaze for slumber parties and dress him up, and our son, who was in a DoD High School, referred to Blaze as his very own “babe magnet” down on the Heidelberg Hauptstrasse. Ute: Blaze immer euch geliebt und Marcus. Sie waren und wird immer seine sehr spezielle deutschen Freunden. Wir wissen, dass sie ihn vermissen fast so viel wie Darlene und ich. Blaze was simply extraordinary.
We left Germany for New Mexico’s White Sands Missile Range (WSMR); talk about a physical and culture change. Blaze was a base fixture for nearly a year and a half. We visited the gym every weekend and he would steer me past the “goat head” burrs that littered the running trail between the house and the athletic complex. Since I was WSMR’s Chief of Staff Blaze got to hang out with the General and all the muckety mucks that came to White Sands. He loved the attention, but quite frankly his thick coat and the desert climate weren’t complimentary of each other. When Darlene and I left the Army and White Sands we stayed several months at my mother’s home outside Cincinnati where he became “Ma’s doggy”. Those two absolutely adored one another. Every morning they took their walk; with Blaze sniffing out what seemed to be every wide spot on the ground in a three mile jaunt. Within a few months we were off to Ashland, Kentucky where I accepted the City Manager position. Again, Blaze soon became the most popular Robertson on the street. His smile and those large brown eyes melted everyone’s heart. In late 2007 we came to Mt. Juliet, where, according to anyone inside City Hall, Blaze has been a beacon of calmness and serenity in an usually chaotic and too often harsh working environment.
Quite frankly Blaze was our rock. With both sons in Washington, D.C. he gave us his full and undivided attention. He didn’t care how badly our day went, because he could change all that. He lived for back scratches and time for a walk or run. Every night he knew exactly where the bends and turns in the road were as we approached home; nipping at my heals to let him run off the leash just a little. He was my very best friend and my deepest confidant. He would listen to absolutely everything I had to say and would never argue. On Sunday his kidneys failed and on Monday he left. We miss him terribly.
I thought writing this might helpful to me. I’ve had dogs all my live and there was none like Blaze. He was remarkably and wonderfully special. I also thought writing might help convince others that right here in Mt. Juliet we have an amazing Animal Shelter, filled with cats and dogs who are looking for an opportunity to become someone’s Blaze.
Take care and talk with you later.
R. Robertson
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Update: 6/3/09
Good evening MJ:
Sorry to have been away for a while but I was in Colorado last week, at Fort Carson, commemorating and participating in Memorial Day activities. The 4th ID and Ft. Carson assigned units have taken some hard casualties during the War on Terrorism, so being back with and among soldiers on this special day was especially meaningful for my wife and I.
Here’s a couple quick notes about city activities. We’ve had a few callers ask about the status of the skate board park and Rec Center expansion projects at Charlie Daniels Park. As we all know May has been extremely wet; in fact I’ve heard it was the wettest May since records were kept. The bottom line is the contractor needs nearly a couple weeks of dry weather to move on the skate park. The ground needs to be dry enough to compact to nearly the industrial level as building a section Interstate highway; and it simply hasn’t been that way for a long time. Rest assured Mr. Buchanan and the Parks crew will push the contractor to move out just as soon as the ground moisture permits. It’s been about the same story for the Rec Center expansion, but with the foundation poured we have worked with Panattoni leadership (who are paying to have the facility constructed) to start laying block asap. They’ve done a request for bids to acquire the block and the mason work, and have committed to start work NLT mid June.
On another note, apparently many of you have seen the TV news article about the potential of evening nursing courses coming to MJ. We’ve been working to bring higher education to the city for some time, and hope to soon conduct an educational needs assessment of the community in partnership with MJHS. Dr. Harvill Eaton, Cumberland University’s President, is committed to bring whatever resources he can to MJ, but has indicated he needs at least 25 students to enroll in classes starting in January. If you are interested in the program please contact Mr. Kenny Martin, the city’s Economic Development Director and Liaison Officer at kmartin@cityofmtjuliet.org. This is truly an exciting initiative and on behalf of the Board of Commissioners we want to thank Mr. Martin, Dr. Eaton and a whole host of officials both here in City Hall and at Cumberland for all the work that has taken place to get to this point.
Utility work is really picking up on both the Reverse L (off Curd Road, by MJHS) and on North Mt. Juliet Road. Due to the complexity of the project and the population and building density along North Mt. Juliet Road, the widening project will be one of the biggest road building initiatives ever done inside the city limits. At last check, the Tennessee Department of Transportation will soon decide on the contractor. Once that is done we’ll be conducting more “Town Hall” sessions to keep you posted on what is happening. It truly is an exciting time for the city.
Finally, I want to commend a recent addition to the City’s Channel 3; the “Job Action Line”. Mr. Taylor, the city’s Information Technology Director, advises there are nearly 25 individuals who have already posted their resumes on the job line. Laid off? Downsized? Fired, or simply looking for a job? If you are a city resident and would like to exponentially increase the visibility of your job search, consider adding your resume on Channel 3. For info on how to do this simply check out the City Web page or call Tina at 754-2552. Happy hunting!
Take care until next time.
Sincerely,
R. Robertson
Sorry to have been away for a while but I was in Colorado last week, at Fort Carson, commemorating and participating in Memorial Day activities. The 4th ID and Ft. Carson assigned units have taken some hard casualties during the War on Terrorism, so being back with and among soldiers on this special day was especially meaningful for my wife and I.
Here’s a couple quick notes about city activities. We’ve had a few callers ask about the status of the skate board park and Rec Center expansion projects at Charlie Daniels Park. As we all know May has been extremely wet; in fact I’ve heard it was the wettest May since records were kept. The bottom line is the contractor needs nearly a couple weeks of dry weather to move on the skate park. The ground needs to be dry enough to compact to nearly the industrial level as building a section Interstate highway; and it simply hasn’t been that way for a long time. Rest assured Mr. Buchanan and the Parks crew will push the contractor to move out just as soon as the ground moisture permits. It’s been about the same story for the Rec Center expansion, but with the foundation poured we have worked with Panattoni leadership (who are paying to have the facility constructed) to start laying block asap. They’ve done a request for bids to acquire the block and the mason work, and have committed to start work NLT mid June.
On another note, apparently many of you have seen the TV news article about the potential of evening nursing courses coming to MJ. We’ve been working to bring higher education to the city for some time, and hope to soon conduct an educational needs assessment of the community in partnership with MJHS. Dr. Harvill Eaton, Cumberland University’s President, is committed to bring whatever resources he can to MJ, but has indicated he needs at least 25 students to enroll in classes starting in January. If you are interested in the program please contact Mr. Kenny Martin, the city’s Economic Development Director and Liaison Officer at kmartin@cityofmtjuliet.org. This is truly an exciting initiative and on behalf of the Board of Commissioners we want to thank Mr. Martin, Dr. Eaton and a whole host of officials both here in City Hall and at Cumberland for all the work that has taken place to get to this point.
Utility work is really picking up on both the Reverse L (off Curd Road, by MJHS) and on North Mt. Juliet Road. Due to the complexity of the project and the population and building density along North Mt. Juliet Road, the widening project will be one of the biggest road building initiatives ever done inside the city limits. At last check, the Tennessee Department of Transportation will soon decide on the contractor. Once that is done we’ll be conducting more “Town Hall” sessions to keep you posted on what is happening. It truly is an exciting time for the city.
Finally, I want to commend a recent addition to the City’s Channel 3; the “Job Action Line”. Mr. Taylor, the city’s Information Technology Director, advises there are nearly 25 individuals who have already posted their resumes on the job line. Laid off? Downsized? Fired, or simply looking for a job? If you are a city resident and would like to exponentially increase the visibility of your job search, consider adding your resume on Channel 3. For info on how to do this simply check out the City Web page or call Tina at 754-2552. Happy hunting!
Take care until next time.
Sincerely,
R. Robertson
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