City Manager Blog

Update: December 16, 2011

2011-12-16T16:10:00.003-06:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

Greetings from City Hall. I thought I posted my last update before departing, but there’s a lot of things going this week you should know:

1. Do you want to help those who aren’t as fortunate as you? Here’s a chance through the MJPD’s “Shop with a Cop.” Members of the MJPD are sponsoring less fortunate children with a shopping trip this, their 7th season. Most of the funds have been secured, but here’s a great opportunity to make up some the difference, or plant some dollars for next year. It takes about $150 to sponsor a child, but any donations would be appreciated. For more info call Sgt. Tyler Chandler at (615) 773-6260.

2. Another gift to consider at this time of year (with tax season looming around the corner) is the MJ Animal Shelter and the non-profit Mount Juliet Animal Shelter Volunteer Organization. Donations must postmarked NO LATER THAN DEC. 31st to be tax deductible. Here’s a few reasons why you might want to give and what your contributions are used for:

- Every cent you give goes directly to and for the animals.
- In three years, through donations, the MJ Animal Shelter has not had to spend any tax payer funds for animal food.
- The Benefit Fund pays for medical procedures and provides extended medical care when needed and transportation to a Rescue.
- The Pet Therapy Program reaches into Mt. Juliet Nursing Care, The Providence Gardens, Rutland Senior Community.
- In 3 short years the Shelter has taken 1,563 animals off our city streets. That’s an average of 44 a month.
- Maybe most important: The MJ Animal Shelter, through the help of volunteers and the 501 3c non-profit fund, has placed close to 95% of the animals who enter the facility. That is unheard of in public animal control programs.
Send your check to MJASVO: 115 Industrial Drive, Mt. Juliet, TN. 37122 or drop your gift off any day of the week EXCEPT WEDNESDAY, from 10 AM to 6 PM.

3. On behalf of your Team Mt. Juliet staff, we wish to express our thanks to Mr. Jason Loggins and the kind folks at Wilson Bank and Trust for the great Christmas luncheon they provided city employees today. It was fabulous, and their generosity are truly appreciated. Also, the Team wants to thank Mr. Rob Porter and his partners, Kevin, Jim, and Ryan at Civil Site Design Group for their extraordinary kindness in the donation for gift certificates. For several years the staff at Civil Site have recognized the hard work of Team MJ through a cash donation equally shared by all employees. Many thanks fellows. Finally, a Christmas cheer for the staff at Houston’s Market for once again catering a fantastic meal, and for providing a lot of extra’s on the gift certificate side for the price we paid. You guys are great. Need further evidence of what a wonderful community we live in?

4. Remember: All City offices will be closed on Friday, 23 December and Monday, 26 December. Full service resumes at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, 27 December. City offices will be closed on Monday, 2 January for New Year’s Day.

5. As we depart MJ, I want to thank to the Mayor and Board of Commissioners for their support and kind remarks at my last BOC meeting. Also, special thanks to Team MJ for their continued support and accomplishments the last four years. You have done some remarkable things and it has been an honor to lead you. Finally, remember the farewell reception for Darlene and I, tomorrow (Saturday, 17 Dec), at the Charlie Daniels Recreation Center, starting at 7 p.m. (that’s 1900 for everyone else). We’ve already bought the refreshments, so come on out and say goodbye. Hope to see you there.

Best wishes for a safe, blessed and Merry Christmas and successful 2012.
R. Robertson

Update: December 12, 2011

2011-12-12T17:32:00.001-06:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

Here’s some items of interest and FYI’s for our community:

A few weeks ago we posted a note about a benefit concert for Mr. Frank Scarcello, who was injured in aiding a citizen at the scene of an accident. The concert, originally scheduled for next Sunday, 18 December, has been postponed until February, to coincide with Valentine’s Day. Given the business of the holiday season, this is a practical move. We hope you’ll come out to support Frank in a couple months. Watch the city’s web page and Channel 3 for details.

Sales tax receipts for November were strong, with over $470.5k taken in compared to last year’s $455k, a $15.5k increase or about 3% more than last year. Year to date (Jan to Nov) we’ve seen close to $240k more in sales tax receipts compared to the same time period in 2010. Sales tax revenue represents nearly 60% of the city’s funding posture; and since they are unpredictable and can be unreliable, their continued growth is crucial to providing sustained quality services. Remember, particularly now during the holidays, to “Shop MJ First.”

Here’s some other data points for 2011 worth noting:

- Close to 300 new housing permits have been issued between January through November. At nearly one every business day that is a phenomenal number.

- In early November we were selected as the fourth “Most Business Friendly City in Tennessee” by the Tennessee Center for Policy Research. We’ve captured one of the top five spots for the last 4 years.

- Thus far in FY 2011 (July to Nov), we’ve issued nearly 100 new business permits; again nearly one every business day.

- Over 200 electrical permits were issued through November. Until this year, this function, and the revenue with it, was a purview of the state. Our Codes Team has received numerous compliments for the responsive, courteous “can do” attitude they bring to this initiative.

- Close to 150 fire inspections were made by city personnel this year; again, a completely new mission for this team. This work is being done without hiring any additional personnel, but through aggressive cross training and continued professional development.

- Despite several recent rounds of inclement weather, TDOT advises they are still looking to have all lanes of North Mt. Juliet Road under some asphalt within the month.

- East Division Street was repaved and there is some great development taking place on the Old Elementary School Property, the long vacant heart of our city.

- We anticipate starting the right of way acquisition process for the Eastern Connector in the next few months.

- Phase 2 of the Town Center Trail (formerly West Division Greenway) should be moving dirt early this Spring. The city has secured over $500k in federal funds to underwrite this project which will run the trail from 4th Avenue to Brookstone.

- The Board of Commissioners approved “seed” money to initiate the required legal work to establish a 501 3C non-profit organization for the MJ Parks Department. This is a tremendous move to provide citizens with a direct, private means to help fund park and recreation activities. Watch for more on this next year.

- The MJPD continues to have one of the best case solvability rates in the state. We currently stand at over 55%, while the average is close to 30%.

- Stats continue to be absolutely fantastic from the MJ Animal Shelter. With an unheard adoption rate exceeding 90%; volunteer hours in 2011 approaching 7k; and our 3rd straight year of feeding the animals at no cost to the city; the MJ Animal Shelter continues to be the best in the state.

On a final note, I’d like to extend an open invitation to drop by the Charlie Daniels Rec Center, this Saturday, for a farewell reception. It starts at 7 p.m. and goes to when we leave. With that in mind, this will likely be my last city update/blog as your City Manager. I hope you have found this forum useful and informative. I’ll end with two notes: first to Team MJ, thanks for your support and your selfless public service. In the last few years our city has undergone a positive transformation of tremendous proportions. You have been the spearhead for that change. Well done! Second, to the citizens of MJ, it has been an absolute honor and privilege to serve our community and Darlene and I will miss you. Thanks for your support.

Take care and God Bless.

Sincerely,

Randy Robertson

Update: December 2, 2011

2011-12-02T17:38:00.004-06:00

Good Evening MJ:

On this absolutely beautiful late Fall day, here’s a few items of interest from around your city:

CHRISTMAS PARADE!!! Tomorrow (Saturday, 3 December). If you are marching or riding on a float, make sure you are at the starting area, behind the West Wilson Middle School. The parks and Rec Team will start forming up as early as 0700, with a cut off at 0930. At last report we had nearly 80 floats. By the time we add marching groups, there will be well over 100 elements in the parade, a new record. Remember, Wilson County’s own Country Music Star Gretchen Wilson will be our 2012 Grand Marshal. The weather is gonna be great, and Santa has an MJ date, so see you there.

Are you in the pet business? Vet care? Boarding? Animal food? If the answer is yes, then consider an opportunity to hang your business sign on the fence of the MJ Bark Park. The Bark Park has been a phenomenal success, with an active group of clientele using the area year round. What a great way to advertise your business or product to hundreds, for a full year, at just a fraction of the cost of a few newspaper ads. For more info, call Tina at City Hall, 754-2552. Get your orders in now to have your sign up early next year.

Speaking of those in the pet industry, there’s a relatively new “in home” pet care service, ”Small Joys”, to commend to our Nixle subscribers. The MJ-based proprietor, Michelle, provides “creature comforts” to your dog or cat, right from your home, at a very reasonable rate. She comes highly recommended and will work with you to provide your furry friend with the best possible care. Need a professional to watch Fido or Fluffy during the holidays? Call 969-8108 or email smalljoys@comcast.net. While on the subject of new businesses, here’s a few that just opened or are on the drawing board for the next few months. Accurate Auto Body is up and running from their Industrial Road location. I met with the GM, Jason, and they are off to a solid start, and come highly recommended. The Murphy Oil station at Paddocks is progressing well. Prospects look like they’ll be open by mid February. Notice the progress of the medical complex at the Old Elementary School property site; they are on track for a late summer opening. McDonald’s on the south end of town is looking to break ground in February. The Shoppes at Faulkner Landing are open or will be in the next few weeks; Academy Sports is on the Planning Commission agenda for 15 December; White Castle is close to making an announcement regarding their Paddocks site; Longhorn Steak House is scheduled for the January Planning Committee; and ground for an Ascend Credit Union, in the Paddock’s, should be moving early next year; and one of MJ’s most anticipated “fine dining” establishments, ”Jonathan’s Grille” is close to moving earth any day now. As an FYI, from July to November of Fiscal Year 2012, 116 business licenses were issues; a phenomenal number for a city our size. Remember: Shop MJ First!

Want to market your church/social group initiative? Let us know and we can discuss, a blog / Nixle note. For info, call Tina or Travis at 754-2552.

Remember, Darlene and I will be hosting a farewell reception at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center on Saturday, 17 December, starting at 7 p.m. The community is invited and light refreshments will be served. If you plan to attend please RSVP to City Hall (754-2552) so we’ll have plenty of food. I hope to see you there.

Nearly 40 animals are quartered in the MJ Animal Shelter today . . . think how a new pet would be such a wonderful and lasting Christmas gift. Stop by and see what’s available, or just look at the description and pixs on the Shelter’s section of the city’s homepage (http://www.cityofmtjuliet.org/). I’d also like to pay special thanks the volunteers we recognized this week who have each donated 200 hours or more to our Shelter. Our own Trish Morgan logged in over 400 hours in serving the Shelter, while Tanya Beadles was recognized as the Volunteer of the Year. We could not do what needs to be done without the tremendous support and efforts of a dedicated cadre of this small group of volunteers. Interested in making a difference in your city and for an animal? Email Jon Gray, our Volunteer Coordinator, at Pastorjongray@aol.com What a great resolution to make for 2012!

Calling all MJ school leaders: Free Breakfast, Wednesday, 7 December, starting at 0700, in the basement of City Hall. Principals, VP’s, guidance counselors, and interested “others” are all invited. Come hear the latest update from City Hall that pertains to our schools. We’ll have you headed back to the classroom by 0800. If you haven’t already RSVP’d, call Sharon at 754-2552, ext 204.

We’ll be unveiling a small monument to our Animal Shelter and its volunteers on Monday, at the MJ Animal Shelter, at 3:00 p.m. The monument was made possible through the kind donation of area residents Mr. and Mrs. Joe Robertson. All are invited.

A final note. Here’s a memory jogger for those seasoned Nashvillian’s out there. Remember the synchronized piano music at the dancing water fountains at the Opryland Hotel? Remember the fabulous piano skills of Liberace? Well, Vince Cardell, an area resident, was the man who played with Liberace and did the Opryland concerts. In October, Vince was involved in a serious auto accident. The good news is Vince came thought nearly unscratched, but Frank Scarcello, an MJ resident, who, as we understand, stopped to help Vince on that dark, rainy night, was severely injured in the rescue attempt. Vince, who has played shows across globe and regularly performs in Las Vegas, has graciously agreed to sponsor a benefit concert for Frank and the PD/first responders who came to his aid. Mark your calendar for a “Christmas Concert in the Round with Vince Cardell”, on Sunday, 18 December, at 2 p.m., at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center. For an hour, this famous pianist will tickle the ivories with seasonal and personal favorites, with all proceeds from the door ($5 per ticket) and sales of his albums going to the Frank Scarcello Medical Fund and our own first responders. Seating will be limited to the first 250. Thanks Vince for your wonderful gesture to a Good Samaritan and a truly unique Christmas gift to our community. For more info call the MJ Parks Department at 758-6522. Please share this with your friends and family.

That’s about all for now. See you along Mt. Juliet Road tomorrow to welcome Santa. Take care and God Bless.

R. Robertson

Update: November 18, 2011

2011-11-18T16:53:00.001-06:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

Here’s a special note as we head into the weekend. I hope you and yours have a safe and blessed Thanksgiving:

“November 20, 2011 Ava Shaye Bright would have turned 4 years old. Please help us celebrate her life by making AVA’S SPLASH PAD become a reality for the City of Mt. Juliet. The final designs have been complete and now we just need funding! We have an opportunity for Pepsi to refresh OUR COMMUNITY! That means we could win $50,000 for water sprayers for Ava’s Splash Pad right here in MT. JULIET!! Please join in the voting efforts to help us win. You may vote once per day BOTH ways (text and online) until November 30, 2011. Please submit your vote EVERY DAY at http://www.refresheverything.com/avassplashpad AND Text 109856 to Pepsi (73774) to vote from your mobile. FORWARD THIS ON AND TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW! For more information and to learn Ava’s story, visit www.avalynshayefoundation.org

R. Robertson

Update: November 17, 2011

2011-11-17T08:59:00.003-06:00

Greetings MJ:

Let me begin by wishing you and your loved ones "Team MJ's" best wishes for a safe and blessed Thanksgiving. Now, here are a few updates and FYI:

1. Let's start with some great news, we just got word that MJ again named by the Tennessee Center for Policy Research as one of the Top 5 (#4) “Most Business Friendly Cities” in the state. That’s a powerful message about our community . . . scoring higher than perennial powerhouses like Nashville, Oak Ridge, Clarksville and Murfreesboro. This is the fourth consecutive year MJ placed in the “Big 5.” An accomplishment is woven of elements from across the fabric of our city, economic and business, government, schools, churches and non-profits, and its speaks volumes about our community, its’ vision and values and the tremendous importance each component plays. Congratulations MJ!

2. Sales tax receipts were up again last month. In 2010 the city's share was just around $496k while 2011 was up to $514k. Through October MJ was up 9 of 10 months in sales tax revenue from last year; overall that comes up to about $180k more collected than from the same time period in CY10. Thanks and remember to "Shop Mt Juliet First."

3. The 2011 edition of the MJ Christmas Parade will take place on Saturday, 3 December, starting at 11:00. Led by Grand Marshal Gretchen Wilson, the route runs from the front of West Wilson Middle School to the intersection of Division and North MJ Roads. There's still plenty of time to enter a float or group in this festive seasonal extravaganza. For more info call Taylor Bates or Jay Cameli at 642-1095. Our friends at Crye-Leike Realty will even be offering free hot chocolate at their 1285 NMJR office. We look forward to seeing you there.

4. Congrats to Judy Roark and her crew for their efforts in supporting MJ social services. Through their Sweet Tooth Auction in October, they raised just under $3400 that will be split between the Sr. Citizen's Center and the Mt. Juliet Help Center. Good work Judy!

5. Interested or know someone who might be interested in serving with the Tennessee National Guard? There's a new recruiter in town, Sergeant First Class Austin Phelps is on duty and would love to talk about opportunities to serve your state and nation. He's can be reached at Cell: 615.772.6587 Office: 615.772.6587. Can you say "Hooah?"

6. Want to make a positive impact in your community but don't have a lot of money? This one doesn't take funds, just a little time to take the "Pepsi Challenge." Ava's Splash Park is the vision, and the goal is to vote at www.refresheverything.com/avassplashpad or by texting the code 109856 to 73774. VOTE EVERY SINGLE DAY!!! Help make a difference!

7. Reminder, this Saturday is Family Preparedness Day at the MJ Lowes, from 10:00 till 3:00 pm. The Red Cross, TEMA, Wilson 9-1-1 and WEMA's station 3 will be there helping and they want to extend an invitation for you to join them. For more info call Capt. Stephen Spencer, WEMA, at 444-8799 x123

8. Have you used the city's "311" call system? if so, let me know your thoughts. Drop me a line at rrobertson@cityofmtjuliet.org

9. One final note, we've been informed that the City Manager Blog, the same as these Nixle updates, has been named as one of the top 50 municipal blogs by the Master's in Public Administration of the United States. Thanks for reading and tell your friends to sign up.
That's all for now. Take care, God Bless and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

R. Robertson

Update: November 4, 2011

2011-11-04T16:15:00.003-05:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

After posting yesterday's update, several subscribers wrote and asked me to circulate some bits of additional info. With that in mind, here's a few additional items from around the community:

Update: City Housing permits remain strong this year (Jan thru EOM Oct) with 279 new housing permits issued during that time. That ranks well compared to last year's banner of 300 for the same time. To refresh your memory, for calendar year 2010, MJ issued more new housing permits than any city in Middle Tennessee . . . this includes Murfreesboro and Clarksville which are both over 100k in population. Another update, in late September MJ received state authorization for city personnel to conduct required electrical inspections of new or renovated facilities. Since that time city personnel have conducted over 130 inspections, generating close to $17k that now goes directly to MJ as opposed to state coffers. Equally important, we are now positioned to provide more responsive electrical inspection services than state personnel were enabled to do. Many thanks to Mr. Keel, Director of Public Works, Mr. Hicks, Chief Building Inspector, and the entire Building and Code team for this initiative. Good work gentlemen!

311 is now operational! If you need to reach the City of Mt. Juliet, you may dial 311 from any landline or cell phone within the city limits. (AT&T customers will not have this service for now, but it's coming soon.) FOR EMERGENCIES CONTINUE TO CALL 911, but for all other city business you can just dial 311 while within the city limits.

In honor of Veterans Day, here's a few special programs for the vets out there:
* Applebee’s is again offering a free meal to military veterans and active-duty service members on Veteran’s Day, Friday, Nov. 11, 2011.
* Chili’s is offering all military veterans past and present their choice of one of 6 free meals during business hours on the 11th.
* Golden Corral will provide a free meal, Monday Nov. 14 from 5 pm to 9 pm in all Golden Corral Restaurants nationwide. The free “thank you” dinner is available to any person who has ever served in the United States Military.
* Outback Steakhouse is offering a week of Free Bloomin’ Onions and Cokes Monday Nov. 7 – Friday Nov. 11. This offer is available to military personnel who have one of the following forms of identifications: U.S Uniform Services Identification Card, U.S Uniform Services Retired Identification Card, or DD-214.
* The Home Depot is offering all active duty personnel, reservists, and retired military a 10 percent discount off their purchases in honor of Veteran’s Day. The offer is valid on purchases of up to $2,000 for a maximum of $200.
* Fee Free Day at National Parks. To honor America’s service men and women, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that areas managed by the National Park Service would not charge entrance fees for Veteran’s Day weekend – November 11-13, 2011.

Notice the flag is back in place at Life Assembly? Thanks to Pastor Wharton and the folks at Life Assembly for this great addition to our city! Also, kudos to Seth McDowell, owner and developer of the Old Elementary School (OES) property, for how he and his team are rapidly transforming the center of our city. After a decade of an empty field, the OES is starting to look absolutely wonderful.

Tricia Swaney asked to have this passed along: The MJ Christian Academy's Shopping Extravaganza is this Saturday from 9 to 5 and it's FREE! Called the "Best Shopping Event in Wilson County" this year's edition has been upped from 50 to 75 vendors. The Christian Academy is located at 735 N. MJ Rd.

Ready to Walk? The last "Mayor's Walk" this year will be this Saturday, beginning at the Charlie Daniels Park Rec Center. Come join your friends and fellow citizens at 10:00 in a never ending quest for better health.

Four weeks from this Saturday (3 December) is MJ's annual Christmas Parade. With our own star, Gretchen Wilson, serving as Grand Marshal, this year's MJ Christmas Parade promises to be even bigger and better than ever. Application forms for floats, vehicles and walkers are on line at the city's web page. This year's theme is "Toy Soldier", and entry fees are only $10.00, or the donation of a cell phone that will go to a service member. It should be great day so make sure you put it on your calendar. For more info call Taylor Bates at 566-1660.

That's all for now. Take care and God Bless. Talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: November 3, 2011

2011-11-03T21:23:00.001-05:00

Good Evening MJ:

Here’s some notes and updates on this rainy Thursday afternoon:

Update on Marty (aka “Pops”) Martin: Marty is recovering well at Centennial Hospital from open heart surgery (5 by passes). He asked that we let everyone know how much he appreciated the cards, calls and prayers. If all goes well he should be released in the next couple days and start rehab. We are inviting all to sign a banner to "Pops." Just drop by City Hall tomorrow between 9:30 and 4:00 to extend him your written best wishes.

While we have a wonderful community, MJ is certainly not immune to the wave of synthetic drug use sweeping large segments of the nation. Synthetic marijuana is an extremely dangerous drug marketed towards children and young adults. It is manufactured with various unknown chemicals which mimic the effect of marijuana. The city has a zero tolerance policy in regards to the sale, possession or manufacture of any drugs or narcotics, and this week arrested a merchant selling synthetic marijuana. Anyone with any information regarding criminal drug activity is encouraged to call the Mt. Juliet Police Department at (615) 754-2550. Information can also be given anonymously by calling (615) 754-TIPS (8477) or via the Mt. Juliet Police Department website at http://www.mjpd.org/ .

We’ve started an initiative where local animal related businesses can advertise at the MJ Bark Park. The Bark Park has been a big success, with far more utilization than we anticipated. If you are one of these businesses or know of one (e.g., vets, food stores, pet groomers, etc.) and want to market your store with a large group of local clientele, call Tina at City Hall, 754-2552 (ext 254) for details. For less than the cost of one newspaper ad, your sign will be prominently displayed for an entire year.

Elzie Patton Elementary School will hold an Expo bazaar on Saturday, 5 November, from 9a.m. to 4 p.m. Come join over 60 vendors, craftsman, artisans, and businesses for a jump on your holiday shopping. For more info call Beth Ruble at 773-9630.

Congratulations to MJHS Principal Mel Brown and his Team for their recent recognition as the best academic high school in the state. Wow, what an honor!

On a final note, Veterans Day will be this coming Friday (11 November), and City Hall will be closed. After nearly a decade of war, we ask all citizens to take a few moments next Friday to contemplate on the service and sacrifices our veterans have made in preserving our freedoms. There will be a special Veterans Day 30 Mile Walk, on the 11^th, beginning at the Legislative Plaza in Downtown Nashville at 5:30 a.m. and ending in Lebanon Square at 5:00 p.m. This will be the 3^rd year for this growing event, honoring our brave uniformed personnel who have given so much for each of us. For more info call Mr. Jim Retzke at 892-9060. Hooah!

Take care, God Bless & talk with you later.

R. Robertson

October 20, 2011

2011-10-20T20:54:00.003-05:00

Good Evening MJ:

A few updates as we head into what’s forecasted to be a picture perfect weekend.

1. As mentioned in previous blogs and the local newspapers, the MJ Senior Citizens’ Center will be hosting a “Celebrate MJ Walk”, next Saturday, 29 October. Registration starts at 6 a.m., with a 6 miler scheduled for 7 a.m. and a half miler cranking up at 7:30 a.m. As a prelude to the festivities, the Center will have a “Spaghetti Day” Luncheon ( 11 to 2) and Dinner ( 4 to 7) on Friday the 28th (. . . just to stock up on carbs for the next day). All proceeds go to support the MJ Senior Citizens Center. Come out and join Channel 5’s on Vicky Yates and other celebs as MJ walks it’s way to health. For more info, call Linda at 615-758-9114; or write her at director@mjseniorcenter.org

2. A little early, but something to consider: Ms. Hannah Skaggs, a Senior at Wilson Central is working to earn her Gold Award, Girl Scouting’s highest honor. She is doing a community project to host a family preparedness day, focusing on the need for family's to plan for emergencies and disasters right at home. The MJ Lowes has invited Hannah to hold the event at their store, on Saturday, November 19, 2011, 10:00am till 3:00pm. A great thing to put on your calendar for those of us who live and work in “Flood and Tornado Alley.”

3. Did you read about some of the exploits of our own MJPD in this week’s papers? Over $100k in stolen goods recovered! Several teens who were on a car burglary spree caught in the act. A shop lifter busted in Providence with thousands in lifted items. To Chief Garrett, Deputy Chief Hambrick, Commander Mullins, and all the outstanding women and men of the MJPD and Reserves, thanks and well done!

4. Some interesting news: Monday a new ridership record on the Music City Star was set with over 1500 passengers on the train that day. Speaking of commuting, some news circulating that that next July there will be an opportunity for I-40 drivers to purchase passes allowing them to legally drive 1 pax vehicles in the HOV lanes during peak travel times. You might ask what’s the catch? There will be active enforcement to fine those who wither don’t have passes or multiple riders. Another reason to consider taking the train.

5. To better serve our citizens, our Chief IT and Comms ( . . . or the Head Geek as we call him) Mr. Travis Taylor, has navigated the multiple hoops and loads of red tape necessary to allow MJ to implement a “311” call system. Just think, you’ll no longer have to remember what was the number of the section or department you wanted to speak to . . . just punch in three numbers. Here’s a likely script of what you’ll hear: Thank you for calling the City of Mt. Juliet. If this is a life-threatening emergency, hang-up and dial 911. If you know your parties 3-digit extension, you may dial it at any time. Or to dial by name, press 9 now. For the Police Department press 1. For Sewer Billing and City Property Tax issues press 2 . . .
We’re set to unveil the MJ’s 311 system on Tuesday, 1 November, with more info to follow on Channel 3, the local papers and our the city’s web page. Thanks Travis!

6. Here a new one! Partnering with several MJ churches, our Parks and Rec Team will host a teen “Glow Party” the Saturday (22 Oct), starting at 8:00, at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center. The word is out on “Facebook” and we’ve had some terrific feedback about the potential of this event, and what it could lead to in the future. Too often we hear “there’s nothing to do in MJ.” Do you know a teen? Encourage them to head for the CD Rec Center this Saturday evening. Music, refreshments and lots of fun all for the price of a couple trips to Mickey D’s.

7. Get you long range calendar’s out. This is an open invite to join Darlene and I on Saturday, 17 December, at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center for a farewell reception. We’ve made far too many friends and supporters across our city for me to go out individually, so please consider this your personal invitation. It’s starts at 7:00. More on this later.

That’s enough for this time. Take care, God Bless and talk with you later.
R. Robertson

Update: October 13, 2011

2011-10-13T19:48:00.002-05:00

Good Evening MJ:

A few updates as we head into the weekend:

1. Thanks to a couple of you who have expressed interest in participating in the Community Resiliency System (CRS) initiative which MJ is serving as one of 7 pilot cities in the U.S. If you would like more info on CRS or how to participate, please call Mark Hinesley, President of the MJ/West Wilson Chamber of Commerce, at 758-3478, or me at 754-2552 for more details. Our inaugural meeting will be in early November, so there’s plenty of time to check out some details.

2. September was another great month for sales tax receipts across MJ with nearly $22k more than in September 2010 ($500k v $478k). Remember how important it is to our local economy and our own businesses to “Shop MJ First.”

3. Several local church youth groups are partnering together to host a “Glow Party” at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center on Saturday, 22 October, from 8:00 pm to midnight. A nominal entry fee will be charged which will cover the cost of glow sticks, refreshments, music and more. This promises to be a great event for our teens (13 to 18), and the churches and Parks and Rec Team who are sponsoring this have asked me to encourage all our readers to let your teen’s know this truly great activity. For more info or to help with the cost of the event, call Taylor Bates (566-1660) or Tim Henson (642-6130).

4. Kudos to the MJ Parks and Rec Team and our own PD for great planning and execution of last week’s Halloween in the Park. We estimate about 6k rolled through the park that afternoon, loading up on tons of candy, sun and fun. One of the more interesting things I found from manning the city’s booth is how many of you there were who were already on Nixle. Most of the people I spoke with about signing up said they’ve been on for months and how much they loved the service. For our newcomers, you are an army of nearly 2,300 and growing. Tell your friends to sign up by going to the city’s web page (www.cityofmtjuliet.org) and go to the “Nixle” logo at the bottom left side of the screen.

5. A couple events to be on the lookout for: first, Sam's Sprint 5k Run, this Saturday (15 Oct). Sign up at 7 a.m. with the run/walk starting at 8 a.m. For those who don’t know, Sam's Sprint was created to honor the memory of infant Sam Clark, from here in MJ. Through your kind donations, last year Sam’s Sprint was instrumental in underwriting the cost of creating our “Squirrel’s Run” tot area at Charlie Daniels Park. This year proceeds from the run will go to support the Mt. Juliet Library. What a fantastic way to spend what promises to be a beautiful Fall Saturday morning.
Also, MJ’s own Senior Citizens Center will be holding its own “Celebrate MJ Walk” on Saturday, 29 October, right along North MJ Road. Vicky Yates, News Channel 5 Anchor, will serve as the Honorary Chair and Official “Celebrate Mt. Juliet Walk” Starter for this 6 mile event. Registration starts at 0600, ( yes, that’s 6 a.m. for the rest of you), with opening events at 6:45 a.m. For more details google the “MJ Senior Citizens Activity Center.” Proceeds go to the Center in it’s expanding mission to improve services for our senior population.

6. Did you see the latest edition of the front page of the MJ News? Our own Casey Binion, Project Officer for the NMJR widening project was interviewed, and reiterated, that barring major bouts of inclement weather, all 5 lanes of the road should be “drivable” by the end of the year. While there’s still touch up work to be done, this will be months ahead of what was forecasted when the project started. Many thanks to LoJac, TDOT, the City of MJ, Piedmont Gas, MTEMC, TDS, WWUD, Comcast, and others who have been involved in this tremendously complicated and expensive endeavor. Also, a special thanks to all the businesses and home owners along NMJR, and to our commuters for your patience and consideration. It’s been a long journey but the end is in sight.

7. On a final note, hopefully by early November, we’ll be looking to unveil a major initiative in City Hall with our plans to go to a “311” call in system. You’ll no longer need to remember a whole litany of phone numbers for individual city departments, by using a easy to use, menu driven prompt, you’’ be able to go straight to the department you wish to talk to. There’s still a few more “bugs” to work out, but we’re shooting to be up in the next few weeks.

Have a great weekend. Take care, God Bless and talk with you later.
R. Robertson

Update: October 7, 2011

2011-10-07T16:08:00.003-05:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

It’s the day before our annual “Halloween in the Park” blast, and your Parks and Rec Team are busy with last minute preparations in what is traditionally our biggest and best event of the year. Please join us, and over 60 vendors tomorrow for what promises to be a beautiful Fall day. Wear your best costume. There’ll be loads of free candy, great live music, food, hay and pony rides as well as inflatables for the kids. We have over $1k in prizes donated this year for the costume contests thanks to John Barker and his crew at Two Rivers Ford. It all starts at 11:00 am.

Do you have a question on your property taxes? We had another request to publicize the property tax calculator web site. Go to http://www.tennesseetrustee.com/node/13 and just follow the menu.

Kudos to the MJ Animal Shelter’s 501 3C Board of Directors for their excellent guidance and stewardship of the Shelter’s charitable fund. Thanks to them the Shelter continues to have the resources to work with select animals without consuming additional taxpayer funds. They are, in large measure, responsible for raising both the money and food donations that has enabled the MJ Shelter to not spend any operational funds on animal food in now nearly three years. Well Done! Speaking of the Shelter, there will be an Adoption Fair at Halloween in the Park. What a great opportunity to see your prospective pet in the great outdoors.

The Mapco North Station is up and operational. We wish General Manager James and his entire team the best of luck in their bright, attractive and well-designed new store. We also want to welcome a new store, Great Price Cleaners, on Lebanon Road at the Clearview Shopping Center, to the growing roles of new MJ businesses. A few other business notes include Kay’s Jewelers build-out is going great. They should be open just in time for the holidays; the Massage Envy at Providence has an awesome new addition going up; Price’s Collision Center commercials are advertising their new MJ location will be the their largest in the state; the new Firestone Store (behind Cheddars) will hold their ribbon cutting today; and the Diamond Dance Academy at Providence Commons is open for business with a ribbon cutting scheduled for next week. Good luck to all.

Best wishes and God’s speed to the Mission Team from Grace United Methodist (UMC), Providence UMC and churches from around the nation for their mission trip to Zimbabwe, Africa the next few weeks. Under the watchful eye of Mt. Juliet’s own Dr. Paul van Burean, this team will be doing medical, social and construction work with citizens from one of the world’s most challenged nations. Safe travels.

The Annual Martin Cummings Sweet Tooth Auction to benefit United Way - specifically Mt. Juliet Sr. Citizens Center and Mt. Juliet Help Center, will be Tuesday, October 11th at 9:30, with light breakfast at 9:00. Plenty of wonderful cakes, pies, etc., to be auctioned!!! Always a lot of fun, and open to the public!! The event will be at Crye-Leike Realtors on 1285 N. Mt. Juliet Road.

On a final note, the Community Resiliency program is gearing up. To refresh your memory, MJ was selected as one of the seven pilot cities across the US to work with federal officials at Oak Ridge National Labs and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to drill into what makes some communities more resilient to natural, man-made or economic disasters. Last month several of us from MJ attended a Department of Homeland Security session of what the pilot program is designed to do, and how it will be tested in these 7 select cities. The fun part is about to begin, and we wanted to extend an invitation to one or two select persons who want to make a difference in our community, and who has some time and the skills and talents to help us move MJ forward through the program. Does any of this sound like you or someone you may know? If that’s the case call or email me at (754-2552) or Mr. Mark Hinesley, Director of the MJ Chamber of Commerce (758-3478 or cell 668-5614/ email: mtjuliet@tds.net ) to talk about “what if’s.”

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

R. Robertson

Update: September 30, 2011

2011-09-30T14:04:00.006-05:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

Here’s some items for this weekend and early October you may wish to know:

1. A “Blessing of the Animals” will take place on Sunday, at St. Stephens Church on Lebanon Road, at the Prayer Garden’s, starting at 2:00 pm. Father Kibby will be officiating. All animals, large and small, furry or not, are welcome.

2. October’s “Mayor’s Walk” will be this Saturday, starting at 10:00, from Charlie Daniels Park. The path stretches from the Park to City Hall and return. What a great way to spend a crisp fall day.

3. Two large flea markets/yard sales will take place this weekend. First, the entire Brookstone (off West Division) community will hold their annual yard sale on Saturday, starting at 8:00. From what I understand there very many residents who will be setting up sales in their garages, driveways and homes across the subdivision, making your shopping choices really easy. Second, Mt. Juliet’s American Legion will hold its inaugural flea market right here in the City Hall Parking lot. The Legion’s sale starts at 7:00. For those participating in the Mayor’s walk, bring your billfold and a tote bag!

4. As a reminder, starting at 12:00 on Sunday, 2 October, MJ will celebrate “America’s Greatest Picnic (AGP)”. APG is a fun-filled afternoon packed with loads of music, food and outdoor events, aimed to raise awareness of our WWII veterans and to help them with funds in their travel to Washington, D.C. to see the WWII Monument. Special hosts for the day will be T. Graham Brown, and Curb Recording Artist Martin Ramey. AGP will be at the Charlie Daniels Park, with tickets at $10 and all proceeds going towards the cost of sending our vets to D.C. It lasts until 6:00, so come when you can. See you there.

5. Kudos to the MJ Staff for the great work they’ve done as signified by capturing several Greater Nashville Regional Council (GNRC) “Award of Excellence” last night at a special dinner in Portland. We’ve mentioned it before, but the GNRC is the “Gold Seal” of quality service in governmental programming and execution. Last night MJ continued its tradition of dominating the GNRC Awards by capturing recognition in areas ranging from Public Safety to Codes and Communications. Well done Team MJ!

6. Calling all Mason’s, their families and those who want to support this great institution, The Madison Masonic Lodge #762, will be holding its Fall Fish Fry, on 15 October, at the Madison Lodge. You can go to Map Quest for directions or call Jessie at 758-4854 for more details. The “Fry” lasts from 11:00 am to 5:30 pm. Where else can you get all the fish, fries and hushpuppies, slaw and drinks that you can eat for $8.00, with all proceeds going right back to Lodge and its charitable missions.

If you haven’t heard, Darlene (AKA: "The Colonel”) and I will be heading out to new challenges in late December. I sincerely appreciate all the kind notes and calls we’ve received over the last few days, but there is still a lot of time left and much to be done. We’ll talk more about our transition later, but for now, please consider this our invitation to you and your friends to join us at a farewell reception at the Charlie Daniels Recreation Center on Saturday, 17 December, at 7:00 pm. Block your calendar.

Finally, there’s a big game tonight as the mighty MJ Bears with a 5 and 0 record take on the also undefeated Gallatin Greenwave. There’s a special “Cheer” starting at MJHS at 7:00 tonight (Friday, 30 Sept) to send the Bears off in style. The first 100 kids 12 and under will be given a mini football, compliments of the Mt. Juliet Quarterback Club! “Are you ready for a little football?” What a great evening for it.

Take care, God Bless and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: September 27, 2011

2011-09-27T17:49:00.002-05:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

Just a few short notes for the mid week:

1. A couple of fantastic yard and community sales will take place across the city this weekend. The American Legion will host a yard sale, right in City Hall’s parking lot from 7:00 a.m. until it’s done. Another big one will the Annual Brookstone Community Yard sale. Lots of great furniture, clothing, decoration and brick-brac from many homeowners will be within walking distance of one another. The sale starts at 8:00 and runs until 2:00 pm. What a great place to get a jump start on Christmas.

2. County Mayor Randall Hutto and County Veterans Affairs Rep J.D. Satterfield will be in MJ City Hall tomorrow, Wednesday, 28 September, starting at 8:30 am and running through at least 10:00 am. Anyone who wishes to talk about a county or veterans issue are welcome to spend some time with them on a first-come/first serve basis.

3. “America’s Greatest Picnic (AGP)” will be celebrated this coming Sunday, 2 October, at Charlie Daniels Park, from noon until 6 pm. AGP will honor our greatest generation, WWII veterans, with all proceeds from the event going to a trip for these great men and women to Washington, D.C., to the WWII Memorial. Sunday promises to be a fantastic day with live entertainment from American Idol Star Bo Bice and Curb Recording Artist Martin Ramey, along with all types of good ole fashion fun. Tickets are $10. See you there.

4. New Business Update:

a. White Castle and the developers of Paddocks have come to an agreement after years of negotiating.
b. Longhorn Steakhouse will go before the Regional Planning Commission in October.
c. The Mapco North Station at the intersection of Lebanon and North MJ Roads is scheduled to re-open this Thursday.
d. Murphy Oil is now under construction at Paddocks.
e. ACE Hardware on North MJ Road will have its Grand Re-Opening this Thursday. Lots of great prizes. From 4 to 7 pm.
f. Mirko Restaurant is scheduled to start construction soon at Publix North complex.
g. Mt. Fuji Steak and Sushi is under construction at Publix North complex.
h. Falkner Landing is nearing completion with approximately eight new businesses already lined up.

If you have a business issue or concern, give Mr. Kenny Martin, MJ Director of Economic Development a call at 56-1460.

5. Walk with MJ Mayor Ed Hagerty this Saturday. Check in at Charlie Daniels Park with the walk scheduled to start at 10:00 am. Join the MJ fitness trend and take a hike with the Mayor.

6. Time is running out to enter the MJ City Beautiful Fall Decorating Contest; the deadline is this Friday. First place - $500, Second place - $200, Third place - $100. Prizes will be awarded October 10th at the Board of Commissioners Meeting. For an entry form and more information, please go to the City of Mt. Juliet website at www.cityofmtjuliet.org or contact Tina McMahel at 288-4631 or tinamcmahel@hotmail.com

Take care and God Bless MJ. Talk with you soon.

R. Robertson

Update: September 23, 2011

2011-09-23T19:32:00.004-05:00

Good Evening MJ:

Here’s a short round up of items of interest for your weekend:

1.       Sometimes, in a time when it’s so easy to bash government and public servants, a little good news comes along. We were informed today that your city team, Team Mt. Juliet, was once again named the number one award winner of “Program of Excellence Awards” from the Greater Nashville Regional Council (GNRC). This year Team MJ captured seven (7) awards, ranging from submissions from our PD, Parks and Animal Shelter, to our Code efforts and Ground Conservation programs to the “Community Conversation” over 500 of you participated in last June. The GNRC Program of Excellence awards are the benchmark for quality, citizen focused municipal and county-level operations and programming across governments in Middle Tennessee. The competition includes Nashville and Davidson County Metro, Clarksville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, Brentwood, Gallatin, Hendersonville and over 60 other cities in ten counties. Kudos to the men and women of Team MJ, those who serve you each and every day, for another absolutely outstanding year of dedicated service and superlative achievement.

2.       Let’s stay with some more good news this week. We were just advised today that the MJ Parks and Recreation Department will be awarded a $20,000.00 matching grant from the KaBoom Corporation for playground equipment. For those who follow local issues, last year MJ was the first and only city in Tennessee recognized by KaBoom, the largest outdoor play ground equipment manufacturer in the U.S., with the coveted “Playful City” designation. We replicated the honor this year, and in doing so, postured ourselves to compete for nation-wide grants. Thanks to the hard work of members of the Parks and Rec team, but especially to Ms. Kat Cook, who has since departed city employment, today MJ was notified that we were the “best of the best.” Well done!

3.       Speaking of the Parks, here’s a couple of upcoming events:

The 30th Annual Mt. Juliet Pow Wow takes place tomorrow and Sunday, Sept. 24-25, at the Charlie Daniels Park. Gates open 10:30 am both days. I met with Cindy Yohala, organizer for the event, and she believes that with the weather projected to be absolutely fantastic, they may see more than last year’s estimated 7k crowd. Tribal Dancers from around North America will be here competing for $11,000.00 in prize money. Bring a lawn chair. Come experience Native American Food, Native American Arts & Crafts, Dancing, Music and even an on-site Silversmith. This is one of the events that makes MJ so unique, so plan a day at CD Park.

October also promises to be really busy in your Parks and Rec system. First, on Sunday, 2 October, American Idol star Bo Bice and Curb Recording artist Martin Ramey will headline “America’s Greatest Picnic (AGP)”. AGP is an old fashioned styled picnic to honor our “Greatest Generation”, WWII vets. All proceeds from the day will provide Middle Tennessee WWII vets with FREE trips to the Washington, D.C.-based memorial they sacrificed so much for.   The picnic starts at noon and runs to 6:00 pm. You know you’ll want to be there for this once in a lifetime event.

Don’t forget, the biggest day of the year in the MJ Parks system is coming up on Saturday, 8 October, with “Halloween in the Park”. Without doubt, this year’s Halloween festivities promises to be bigger and better than ever before. Come see Parks and Rec Director Jay, along with Rocky, Jan, Rose, Taylor, David, Tim, CJ, Bradley and Ty in their scariest outfits . . . oops, that was supposed to be a secret. Stay tune for more details.

4.       On a final note, the City Beautiful Fall Decorating Contest deadline has been extended until September 30th! We want you to decorate your business for fall and show your city pride. Judging takes place the week of October 3rd, so hurry and get your entry in and start decorating!  First place - $500, Second place - $200, Third place - $100. Prizes will be awarded October 10th at the Board of Commissioners Meeting. For an entry form and more information, please go to the City of Mt. Juliet website at www.cityofmtjuliet.org or contact Tina McMahel at 288-4631 or tinamcmahel@hotmail.com

Have a great weekend MJ and God Bless.

R. Robertson

Update: September 15, 2010

2011-09-15T13:30:00.004-05:00

Greetings MJ on this cloudy Thursday:

Here’s a few items of interest and FYI’s from around the city:

We’re getting close to our largest park and recreation event of the year, our annual “Halloween in the Park (HIP).” HIP 2011 promises to be bigger and better than any in the past. On 8 October, the place to be is Charlie Daniels Park. For more info call 758-6522, or go to the Parks and Rec section of the city’s web page (www.cityofmtjuliet.org).

Some good news this month, sales tax receipts for August were up about $27k over the same period in 2010. That’s a little more than a 5% gain, and much better than the dip we took in July. Thanks for Shopping MJ First. Speaking of Shopping MJ, have you noticed the new billboard on the west bound side of I-40 around the Mundy Park area. Special thanks to Decker signs and CPS land for their work on this and for waiving the normal rental cost of the board.

Remember, you can buy Music City Star tickets right here at City Hall. You can also get advanced game day Star express tickets for $15; $5 less than walk up purchases. The game day express will be pulling out of the MJ Station this Sunday for the Titan’s home opener against Baltimore’s Ravens.

The MJ Senior Citizens Center will be hosting a commemorative “Celebrate MJ Walk” on Saturday, 29 October. The walk, which is a recognition of the soon to complete North MJ Road (NMJR) widening project, starts at the Senior Citizens Center and moves north along NMJR and returns the Center. All totaled, it’s 6 miles if you cross the finish line. There will be a special, protein-packed spaghetti lunch and dinner available at the center the day before. All proceeds from the luncheon, dinner and walk go to the Senior Citizens Center. The meals are $7 each, and the walk is $20 (with T shirts available while they last) What a wonderful way to spend a crisp Fall day. For more info call Linda at 557-4703.

Speaking of walks, Nilette Rensch, wanted me to let you know the 2nd annual Huntington’s Disease Walk of Hope will take place this Saturday, 9/17, with registration starting at 8 a.m. and the walk itself starting at 10:00 from Jerry Mundy Park. Last year they raised over $35k to combat Huntington's Disease. HD is a devastating, hereditary, degenerative brain disorder for which there is, at present, no cure. HD slowly diminishes the affected individual's ability to walk, talk and reason, with eventually the person becoming totally dependent upon others for care. For more info, call Nilette at 316-6626, or simply come on down to Mundy Park this Saturday morning to make a difference.

The MJPD wanted me to remind you to lock your vehicle. They’ve seen an increase in car burglaries, with most coming from unsecured vehicles. Don’t leave items visible. Isn’t it ironic how no one ever thinks it will happen to them, yet there’s ample evidence indicating sooner or later it will, particularly if you “invite” it by not locking your car.

Several of us had the opportunity to talk with the leadership of TDOT and TDOT’s Region 3 this week. All of them still indicate they are shooting for all lanes to be open and operational on NMJR by the end of the year. There will be some cosmetic work to follow next Spring, but essentially this will be months ahead of the original projection. Keep your fingers crossed for continued favorable weather.

That’s about all for this edition. Take care, God Bless and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: September 9, 2011

2011-09-09T18:39:00.002-05:00

Good Evening MJ:

Know the expression, "when it rains it pours?" Well in this case it's pouring in MJ, but in a good sense. We've just been notified that Accurate Auto Body has leased a major facility in MJ for their 8th location. Accurate, along with Price's Auto Collision and Auto Body America, will be bringing jobs to MJ in the near future.

Some other good news . . . we were informed this week that MJ was selected for a second straight year as a KaBoom Corporation "Playful CIty." KaBoom is the largest manufacturer of outdoor playground equipment in the U.S., and each year selects a handful of cities across America that epitomizes the concepts of having outdoor fun. The good thing is this year our recognition may lead to new parks and rec grant opportunities. In 2012 we'll join the ranks of Aspen, Colorado; Atlanta, Georgia; Arlington and San Antonio, Texas; Bloomington and Indianapolis, Indiana; Columbus, Ohio; Coral Gables, Florida; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona; San Antonio, Texas; San Francisco and less than 100 other recreationally progressive cities across the nation. Kudos to Mr. Cameli and his superb staff for leading the charge on this one.

Speaking of "Playful Cities", I hope you and your family will choose to join us tomorrow for MJ's 2nd Annual Playday in the Park. Last year was a great kickoff for this annual event, promising loads of fun for the family. Charlie Daniels Park is the place to be tomorrow, Saturday, 10 September, from 10:00 until 2:00.

Here's an open invitation to the annual Blessing of the Animals on Sunday, October 2, at 2 P.M. The blessing will take place at St. Stephen’s Catholic Community, 14544 Lebanon Rd. Old Hickory. Father Pat Kibby will officiate. Meet in the Prayer Garden behind St. Stephens's. All pets, large and small are welcome with proper restraints. Donations of pet products will be collected for the Mt. Juliet Animal Shelter.

On a final note, as we approach the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, please take a few minutes to not only reflect on the nearly 3k who lost their lives that day, but also to the thousands of military and civilian personnel who have gone in harm’s way to protect our way of life.

Take care and God Bless.

R. Robertson

Update: September 3, 2011

2011-09-03T15:31:00.002-05:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

A short note for this holiday weekend.

MJ Playday is next Saturday at Charlie Daniels Park. The Parks and Rec team started "Playday" as a way to recognize MJ's selection as Tennessee's only "Playful City" moniker by the KaBoom Corporation, the largest manufacturer of outdoor playground equipment in the U.S. Carrying on in that tradition, we'll transform CD Park into a community playfield next week with lots of family oriented fun and games. We hope you'll join us. Check out the city's web page, Channel 3 or call the MJ Parks Department at 758-6522 for more info.

Want some good news? Are you a Gretchen Wilson fan?? Want a chance to see her up close??? We'll . . . Gretchen Wilson has agreed to be the Grand Marshal for the 2011 Mt. Juliet Christmas Parade! Lot's more details to come, but Saturday, 3 December, you'll have the opportunity to see Wilson County's own Gretchen here in MJ. Thanks to Commission Jim Bradshaw for his help on this one.

Do you have some hazardous materials that needs to be properly disposed of? Wilson County will hold a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day next Saturday, 10 September, at the County Fairgrounds (945 Baddour Parkway) between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

For all you businesses and business owners out there. The MJ City Beautiful Committee is looking for the best of the best. The Autumn Decoration Contest will find the top three decorated businesses in the city, with third place winning $100, 2nd place capturing $200 and $500 going to the first place champ. Wow. Break out the brooms, go buy some flowers and bushes or get that coat of paint up. For more details call Tina at 288-4631 or Tricia at 589-2815. Entry forms are on the city's web page, at the top right hand corner.

A final note comes this week from some of the activities of Mr. Kenny Martin, your Economic Development Director. Through a lot of "sweat equity" and his "can do" attitude, MJ will soon see a Price's Collision Center and a Auto Body America firm come to our city. Kenny worked these two businesses hard, even identifying facilities for them to occupy. Between the two we'll see lot of new, well paying jobs and equally important, will capture some of the sales tax from this industry that has been leaving our city. Good work Kenny.

That's about all for this edition. Have a great, safe Labor Day. Take care and God Bless.

R. Robertson

Update: August 25, 2011

2011-08-25T18:18:00.003-05:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

Wow, check out the progress on North Mt. Juliet Road this week! Work crews are entering one of the more difficult sections of the project, the intersection with the train tracks and West Division, but things are going really well right now. There’s lot of things going on all along the road, so remember, take it easy on the speed and drive with care.

As a reminder, Wilson County Mayor Hutto and County Veteran Affairs Officer J.C. Satterfield hold office hours once a month (the last Wednesday of the month) at MJ’s City Hall, starting at 8:30. You can make an appointment with the Mayor’s assistant at 443-1383 or drop in. The next visit will be this coming Wednesday, 31 August.

The MJ Animal Shelter is running a special for these “dog days” of August. All dogs are $55.00, and that includes all required shots and spaying or neutering. You can check out the animal inventory on-line at the city’s web page (www.cityofmtjuliet.org) Speaking of deals. This Saturday, starting at 8:00 a.m., is MJ’s “World Famous” Flea Market/Yard Sale. This promises to be a good one, because as of this writing we’ve got nearly 40 vendors. There’s still a couple booths left and time to purchase them. Call 758-6522 for details. Vendor or buyer, this Saturday morning (from 8:00 till 1200) the place for your early holiday shopping is right here in MJ at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center.

Movies in the Park: Our next and final film feature of the summer will be Friday, 2 September, at the amphitheater at Charlie Daniels Park. Bring your family and friends out at dusk for an evening under the stars with that “Better than the Average Bear” Yogi, and his trusty sidekick, Boo Boo.

Cook’s United Methodist Church will be selling barbecue and ribs on Saturday, September 3. Pulled pork sells for $7.50/lb. and a slab of ribs (approximately 4 lbs.) sells for $25. Sounds like a mouth watering deal doesn’t it! The meat will be available for pick-up at the church from 12-3 pm on Saturday. Proceeds will be used to support the needy in our community. Orders may be placed by contacting Joyce Gaines at kwgain@yahoo.com. Or call Joyce at 513-4318.

Since 1971, 26 August, has been declared “Women’s Equality Day” in the U.S. The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. This was the culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world’s first women’s rights convention, in Seneca Falls, New York. Observance of Women’s Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to women’s continuing efforts toward full equality. Well done Ladies.

There’s a couple of church affiliated organizations conducting African mission trips in the near future that I’d like to mention as we close out this week’s update. The first EMI, Engineering Ministries International, will be taking on upgrading three hospitals in Freetown, Sierra Leone. EMI partners professional, Christian engineers together for construction or restitution efforts in third world countries. This year, 10 engineers will travel to Freetown to work on the infrastructure of several hospitals in one of the poorest nations on the globe. Spearheading the Nashville-based contingent is Mt. Juliet’s own Mr. Marlin Keel, BS, MS, Vanderbilt University. The team departs in a couple weeks.
Another mission with a sizeable Mt. Juliet team will head for Zimbabwe in early October. Operating under the auspices of the United Methodist Church, the “Project Tariro Awareness Tour” travels to the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe, focusing their work on HIV and AIDS prevention and control while also establishing a sewing ministry for residents. At one time nearly a third of Zimbabwe’s population had AIDS or HIV, and even today close to 15% do. The average life span in this nation under 40. As part of their program, the Project Tariro group will be purchasing manual sewing machine ($90.00 each) once they’re in country; taking them to the city of Mutare, where they’ll provide classes and instruction on sewing infant diapers and other essential clothing items.
Want to help? For EMI’s Sierra Leone mission, call Mr. Keel at 758-2560. POC for Project Tariro is Dr. Paul Van Buren, a Mt. Juliet resident, who can be reach at 758-4635. Remember, Tennessee is the Volunteer State. For so very little you can make a huge impact in the lives of those who need so much.

Remember, share this note, and how to sign up on Nixle with your family and friends. Take care, God Bless and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: August 19, 2011

2011-08-19T16:19:00.001-05:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

A couple weeks ago you may have read articles in our local papers about some vandalism that took place in MJ’s South Park, off Belinda Parkway. I’m pleased to tell you today that several juveniles have been identified in this matter and are being dealt with appropriately. Special thanks to Detective Joe Riddle for the good work on this one.

Know a professional looking for a job? R&D Fixtures of Mt. Juliet is hiring Cabinet Makers and Metal Fabricators. Applicants need to have at least three years of experience. Send resumes to: Bill Wicks, R&D Fixtures, 490 Industrial Drive Mt. Juliet, Tennessee 37122. No Phone Calls Please. Also, the soon to open Mapco station at the intersection of Lebanon and North Mt. Juliet Roads advises they are hiring. For more info check out their web page.

Paving on Lebanon Road is done . . . it looks super! The TDOT, Region 3 Deputy Director advised today they’ll soon start the appropriate painting and signage to add bike lanes along the route. He also indicates they are on track to have the all lanes of the North Mt. Juliet Road widening project drivable by late this Fall. Every indication is both TDOT and the Contractor are doing very well on this project.

Here’s some business openings Kenny Martin, MJ’s Economic Development Director, advises have just occurred or are in the window:

- Los Compadres is now open for business. They are located on Lebanon Rd., close to the site where the new Lexon Insurance is under construction.
- Pizza Hut Carry out is opening in Providence Commons, close to Publix South.
- Roadhouse Subs, also located in Providence Commons should be opening in the next month.
- Diamond Dance Academy, another new business for Providence Commons is also projected to be up in the next 4 to 6 weeks.
- The new Maristone Assisted Living Complex in now taking residency applications. They are located in the Providence area, near Two Rivers Ford.
- Firestone at The Paddocks should be operational within the next 4 to 6 weeks.
- Murphy Oil, also in The Paddocks, should be moving earth in the near future.
- McDonalds has been approved for a new restaurant in the Providence Commons area.
- A Jonathan’s Grill is coming. This promises to be one of MJ premiere restaurants.
- The Faulkner Center, on Mt. Juliet Road will have a Merle Norman Cosmetics, Elegant Diamond Jewelers as well as an exercise facility and a hair/nail salon hopefully up in time for the holiday’s.

Remember: Shop MJ First.

Captain Marty Heckman of WEMA advises ground sites for all three of the additional WEMA emergency sirens MJ purchased have been approved. They include: across from Brookstone Subdivision; at Mt. Juliet Elementary on West Division; and across from the Providence Marketplace. Marty states he hopes to have the sirens operational by September. Thanks for your help Marty.

Need to get rid of a few of those household “treasures”, or looking for a place to make some great buys? They are both in the same place, at the MJ Annual Community Flea Market, next Saturday, 27 August, at the Charlie Daniels Park, starting at 7 a.m. We’ve already have close to 20 vendors signed up but there’s room for lot’s more. For details or to secure a booth, call the MJ Community Center front desk at 758-6522. See you there.

Finally, federal officials from Oak Ridge National Lab, Community & Regional Resilience Institute briefed about 30 county and city officials, along with transportation, faith-based, utilities, roads, non-profit and business sector leaders this afternoon regarding Mt. Juliet’s selection as a pilot city for the Community Resilience System (CRS). Those in attendance learned what steps the federal government has done since 9/11 to help assist and improve a community’s capabilities and timeliness in recovering from manmade, natural or economic disasters. Mt. Juliet will join 10 cities from across the U.S. testing a community oriented, automated driven assessment system to better prepare for issues such as those recently faced in cities like Joplin, Missouri; Huntsville, Alabama; towns across the Gulf, or in scenarios involving the loss of major employers. You’ll be seeing more about this here and in the media, but for now, congratulations MJ on your inclusion in this process.

That’s all for this week. Take care, God Bless and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: August 10, 2011

2011-08-10T17:09:00.005-05:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

Here’s some pretty powerful data points to mull over next time you are stuck in the car headed to work in Nashville. In June 2010, 2,590 passengers boarded the Music City Star from Mt. Juliet. In June 2011 that number had increased to 3,900. Wow! Between 1 July 2010 and the end of June this year, the Mt. Juliet station saw over 36k riders board from here, and our average daily ridership this June was nearly 180 passengers. Officials at Nashville’s Regional Transportation Authority advise that of the 25 top commuter rail systems in the U.S., Nashville’s own Music City Star had the second highest growth (with Portland, OR beating us by only one-half of one percent). The average growth for all 25 systems was one-half percent while Nashville’s was over 20%. Why pay $3.50 a gallon, plus wear and tear, oil, tires, and the frustration of driving when you could join your friends, colleagues and other commuters in great discussions on your way to the office, more time to sleep, some quality blackberry time, read a book or simply day dream as the landscape passes by. Tickets are available at City Hall. Train officials are also running a special “Game Day Express” for Titans fans from 1 August to 11 September with single game ride tickets for any game running just $12; a 20% discount over the normal $15 price. Game Day Express tickets are also available at City Hall.

Thanks to everyone who turned out at Providence Market Place for National Night Out last week. Even though the evening was a scorcher, PD leadership reports several hundred joined in the festivities. We hope it was a good transitional event for the kids as they head back to school.

“Walk With the Mayor” Cook’s United Methodist Church (UMC) is sponsoring a series of weekend walks with Mayor Hagerty between now and October. The first one (a 3 mile course, but do what you feel capable of) will be this Saturday, 13 August, starting at 10:00. Sign up takes place at the Recreation Center in Charlie Daniels Park. Mr. Jim Webster, Cook’s Parish Nurse and Walk Coordinator, advises over 125 have already committed to be there. It’s a great family oriented event aimed at enhancing personal health right here in our part of Tennessee, the third most obese state in the nation. For more info give Jim a call at 828-6905. For those of you who are reading this on Nixle, please pass it along to your friends.

Take special note of all the lane changes on North MJ Road. The road widening project is really moving along, with changes in traffic patterns taking place nearly every day. Drivers: Slow down and keep alert.

Now’s the time to start cleaning out the garage, basement and/or attic for the great MJ Community Flea Market, Saturday, 27 August. To quote the actor Red Foxx, “this promises to be a big one” with both the exotic and practical all on the same parking lot. Crowds at the Flea Market usually top 1k, so it’s both a buyers and sellers paradise. Booth space is only $20. For more info or to rent a spot, call the friendly folks at Charlie Daniels Park, at 758-6522.

No, it’s not Christmas in August, but we would like to hear from you about our 2011 Christmas Parade, scheduled for Saturday, 3 December. For most of this year the Parade Committee had a lead on one of America’s sports superstars, Hank Aaron, to serve as our Grand Marshal. As often said, the best laid plans . . . Well the best laid plans recently changed and Hank won’t be able to be here. We’re looking for a major name! Two years ago it was Barry Wilmore, Commander of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, and one of MJ’s own. Last year it was Rudy Ruttengier, author and namesake of the classic feel good movie, “Rudy.” Do you have any ideas on who could top Hank, Barry or Rudy? If so, send me an email at rrobertson@cityofmtjuliet.org. Make sure your prospect is willing and available to be our Grand Marshal before you write. Thanks.

City sales tax revenue for July was reported today and MJ’s share was $516k, or a drop of $41k (7.3% decline) from last July. Ouch! Please, . . . Shop MJ First!

Take care, God Bless and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: August 3, 2011

2011-08-03T09:17:00.006-05:00

Good Morning MJ:

There’s a special event that just popped up today that I wanted to pass along to readers. At 3:30, in Charlie Daniels Park, a ribbon cutting ceremony will open “Squirrel’s Run” Tot Park to the rear of the Rec Center by Planet Playground. What make “Squirrel’s Run” special is its namesake, Sam Clark, AKA: “Squirrel”. Sam was the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Herby Clark, who passed away with SIDS not too long ago. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have lead the charge to capture donations that helped build “Squirrel’s Run”. At last count, through their efforts, over $12k was dedicated in Sam’s memory. It’s a hot day, and there’s lots of things going on, but if you have a chance, stop by and show the Clark’s how much you appreciate their efforts.

Thanks to the hundreds of volunteers and members of the MJPD who turned out last night for National Night Out. Also, a special thanks to Providence Market Place for serving as our host and to Corporal Tyler Chandler of the MJPD for some great planning and coordination. Most people have no idea how much time and effort goes into pulling off a program like this, but it’s this kind of event that speaks to the tremendous close knit fabric that makes up our community.
Movie in the Park. Friday, 5 August, Charlie Daniels Park, Starts at Dusk. Great Family classic film, Aladdin. See you there.

This note goes out to the thousands of you on Nixle or who use the city’s web page. Mr. Taylor, our IT Director, recently shared some data from January to EOM July of this year that you may find fascinating:

We had over 118k hits from 86 countries . . . Wow!
Of the 118k hits, over 50k of them were absolute unique visitors . . . Bigger Wow!
The average time spent on site was 2 minutes and 39 seconds; viewers are not just flipping through.
Other than here in the U.S., in order of use our international visitors come from Canada; India; the United Kingdom; and our friends in Germany.
The top page visited is our “Online Services” followed by Parks.
Nearly 2k visits were made to the CM blog with over 1200 unique visitors.
There’s over 2k Nixle users.
Pretty powerful stuff. Thanks to all of you who follow MJ.

Good start to the school year. The MJPD reports no serious issues or major traffic concerns as school opened up on Monday. We do ask those of you who frequent Charlie Daniels Park most weekdays for football or cheerleading to please use caution and take it slow; the parking lot is full and there’s lots of children running around. Consider joining the Rec Center and come in out of the heat while you are waiting. We have a great exercise room!

On a final note, Mrs. Shirley Benjamin, one of the city’s followers, asked me to forward this timely advise about how to rescue pets locked in cars during these steamy days of summer. Thanks for the reminder Mrs. Benjamin.

Step 1: Try to Locate the Pet Parent
(You can ask most stores to do this.)
Step 2: Educate
Explain the dangers of leaving a pet in a hot car. Make sure the pet gets out of the car as soon as possible.
Step 3: Call 911
Fourteen states have enacted specific laws that protect dogs in hot cars, as have many municipalities—but even in places lacking such a law, leaving an animal in a hot car may constitute cruelty.
Step 4: Pat Yourself on the Back
Pets are counting on people like you to save their lives.

Until next time take care and God Bless.
R. Robertson

Update: July 30, 2011

2011-07-30T08:12:00.004-05:00

Good Morning MJ:

Here's a few items of interest and FYI's:

1. Parents: if you haven't checked out the new Tot Park inside Charlie Daniels Park then take the kids out this weekend for a real treat. Thanks to the work of many and the kind donation by the Clark Family in honor of their son better known as "Squirrel", MJ's Charlie Daniels Park has added a whole new state-of-the-art play area for our youngest citizens. We hope to dedicate the play area to "Squirrel" next week, but from all indications the concrete will be dry on the area walkway this weekend, so check it out.

2. Movie in the Park, next Friday, starting at dusk. We're between 150 to 200 film buffs each month at our family oriented films. This one should be particularly fun to the young and young at heart . . . so says Yogi and Boo Boo! It all takes place at the amphitheater in Charlie Daniels Park, Friday, 5 August.

3. Calling all Volunteers: Your Animal Shelter needs you. It's summer and the numbers are up; adoptions are down. Right now there's a wide variety of dogs, and even more cats to choose from. Want to do more; consider being a Shelter volunteer or give to the Shelter's non-profit. It's tax deductible! For more info just call or stop by the MJ Animal Shelter on Industrial Drive. Speaking of Animals, between 12:00 and 3:00 pay a visit to the MJ Dairy Queen on Lebanon Road today. $1 of every "Blizzard" sold goes to the Shelter's non-profit, and there'll be dogs ready for adoption. It promises to be a great day for a cool treat.

4. School is back in session this Monday so commuters should plan accordingly. Remember to give yourself a little extra time, particularly if your trip involves travel on North Mt. Juliet Road (NMJR). Speaking of NMJR, things are really starting to take shape there; curbing, sidewalks, sod, and even asphalt is starting to go down. The end is in sight.

5. With the help of the MJPD, MJ will celebrate National Night Out on Tuesday, 2 August. National Night Out is a family oriented event that couples various businesses around the city, the MJ community and the MJPD together for an evening of fun. Be at Providence Market Place this coming Tuesday, starting at 5:00 p.m. There'll be tons of freebies.

6. Lookin' for something different to do? Bring your four legged best friend to MJ South Park (off Belinda Parkway) and check out the MJ Bark Park. Usually Fido will see lots of others friends playing at this hidden city jewel. Not into dogs? Try a round of Frisbee Golf at Mundy Park. It's free! Don't have just the right disc? You can even rent them at Charlie Daniels Park and drop em' right there at Mundy.

7. Wondering what's all the construction on Lebanon Road? TDOT is repaving Lebanon Road from the Davidson County line to Park Glen Road. This $1.2m project is expected to take 45 to 60 days, but all work is scheduled to be done between 8:00 p.m. at night and 5:00 a.m. in the morning. As an added benefit look for new bike lanes and associated signage when the project is done. Thanks TDOT!

8. Can you say "Community Resilience?" There'll be much more on this over the next few months, but MJ has the unique opportunity to be one of 10 cities in the United States selected to participate in a federal pilot program examining how a community prepares and recovers from a terrorist attack, man-made or natural disaster, and even an economic catastrophe. Pretty timely stuff considering what recently happened in Joplin, Missouri; Tuscaloosa, Alabama; and last week, Oslo, Norway. Keep tuned.

8. On a final note, a personal thanks to the men who make up the MJ contingent of volunteer firefighters at Station 3 of WEMA. These trained and ready professionals have done an exceptional job supplementing the full timers at Station 3 for now going on 2 years. With all the recent media and talk about fire and emergency services the last few months, we don't hear much about these outstanding fellows who volunteer on their own time. Thanks for all you do Gentlemen.

Take care and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: July 15, 2011

2011-07-15T15:08:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

Here’s a few items of interest for you:

The Music City Star set a single-month record for ridership in June with 26,989 passenger trips. It’s the third single-month ridership record set by the Star this year. Record ridership was achieved in February with 20,465 passenger trips and again in March with 25,321 passenger trips. For this June, ridership on the Star increased 53 percent compared to June last year; while for the year Star ridership is up 40 percent. Discussions with many newcomers indicate the Star is one of biggest reasons they chose to live in MJ. Beat the high cost of gas, save the wear, tear and time of the daily drive, and help reduce the ozone level. Take the Music City Star.

Sales tax receipts were slightly up last month, with MJ receiving $9k more than in June of last year. The concern is our percent of growth is the lowest it’s been in several years. MJ’s principle revenue stream is from sales tax receipts so please consider “Shopping Mt. Juliet First” when buying.

Our Parks and Recreation Team will be hosting MJ’s first ever “Splash Day”, on Saturday, 23 July, starting at 11:00 at Charlie Daniels Park. Come on out and bring the family during these “dog days” of summer to beat the heat with an afternoon of water oriented festivities and fun. There will be several water slide inflatables, dunking booths and even a water gun corral. Food will be available and prizes will be awarded. Best of all . . . its FREE!

Remember, invite your friends and family members to follow MJ activities through Nixle. For info on sign up procedures, simply go the city’s web page (www.cityofmtjuliet.org) and click on the “Nixle” logo at the bottom left side of the screen.

Kudos to the 2nd shift of the MJPD for some great police work this Wednesday night. While most of us were resting at home, the members of the MJPD conducted an extended vehicle pursuit of a drunk/reckless driver across a large segment of the southern portion of the city. After the driver did several evasive turns and maneuvers the force managed to get the vehicle pulled over. The driver was charged with DUI, evading the police and reckless endangerment. Well done! Speaking of DUI, we received a note from the Office of the District Attorney this week noting that of the 139 DUI cases disposed this quarter in Wilson County, 122 were found guilty; an 87% conviction rate. While these figures were for the entire county, they clearly demonstrate there’s a price to pay for DUI.

Thanks goes out this week to two Tom’s . . . first, Tom Hickle of H&H Supply off Belinda Parkway, for donating a unique air handling device for the conference room of City Hall. Valued at $600, this state-of-the-art machine will do wonders to combat high temps during these hot and humid days we’ve been experiencing. Our second Tom is the city’s old friend, Tom Needham, who donated shrubs, flowers and mulch to spruce up the front of the MJ Animal Shelter. Many of you who know Mr. Needham, recognize his long standing contributions in underwriting and conducting MJ’s 4 July fireworks. Tom’s not only loyal to his city in July, but throughout the year by donating materials and supplies. A final tip-of-the-hat goes to Mr. Jon Bateman, Construction Manager for Mapco. Jon, and the Mapco Team, just donated a couple of ice machines from the Mapco station that will be renovated at the intersection of Lebanon Rd and North MJ Rd to the city’s Parks and Rec and Public Works crews. Your kindness and generosity are truly appreciated. Thanks Gentlemen.

Stay cool, take care and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: July 8, 2011

2011-07-08T17:44:00.002-05:00

Good Evening MJ:

A short note for a rainy Friday:

Last week I mentioned prospects of a major announcement in the gift and giving area to the city. Today it is wonderful to note that due to the efforts of Mr. Kenny Martin, your city’s Economic Development Director, the Firehouse Subs Corporation will be donating 10 Phillips Heart Start Defibrillators for use in MJPD Patrol cars. Valued at over $16k, these devices will circulate throughout the city 24/7. While we still won’t have a machine for each patrol unit, thanks to kindness of the Firehouse Foundation, and Mr. Martin’s persistence, we’ll make major inroads to improve the first response capabilities of our force. Thanks Firehouse and well done Kenny.

This note went out this evening to all Home Owner Association and MJ church leaders:

“The Mt. Juliet Animal Shelter is experiencing unprecedented numbers of animals never before seen in its three year history. With nearly 90 animals housed this weekend the workload on staff, volunteers, and veterinary staff is extremely challenging. These historic numbers are also creating increased stress in the animals, making them more susceptible to illness and disease. Now is the time to please come by the shelter at 115 Industrial Drive, Mt. Juliet, TN or give us a call at 615-773-5533 for information on how you can adopt one of our wonderful animals.”

The staff and volunteers of the Shelter are extremely stretched. Here’s how you can help.
1. Adopt!
2. Volunteer!
3. Contribute to the Shelter’s non-profit support organization!
4. Donate animal food or other items!

MJ Splash Day at Charlie Daniels Park is coming . . . Saturday, 23 July. A great family fun day at no cost. Inflatables, water slides, games. Mark your calendar.

Finally, take a look at some updates to the MJ homepage on the web (www.cityofmtjuliet.org). There’s still a lot of work left to do, but Mr. Taylor and Mr. Adams, who run IT and TV matters for the city, have been hard at work to streamline and update the homepage. Make it one of your favorites, and don‘t forget, you can also follow activities and talk with others as Facebook friends of the MJ parks and MJPD.

Take care.

R. Robertson

Update: July 1, 2011

2011-07-01T16:50:00.004-05:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

Welcome to your 4 July edition of the City Manager Blog. Here's a few items of interest:

1. Movie in the Park. Tonight (Friday, 1 July). "The Goonies", an 80's something family film (some mild language). Starts at dusk at Charlie Daniels Park. Free popcorn. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs and enjoy this warm summer evening with a classic.

2. MJ's 4 July Firework Fest. Did you read The Tennessean the other day where a news writer noted MJ has one of the largest 4 July firework displays in Middle Tennessee? Much of the credit goes to Mr. Tom Needham, of Needham's Nursery, who foots a large part of the bill. Join MJ'ers and thousands of others Monday night at Providence Mall. Fireworks are scheduled to start at 9:00 p.m. By the way, if you would like to help Tom out with the expenses, just drop by Needham's Nursery on Lebanon Road.

3. Thanks to LoJac, WWUD, Piedmont, MTEMC, TDS, TDOT and others for some great work the last few weeks on the North Mt. Juliet Road widening project. Despite the region being about 4" above normal rainfall for the year, the project is coming along well. There will be a monthly project update next week, so more details will be available then, but suffice to say, we're looking forward to the road being "driveable" late this Fall.

4. New Businesses: Kassie Wiley has opened a law office at 541 North Mt. Juliet Road; the grand "reopening" of ACE Hardware on North Mt. Juliet Road (NMJR) under new management has occured; Roadhouse Subs will be located in Providence Commons (by Publix #2); and Las Compadres Mexican Restaurant on Lebanon Rd. will soon open their doors. Some others to report on include an expanded MAPCO Station at the intersection of NMJR and Lebanon Road has gotten underway. The current station will close down on/about 18 July, with the new one opening 60 to 90 days later. Firestone Tires will open a new store at the Paddocks (behind Cheddars) in the next month or so; and work is underway for Lexcon Insurance (on Lebanon Rd), which, when done will be about a 40k square foot facility employing up to 150. MJ is on the move!

5. Several weeks ago I reported about donations to the City, and marveled at over $850k worth of materials or time had been given by businesses, churches, groups and individuals over the last couple years. Just a quick update shows that number continues to grow with more than $2k in items donated for the "Community Conversation", a reconditioned pick up truck from Two Rivers Ford valued at more $4k; $1k in tires and wheels from Goodyear; a new lawn mower from 2 Rivers Church and $500 for outdoor equipment from Life Assembly Church. Right now our roster is bumping up around $900k, and that's not including the time of our volunteers at the MJ Animal Shelter or today's $500 donation to the Shelter's non profit. Mayor Hagerty stated it best at the Community Conversation when he said we are blessed to live in such a unique city. I'll have another big announcement regarding "donations" to the city the next time I write.

That's all for this time. Take care and God Bless. Have a happy and safe 4th.

R. Robertson

Update: June 24, 2011

2011-06-24T21:43:00.001-05:00

Good Evening MJ:

First thanks to the more than 500 individuals who attended last night’s “Community Conversation” at MJ High School. The crowd was larger than expected, particularly for a warm weeknight evening. This possibly accentuates the interest in the information shared between the Board of Commissioners and those that were there. One interesting note was the number of clickers issued and statistics collected on the questions towards the middle and end of the night indicated the crowd continued to grow as the session progressed. And unlike a usual public hearing no one left early. Over the next few weeks we’ll be talking more about the Conversation, but for now, again, thanks to all those who came out and made your opinions known last night.

We also want to extend a special thanks to those who helped sponsor last night’s event: D.T. McCalls & Sons; H@H Supply; Mayer Electric; the Del Webb Women’s Club & Lowe’s; Corner Pub Between the Lakes; the Wilson County Joint Economic Development Board; Publix’s; Marita Wolf’s Quilter’s Path and the MJ Chamber of Commerce. Your contributions made the night even more memorable.

Our next “Movie in the Park” will be at Charlie Daniels Park on Friday, 1 July, starting about 8:30. It’s the 80’s classic, The Goonies.

Cook’s United Methodist Church will be presenting a musical Independence Day celebration featuring performances from several local musicians. The event will also honor Tyler Cates and Michael Stansbery, who were MJ natives and killed during military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The event starts at 4 pm, on Sunday, 3 July. Cook’s is at 7919 Lebanon Rd.

The City of MJ and Tom Needham, of Needham’s Nursery, are gearing up for this year’s 4 July Fireworks Festival. Those of you who’ve been around MJ for a while know our 4 July fireworks display is one of the best in Middle Tennessee, thanks in most part to Tom’s personal donations and his expertise his shooting large firework shells. Providence Mall will be hosting various musical events throughout the late afternoon of the 4th with the main show scheduled to kick off at dusk (around 9:00 pm.). Bring a lawn chair or blanket, and come out for an evening of great family fun and visual delights. Anyway, if you were planning to take the Music City Star to the Nashville fireworks, the train is sold out.

The Animals of MJ want to extend a special thanks to Karen Lowe and the crew of the Eastern Middle TN Assn. REALTORS for the much needed supplies they donated today (over $400 worth). Remember, there’s lots of cats to choose from at your Shelter and specials on them through the end of the month. Now is the time to get the pick of the litter and a “forever friend.” When you visit, take time to consider possibly joining the “Greenshirters” as a Shelter volunteer. It could be the experience of a lifetime.

A final “thank you” this week goes out to 2 Rivers Ford, Goodyear and Life Assembly Church for their kind donations to field and equip our first ever “Community Enhancement Vehicle.” Now you’re probably asking what is a Community Enhancement Vehicle (CEV)? The CEV is the brainchild of Mr. Kenny Martin. His goal was to fully equip a pickup truck to conduct maintenance work around the city by volunteers. We often have city employees who volunteer to pick up trash, or clean the curbs of the city. Kenny’s goal was to provide them with a vehicle and the tools to do that; thus increasing interest, while at the same time providing any volunteer groups with the same capabilities. For example, this weekend a couple of local churches plan to clean up around the I-40/MJ Road intersection. The thanks goes to 2 Rivers for donating a reliable utility vehicle and identifying it with the city’s logo, Goodyear, who donated over $1k of wheels and tires, and Life Assembly Church for their $500.00 donation of materials to use in this effort. This just speaks to the uniqueness and generosity of our community. A salute for a well done goes to Mr. Martin.

That’s all for this edition. Take care and have a great weekend.

R. Robertson

Update: June 17, 2011

2011-06-17T14:57:00.005-05:00

Good afternoon MJ:

Here's some items of interest and FYI:

1. Community Conversation: This Thursday (23 June), at 5:30, at the MJ High School, MJ will make history; come be a part of it. Through interactive technology, participants will answer questions about their vision of the city, what they think it should be, and the best way to proceed. The auditorium holds nearly 1100, but the first 600 will be issued devices allowing them to anonymously record their responses. They'll be some great prizes too including a $400 electronic starting mower from D.T. McCall's, a 32" color television, a handmade quilt from the Quilters Path, power tools and ceiling fans from H&H Suppy and Mayer's Electric, Corner Pub gift certificates and much more. Come talk with the MJ Board of Commissioners and County Mayor Hutto. We need every person coming to bring others. We want to especially invite our business owners and leaders and those who do most of their shopping in Mt. Juliet. See you there.

2. An MJ institution is leaving our city. Come wish Mrs. Mary Bacon, the long-time Chairman of the Board and President of the MJ Help Center, and her husband a fond bon-voyage as they leave for their new home in Arizona. Through Mary's diligence and persistence the Help Center grew to one of the most resourceful in Middle Tennessee. We want to wish Mary goodbye at a ceremony on Sunday, 26 June, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Celebration Lutheran Church (at the corner of Woodridge Place and North Mt. Juliet Road).

3. Sales tax receipts for May came in this week, and we are about $20k higher than May of 2010. Even though this is great, we're starting to see a discernable slow down in the percentage of year-over-year growth in sales tax revenue. All the more reason to join us at the Community Conversation and to "Shop MJ First."

4. Looking for some great summer fun right here at home? Check out the Frisbee Golf Course at Mundy Park. It's open from dawn to dusk. If you don't have the disc you can rent them at the CD Rec Center. It's fun and cheap! Other upcoming Parks and Rec events include our 1 July Movie in the Park, The Goonies, the 4 July Firework Fest at Providence, starting at dusk, and the 23 July "Splash Day" with several water inflatable's, food and fun. As a reminder, the Charlie Daniels Gym will be close until 24 June due to resurfacing . . . it will be even better then.

5. Attention all cat lovers (and those who think they might want a feline friend). The MJ Animal Shelter has a deal for you - June is cat/ kitten month. The adoption fee is being picked up by the Volunteer Benefit Fund. Right now the Shelter has nearly 50 cats and kittens, so you'll get literally the "pick of the litter." Remember, the Shelter is always in need of volunteers. Whether you have a few hours each week or month. Even those who don't have a lot of time but can help in other ways. We need you! Call the MJ Animal Shelter at 773-5533 for more information.

6. Tired of fighting the traffic to get to work in Nashville? Financially pinched with the price of gas? Take the train. Last Friday (10 June), the Music City Star held 1455 riders . . . a record day. It's fast, easy and affordable. Tickets can be purchased at City Hall.

7. Got a gripe or concern about County services and want to be heard. The last Wednesday of every month, County Mayor Randall Hutto has office hours between 8:30 and 10:00 here in MJ City Hall. Accompanying him is the Wilson County Veterans Affairs Officer, J.C. Satterfield. If you’re a veteran or the family member of a vet, here's a chance to talk about benefits, educational issues, medical care, or any other veteran related matter. It's on a first come first serve basis, or call Rachael at 444-1383 for an appointment. The next MJ Office date will be Wednesday, 29 June.

Finally, congratulations goes out to Colonel Robert (Bobby) Hibbett of Mt. Juliet, on his pending retirement from the Tennessee Army National Guard. Not only has Bobby served our state and nation through the Guard, but he protects and serves daily as a Deputy District Attorney General for the 15th District. Well Done and thank you Sir. Hooah!

That's all for this week. See you at MJHS on Thursday, at 5:30. Take care and be safe.

R. Robertson

Update: May 27, 2011

2011-05-27T16:35:00.001-05:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

Happy Memorial Day Weekend. Memorial Day was first known as Decoration Day, a day to commemorate U.S. soldiers who died while in the military service. Enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War, it was extended after World War I to honor Americans who have died in all wars. President Abraham Lincoln said, "Any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure." This Memorial Day, may we remember our American heroes. May we honor their sacrifice. And as we remember them, may we be inspired to follow their leadership and continue their legacy of patriotic service. The City of Mt Juliet, the Taylor Cates Chapter of the American Legion, and Bond Memorial Chapel will host their annual Memorial Day service on Monday, 30 May, at 10:00a.m., at the Bond Memorial Chapel on Mt. Juliet Road. Please come and honor those who gave all for their county.

Our first “Movie in the Park” for the summer is “Grease." Showtime is dusk, on Friday, 3 June. Bring the family (. . . or a date), a picnic and a blanket or chairs.

We’re fast approaching a unique event in the life of our community, MJ’s first Free Health and Wellness Day, scheduled for Charlie Daniels Park, Saturday, 4 June, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Over 30 stations will set up in the gym, providing services or advice on all aspects personal and family health. Co-sponsored by University Medical Center, the Mt Juliet Parks and Recreation Department and Precision Eye Care, our health care professionals include physicians, several dentists, psychologists, audiologists, podiatrists, nursing specialists, optometrists, massage therapist, and chiropractors. Services include cholesterol and glucose screening, blood pressure reviews, hearing and vision exams, mental counseling, dental review including “tooth printing” for children (. . . for identification), and much more. And it is all FREE! A large crowd is expected, so for the best service we suggest coming after 11:00. Again, 4 June, Charlie Daniels Rec Center, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. There will even be inflatables outside for the kids and a face painting area. See you there.

Another upcoming event you’ll certainly want to be a part of is our “MJ Community Conversation” tentatively scheduled for Thursday evening, 23 June, at the Mt. Juliet High School. Here’s the chance to hear from and talk to City Commissioners and leaders as well engage with citizens from across the community about issues and concerns ranging from fire and emergency services to police, parks and roads. For this to truly to be effective, lots of citizens from all age groups need to be there. Through presentations, a series of questions to the audience and technology that provides real time feedback, we plan to provide the audience with information about community expectations, capabilities, resources and potentials. To top it all off, there’ll be some great prizes. Here a chance to share your vision for Mt. Juliet. Be a part of it. More to follow later.

On a final note, our community has been bombarded by one of the wettest and windiest Spring’s in recent history, and as a result the MJ Public Works crews have valiantly struggled to keep up with chipping services. The challenge . . . when clean up of one area is nearly done, another storm and a whole new set of damaged trees and debris is added to the mix. Moreland Farms, Clearview, and other residential clusters along Old Lebanon Dirt road were the first struck, but before the cleanup was done another round of storms damaged areas in Oakmont, Curd Rd, and portions of Park Glen; and again last week when a line of storms battered the Villages of Belinda City. While MJ is one of the most economical communities in Tennessee, there are some trade-offs, one of which are the resources available for chipping services. Several weeks ago the City leased a second chipper and reassigned manpower from other missions to assist with chipping. After last week’s storms rolled through another chipper has been rented and scheduled to start work next week. Public Works crews continue to make their normal rounds but it will be a long slog as we struggle to catch up. Please be patient. For information on the chipper service, or to keep posted where the chipping crews stands, visit the City of Mt. Juliet web site (www.cityofmtjuliet.org) and click on “New Chipper Service Notification” on the right side of the menu.

Take care MJ.

R. Robertson

Update: May 16, 2011

2011-05-16T08:05:00.000-05:00

Good Morning MJ:

Just a few notes from City Hall:

Remember: The American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” is still accepting participants for their Friday evening to Saturday morning fundraiser. Interested? Call Cassy Thompson at 308-3557.

Want to help a Wounded Warrior and work on your own health? Join Ryan Armstrong and nearly 100 other runners/walker at Charlie Daniels Park on Saturday, 21 May, at 9:00 a.m. All proceeds go to the Wounded Warrior Project. Don’t want to run but would like to help? Call Ryan and just donate. His number is 289-9181.

After the run join us at Charlie Daniels Park for MJ’s celebration of Armed Forces Day at 1100. Lots of static military displays and remarks from MG Max Haston, Adjutant General of Tennessee, U.S. Representative Jim Cooper and LTG (Ret) John Pickler. LTG (Ret) Pickler was at West Point when Douglas MacArthur spoke of “Duty, Honor and Country”; courageously served in Vietnam; survived 3 helicopter crashes in one day; and was the Director of the Army Staff, in the Pentagon, when it was hit on 9/11. The MJ Community Band will also be there in force to help us celebrate in style.

Join LTG Pickler, Reverend Andrew Wharton and the congregation of the Life Assembly Church the next day (Sunday, 22 May), at 12:30, when they cut the ribbon for the 180’ flagpole that will grace MJ’s southern landscape. Life Assembly is near WalMart, on Pleasant Grove Road.

We need your help to build Ava’s Splash Park at Charlie Daniels! Take the Pepsi Refresh Project Challenge and place an on-line vote for Ava's Splash Park. Just being selected to participate in the "Pepsi Refresh Project" is a tremendous honor, since only a handful of projects across the country are chosen. Vote now! Vote every day! Go to http://www.refresheverything.com/build-avas-splashpad or Text: 106253 to Pepsi (73774). By the way, if we win one of the $50k grand prizes, a private donor has agreed to do an equal match!

One last special event . . . MJ’s 14th Annual Memorial Day Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, 30 May. The ceremony will be at the Veterans Memorial at Bond Memorial Chapel on Mt. Juliet Road. Guest speaker this year will be USMC Lt. Col (Ret) Jay Drescher. Please make plans to attend and honor our veterans, both living and deceased, for their service to our nation. For more info call Stephen DeBord at 773-2663.

The final note of the day, April sales tax receipts came in late Friday. MJ continues to rock with our share up over $18k from April of last year. Remember, sales taxes are MJ’s primary form of revenue. Shop MJ First.

Take care and have a great week.

R. Robertson

Update: May 11, 2011

2011-05-11T10:03:00.003-05:00

Good morning:

Here’s a quick update on upcoming Mt. Juliet community events. We hope you will join us and invite your friends. Please pass this email on to others.

20-21 May: Relay for Life: Friday, 6:00 p.m. to Saturday morning, 6:00 a.m. Charlie Daniels Park. This is the largest fund raising activity conducted by American Cancer Society. The goal is to raise over $30K to help fight one of America’s greatest killing diseases. Teams are still forming. For more info or to sign up, call Cassy Thompson at 308-3557, or anyone at Charlie Daniels Park, 758-6522.

21 May: Wounded Warrior 5k Run/Walk: Starts at 9:00 a.m. Charlie Daniels Park. Proceeds go to America’s Wounded Warrior Project. For more info or to sign up, call Ryan Armstrong at 289-9181 or anyone at Charlie Daniels Park, 758-6522.

21 May: Armed Forces Day Celebration: Starts at 11:00 a.m. Charlie Daniels Park. Short presentations by MG Max Haston, The Adjutant General, Tennessee, Representative Jim Cooper, with recognition of Mr. Acie McFarland, WWII vet and vets/wounded from other wars. Static military displays and equipment including a Blackhawk helicopter. Info is available at the Charlie Daniels front desk, 758-6522.

22 May: Flagpole Ribbon Cutting: Starts at 12:30 p.m. at the Life Assembly Church, Pleasant Grove Church, across from Wal-Mart. Come join LTG (ret) John Pickler, Vietnam Vet, former Director of the Army Staff and a survivor of the Pentagon 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the congregation of Life Assembly as it unveils the new 180’ flagpole that will be a poignant addition to the city’s southern skyline. The ceremony should last no more than 45 minutes.

30 May: Memorial Day Ceremony: Starts at 10:00 a.m., at the Veterans Memorial at Bond Funeral Home on Mt. Juliet Road/Weston Dr. Join vets, families & friends and members of the MJPD Color Guard as they pay tribute to our fallen heroes. For info call Mr. Stephen DeBord, at (276) 706-1919.

3 June: MJ’s Movie in the Park: Starts at dusk, at Charlie Daniels Park. Bring your blankets and chairs for a night of family fun. Watch the city’s web page for the title of the inaugural edition of this classic summertime event.

4 June: Community Health Day: Starts at 9:00 a.m. and runs to 1:00 p.m., Mt. Juliet Community Center at Charlie Daniels Park. University Medical Center brings together over 30 health related stations, several physicians along with medical professionals to provide absolutely free health assessments and medical info at the city’s first Health Day. For more info call reps at the Charlie Daniels Park, 758-6522.

Finally: Want to make a positive difference in our community? Take the Pepsi Refresh Project Challenge and place an on-line vote for Ava's Splash Pad at Charlie Daniels Park. You may recall just a few weeks ago MJ celebrated Ava's parents’ efforts to build a splash park at Charlie Daniels by holding "Ava's Run for a Reason", with thousands of runners and walkers raising nearly $50k towards this magnificent initiative. Just being selected to participate in the "Pepsi Refresh Project" is a tremendous honor, since only a handful of projects across the country are chosen. Here's how you can help . . . Vote now, Vote every day. Go to http://www.refresheverything.com/build-avas-splashpad or Text: 106253 to Pepsi (73774). By the way, if we win one of the $50k grand prizes, a private donor has agreed to do an equal match!
Take care MJ and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: May 6, 2011

2011-05-06T09:09:00.003-05:00

Good Morning MJ:

Here’s a few items as we head into what hopefully will be a weekend with some excellent weather:

1. Want to make a positive difference in your community? Take the Pepsi Refresh Project Challenge and place an on-line vote for Ava's Splash Pad at Charlie Daniels Park. You may recall just a few weeks ago MJ celebrated Ava's parents efforts to build a slash park at Charlie Daniels by holding "Ava's Run for a Reason", with thousands of runners and walkers raising nearly $50k towards this magnificent initiative. Just being selected to participate in the "Pepsi Refresh Project" is a tremendous honor, since only a handful of projects across the country are chosen. Here's how you can help . . . Vote now, Vote every day. Go to http://www.refresheverything.com/build-avas-splashpad or Text: 106253 to Pepsi (73774). By the way, I’m told if we win one of the $50k grand prizes, a private donor has agreed to do an equal match.
2. What has over 900 arms, legs, and eyes and wears white t-shirts? That would be the more than 450 members of Providence United Methodist Church (PUMC) who set out across the city to do work projects as part of their “Worship Without Walls” service. Projects ranged from painting the hallways at Stoner Creek Elementary to writing letters to troops serving overseas. Some city initiatives included litter pickup along local streets, cleaning the Animal Shelter, landscaping at the city’s Public Works facility, refurbishing the library at the Senior Citizen Center and building a foot bridge at Charlie Daniels Park. Yes, over 450 citizens combed the city, donating thousands of volunteer hours and thousands of dollars in materials in serving others. If we paid them minimum wage, the salary alone would be close to $12k. To Becky, Jacob, and the hundreds of others who were there, your city and its citizens owe you a big thanks.

3. Here's an update on new business activities:
Marita’s Quilt Shop on Industrial Road is open and ready for your business
Zaxby’s is doing well on the south side of Providence Mall
The Tokyo Restaurant on North MJ Road is open for business
Wilson Bank and Trust in the Providence area will open tomorrow
The Corner Pub on North MJ Road is scheduled to open within a week
The Firestone Service Center in the Paddock’s will be up and running in about three months
Los Compadres’ opening is about three months out
Murphy Oil in Paddocks estimates they will be open next year as well as a new Mapco on Lebanon Road
The south-side McDonald’s is six to eight months away
Farm Bureau Insurance at Providence Commons will open in four months
Roadhouse Subs at Providence Commons projects to be four months out before opening the doors
The city’s first Ballroom Dancing business should open next month
Super Speedy Wash on SMJR is three months away
The Party Zone is up and running in Providence Commons
& more to come. Keep shopping MJ first.

4. Don't forget, Relay for Life, the American Cancer Society's largest fundraiser will hold their “Walk a thon” on Friday/Saturday 20-21 May at Charlie Daniels Park. There’s still plenty of room for participants. See any rep at the Park for sign up info. Immediately following that, on the 21st, at 1100, we'll celebrate Armed Forces Day at C. Daniels Park. There a 5K race earlier in the morning, with proceeds going to the Wounded Warrior Program. On 22 May, at 12:30, at Life Assembly Church (Pleasant Grove Road, near Wall Mart), there’ll be a ribbon cutting for a new 180 foot flagpole that will grace MJ’s southern skyline. On 4 June, the city, in partnership with University Medical Center, will hold its first ever Community Health Day, with over 30 health stations and several physicians volunteering at Charlie Daniels. It’s free! For more details on any of these events call the Parks and Rec Department at 758-6822.

5. On a final note, this week is Public Service Recognition Week, a time to express our appreciation to the dedicated public servants who work and serve at all levels of government. In that spirit, I want to thank the men and women of the city of Mt. Juliet, Team MJ, for their tremendous commitment to their jobs, to our city and to its citizens. We don’t celebrate public service enough. When it’s bad news about someone who works for the public, the media is rife with every detail, real or perceived, but they too seldom recognize the overwhelming majority of hard working people who make up our government, and their contributions in making our cities, counties, states and federal sectors. Public service is a truly noble profession and those have a servant’s heart deserve our praise and respect. I have led small and large organizations for more than three decades . . . the men and women who work for the citizens of Mt. Juliet are without doubt some of the best, most professional and highly dedicate with whom I have had the privilege to lead. This week – and every week – for those who read this please know how well served you are in this community.

Thanks MJ. That’s all for this edition. Take care MJ and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: 04/15/11

2011-04-15T13:53:00.002-05:00

Good Afternoon MJ: They say “It Starts in Parks” so let’s begin this edition there: Saturday, 23 April, Charlie Daniels Park. Our annual “Easter Eggstravaganza”. This year a record 50k eggs through the sponsorship of Friendship Community Church of Mt. Juliet. 18 inflatables, pony and train rides, and a free lunch. The rush for the eggs starts at 10:30. Saturday, 30 April. Our third Community Flea Market. Fast becoming one of the largest in the Middle Tennessee region with more than 40 booths of rare collectables, exotic gifts, and a variety of things from the attic or garage. Rummaging starts at 7:00 a.m. and runs to noon. There’s still booth space available. Info: 758-6522. Sunday, 1 May. Worship Without Walls ( a Community Help Day). Sponsored by Providence United Methodist Church (PUMC). Want to help with the Senior Citizens Center, Animal Shelter, Charlie Daniels Park, or simply cleaning up litter from MJ Streets? Come join nearly 500 members of PUMC in a fun filled morning of helping our community. Interested? Call Becky Yates at 969-4960. Friday/Saturday, 20-21 May: The American Cancer Society Relay for Life at Charlie Daniels Park. Come help find a cure! Teams are still forming. For more info call Cassy Thompson at 308-3557. Saturday, 21 May, 9:00 a.m. Armed Forces Day 5K Run/Walk. Charlie Daniels Park. Info: 758-6522. Saturday, 21 May, 10:00 a.m. (tentative). Ribbon Cutting for our Community Flag. Thanks to the members of Life Assembly Church and Reverend Andrew Wharton, the long awaited, and one of the tallest in Tennessee, flagpoles will be opened. Join us in this great community event featuring the MJ Color Guard and Guest Speaker, Lieutenant General (Ret) John Pickler, former Director of the Army Staff. This promises to be a very moving event at 555 Pleasant Grove Road. Saturday, 21 May 11:00 a.m. Armed Forces Day. Charlie Daniels Park. Members of the motorcycle vets group “Rolling Thunder”, static military displays including an Army Blackhawk helicopter. Members of the Ft. Campbell Wounded Warrior Unit. Friday 3 June, Movies in the Park. Charlie Daniels Park, starting at dusk. A great family event. Saturday, 4 June, Time: TBA. Our first ever Community Health Fair. Charlie Daniels Park is the place to be for free medical advice and consultation with more than 30 stations. Sponsored by University Medical Center of Lebanon. Some other news: MJ sales tax receipts went up again for March 2011 compared to the year before by nearly 7%. Remember, sales tax receipts is the city’s principal form of revenue that goes back into Police, Public Works, and Parks and Rec. Continue to support your home team by “Shopping Mt. Juliet First.” Tomorrow, at the Cedarstone Bank in MJ and Lebanon, members of Leadership Wilson, along with Summit Hospital, University Medical Center, Walgreen’s Drug Stores, the Wilson County Sheriff’s Department, and the City of Mt. Juliet will host “Mission Medical”. “Mission Medical allows all citizens the opportunity to drop off expired and unused prescriptions and over-the-counter medications. Again, Cedarstone Banks of MJ and Lebanon will be taking your prescriptions between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Congrats to BSA Troop 150’s Aaron Davis and Hayden Witt who will formally receive their Eagle badge at a Court of Honor next month. Very few boys who enter scouting are able to reach Eagle, the BSA’s top rank. Well done gentlemen. Ava’s Run for a Reason a couple weeks ago was a fantastic success. Ava’s parents , Mr. and Mrs. Bright, advise that nearly $50k has been raised so far to create a splashpark in honor of their daughter, Ava. But we need much, much more! A first class splashpark will cost between $250k to $300k. What to help? Call Jennifer Hamblin, Treasurer, at 773-6237. “Empower Me” Day Camp is also looking for your help. This Wilson County-based 501-C3 organization provides special needs children with recreational programs and summer camping opportunities, led by professional, therapeutic staff members. Take their $10.00 challenge to help make a positive difference in the lives of hundreds of local children and parents. For info call Michelle Hill, 453-0005, or email to empowermedaycamp@aol.com Some good news to end today’s report. Here’s just a few of the recently or soon to be opened businesses springing up across MJ: 1. Do you like to sew or quilt or know someone who does? Come see Marita Wolf’s new store, “The Quilters Path” at 105 Industrial Drive. 2. Notice the ground behind Cheddar’s? MJ’s new Firestone Store is headed this way with an estimated opening date of the end of the summer. 3. A new Japanese Steakhouse, the Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse, is scheduled to open their doors by the end of April. 4. The Corner Pub Between the Lakes Restaurant, located in the old Hollywood Video Store on North MJ Road, should be having a ribbon cutting by EOM May. 5. Like to trip the light fantastic? MJ’s “International Champions Ballroom Dancing Studio” should be ready for you by early June. 6. We’re getting a new Roadhouse Subs, in Providence Commons by Publix’s #2. They just signed their lease, so details will be forthcoming. 7. A lease has been signed with Farm Bureau Insurance for Providence Common. 8. Wilson Bank and Trust and Region’s Bank will both be opening south side offices around Providence in the next couple months. 9. Academy Sports is looking at MJ very hard. Keep your fingers crossed. Remember, “Shop MJ First.” Take care and talk with you later. R. Robertson

Update: April 7, 2011

2011-04-07T16:26:00.003-05:00

Good afternoon MJ: Kudos to all involved in last Saturday's Ava's Run for a Reason. Over 1400 runners/walkers signed up to spend a beautiful Spring morning helping make the dreams of a little girl a reality; with proceeds from the event going to help fund a splash park at the Charlie Daniels Park. A first class endeavor like the Splash Park we envision will cost about $250k or more. Want to help? Contact Mrs Jennifer Hamblin at 773-6237, or any of the staff at Charlie Daniels Park, 758-6552. Looking for a different form of recreation? Check out MJ's annual Spring Fashion Show, this Saturday, starting at 2:00 p.m. Our own highly talented and quite debonaire Mr. Rocky Lee, Assistant Director of Parks and Rec, will join nearly 130 models of all ages and gender on the runway. It promises to be a fantastic day; hope to see you there. Here's a pitch for my team. The United States Military Academy at West Point Glee Club will perform a free concert this Saturday at Lipscomb University's Collins Auditorium, starting at 1500 (that's 3:00 p.m for everyone else). Admission tickets (again, free) can be secured at: marilyn.smith@lipscomb.edu or call Marilyn at 966-5929. Come hear some great music and find out about life at the Academy. Also, don't forget we will celebrate Armed Forces Day on Saturday, 21 May, at Charlie Daniels Park. The day before, 20 May, also sees MJ's Relay for Life at CD Park, so there's plenty of upcoming events for the entire family. Thanks to citizens and staff for their outstanding cleanup efforts after Monday's storm. While there was some damage, particularly around the Moreland Farms area, for the most part we were blessed. So many trees were damaged, it will take some time for the chipper team to return to their regular cycle. Check out the chipper schedule on the city's web page for more info. Or you can register to receive emailed updates as to the Chipper's location / progress around the city. On a final note, our thanks goes to Mr. and Mrs. Tom Needham, of Needham's Nursery on Lebanon Rd, for their kind donation of shrubs for City Hall. Tom has always been a generous patron to Mt. Juliet, and is the proud sponsor or the annual MJ Fireworks Festival. Thanks Tom for all you do. Take care MJ and talk with you later. R. Robertson

Update: April 1, 2011

2011-04-01T16:04:00.004-05:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

A special note on this Friday afternoon. Tomorrow (Saturday, 2 April) the MJ Parks and Rec Department and the AvaLynShaye Foundation will be hosting Ava’s Run for a Reason. This 5k run/walk is dedicated to Ms. Ava Bright who, although she passed away at a very early age, had a passion for splash parks. From her interest, the Bright’s have formed a nonprofit organization, dedicated to helping MJ build a splash area inside Charlie Daniels Park. Tomorrow over 1,000 runners/walkers are set for a stroll or jog, with the singular purpose to help Ava’s friends and family make the MJ Splash Park a reality. Interested in running but haven’t signed up? Come down to Charlie Daniels Park; registration starts at 7:30 a.m., or you can register from 5:00 to 7:00 tonight at the Greenhill’s Women’s Club (MJ Little League Park on Lebanon Rd.) Don’t want to run or walk but would like to help? We’ll take donations! Make a difference in your community and help a little girl’s interest serve our city and its children for years to come. We’ll also be auctioning off an autographed guitar from County Music star Bo Bice (of American Idol fame) and many other special treasures. It will be crowded, so if at all possible please try and car pool. Parking will also be available at Joy Church and at the Elzie Patton Elementary School. Tomorrow not only promises to be a beautiful day, but a great one for our city. See you there.

New housing continues to be strong in MJ, with 37 permits issued during the month of March. Compare that to 14 just 2 years ago.

Kudos to the MJ Animal Shelter staff and volunteers for the great article in Wednesday’s Wilson A.M. edition of The Tennessean. Also congratulations to the Shelter’s nonprofit organization’s leadership who raised over $400 last Friday. Every dime the non-profit raises goes right back to caring for our animals. I also want to commend Mr. Eddie Blackwood, Shelter Director, and Jon Gray, Volunteer Coordinator for their first venture inside the school house to speak to children (2nd graders) about what the Shelter does, and the importance of caring for your pets.

If you drive North Mt. Juliet Road, you’re seeing some good progress with the road widening initiative. It’s been a challenging winter, so it's great to see this project move forward. Don’t want to drive to Nashville for work? Consider the Music City Star. You can buy tickets right here at City Hall. With the price of gas going up all the time, the Star is seeing record ridership.

Your City Hall Team extends their condolences to the faculty, staff and children of Stoner Creek Elementary with the passing of Mr. Nance. We are here to help if you need us.

We had a fairly new utility trailer stolen from Mundy Park. The thief pulled the entire sunken concrete base out of the ground and took off about 10:30 p.m. one evening last week. From the video we know it was stolen by a fellow driving a black pick-up truck with what appeared to be chrome plated wheels. Our trailer had small metal “sideboards”, and has an ID plate from B.J. Trailer Sales. See one like it that causes you concern? Call the MJPD at 754-2550 and ask them to check it out.

Take care MJ. Talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: March 16, 2011

2011-03-16T19:36:00.006-05:00

Good Evening MJ,

Here’s a few notes and FYI from City Hall:

Tomorrow is our 2nd Annual St. Patty’s Day for Kids in the Charlie Daniels Park. Events kick off at 11 a.m., and here’s just a few things in store for those who attend:
Inflatable’s, Cookie Decorating, 4 leaf clover hunt with prizes, the Zachary Allen Band, Snowbird, Police Cars and a SWAT Truck, a Tennessee Wildlife Truck & Boat, an Army Hummer, a Race Car from the Nashville Speedway, Tractors & Farm Equipment, a limo, Dump Truck, Street Sweeper, Fire Truck, & Ambulance.

Charlie Daniels Park is the place to be tomorrow; the weather is forecasted to be just perfect. See you there.

West Division traffic, from Mt. Juliet Road to 4th Avenue, will be affected tomorrow due to resurfacing of the road. The resurfacing is part of the overall West Division Greenway Bike Path initiative. We had hope to have the road finished today, but equipment problems pushed the project into tomorrow. Driver’s please exercise caution in that area.

Ava's Run for a Reason 5k/1 mile run/walk will be held at Charlie Daniels Park Saturday April 2, 2011. The race begins at 9:00 a.m., with pre-race festivities beginning at 8:15 a.m.. This run benefits the Avalyn Shaye Foundation, Inc., a non-profit charity located in MJ, and ALL proceeds from the race will be given back to the city to be used to build a splashpad (aquatic playground) at Charlie Daniels Park. The park will be full of kids activities, a sponsor expo, great food, and lots of people running for a reason. Early Bird registration (guarantees a t-shirt) closes March 24, 2011. Online registrations closes March 30, 2011. Cost is $25 for 5k ($30 for walk-up registration on race day), and $15 for 1 mile ($20 for walk-up registration on race day). You can register online at www.active.com or print a registration form and mail-in at www.avalynshayefoundation.org. ; Tune in tomorrow at 7 a.m., to the Coleman Walker Show on WANT Radio (98.9) for more details.

We received sales tax numbers for January this week, and despite the terrible weather, we were up nearly 5% from January 2009. Remember to Shop MJ First. Speaking of numbers we received the 2010 federal census numbers for MJ this afternoon. All of us in City Hall were surprised to see the feds reporting MJ’s population was 23.6k as of April, 2010. This was lower than expected based on numbers from the 06 and 08 Special Census conducted. We’ve already contacted the Census Department and our federal reps to discuss how to relook or appeal the count . . . more to follow.

A special thanks goes out to Mr. Mike Reed of the Panattoni Corporation. Mike spearheaded efforts to donate additional gravel to the MJ Soccer Park, across from the MJHS. Thanks to Panattoni and Mike, we’ll get somewhere between 15 to 20 dump truck loads of gravel and other stone for our Parks system. I’m told gravel is going from about $300 per load, so this looks to be in the $4k to $6k range. On that note, we want to thank all those who have donated time, money or materials over the last two years. Your contributions have and will continue to make a positive difference in our services and in the quality of life of our community. For more details on how to give to MJ, contact Kenny Martin or Sharon Bachelier at 754-2552.

Make sure you have Saturday, 23 April, marked on your calendar; that’s Easter in the Park. Starting at 10:30 a.m., Easter 2011 promises to be our biggest yet with 50,000 (that’s right, fifty thousand!) eggs just waiting to found. Thanks to Friendship Community Church, the MJ Parks and Rec Team, and a couple great patrons, we’ll have twice as many eggs than in years past. With four different age categories: 2 and under, 3 to 5, Kindergarten through 2nd grade, and 3rd to 5th grade, there’s something for every kid. Post hunt activities include free food with a voucher obtained with entry into the park, over 15 inflatable’s, and a surprise visit from the man himself, Mr. Easter Bunny, who has agreed to spend some time for photos. Still not impressed? Between $800 to $1k in prize coupons wait inside special Easter Eggs.

On a final note, please encourage your friends and acquaintances to sign up for our Nixle messages. We’re over 2k strong now and growing. Nixle is proving to one of the best tools in our arsenal to get the word out. Just go to the city home page at www.cityofmtjuliet.org for instruction on how to sign up.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

R. Robertson

Update: March 7, 2011

2011-03-04T17:39:00.002-06:00

Good Evening MJ;

Just a few brief notes today. First, thanks to several of you for the feedback from the last posting regarding the city’s trash and litter challenges. The city’s Economic Development Director, Mr. Kenny Martin, is developing a plan to get people together to take on this issue. One of his primary goals is to secure the resources necessary to acquire a small truck dedicated to picking up litter and making other visual improvements throughout the city. If you would like to be a part of this campaign, give Kenny a call at 754-2552, or write him at kmartin@cityofmtjuliet.org

Love dogs? Interested in how to achieve better behavior from your furry friend? Join us tomorrow at Charlie Park for “DOG PARK BEHAVIOR 101 . . . aka: PAWS in the PARKS". This free seminar start at 1:30 pm, Saturday, with Dog Specialist: Vikki Ivey (Check out her website: www.dogspeak101.com). This event, co-sponsored by the MJ Parks and Rec and MJ Animal Shelter Teams is just the ticket for learning the appropriate etiquette for you and your dog at public places as well as what to do when Mr. or Miss Four Feet is becoming a bully. No Dogs Please, Humans Only! Pass this to your friends.

A hearty congratulations to Lt. Gwin King of the MJPD on his 70th birthday. Lt. King runs our Detective Division, and he just seems to get better with the years. Not only is he 70 years young today, but he has been in law enforcement for 45 years. I’ve never put anyone’s name out in space for his or her birthday, but today’s an exception. Happy birthday Gwin. Keep up the great work.

In the last blog I mentioned we had 32 participants show up for Zumba, and, if you were interested they met on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s at 6:00, and on Saturday’s at 9:00 am at Charlie Daniels Rec Center. A few of you must take the blog seriously; last Tuesday we had 62. We’ve moved classes into the gym, and there room for more. Here’s your invitation . . . try it once and see what all the buzz is about. Classes are $6.00 each, on a pay as you go basis (no need to sign any contracts). Remember, MJ is Tennessee’s only “Playful City.” Let’s shoot for 70 this week.

Finally, a special thanks to Dr. Rhett Bruner, of Active Life Chiropractic and Rehabilitation, at 11227 Lebanon Road, for donating $3k today towards the MJ Soccer Park, across from the MJ High School. Thanks to Rhett’s help we will be able to gravel the parking lot (which is in desperate need). On that note, your city is always looking for help. Whether you have a passion to volunteer with pets at the Shelter, work with the MJPD Auxiliary Force, or make financial or tangible property gifts to any of our departments like Dr. Brunner did, we need you. Interested? Call Kenny Martin at 754-2552.

Take care, God Bless.

R. Robertson

Update: February 26, 2011

2011-02-26T19:04:00.006-06:00

Good Evening MJ:

It’s Saturday, 26 February, and we’ve just had one of the nicest weather days of the year. Interesting how just 48 hours ago, we were watching for tornados. Fortunately the brunt of the storm hit a little further to the southeast, with no major reports of damage in MJ.

I’d like to focus on a few upcoming Parks and Rec events you’ll want to put on your calendar, but before that, I’m going to make a pitch to those reading this to be a little more conscious of litter lining our roadways. The last couple weeks we’ve tried to dedicate some time to picking up debris, but there is far more trash out there than people here to handle it. MJ only has a handful of “laborers” assigned; they do everything from mowing miles of right of way and policing signs to clearing storm drains, operating the city’s chipper service and virtually any kind of work required in between. The point is, MJ is our city, and each of us play a role in how it looks. It’s true, you only get one chance to make a positive impression, so when businesses are looking to come to “Tennessee’s Number One Business Friendly City”, their perception of our community makes a huge impact. For those old enough to remember Woody, the slogan still stands true . . . “give a hoot and don’t pollute.” Please help us keep MJ looking proud.

Your Parks and Rec crew are going to be extremely busy the next few months. As Paul Harvey use to say, “here’s the rest of the story:”

1. The crowds are coming for our Zumba classes, held at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center. Last week 32 people exercised to the music in this fun, fast growing event. Zumba classes are Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 6:00 p.m., and Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. Classes are $6 each, and you can do it on a pay-as-you-go basis. See you there!

2. St. Patty’s Kids Day is coming up on Thursday, March 17 (during Spring Break), from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Focused on elementary aged children, there’ll be inflatable’s, cookie decorating, a 4 leaf clover hunt, a live kid’s band, mascots, and much more. There’ll also be several “touch and tour” trucks and vehicles, ranging from police cars, to a fire truck, a Army Hummer (HOOAH!), a TN Wildlife Agency boat, dump trucks, a street sweeper, tractors, back hoes, a SWAT vehicle and more. Interested? Call the MJ Community Center at 758-6522 or visit the website at www.cityofmtjuliet.org.

3. Ava Bright’s 5K Run will be Saturday, 2 April, starting at 9 a.m. The 5k run or walk begins and ends inside Charlie Daniels Park, with funds benefiting the Avalyn Shaye Foundation, in memory of two year old Ava Bright and her inspirational messages of joy, love, and laughter. Proceeds go to help build “Ava’s Splashpad”, an aquatic playground located at Charlie Daniels Park. Please visit www.avalynshayefoundation.org to register and learn more about Ava’s story.

4. How bout a Spring Fashion Show at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, 9 April at the MJ Community Center. Come see what’s in and sheik from Christopher Banks, CJ Banks, Kasper, Belk, Chico’s, Rue 21, Old Navy, Willie Nillie Kids, Sparkling Tiaras, Memories Consignment and many more. Pooches from the MJ Animal Shelter will also be on hand strutting their stuff on the runway. Sounds fun!

5. One of our capstone events, Easter in the Park, kicks off at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, 23 April. Easter 2011 promises to be our biggest yet with 50,000 (that’s right, fifty thousand!) eggs just waiting to found. Thanks to Friendship Community Church, the MJ Parks and Rec Team, and a couple great patrons, we’ll have twice as many eggs than in years past. With four different age categories: 2 and under, 3 to 5, Kindergarten through 2nd grade, and 3rd to 5th grade, there’s something for every kid. Post hunt activities include free food with a voucher obtained with entry into the park, over 15 inflatable’s, and a surprise visit from the man himself, Mr. Easter Bunny, who has agreed to spend some time for photos. Still not impressed? Between $800 to $1k in prize coupons wait inside special Easter Eggs.

6. Want more? The last big event of the Spring will be our community wide Yard Sale, Saturday, April 30, from 7am – noon. The Yard Sale has grown to be one of the biggest attractions with 40 to 50 booths just waiting for bargain hunters. Now’s the time to secure your booth ($20), and then start collecting those treasures from the attic, garage and even the living room. The place to be, rain or shine, is Charlie Daniels Park. For more info call the Parks and Rec office at 758-6522.

That’s enough for tonight. Take care, God Bless and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: February 14, 2011

2011-02-14T15:27:00.003-06:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

We’ve endured winter for what seems to be far too long, so today’s near 60 degrees is a very pleasant change.

Here’s some updates on a few items of interest:

There will not be a special meeting of the MJ Board of Commissioners tomorrow to hear from leadership of the La Vergne FD. We had initially talked to La Vergne about “privatizing” efforts here, but since then they’ve indicated they are not interested in expanding. Right now we are looking into other privatized options, and will announce any special meetings on this subject in the local papers and on our web-page.

MJ’s portion of the sales tax receipts continue to be strong. December’s data showed a 10.7% gain over December 2009. Remember to “Shop Mt. Juliet.”

We recently sat down and took a look at the numbers from contributions, gifts and other “in kind” donations made to MJ over the last couple years. The value is absolutely staggering: over $830k. Some of the largest donations included the Panattoni wing of the Charlie Daniels Rec Center, volunteer hours and 501 3C donations at the MJ Animal Shelter, vehicles from Carl Black Chevrolet and U.S. Community Credit Union, funds for the city newsletter from University Medical Center and AED’s donated by Summit. We’ve had dollars, items or services donated by Life Assembly Church, Howell Motorcycles, ACE Hardware and Lowe’s, WalMart, MJ Furniture and Furniture Unlimited, Lofton Creek Records, at least five banks (Region’s, First Tennessee, F&M, First Freedom and Wilson), several physicians, CPS Land, Civil Site, Providence Mall and many restaurants. All told we’re up to line 81 on the spread sheet. Over $830k . . . wow. What magnificent gifts from a wonderful, caring community who know just how hard we work to stretch dollars in these challenging times. From all of us here in City Hall, many thanks.

What may be the highest flagpole in Tennessee is coming, close to the I-40 entrance/exit area. We hope the ribbon cutting will be in the next 45-60 days. This will be a tremendous addition to the landscape of our city.

A couple items to look out for:
The MJ Senior Citizens Center will be holding a “Sweetheart Serenade” at the St. Stephen Community Church on Friday, February 25th, from 6 to 9 p.m. There’ll be live music, a silent auction, and your choice of Prime Rib or Chicken. Corporate tables are available, or individual tickets at $40.00 ($25 for individual Center members). Info at 758-9114.

Want help keeping that New Year’s resolution to shape up? Check out the Zumba or Yoga classes at the CD Rec Center. Better yet, go at your own pace at the CD Exercise Room. They’ve got a load of modern aerobic equipment and lots of free weights. It’s only $2.00 a visit or monthly membership is $15.00; what a great deal. For more info call 758-6522.

Reminder, City Hall and municipal services will be closed on Monday, 21 Feb in commemoration of President’s Day.

Looking for a perfect gift for your special Valentine’s? Check out the dogs and cats at the MJ Animal Shelter. If you have some time, consider volunteering. Talk with Eddie Blackwood or any of his staff at 773-5533.

Take care, God Bless and have a great Valentine’s Day. Talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: February 2, 2011

2011-02-02T17:38:00.003-06:00

Good Afternoon and Happy Ground Hog Day MJ:

Here’s some data that should be shared with the community. Every year Market Graphics Research Group collects and publishes new housing permits data for the 11 county region of middle Tennessee. The latest report documented 4,405 new house permits were issued in those 11 counties in 2010. The report also broke down permits issued either by individual cities or within the unincorporated portions of the respective county. Here’s a few numbers you’ll find interesting: Gallatin issued 112 new housing permits; Hendersonville had 136; Spring Hill ended the year with 122, and La Vergne did 57. Closer to home, 132 permits were issued in Lebanon. Want to look at bigger cities? Franklin did well with 287 permits authorized. Even bigger? Murfreesboro issued 346. How about us? In 2010 MJ issued 367 new housing permits. In fact, last year MJ issued more new housing permits than any municipality in middle Tennessee, with 367. This speaks volumes to the quality of life people see in Mt. Juliet, and the business friendly environment we’ve strived to build. Congratulations MJ!

Speaking of quality of life, the crew of the MJ Parks and Rec Department will be hosting a “Father-Daughter Dance” on Saturday, 5 Feb, at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center. The event starts at 6:00 p.m., and it’s the perfect gift for daddy’s and their little girls. Catering will be provided by “Signatures”, with finger foods, punch and a special “Chocolate Fountain” all included in the $15 per couple admission fee. You can sign up at the door, but we ask that you please try and get your tickets before Friday so the Parks and Rec Department will know how many to cater for. There’ll be a live DJ, with music that ranges from oldies to today; something for the very young to the young heart. For more info or to secure a ticket, call 758-6522.

The MJ Senior Citizens Center will be holding a “Sweetheart Serenade” at the St. Stephen Community Church on Friday, February 25th, from 6 to 9 p.m. There’ll be live music, a silent auction, and your choice of Prime Rib or Chicken. Corporate tables are available, or individual tickets at $40.00 ($25 for individual Center members). Info or RSVP by 15 February at 758-9114.

We want to welcome a couple new members to Team MJ. Mr. Dwayne Hicks joins us as our Chief, Building and Codes Department. Mr. Hicks comes from comparable duties in Tullahoma. He also served as an instructor with the Tennessee State Fire Academy, and has extensive credentials in that arena. We look forward to Dwayne’s efforts to move MJ towards greater fire protection services, as he takes on new responsibilities that we previously relied on state officials to conduct. We’re also pleased that Mr. Eddie Blackwood has assumed the position of Chief, Animal Control. Eddie has tremendous experience with Animal Control, having served as Director of Animal Control for Cheatham County, and also in a leadership position with the Nashville Zoo. Eddie and Dwayne have tremendous experience, training and credentials in their respective professions, and will be great assets to MJ.

Want to get involved with your community and help fight cancer at the same time? The team kick off for the MJ Relay for Life will be tomorrow (Thursday), 3 Feb, at 6:00 p.m. at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center. Here’s a great opportunity to see what you and your friends can do on “race day” (20 May) to be part of history in the making . . . the battle against cancer. Light refreshments will be served; see you there.

Here’s some news for the economic development front:
- There’s a new quilting shop and men’s/women’s clothing store opening in the next few weeks on Industrial Drive. Come join owner Marita Wolf and a fast growing community of quilters in what promises to be a great addition to our business community.
- The Tokyo Restaurant is scheduled to open its doors in March. They are located on North MJ Road, and will also be a wonderful compliment to eating establishments on that end of town.
- Welcome to the Party Zone, and to Angle’s Stop and Play, both located in Providence Commons, by Publix’s southern store. The Party Zone should on your shopping list for this weekend’s Super Bowl, and Angle’s is a really unique store providing quality child care on a drop in basis; just the thing for parents night out.
- Finally, though not a public business, here’s a warm welcome to employees of the Veterans Administration, Office of Clinical Oversight and Compliance, who will be reporting for duty over the next few weeks. They join the ever growing list of professional offices that are calling MJ home.

Remember to keep your dollars here - Shop MJ!

Take care and see you next time.

R. Robertson

Update: January 14, 2011

2011-01-14T16:34:00.008-06:00

Greetings MJ:

It has been a challenging week, with weather related issues and closings abounding. I want to commend our citizens for the patience and care in driving on the snow; PD records reflect there were 10 weather related auto crashes, but none were serious enough to require hospitalization.

We received info on our share of November sales tax. MJ continues to do well with an 8% increase over November 09. Thanks to all those who understand and continue to support our “Shop Mt. Juliet” campaign. Here’s a few other data points for 2010:
1. Sales tax was up every month of the year compared to 2009;
2. We issued 367 building permits in CY10. Compare that to 217 last year; that’s nearly a 60% gain in a year; and
3. 179 new business permits were issued in CY10. Think about it . . . that’s a new business nearly every other calendar day; and
4. Police calls for service was nearly 83,000; about 6,000 more calls for your police department than last year; and
5. There were 210 auto crashes, with 58 injuries. There were also 117 DUI’s. That’s too many of both.
6. Close to 400 animals were adopted from the Shelter. The Shelter now enters its third year without having spent tax dollars for animal food; and
7. Over 6,000 hours were donated last year by Shelter Volunteers. This contribution would have cost the city over $100,000 if the Volunteers were paid; and
8. Congratulations to the citizens of MJ for being the rated by the Tennessee Center for Policy Research as #1 Business Friendly City in the State! 2010 was a good year!

Here’s a business update from Mr. Martin, Economic Development Director:
- Zaxby’s is under Construction
- The Corner Pub Between the Lakes build-out underway
- A branch of the Wilson Bank and Trust is under construction
- Grading Work is underway for a branch of Region’s Bank
- Paddocks Dental build-out is underway
- Tokyo Restaurant build-out is on-going
- Ballroom Dancing Studio build-out is underway
- A Sushi Restaurant is undergoing construction
- A Greek Cuisine and Grill recently opened
- There was a closing on property within Paddocks for Murphy Oil
- Construction should start on LEXON Insurance this Spring
- A build out for The Party Zone is underway
- Plans have been approved for a Super Speedy Car Wash
- A cell tower is being constructed at Life Assembly Church
Pretty impressive list isn’t it? We’re also gearing up to make a special announcement about a federal agency who will soon have a footprint right here in MJ. Stay tuned.

The BOC will be holding another special work session on fire protection issues on Wednesday, 19 January, in City Hall starting at 4:00 p.m.

Make plans for a Father/Daughter Dance, hosted by the MJ Parks at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center, on Saturday, 5 February. It’s a perfect Valentine’s day gift for daddy’s little girl. For more info or to register, call the MJ Parks Department at 758-6522. Some other Parks and Rec coming initiatives are Zumba classes (a Latin jazz style of aerobics) and our own “Sarge’s Fitness Boot Camp”. Both are fun ways to help stick to that New Year’s resolution. Both programs will likely start in early February. For more info, call 758-6522.

Several adorable puppies at the Shelter looking for homes. There are Chow and Lab mix, or full Labs that are ready to leave now; the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for that special person. Speaking of the Shelter, don’t forget we still have some 2011 Animal Shelter Calendars and Commemorative bricks for sale. Your contribution will go straight to support the work of the Shelter, and its continuing mission of serving both our animals and the health and safety of our community.

On a final note, if you know anyone who might be interested in donating a couple acres on the south side, please give me or Kenny Martin a call at 754-2552. We’d be happy to talk about potential tax implications and good will associated with this initiative.

Have a safe Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. For those of you that have time on Monday, here are some local ceremonies honoring this great American.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day March
Nashville's Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day March usually begins at around noon on Monday at Jefferson Street and following the march there's also normally a MLK day convocation scheduled at Tennessee State University.
Scaritt Bennett Center
The Scaritt Bennett Center also offers their own Martin Luther events, every year that includes lectures and/or workshops all about Martin Luther King.
Discovery Center
On Monday, the Children's Museum at Discovery Center at Murfree Spring usually hosts a Free Admission day in honor of the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr. There's always plenty of special activities for the day

Until next time, stay safe and God Bless.

R. Robertson

Update: January 7, 2011

2011-01-07T15:52:00.003-06:00

Good Afternoon:

It’s been some time since I last posted a note. I hope those reading this had a safe, and blessed holiday’s.

Have you clicked on the Tennessee Center for Policy Research logo at the top of our home page? It takes you to the articles about MJ’s selection as the “Number 1 Business Friendly City” in Tennessee. It’s an extraordinary honor to be selected as #1 from a pool of several hundred cities. Take a few minutes to read the articles and see why MJ came to the top.

Work progresses well on the North MJ Road widening project. The wooden utility poles are down; replaced by new metal ones paid for by the city. Drivers will see substantial work has been done on sidewalks and curbing on portions of the project. For the most part, all utility work has been complete, so the project is now focusing towards road widening.

Several new businesses have opened their doors in the last couple months: the Sonic near Publix #2; a Greek restaurant in the Valley Center, and Cheddars in the Paddock’s complex. By all accounts all are doing well.

CoC members and other business owners are encouraged to attend the Chamber’s next monthly luncheon, on Wednesday, 19 January, at the Rutland Place, starting at 11:15. Mayor Elam will be delivering the 2010 State of the City address, so it should be an interesting and educational presentation. For more details or to make a reservation, call the Chamber at 758-3478.

The Shelter needs your help. We’ve got 12 puppies looking for good homes. They’re a mix of Chow and Sheppard, making them absolutely adorable and friendly fur balls. If you didn’t get what you wanted for Christmas, here’s a chance to pick out your own personal friend and companion. Speaking of the Shelter, the year end stats are in, and thanks to our volunteers nearly 6,300 hours were donated last year. If we had to pay prevailing wages for their work hours, it would have cost us nearly $100k. Many thanks to this cadre of individuals whose call to duty is “Everything we do, we do for the Animals.”

Another interesting year end data point came up last week. We issued 367 new housing permits for 2010. Compare that to 217 for 2009. It’s easy to see why MJ is one of the state’s fastest growing cities.

On a final, personal note, all of us here at Team MJ, express our condolences and sorrow at the loss of Commissioner Jim Bradshaw’s daughter last month. Jim, our thoughts and prayers have been with you.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

R. Robertson

Update: December 10, 2010

2010-12-10T14:23:00.002-06:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

I am writing this just a few hours before one of the city’s biggest events of the year, our annual Christmas Parade. The 2010 edition kicks off tomorrow, Saturday, 11 December, at 11:00 p.m. starting at the West Wilson Middle School on Mt. Juliet Road (MJR), and moving north along MJR to the review stand at the intersection of MJR and Division. Joining us tomorrow as Co-Grand Marshals will be Mr. Ross Browner and Mr. Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger. You know Rudy as the name sake for the classic inspirational 1993 movie, “Rudy”, and Ross, who played with the Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers for a decade, as Rudy’s Notre Dame team mate, who lead the charge to get Rudy in to the last play of the last game of his senior year, and into the history books. With Rudy and Ross as Co-Grand Marshals, and more than 70 floats and marching units, tomorrow’s parade not only promises to be one of our best, but our largest. Rudy and Ross will be signing autographs after the parade, in a tent by the review stand, so come up and join them. They also have promised to be passing out commemorative footballs along the route. Santa’s goin green tomorrow with the “Fightin Irish”!

The parade is rain or shine. There is no alternate date. In the event of thunderstorms, a decision will be made at that time.

Also, join us Tuesday, 14 December, at 11:00 at the intersection of MJR and Division for the ribbon cutting on Phase 1 of the West Division Bike Path and Greenway. This long anticipated project opens the first segment next week. Light refreshments will be served. We’ll also comment there on progress on starting Phase 2, with over one-half million dollars in federal funds recently secured for that segment. What a wonderful Christmas gift for the City.

Speaking of Christmas gifts, our sales tax number for October just came in this morning, and MJ continues to rock with over 8% growth this year over 2009. This equates to more than $37k additional this October compared to last year. We’re looking forward to ending the year on a high note with Christmas, so remember: “Shop Mt. Juliet.”

Here’s a chance to give a special gift at Christmas, the gift of life. The American Red Cross and the City of Mt. Juliet are sponsoring a community blood drive at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center on Tuesday, December 21st from 11am – 3pm. Please be there if you can.

On a final note, from Team MJ to our citizens and community, have a blessed Christmas and a safe, successful 2011. We’ll be celebrating our City Christmas Luncheon on, Wednesday, 15 December, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. While service may be a little lighter than usual then, City Hall will be open. In the spirit of the season, below is our Annual Holiday Letter that went out this week. Take care and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Season’s Greetings from Team Mt. Juliet :

Despite the challenges, 2010 will go down as one of Mt. Juliet’s most successful years. Here's a few highlights from City Hall and “Team Mt. Juliet".

We’re ending the year with a bang as MJ is named by the TN Center for Policy Research as the "Number One Business Friendly City in TN.” What a wonderful honor and distinction for a city incorporated less than 40 years ago. Being named #1 against powerhouses like Nashville and Knoxville, and "deep pocket" cities like Brentwood, Franklin and Oak Ridge speaks volumes about our community, its’ values, and the tremendous importance economic development plays.

MJ was in the enviable position throughout 2010 of having sales tax revenue up every month compared to ‘09. So far this equates to about $750k. Few cities in TN, or for that matter in the U.S. can make a similar claim. Another financial highlight this year was Wilson County leaders partnering with the City to fund the Reverse L. This desperately needed road, by MJHS, had been discussed & debated by county and city leaders for years. With the vision of several County leaders, this year the County contributed $650k towards completing that road. The County’s input will also help the City underwrite additional Eastern Connector work, the multi-lane highway stretching between the Beckwith intersection and Lebanon Rd.

Phase 1 of the West Division Greenway and Bike Path project is done! This concrete trail runs west from the train station to 4th Ave, and was primarily made possible by American Recovery and Relief Act (ARRA) funds. We recently learned MJ would also receive over $500k in air quality funding to start Phase 2, which will run from 4th Ave. to Brookstone. If all goes as planned, next year two-thirds of a project that languished for years will be done. You can help by contacting your state and federal officials for assistance with the final segment, Phase 3, the longest and most expensive part that will connect several of the city's largest subdivisions. A last note about construction; special thanks to all involved with the North Mt. Juliet Road (NMJR) widening project. Widening NMJR is the most expensive infrastructure project in the City's history, and it is progressing well. Announced as a 36 month project, barring major challenges or severe weather, it may be done next October; months ahead of schedule. New water and sewer pipes; relocated electric, telephone and cable lines; and a new gas line traverse one of the most populated and heavily traveled areas of MJ. Again, thanks to crews from TDOT, LoJac, WWUD, Cleary Construction, Piedmont Gas, MTEMC, TDS, and the City for a job well done.

Here's just a few factoids from 2010:

 From Jan to Nov we had 305 new housing permits filed. There were 192 for the same period last year.

 MJ was the #1 winner at the annual Greater Nashville Regional Council's (GNRC) Awards Ceremony. Competing against 60 other middle TN cities and counties, we captured awards for initiatives in Police, Economic Development, and Animal Shelter programs.

 The Animal Shelter remains the leader in the region, with an extraordinary adoption rate of over 96%. Thanks to donations we've run the shelter for two consecutive years without using city funds for food. Volunteers have donated thousands of hours to care for animals, saving taxpayers nearly $200k since its doors open in late 2008.

 Use of MJ Parks and Rec facilities are skyrocketing. The new exercise room has everything a private health club has, but at a fraction of the cost. The new Panattoni Room is seeing exponential usage; and our new skate park and Frisbee Golf course have significantly expanded recreational services. The new South Park Splash area has been very well received, with plans for future expansion. But Parks and Rec aren’t just focused on facilities; they’ve had phenomenal success with programs like Easter and Halloween in the Park. The Parks crew also successfully captured two major state grants for tree plantings and land improvements to take place in 2011. A last note about Parks, make sure the MJ Christmas Parade is on your calendar for 11 Dec at 11am.

 A huge thanks goes out to all those behind the scene actors involved in selling the Old Elementary School property. After years the end is in sight.

 New business permits continue to show healthy gains. From Jan to Nov 2009 there were 167 permits filed. So far this year there’s been 205; a 22% increase.

Can't keep up with what's happening around the city? Check out TV 3 and the MJ home page. Upgrades to TV 3 range from transformation from a power point to video platform to broadcasts from The Pentagon Channel, aerobic courses, news "crawlers”, live weather and even video shots from I-40. Possibly the biggest technology leap this year was streaming video on the web of TV 3. Now, no matter where you are, if you have access to the web, you can tune into what's happening in City Hall. The MJ City Code has been added to the web, and there’s now an “Action Line” to report pot holes, see animals at the Shelter, or even rent a pavilion at Charlie Daniels Park. Finally, if you aren’t on Nixle, then you’re missing out. Over 40 Nixle updates were posted during the May and August floods. Posts were published about tornado warnings, a bank robbery, and the auto accident that closed I-40 last month. Nixle is invaluable; able to be tailored to the type of information you desire and completely free. Sign up info is on the city’s web page.

Here’s some PD data:

- Even though MJ has one of the smallest police departments (per capita) in the state, we continue to see a decline in the number of major crimes committed.

- While calls for service are up 19% (the PD is busier) this year, crimes against persons are down 24%. Overall reportable crime is slightly up from the same time period last year.

- Arrests are down 5%; Traffic stops made are down 5% and citations issued are down 7%. There’s too many auto crashes, even though most are minor “fender benders.”

- The MJPD continues to have one of the best crime closure rates in the state. As of November, their closure rate was nearly 55%, compared to the state average of 34%.

Yes, it was an extraordinary year for the city. Although twice challenged by floods, the community rallied and became even stronger. Though there were the “usual naysayers”, most overwhelmingly supported and appreciated the direction MJ is headed. We were truly blessed. From all of us on Team MJ, thanks for allowing us to serve you. Being a public servant is a truly rewarding career, and we are honored to serve each of you. May God Bless you this holiday season, and our very best wishes for a safe and successful 2011.

Team MJ.

Update: December 2, 2010

2010-12-02T19:56:00.005-06:00

Good Evening MJ:

We’re Number 1! We’re Number 1!

What a fantastic week. It’s a rare honor to be recognized throughout the entire state; and an even bigger treat to be recognized nation-wide; that’s just what happened this week with the announcement that MJ is the most business friendly city in Tennessee. Here’s a quote from the 1 December 2010 edition of USA Today: “Mt. Juliet - This Wilson County town was chosen the most business-friendly city in the state by the Tennessee Center for Policy Research. The annual ranking are based on job growth, crime rates, median per capita income, high school graduation rates and taxes.” Thanks to all who made this honor possible, and remember to “Shop Mt. Juliet.”

Looking for just that right gift for that hard to buy for person? Come On Down to the MJ Holiday Bazaar! This Saturday and Sunday the place to be is the Charlie Daniels Recreation Center for all your Holiday Shopping. From 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 4th, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, December 5th, the Mt. Juliet Recreation Center will be transformed into a festive shopping mall, with unique gifts from across the region, nation and world. Nearly 50 booths, all under one roof, with home and Christmas décor, arts & crafts, cosmetics, jewelry and fashion accessories, along with some flavorful artisan delicacies will be available for your shopping delight. Come join your friends at this once a year holiday extravaganza. As a special treat, the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra will be on hand during several periods over the weekend to help provide the holiday spirit with yuletide melodies. Parking is close-up and free. Admission is free. See you there.

Speaking of gifts for the hard to buy for person – check out the 2011 MJ Animal Shelter calendar. They're $15.00 apiece or 8 for $100.00. All proceeds go to support the programs of the MJ Animal Shelter non-profit organization. With professional photos of successful homes found for some of our own Shelter pets, the calendars also have monthly gift coupons from Chick-fil-A and Two Rivers Ford that are worth far more than the purchase price. You can get yours at the Shelter or at the front desk of City Hall.

Remember . . . “Rudy” is Comin to Town! No, we’re not talkin about the red nosed guy with antlers, but Daniel “Rudy” Ruettinger, author and name sake of the 1993 classic movie “Rudy.” Rudy and his Notre Dame team mate, Ross Browner, who went on to a decade of NFL play time, will be the Grand Marshals for our 2010 MJ Christmas Parade. The parade will start at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, 11 December. The route starts at West Wilson Middle School, and goes north along Mt. Juliet Road to the end point at the intersection of Division Road. Talk of “Rudy” coming to MJ has created quite a stir, and we’re projecting great crowds, so grab a spot along the route early. He’ll be staying after the parade at the review stand to sign autographs.

Notice the progress along NMJR? Things are really starting to shape up. With that in mind, during this holiday season, please consider merchants along the road when doing your holiday shopping; they need your support and are offering some great deals.

On a final note, we want to send a fond farewell to Mr. Gary Branham, our Chief Codes and Building Inspector, as he retires the end of this month. Gary has seen MJ transform from a town ten years ago with a population of around 12k to a full services city on nearly 30k now. He’s been at the forefront of developments ranging from Providence and Del Webb, to Paddock and Coolview Commons. In many respects, he’s had a thankless job, but through it all he continues to smile and serve our community to the best of his ability. We wish Mr. and Mrs. Branham the very best in this new phase of life and thank him for his service.

My next edition will be the “Team’s“ Christmas letter to the community.

Take care and God Bless.

R. Robertson

Update: 11/19/10

2010-11-19T17:40:00.008-06:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

Here’s some items of interest from around the community:

1. We’ve had a rash of vandalism at all of our parks this week. This week the Mt. Juliet Parks and Recreation Department announced that someone had vandalized the children’s play area at South Park; tore up one of the holes at Mundy’s Frisbee Golf Course; bent the frame and stolen a soccer net from the city’s soccer park on Curd Road, and tore up some of the platforms and defaced some of the signs at the recently renovated Planet Playground at Charlie Daniels Park. That’s mean spirited shortsightedness. Deputy Chief of Police James Hambrick indicated that funds may be available for any tips to who was responsible for these acts. You can get more info on our “Crime Stoppers” program at the city’s homepage, or by calling Corporal Tyler Chandler, our community policing officer at 394-3092.

2. Some better news: the Nashville Business Journal announced today that MJ was Tennessee’s number one business friendly city as declared by the Tennessee Center for Policy Research. This is absolutely fantastic news, and speaks volumes to the vision and goals of this community, and of the Mayor and Board of Commissioners of our city. Congratulations MJ! Click below for a link to go to the full story.
http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/feature/tennessee-center-for-policy-research.html?surround=etf&ana=e_article

3. Calling all Citizens interested in alternative transportation, clean air, traffic mitigation, healthy lifestyles, and biking. We will be holding a public meeting for Phase 3 of our West Division Greenway project this Monday at 5:00 p.m., in City Hall. To refresh your memory, we should be finishing up Phase 1 construction, which runs from the MJ Train Station to 4th Avenue within the next few weeks . . . stay tuned for an announcement on the ribbon cutting. We learned a couple weeks ago, that we were one of the few communities in Tennessee to be awarded Congestion Mitigation – Air Quality (CMAQ) funding, to push Phase 2 initiatives. Phase 2 will take the greenway/bike path from 4th Avenue to Brookstone. Phase 3, the longest, most challenging and most expensive element of the project, will run from Brookstone to South Greenhill Road. Monday’s Public Hearing is a requirement for future grant opportunities. We hope you can join us.

4. Some upcoming Parks and Rec events: Our first ever Urban Master Gardner program is tentatively scheduled hold its kick off meeting on Tuesday, 14 December, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the MJ Community Center in Charlie Daniels Park. Come join Master Gardner and class leader Johnnie Harper of the University of Tennessee Extension, Wilson County Masters Gardeners Association in the ground breaking (pardon the pun) Parks and Rec initiative. For more info call Jan Litterell, at 758-6522. Stay tune to Channel 3, the city’s web page and the local papers for more info.
Our 2nd Annual Holiday and Crafts Bazaar will be held on 4 and 5 December, at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center. Times are 9am to 7pm on Saturday, and 11am to 5pm on Sunday. This Bazaar will feature booths specializing in holiday related items, jewelry, floral, art, crafts, home décor, skin care and much more. We’re expecting over 40 vendors from across the region. It will be a great place to get that unique gift for the hard to buy family member or loved one. If you are interested in a vendor’s stall, call Taylor Bates or any of the Parks crew at 758-5622.
Finally, anticipation continues to build for our 11 December Christmas parade with “Rudy” Ruettinger and Ross Browner as the co Grand Marshals. Rudy is known for the inspirational film about his Notre Dame football exploits, aptly titled “Rudy.” Ross Browner was the fellow who pushed to have Rudy get in during the final game of the season, and who went on to over a decade in the NFL. This promises to be MJ’s biggest parade with tons of floats, marchers, bands, horses and even a nationally renowned bagpiper. The place to be on 11 December is along Mt. Juliet Road, from West Wilson Middle School, north to Division Street; starting at 11:00 a.m.

5. Notice the progress along the North MJ Road project. I had the opportunity to meet with the TDOT leadership and project contractor last week, and they are really pleased with the initiative. Barring major material or weather problems they are looking for an October 2011 completion date; months earlier than originally forecasted.

6. Here's a couple of ways to help support your city:
- The Mt. Juliet Senior Center designed and is selling Christmas Ornaments for $10 each. Proceeds benefit the Senior Center. Contact Pat Gwin at patgwin@comcast.net
- In a similar vein but on a different note, our very own Animal Shelter has 2011 calendars for sale. They are $15 each or (8) for $100. The calendar features animals from our own shelter and has several discount coupons attached. To pick some up, call any member of the MJ Animal Shelter at 773-5533

7. On a final note, if you live or frequently travel towards the southern end of the city, on South MJ Road, there will be some significant traffic changes coming up next week, weather permitting. With help of some technology and some existing asphalt, we’ll be creating a middle turn lane in the South Providence/Publix Number 2 area early next week. This is should be a real boost to commuters and businesses in the area. For more info check out the power point slide on Channel 3.

That's enough for this week. Take care and God Bless.

R. Robertson

Update: November 10, 2010

2010-11-10T16:57:00.006-06:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

Welcome to another City Manager Update.

1. I’ll start by commending the MJPD, WEMA, Tennessee Highway Patrol and Lebanon PD for their combined efforts during today’s (Wednesday's) fatal crash at the MJ I-40 exit ramp. As of this writing we understand there were two individuals who died. Circumstances surrounding the accident are still being investigated, but at first blush it appears a driver mistakenly tried to enter the freeway from the exit ramp. The truck that was struck was carrying a chemical, initially reported to be ferric chloride. While it was a tragedy, it could have been far worse had others been involved or if there had been an aggressive chemical leak, or any number of other scenarios. Through the joint efforts of the above agencies, a timely damage assessment was quickly done and disruption to the community was minimized. Another note on this is the value of Nixle; please make sure you share Nixle with a friend. Sign up procedures can be found on the city’s web page at www.cityofmtjuliet.org

2. Veteran’s Day is a time for remembering, reflecting and honoring. Don’t let November 11th become just another day off of work; take time to thank a veteran for his or her service and contributions to our nation. On that note, several restaurant and retailers will be offering free meals, discounts or special programs to Veterans tomorrow. Here’s just a few:
a. Applebee's
b. Chili's
c. Outback Steakhouse
d. Lowe's
e. Sam's Club - Over 25,000 Hugo canes will be given away to U.S. veterans in need of mobility assistance.
f. Amazon.com - Free "Veterans Day Honor" MP3 album download. The album includes 12 songs by The Bands and Ensembles of the U.S. Armed Forces.
g. Dollar General - 10% discount for all veterans, active-duty military, National Guard and reserve and their immediate families.

3. Sales Tax numbers just came in today, and MJ’s collections for the month of October continue to be stronger than in 2009. For October 2010, we are up approximately 15% over last year. While that’s good news, we are seeing a decline in year over year increases as a percentage, and the numbers are starting to flatten. Remember; sales tax constitute nearly 60% of the revenue for municipal services and programs in the city . . . all the more reason to keep your dollars at home and “Shop Mt. Juliet.”

4. Another good news story: As of the end of October new housing permits for MJ stood at 300. As a means of comparison, the end of October number was 169. Despite sizeable down turns in home sales and the national economy, 2010 has been an exceptional year for new housing in Mt. Juliet.

5. A few final notes . . .
a. Have you noticed the utility lines along North Mt. Juliet Road (NMJR) are coming down? The NMJR widening project continues to progress well.
b. As noted at the last Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday, 8 November, MJ is slated to receive over one half million dollars towards Phase 2 of the West Division Greenway. This will be a great stimulus for that project.
c. Remember talk a couple years ago about a large flag at the MJ Road/I-40 intersection? The project isn’t dead; work has quietly progressed. We hope to have an announcement in the near future on what many indicate will be a tremendous visual improvement in that area; at no cost to the city or taxpayers. More to come.

Until next time, take care and God Bless. Remember; thank a vet for your freedom.
R. Robertson

Update: 11/1/10

2010-11-01T17:10:00.003-05:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

We’ve received some wonderful news late Friday evening. MJ has been approved to receive over one-half million dollars in Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) funds for Phase 2 of the West Division Greenway. CMAQ funds flow from the Federal Highway Administration through the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) for administration to cities and counties with viable projects that help our region address the growing challenges of air pollution. Mt. Juliet’s West Division Greenway does exactly that; providing commuters with options rather than the auto. A special thanks to Mayor Elam, Vice Mayor Sellers, and Commissioners Hagerty, Bradshaw and Floyd for their vision and continued support of alternative transportation.

Speaking of the West Division Greenway, if the weather holds we are looking at a late November or early December completion date for Phase 1. Commuters on West Division Street have been extremely patient with some delays and their courtesy is most appreciated. Phase 2 will move closer to the railroad tracks, so when work does begin on that segment we don’t anticipate the same kind of delays.

As we approach the holiday’s several schools in the city will be hosting special events over the next few weeks. MJ, West and Lakeview Elementary schools are each holding some kind of event this Saturday. Here’s a great chance to not only support your city but our schools as well by “Shopping Mt. Juliet” as we gear up for Christmas. One of the bigger sales this weekend takes place at the Mt. Juliet Christian Academy, where they will be holding their 4th Annual “Shopping Extravaganza”. Our own Kenny Martin, MJ Economic Development Director, advises that if the 4th Annual Extravaganza is anything like the others, shoppers are in for a real treat. Numerous vendors, most of whom specialize in hand made arts and crafts will line the Academy’s hallways. Times are from 0800 to 1700 (that’s 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for everybody else). This is one of the largest fund raisers for MJCA, there’s games for the kids, and the best thing is there’s free admission. That’s right! Entry is absolutely free! Gratis, Zdarma, Libre, Vapaa, Okeypis, Libero, Frei, Wolny, Ucretsiz, . . . you get the picture. The folks at MJCA really hope you’ll take time out of your day join them and over 60 vendors this Saturday.

We notched another mark in the timeline for the North Mt. Juliet Road widening project with the wooden utility poles slowly starting to come down. Commuters have been commenting that with the curb work recently done, they are starting to really see some progress to this initiative.

Rudy is coming to town, Saturday 11 December. Yes, the namesake for maybe one of the most inspiration films out there, Mr. Rudy Ruettiger, will be co-Grand Marshal along with Mr. Ross Browner, former Notre Dame and NFL football great. More on Rudy to come, but keep the 11th open; it promises to be a unique day in the history of Mt. Juliet.

On a final note, don’t forget to vote tomorrow. It’s important!

Take care and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: October 25, 2010

2010-10-25T13:44:00.003-05:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

Here’s some items of interest and other info to share:

1. Halloween: Sunday, 31 Oct. There’s been a couple inquiries about pushing it to Saturday. While we appreciate the concern, those who have been in the area for a while indicate that when the dates are shifted what usually ends up occurring is confusion and two Halloween’s.

2. Adopt a pet this week! The Shelter numbers are running high, so there’s lots of great dogs and cats to choose from. The Shelter Volunteers could also use you. What a wonderful way to donate a few hours each week to your community. For more info call Sgt Youmans or Dawn at the MJ Animal Shelter, 773-5533.

3. Wilson County Mayor Hutto will be in MJ City Hall this Wednesday from 0830 to 1000. The Veteran’s Affairs Rep, J.C. Satterfield will also accompany him. If you have any questions or concerns about county or VA matters, this is your opportunity, on a first come/first serve basis, to speak with the County Mayor.

4. There’s been good progress on construction of the West Division Greenway and the North MJ Road (NMJR) widening project. We’re projecting Phase 1 of the Greenway should be done by December while the NMJR widening effort as early as next October, and hopefully “drivable” well before that. Rain and cold weather play tremendously in both initiatives, so all projections are predicated around reasonable construction weather.

5. Here’s some news from the Economic Development front:
• Cheddar’s should be opening mid or late November. Their looking to hire up to 150 employees.
• Lexon Insurance has closed on property on Lebanon Road. There’s some great plans for Lexon, and we hope to have more details in the near future.
• Zaxby’s should be starting construction very soon on their new restaurant at Providence Commons.
• Del Sol Mexican Restaurant should be opening with the next 4 to 6 weeks.
• NTB Tire and Battery is well under construction across from Paddocks. They should open within eight weeks.
• World Champion Productions, a ballroom dance organization, has signed a lease at Coolview Commons. Break out those dancing shoes!
• A Sushi Restaurant has signed a lease at Coolview Commons.
• A new dry cleaners is scheduled for Coolview Commons soon.
• A mobile phone provider has signed a lease at Mt. Juliet Village, located beside El Comal Mexican Restaurant.
• Meristone Assisted Living should be breaking ground soon on a new 50k sq feet assisted living facility in Providence. The new facility will include 60 to 72 beds and a memory care center.

Wow! There’s more in the mill. Since new business benefits us all, remember, we are all Economic Development Officers for MJ. Also, please don’t forget the merchants who are slugging it out during the NMJR widening project. They need your support and business. “Shop Mt. Juliet!”

Eiize Patton School is hosting a celebration of fine arts and business this Saturday from 0900 to 1600. Come join over 60 vendors with arts and crafts from across Middle Tennessee . . . pottery, fiddle demos, an art gallery, a climbing wall and inflatable slide, and even Baskin Robbins will be on site. See you there!

A couple final notes: take a look at a new feature on the MJ Homepage; the "I want to . . . " menu item in the top left. Want to keep up with crime in your neighborhood? Go to “I want to -> Get” then click on “Crime Reports”. There are several new or existing features that will be rolled into this section. Also, if you are interested in knowing when the city will be doing chipper service in your neighborhood, please register on the top right homepage menu item under “New chipper Service Notifications”. Help spread the word that “Rudy” is coming to town for the Christmas parade (11 December). Don’t know about “Rudy”? Check out the 2010 Christmas Parade menu item at the lower left of the homepage. Special thanks to our sponsors, 2 Rivers Ford, Best Buy, U.S. Community Credit Union and ITR Towing for making the 2010 parade possible.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

R. Robertson

Update: October 15, 2010

2010-10-15T19:27:00.000-05:00

Good Evening MJ:

Some info and items of interest:

Work continues to move well on North Mt. Juliet Road widening project. Several of us met with leadership from TDOT along with the on-site project manager and received a good update this week. Overall TDOT is pleased with progress on the road and they hope to see an ability to return to at least three lanes in the not too distant future, while work on all five lanes continues. Commuters will also note the West Division Greenway is certainly taking shape in a hurry.

Sales tax figures are in and August was a good month, with over $70k more received than the same time period last year. A couple concerns observed is this is the first August where a declined from July occurred in over 4 years, and the monthly numbers are growing closer together, possibly indicating a maturing of the tax base. All the more reason to remember, please “Shop MJ.”

Our Economic Development Director, Kenny Martin recently provided the Chamber of Commerce leadership with a snap shot of new businesses headed in this direction. In my next report, I’ll go over some of the bigger items on that list. Needless to say, it’s an impressive roster, particularly for the challenging times in which we live.

Kudos to Mr. Cameli and his crew at the Parks and Rec Department. Two grant submissions and two approvals! The latest is a matching forestry grant for trees at Charlie Daniels Park, just announced late last week by Tennessee State government officials. We also received word late last week of approval of a small grant to provide members of the MJPD with protective vests. From years with the military, I know these things are truly lifesavers.

Remember, early voting goes on at CD Rec Center next week. Good luck to all the candidates.

The MJ Elementary School, will be hosting its annual Fall Festival on 6 November. Festivities start at from 1000 and run to 1500. I’m told they have one of the best school festivals around with games, great food and auctions (silent and live) for gifts like a set of brand new tires, Titan's Football tickets and exotic travel packages. Remember Mt. Juliet Elementary is the place to be on Saturday, 6 November. Please pass this on, and see you there!

Finally, here’s a test. Can you say “Rudy”?
Yes, for those of you who know anything about football, Notre Dame University, or even a good old classic film, you’ll immediately be able to relate to and appreciate the fact that Mr. Daniel E. ‘Rudy” Ruettiger, namesake of the 1993 star packed movie “Rudy”, will be our Co-Grand Marshal, along with college and pro football legend Ross Browner, at the MJ 2010 Christmas Parade. More on Rudy and Ross later, but keep December 11th blocked on your calendar for a thrill no other city in the U.S. has had.

Take care and God Bless.

R. Robertson

Update: October 8, 2010

2010-10-08T09:21:00.000-05:00

Good Morning MJ:

Here’s a few items of interest and FYI:

Tomorrow (Saturday, 9 October) is “Halloween in the Park”, usually the biggest Parks and Recreation event of the year. Activities start at 11:00 a.m. and last thru 4:00 with several costume contests, candy and prizes and lots of fun for the entire family. As an added treat, while the kids are off doing their thing, we’ll have a “City Booth” where mom and dad can come by and check up on city programs and activities. Come join us and at least 75 other vendors in celebrating this annual Fall classic. All activities take place in Charlie Daniels Park. Remember, parking can be a challenge, so plan to come early and spend the day. There’s plenty of food and beverage vendors on-site. See you there.

This Monday (11 Oct) we’ll have a wonderful opportunity to honor and pay respects to the family of Spec Michael Stansbery, who recently lost his life in Afghanistan while serving us. There’s a time honored tradition of providing a handmade quilt to the family of a fallen soldier, and this Monday, at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall, along with the scheduled Board of Commissioners meeting, members of the MJ Quilting Association will present Michael’s family with a quilt. We hope you can join us and want to send out a special invitation to all veterans to be there. If you can’t make it, please tune in to Channel 3.

Work continues to progress well on North Mt. Juliet Road. Motorists will certainly notice the infrastructure is taking shape with curb and gutters being poured. While the official “opening date” set by TDOT is October 2012, barring horrific weather or other unforeseen challenges, the road should be drivable well before that. Again, please remember the merchants of NMJR and consider them when shopping or dining.

Tonight is special for the staff and volunteers of the MJ Animal Shelter. Tonight we’ll recognize the best of the best, those who have volunteered 90 hours or more, with a special dinner on their behalf. That roster includes: Jon Gray, Susan Tant, Lonnie Cannon, Dawn Turner, Holly Ross, Heather and Jacob Rampey, Heather Cravener, Tanya Beadles, Marilyn Pugh, Hannah Beadles, Flora Gibson, Hazel Lauer, and Trisha Morgan. Just a couple weeks ago the MJ Animal Shelter won one of the Greater Nashville Regional Council Awards of Excellence for its “Therapy Dog” program of taking dogs to the various nursing homes in the area. Our Shelter is renown throughout the region and the state and the standard bearer for quality programs and services. On behalf of all of us on Team MJ, the Mayor and Commissioners, and most importantly from the citizens, thanks those who go above and beyond each day to serve our community and its animals.

On a final note, our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Det. Ric Risner (Ret). Ric passed away this week after gallantly battling diabetes and other complications for several years. He proudly and honorably served the City of Mt. Juliet for many years until his health would not allow him to serve any longer. Ric helped make this community the pride of Middle Tennessee, and today we want to thank him for him and his family for his selfless service.

Take care and God Bless.

R. Robertson

Update: October 3, 2010

2010-10-03T13:43:00.001-05:00

Hello MJ

A few items FYI:

Team MJ once again showed its leadership in progressive municipal programming and governance through awards distributed at last week's Greater Nashville Regional Council recognition ceremony. Winning awards for its online "Crime Reports" system, re-use of empty stores in the "Build a Block" initiative, and the Animal Shelter's "Dog Therapy Program", Team MJ tied the City of Gallatin for the most awards received in 2010. As in 08 and 09, MJ beat regional powerhouse cities like Nashville, Franklin and Murfreesboro in this programming and services benchmarking effort. Congratulations to all the members of the city staff for this outstanding achievement.

Speaking of excellence, we were notified this week of two grants we will receive. This first is over $16k for DUI reduction efforts by the MJPD. The second is a $25k matching grant for improvements to the Charlie Daniels Park. Again, well done Team MJ.

Didn't catch the "Commissioners Forum" last Thursday? A video will be rebroadcasted the next few weeks on Channel 3. Check Channel 3 for times. Remember, early voting will begin in a couple weeks at CD Park.

Work is progressing well on both the North MJ Road and W. Division Greenway projects. We anticipate most of the old wood poles lining NMJR should be down in the next month. Remember it is imperative to support businesses along NMJR during the construction. They are all open for business, accessible and need your patronage - they are Mt. Juliet.

If you are up early tomorrow (0645), tune into WANT radio, 98.9 FM, to hear our Parks Director, Jay Cameli and I, update you on Halloween in the Park. One of the biggest events of the year, Halloween in the Park is scheduled for next Saturday, 9 Oct, at 11 a.m., in CD Park. There's lots of candy, prizes and events, so we'll see you there.

On a final note, we hope many of you will join us at the 11 October Board of Commissioners meeting where we will recognize the family of Spec Michael Stansbery. The meeting begins at 6:30 and will be televised on Channel 3.

Take care and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: September 26, 2010

2010-09-26T16:26:00.002-05:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

Its been some time since my last posting; quite a bit has occurred and there a lot of items on the horizon.

We received our August Sales Tax figures and they continued to exceed projection. August 2010 figures were over $80k more than in 2009. Again, this speaks to the success of and need for the city's "Shop MJ" program.

Red Alert!!! We'll be hosting County Mayor Randall Hutto in MJ City Hall on Wednesday, 29 September, starting at 8:30 for an "Open Door" opportunity with citizens. For now the plan is to do this the last Wednesday of each month. If you have any concerns or questions with county operations or issues, here's your opportunity to voice them right here in MJ. As an added feature, the County's Veteran Affairs Officer will also join in during these sessions. If your a vet, here's your chance to check out changes and programs within the VA. For more details look for the slide on Channel 3 or call us in City Hall at 754-2552..

Chief Garrett advises that reportable crime is slightly up compared to the same time period last year, with the rate of auto crashes even higher. Please share with your family and friends the MJPD is actively working on both of these elements.

Work is progressing well on both the North Mt. Juliet Road (NMJR) and West Division Greenway projects. For the most part we anticipate all the utility work on the NMJR to be done by the first of the year, with efforts now focused on the road widening. Those who use this road frequently can see this "shaping" is starting to take place. Barring any unforeseen issues or obstacles, Phase 1 of the West Division Greenway should be done by late November or early December.

Here's some upcoming events to post on your calendar:

1. Thursday, 30 Sept, at 6:00 p.m. there will be a Commissioner's Candidate Forum, hosted by the MJ News, at City Hall. All are invited. It is my understanding all candidates from District 2 and 4 who are running for election this November will be there. There will be an opportunity to pose questions to the candidate and if you miss it, tune in to Channel 3 where it will be rebroadcast.

2. Saturday, 9 October. Halloween in the Park (Charlie Daniels). Starts at 11:00 a.m. Lots of booths, candy and fun.

3. Saturday, 11 December. The MJ Christmas Parade. Come join us and hundreds of floats and marchers. If all goes well we'll have an extraordinary "Grand Marshal" this year. Watch Channel 3 and the city's web page for more info as we get closer to 11 December.

Congratulations to Jon Gray and the Volunteers of the MJ Animal Shelter for their recognition of our volunteer program in this year's Greater Nashville Regional Council Annual Awards Program. There's no question the MJ Shelter is comparable to the best Shelters in the U.S. Recent data indicates we have over a 96% adoption rate; in large measure due to the volunteers. It's also noteworthy that through donations we haven't had to buy animal food since the Shelter opened in Dec 2008. Thanks to all involved for making your Shelter a phenomenal one.

Remember: Early voting starts in mid October with Charlie Daniels Rec Center serving as the MJ early voting site.

Want to keep up with when the Chipper service will be in your neighborhood? Check out the city's web page. You can also rent a pavilion at CD Park, report a pot hole, take a look at the animals in the Shelter, or even pay city bills through the menu on the city's web page. Take a look.

That's about all for now. Take care and God Bless.

R. Robertson

Update: 08/22/10

2010-08-22T20:43:00.003-05:00

Hello MJ, A few notes for your info:

Portions of MJ were hit by flooding again on 18-19 August. To a large extent, earlier efforts at Charlie Daniels Park, the MJ Little League Fields on Lebanon Road, and several businesses in the Valley Center after the May floods will have to be redone in the wake of last week’s heavy rainfall. Depending on where you were in MJ, there was nearly 7 to 11 inches of rain that fell on top of an already saturated ground between Tuesday evening and Thursday morning. Most businesses in the Valley Center had water inside them on Thursday, the Little League Park fields were flooded yet again along with fences that were toppled and the special soil used on the infields washed away. The fences at Charlie Daniels Park and around the MJ Youth Football fields were torn down by flood waters. By Saturday afternoon several businesses in the Valley center were open again, but it may take a while for all of them to open. Thursday evening volunteers turned out to start the rebuilding the Little League Park, and insurance adjustors had reviewed the scene at CD Park. We also know of a handful of homes that had water in them. If this happened to you or someone you know, please ensure you call Sharon or Tina at City Hall and let them know. While the city has no direct actions to take from the flood, we can make sure the proper authorities at WEMA are notified so that they can include your residence in their reports. From the data collected, a decision will be made by state and federal authorities if the damage justifies another disaster declaration. The phone number at City Hall is 754-2552. If you would like to help in either the baseball or football repair efforts, call Jay Cameli, Director of Parks and Recreation, or anyone at the MJ Parks Department, at 758-6522. They’ll get you hooked up with leaders of those respective organizations.

Don’t forget our final Movie in the Park for the summer will be this coming Friday (27 August), at the Charlie Daniels Park, starting at dusk. A special guest will be on hand to sign autographs. Come out and see how he is connected with the movie. Bring your friends. Concessions will be available. The next day, Saturday, 28 August, will be MJ Play Day at CD Park. Join us in doing battle with water guns against MJ’s finest. Lots of other events will be there for the entire family. MJ Pay Day starts at 2:00 and runs to 6:00, again at Charlie Daniels Park. It should be a great day of family fun. Please let your neighbors know.

Remember to share Nixle with a friend. Between flood and weather info, along with an oil leak early in the week, MJ residents got first hand info on a real time basis through Nixle. Join the nearly 1500 who know the value of this message medium. For info on how to sign up, just refer your friends or family to the city’s home page and click on the “Nixle” logo (bottom left corner).

We had a great weekend at the MJ Animal Shelter, with lots of new homes made possible thanks to the efforts of our city team and volunteers at a Adoption Fair. If you would like to be part of this great group, call Sgt Keith Youmans at 773-5533.

Calling all Ministers, Reverends, Pastors, lay leaders, church admin assistants, youth organizers and anyone connected to a local church for our second City Update for MJ Churches. The place to be is at City Hall, Tuesday, 24 August, at 10:00. In about an hour we’ll share what’s happening across the city; Parks and Rec, North Mt. Juliet Road construction efforts, city finances, police activities, and economic development. It’s a fantastic way to get to know what make MJ so unique; so you can share it with your parishioners and friends. Please pass this along to your church leaders and encourage them to be here.

On a final note, we’ve done a lot of work on Channel 3. If there’s a community message you want to get out, call Tina at City Hall, 754-2552. It’s free, and it touches thousands of homes 24/7.

God Bless, take care and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: August 11, 2010

2010-08-11T17:48:00.003-05:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

Welcome to this first posting for August. City Hall has been pretty busy the last few weeks, so this update will cover quite a few topics.

I’ll begin with relaying how proud I was of MJ last week when the remains of Specialist Michael Stansbery came home last week. We received notice late Tuesday night, but with the help the City’s IT Director and members of the MJPD, several Nixle notices were posted and a continuous loop message went out on Channel 3. Deputy Chief Hambrick and I spoke with Michael’s parents on Saturday and they asked me to pass along to everyone how truly wonderful it was to see the crowd lining South Mt. Juliet Road. Bringing just a little gladness in the midst of this tragedy was an exceptional thing. Thanks to all who were there in person or spirit.

Mt. Juliet was just named a “Playful City” by Kaboom Corporation, the nation’s largest manufacturer of outdoor playground equipment. For the last four years, Kaboom has surveyed thousands of cities across the county to recognize and reward municipalities that appreciate and take steps to improve exercise and recreational activities. This year Mt. Juliet was just one of 134 cities in the U.S. recognized by Kaboom as a “Playful City” and the only city in Tennessee so designated. Since 2008, nearly $4m has been earmarked in grants to “Playful” communities, so MJ has a conduit to some of those funds. Many thanks to Mr. Rocky Lee, Assistant Parks & Rec Director, and Team member Kat Cook for making this effort a reality. Well done. While on Parks and Rec, there are a couple upcoming events for your calendar. First is our end of summer “Movie in the Park” which takes place at the Charlie Daniels Park Amphitheater, on Friday, 27 August, starting at dusk. The film “Rudy” will be shown, with an added feature, Special Guest Defensive End Ross Browner, former Notre Dame Player and 2 time All American Trophy winner will be there for autographs. There will be prizes and concessions available. The next day, Saturday, 28 August, has been proclaimed as “MJ Play Day”. From 2:00 to 6:00 come join us at Charlie Daniels for a variety of athletic and recreational events, including water pistol fights with some of MJ finest. This free event promises to be a great time for the entire family. I hope to see you there.

Some financial news for MJ: New Housing permits took a nose dive in July with less than half the number of permits issued compared to June. So far, August seems to be improved with 14 permits as of last Friday. On the sales tax side we received some good news with July’s data showing the city’s share was slightly more than $557k, over $100k up from July 09. This reflects the same positive results seen throughout Tennessee with this July being the first month in over two years to exceed sales tax projected revenue. Remember: Shop Mt. Juliet.

Remember, LOCK YOUR CAR!. Last Monday, an MJ neighborhood was hit with a string of car burglaries. I don’t want to compromise an on-going investigation, but suffice to say every one of the multiple cars broken into were unlocked.

Check out a couple of the newest features on the city’s home page. The first addition is our new chipper truck notification menu located at the top right corner of the homepage. This item will allow customers to keep track of chipper services and know when the Chipper Truck will be in your area. The attached map outlines the various zones of the city, while the other icon allows the user to sign up for automatic weekly alert messages notifying the recipient where the truck is located. We’ve had several positive comments about this initiative and encourage customers to register. The second addition is oriented towards the our business development and real estate community. Under the city’s “Economic Development” menu item on the left, there’s now an “Available Properties” section which allows individuals to peruse commercial properties available throughout the city. Mr. Kenny Martin, the city’s Economic Development Director, will be regularly updating the information, so if you’d like to get something posted, give Kenny a call at 754-2552.

While our Nixle subscriber’s roster continues to grow, we know there are still many out there who would like to receive these messages. If you know of anyone interested in community, weather or police updates that are automatically pushed to their email or smartphone, refer them to the instructions on the city homepage. Click on the “Nixle” icon at the bottom left of the page.

BTW: The metal framework going up just north of the McDonald’s on SMJR is a Cheddars Restaurant. Cheddars is one of the fastest growing dining establishments in the county. The MJ Cheddars is looking for a late October/early November opening.

If you haven’t checked out the summer edition of MJ’s Citizen Update, you can easily do that by going to:
http://www.egovlink.com/public_documents300/mtjuliet/published_documents/Administration/Quarterly%20Newsletter/SUMMER%202010.pdf
There’s some timely and informative articles in this edition. Please let your family and friend know.

Thanks to the Chamber, Wal Mart and many NMJR-based businesses for the support and positive comments on the recent installation of “NMJR is Open for Business” signs place at the intersection of Division and NMJR, and further north on NMJR. The signs, paid for by Wal Mart, look fabulous and speak loudly that despite the construction noise and dust, nearly 100 store and business owners along NMJR are there to serve you. Think about them the next time you’re shopping.

Take care and God Bless MJ. Stay out of the heat.

R. Robertson

Update: July 23, 2010

2010-07-23T17:36:00.004-05:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

This afternoon I’m pleased to unveil the Summer edition of the Mt. Juliet “Citizen’s Update”, our periodical newsletter from City Hall.

Some highlights from this edition include updates from the Mayor, Vice Mayor and City Commissioners, short articles on how the city allocated last year’s contributions to charities and non-profits, notes from Police Chief Garrett and an update on our new “Crime Reports” program, how to post items on TV Channel 3, a Parks and Rec update and status report on the Eastern Connector, info on the West Division Greenway, and a short article on the city’s efforts in the Storm water arena.

July’s “Citizen’s Update” is short, informative, and easy to read. Most importantly, the electronic version saves resources, money and be can be read wherever there’s an internet connection. Our webmaster advises we’re getting thousands of hits each month from across the nation and the world, so this is a tremendous way to share what’s happening in MJ with your family, friends or business acquaintances outside the city. Simply click on the links below, or go to our homepage at www.cityofmtjuliet.org You’ll find the Citizen’s Update, along with a video update of the West Division Greenway right at your fingertips.

Citizen's Update Newsletter (PDF):

http://www.egovlink.com/public_documents300/mtjuliet/published_documents/Administration/Quarterly%20Newsletter/SUMMER%202010.pdf

Greenway Video:

http://www.cityofmtjuliet.org/Greenway_Groundbreaking.cfm

Take care MJ and God Bless.

R. Robertson

Update: 7/22/10

2010-07-22T17:08:00.006-05:00

Good Evening MJ:

Yesterday was a great day for MJ. Yesterday Mayor Elam, City and County Commissioners, and community leaders broke ground on the West Division Greenway. I encourage you to click the link below to get the full details of the groundbreaking and an good update on the Greenway. It is certainly a tremendously exciting project that promises to help transform the quality of life in our city.
http://www.cityofmtjuliet.org/Greenway_Groundbreaking.cfm

Charlie Daniels Planet Playground is back in business. During the short hiatus to fix equipment that had been vandalized, the Parks and Rec crew struggled in the blistering heat and humidity to upgrade much of the entire play area. Next time you are at Charlie Daniels, take a stroll through Planet Playground and see how great it looks. On that note, MJ dog lovers absolutely need to check out the “Bark Park” at South Park in the Belinda City area. Why? Your furry friend now has an automatic water trough to enjoy. Just the thing for those “dog days” of summer (. . . pun intended!)

Speaking of pets, the other day I received a progress report from our volunteer coordinator, Jon Gray. Jon wrote:
“From 13 December 2008, the day the Shelter opened its doors, through 9 July, 2010, or just 17 months later, the Shelter has taken in 906 animals and 869 have been adopted. That’s a 96% adoption rate. Unbelievable!”

Yes Jon, that certainly is unbelievable. There’s not a public shelter in the country that can make this kind of claim. What is also “unbelievable” is that every bit of food used in the last 17 months has been donated!

Want to get involved? The pets of Mt. Juliet need volunteers. For more info call Sgt. Keith Youmans at 773-5533, or email Mr. Jon Gray at pastorjongray@aol.com

Take care and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: 7/17/10

2010-07-17T21:23:00.002-05:00

I received an anonymous note recently regarding our sales tax and increases in water and sewer rates. The writer asked why water rates increased by 14 percent and sewer by 5 percent with increased revenue from sales tax.

Dear Anonymous, the City of Mt Juliet does not control water rates. The operation and funding of your water is a function of the West Wilson Utility District.

There has not been an increase in sewer charges this year. In fact, sewer rates have only increased 1 time in a decade, and that basically balanced out the sewer rate reductions made several years ago.

Finally, even if there had been increases in sales tax, state law precludes using it (sales tax)within the sewer department. By law the sewer department is run as an enterprise fund, which requires it to be self sustaining, and not use resources from anything other than the dollars generated by operation of the sewer department.

Thank you for allowing me to provide you with updated information.

Sincerely,

R. Robertson

Update: 7/15/10

2010-07-15T14:36:00.003-05:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

I had an interesting posting on the blog today that I thought should be shared. Since responses to the blog are anonymous unless the writer identifies him/her self, the only way to respond, if one is warranted, is this way. With that in mind below is today’s note:

From: Anonymous
To: Randy Robertson
Sent: Thu Jul 15 01:04:02 2010
Subject: [City Manager Blog] New comment on City Manager Update - July 13, 2010.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "City Manager Update - July 13, 2010":

“I was looking at the Charlie Daniels Park website and noticed that the park was temporarily shut down for repairs from "vandalism". Well I can just hope you cant blame all of that on the free runners out there. We do not want to hurt any of your property and we are terribly sorry about the slide. We are using EXTREME CONSIDERATION and putting a lot of thought into our tricks at the park so I just wanted to let you know that MJ is our home.
NOTHING ELSE WILL BE BROKEN BECAUSE OF US WE LOVE OUR PARK!”

RESPONSE: If “Anonymous” is credible, I want to thank him or her for recognizing what they did to Planet Playground, and thank them for posting to my blog. I spoke with Parks and Rec Director Cameli this morning, and here’s some data he asked me to share with “Anonymous” and others who participated in our “free running” episode:

- A new left turn slide will cost $2,423.17
- There were 10 broken board on the floors that were replaced;
- There were 7 broken handrails that were replaced;
- There were broken chains that were replaced;
- There was graffiti that had to be removed;
- The cost of manpower to do all the above was about as close to $3,800.

While not all of the damage listed above was attributable to your “free running” adventures, most of it was. All told, the bill was over $6,000. But most important, what’s been missed in this issue is the immeasurable losses our community has felt; to the parents and children who haven’t been able to use Planet Playground this past few weeks. I’m not sure how much “EXTREME CONSIDERATION” or “LOVE” for the Park we can afford. Thanks for indicating that “NOTHING ELSE WILL BE BROKEN” and please give some thought to stepping up your courage a little more and going over to the Rec Center to help fix what you've broken. Years from now you will be glad you did.

On a much different note, please remember early voting starts tomorrow at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center and runs through 31 July. Hours will be from 0800 to 1800 Monday thru Friday; and 0800 to 1300 on Saturday’s. While at the Rec Center, take a few minutes to look at the facility and programs. Lots of effort went into the new exercise and game rooms, so while you’re there consider becoming a member.

One last comment, the Nashville Sounds Baseball Team is sponsoring Mt Juliet League Night this Sunday July 18th at 6:30. 100% of the proceeds of League ticket sales will go back into our own Little League. We want to thank the leadership of the Sounds for this kind and generous offer to help rebuild the MJLL fields after the devastating May floods. I want to encourage all on Nixle or who read the CM blog to head for the Sounds game this Sunday, and please share this note with your family and friends. Until next time . . . take care and God Bless.

R. Robertson

City Manager Update - July 13, 2010

2010-07-13T18:08:00.001-05:00

Good afternoon MJ;

A short note today:

We received our sales tax receipts for June and the city took in $105k more this year than in 09. The numbers were $488k in 2010 compared to $383k last year. Overall MJ receipts constituted about 40% of all sales tax receipts in the county . . .nearly a half million reasons to continue to “Shop MJ!”

Early voting will be at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center starting 16 July. Stay tuned for more details.

I received an anonymous note based on a posting to a recent blog about Fall Softball. Yes, Fall Softball will not be held at Mundy Park this year due to the temporary relocation of Youth Football practice from Charlie Daniels Park to Mundy several days a week. We truly regret the disruption to our softball community, but over utilization and ever increasing traffic at CD Park during football season have moved the Parks staff to this option. We are hoping efforts towards developing new multipurpose fields at the Bel Air complex in CY 11 will help alleviate the situation.

I also mentioned in an earlier blog that the MJ Board of Commissioners approved aggressive execution of State Street Aid money in repairing and/or repaving more MJ streets than we’ve done in many years. All totaled nearly $490k has been earmarked for street repairs/repaving this year. The list includes a priority needs of streets from all points around the city, with some of the names including: Bass Drive, Springhill Road, segments of West Division and Old Lebanon Dirt Rd, Jefferson Dr., and Sunrise Circle as well as portions of Belinda Parkway.

Kudos to the MJPD’s Detectives Bonnie Harris and David Stolinsky for their exceptional professionalism and diligence in the recent child abuse/murder case. They are a treasure to our community.

A final note: the Animal Shelter numbers are running high. We need your help! Get involved by sharing a few hours a month as a Shelter volunteer. Better yet, adopt a dog, cat or both and become a volunteer as well. You will be glad you did.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

R. Robertson

Update: 7/5/10

2010-07-05T19:20:00.004-05:00

Good Evening MJ:

In this posting I want to spend a few minutes outlining actions taken by the MJ Board of Commissioners in their recent passage of the FY11 budget. Going through the entire budget would take lots of pages, so this is sort of a thumb nail sketch of major items that passed last week.

First, there are some improvements within our Parks and Rec system. Most noteworthy is a push to add a couple pieces of equipment at the new skate park, establish a "Tot Park" earmarked for those 5 years and under at the Charlie Daniels (CD) Park, work towards building a "Splash Park" at either CD or South Park, expanding the Frisbee course at Mundy Park, and bringing on one new employee (to replace a part time authorization). Mr. Cameli, the MJ Director of Parks and Rec, is also looking into a more proactive cost sharing effort at MJ newest Park, the Beazer Soccer fields, to enhance the quality of soccer in MJ.

In Public Works we're looking at nearly three-quarters of a million dollars in street improvements throughout MJ using State Street Aid funds. The PW Team are also looking to build a facility to house the city's vac truck. The vac truck is a very expensive piece of equipment used in clearing and maintaining sewer lines, and unfortunately it spends nearly all of its time parked outdoors. This effort will hopefully extend the life of the truck by minimizing wear and tear from the weather, and freezes in the vinyl hoses that are crucial to its operation. Mr. Keel also plans to build a storage shed for the city's salt supply which is also in the weather.

The BOC provided seed money to examine the options and costs for a new police facility. A preliminary look at several cities who have recently went through this process shows a building with adequate expansion, communication and security capabilities are averaging in the $4m to $5m range. Stay tuned to this forum for updates.

The PD consumes the majority of the city's budget. This year the force made the case for some real improvements, both in capital equipment (primarily patrol vehicles) and personnel. "Civilianizing" the Director of the Animal Shelter's position will allow a uniformed officer to return to the force. Chief Garrett also plans to bring on one new patrol officer, and an additional records clerk. We anticipate these new numbers will provide enhanced security and service responsiveness.

Finally, the Board approved a first time ever "longevity" allowance to team members who have between 5 and 20 years of service with the city, and a pay raise. Overall, the overwhelming majority of those involved with the process felt the FY11 budget helped continue improving the quality of life for our city. On behalf of the Team, we appreciate their commitment and vision.

A couple final notes. Special thanks goes out to Mr. Tom Needham and his crew for a fantastic 4th of July Fireworks Show. For those not there, you really missed something special. For those who enjoyed the evening, if you get a chance please stop by Needham's Nursery on Lebanon Road and thank Tom and his staff. Even though the city underwrites the 4th fireworks, Tom has lot's of his personal resources and "sweat equity" in making MJ's Fourth something truly extraordinary. Lastly, I recently received a rather turgid and confrontational email from a citizen in response to a posting on this blog. As stated in the original "rules" first published when this blog was created, this isn't a forum to take on outside posts. You are welcome to share your thoughts, but please don't be offended if they don't get published.

Have a great week MJ. Take care and God bless.

R. Robertson

Update: 7/1/10

2010-07-01T18:54:00.003-05:00

Good Evening MJ:

Here’s a few items of interest as we head into America’s 234th Birthday.

A special thanks to those who came out to our HOA/Citizen’s Update on Tuesday. For those who couldn’t make it to the meeting or haven’t seen it on TV yet, the briefings are being rerun on Channel 3 every Monday & Thursday at 5:00 p.m., on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and on Sunday’s at 2:00 p.m. for the next few weeks. You can also access the materials at the Mt. Juliet city homepage (www.cityofmtjuliet.org) There were several questions and some lively discussion. One of the questions we all found interesting was a citizen’s observation that the MJ Police Department was undermanned, and should probably have at least 30 more officers. While I don’t think most citizens would disagree the PD could use more help, I don’t think anyone, including the leadership of our own force, would recommend the need or associated cost for this.

The Codes Enforcement Section of the Public Works Department have been overwhelmed with sign related issues; specifically those dealing with political campaigns. While campaign signs are a time honored tradition, city ordinances place some restrictions on them, as they do with all temporary signs. If you have any questions, the best tip is to speak with either Mr. Thomas or Mr. Meadors, the city’s Code Officers. They can be reached at 642-9520 or 566-9360 respectively. There are difference rules pertaining to the size of a sign between commercial and residential areas, but the best rule of thumb is to ensure your signs are placed 10 feet back from the curb or road edge. This area constitutes the city’s right of way, and in general signs must be outside the right of way. Just to dissuade any notion of “favoritism” on the enforcement front, Mr. Thomas and Mr. Meadors picked up nearly 250 signs in the right of way last month.

As a reminder, the 4th Fireworks Extravaganza will be on Sunday, 4 July. Providence Mall will be hosting special events throughout the mid-day and evening, with the fireworks starting around dusk. I spoke with Mr. Tom Needham, who is hosting the fireworks display, and he indicated this promises to be one of his largest shows.

A final good note for your Fourth; we ended the June with 44 new housing permits issued, the largest number for June since the Providence hay days. Take care MJ and have a great 4th of July.

R. Robertson

Update: 6/22/10

2010-06-22T18:11:00.002-05:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

It’s been a while since I last spoke with you so here’s a few items of interest and FYI’s:

1. City Hall will be the site of a County Mayoral debate on Saturday, 26 June, starting at 9:30 a.m. As I understand all three candidates, Don Fox, Randall Hutto and Phillip Warren will participate in an event sponsored and conducted by the Wilson County Conservative Alliance. City Hall only seats about 70 individuals, so if you are interested in attending please ensure you arrive early. The debate will be broadcast on Channel 3, with taped editions televised over the following week.

2. CALLING ALL RESIDENTS!!!! There will be a City Update on Tuesday, 29 June, starting at 7:00 p.m. in City Hall. Though originally developed for Home Owner Association leaders from across the city, the forum is open all residents. Are you interested in issues or programs affecting your Police Department, Parks, Economic Development, or what’s happening on North Mt. Juliet Road? Briefings will be given by various City Department Heads on those topics and more. Invite your friends; light refreshments will be served. Remember, City Hall seating is limited, so get there early. This event will also be televised with later showings on Channel 3.
3. MJ’s 4th of July Fireworks Extravaganza will be on Sunday, 4 July, starting at dusk from the Providence Mall area. Come early and enjoy what always promises to be a great event in the life of our city. Mr. Tom Needham, of Needham’s Nursery, has again organized a spectacular evening, with Mt. Juliet skies aglow and shouts or “oughs and aaughs”. Recommend bringing your lawn chairs and blankets.

4. Looking for something a little different to do on a Friday evening? How about catching the Music City Star on its evening run into downtown Nashville? The Star departs the MJ station at 7:00 p.m., and leaves the Nashville River Front Station at 9:30 pm. What to spend a little longer downtown? Then catch the train leaving MJ at 5:00. Buy your tickets at the Mt. Juliet City Hall or Kroger.

5. Did you catch Monday’s cover page of The Tennessean, with a feature article on new housing in Wilson County? There was a companion piece that evening by Channel 5 reporter Mark Bellinger (available on their web page). While the discussion was about Wilson County, the focal point was Mt. Juliet. Here’s a couple data points: Between January and mid June this year we’ve seen about 160 new housing permits issued, compared to around 60 for the same time period last year. It’s also been reported that Wilson County is Tennessee’s fastest growing county; and it’s 29th out of the top 100 fastest growing counties in the United States. What’s great about our town is how we’ve been able to retain lots of our southern charm and rural atmosphere despite exponential growth.
6. The North Mt. Juliet Road widening project is progressing well. Be on the lookout for the “thermometers” at both ends the road, this blog, Channel 3 and the city’s web page for updates.

7. Lock your cars. Whether at home, at work or when shopping; don’t leave your car unlocked. We’ve seen increases in car burglaries in the last few weeks. Car thieves are opportunistic; don’t give them an invitation by leaving your car unlocked and your valuable is plain sight.
8. A couple weeks ago, a handful of volunteers worked together to raise over $7.5k for the Mt. Juliet Animal Shelter. Last weekend, in cooperation with the Dairy Queen on Lebanon Road, the MJ Animal Shelter volunteers (. . . or “Greenshirters” as they prefer to be known) raised another couple hundred dollars; all going directly back into caring for our city’s animals. A special thanks goes out to these brave souls who didn’t let things like near 100 degree temperatures keep them down. Thanks ladies and Gentlemen for all you do! Keep up the hard charge.

9. On a final note, City Hall and other city facilities will be very limited between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 29 June, for an employee luncheon and various training sessions. The doors will be open, but normal services may be slightly delayed until after 1:00 p.m.
Stay out of the heat, take care and talk with you later.
R. Robertson

Update: 5/28/10

2010-05-28T16:55:00.002-05:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

Here’s a few items of interest for those on Nixle or who follow the City Manager blog:

1. We’ve finished the initial draft of the city budget and overall things are looking fairly good. Generally you can classify MJ revenue from three primary sources: sales tax, court revenue and development/building related. The good news is sales tax receipts are up. While the numbers are not astronomical, sales tax receipts are better than projected. The challenging news is both court and building related revenues are down. While court revenue is off, again, it isn’t an astronomical number. On the building side though, just like virtually everywhere else, anything related to new building has taken pretty much of a nose dive. When you put all three into the mix, the overall news is the city has a slightly better revenue stream than projected. The real challenge is each of our primary forms of revenue aren’t static; predicting dollars associated with them with accuracy during a recession can be difficult at best.

2. This is an all points bulletin for volunteers at the Animal Shelter. The numbers of animals housed are on the rise, and while we have a great cadre of volunteers, too few are carrying the load. Give the Shelter a couple hours a week and you’ll be hooked for life. Interested? Check with Sgt Keith Youmans or any staff member or volunteer at the MJ Animal Shelter. Their number is 773-5533.

3. We’ve named a new Parks and Rec Director, Mr. Jay Cameli, of Mt. Juliet. Jay has been a MJ resident for nearly 20 years. He’s a graduate of Purdue University and has a license in Landscape Architecture. Jay has tremendous experience in greenway design and grant development, and will be a tremendous asset to the Parks Department and the city team. On that note, all of us in City Hall want to thank Mr. Rocky Lee for his leadership as Acting Parks Director this last year. During his tenure the Parks crew unveiled the new Rec Center expansion, built the para course and skate park at Charlie Daniels Park, build a Frisbee Golf Course at Mundy Park, fielded new programs like Futsal, and our semiannual flea markets and fashion shows. He also led the team through clean up and repair from the historic 2010 flood. Thanks for all you have done for the city and its citizens Mr. Lee.

4. If you drive North Mt. Juliet Road, you have probably see the two “thermometers” that are tracking the pace of work on this major road and utility project. We are nearing the end of the first year. While it may seem slow, overall the progress has been on track. It has been an extraordinary wet winter and summer, and the various crews are doing a fine job working with businesses and traffic to keep things moving.

5. Please encourage your friends and others within the community to sign up for Nixle. During the recent floods, we were able to communicate in near real time with over 1k of you who are on the Nixle distribution list. We’ve received many words of support, encouragement and thanks from across the city from those who followed the near hourly changing events of early May via Nixle. It’s fast, easy and can be tailored to the type of information you desire. Just tell your friends to go to the city web page (www.cityofmtjuliet.org) or to www.nixle.com for instructions.

6. On a final note, please take time during this weekend to remember what Memorial day is all about. Our thanks and prayers go to the men, women and families who have given their lives or lost a love one in defense of this great nation. In specific my thoughts will be with Private Ernest Robertson, MIA and later classified as KIA from the Yellow River Campaign of the Korean War, and with those whom I have lead and served who are no longer with us.

Take care and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: 5/12/10

2010-05-12T11:34:00.004-05:00

Good Morning MJ:

Just a couple short notes:

We posted another flood update from WEMA Chief John Jewell today on Channel 3. Chief Jewell's message is encouraging anyone with flood related damage, whether they are insured or not, to register with FEMA. You can do that by going to http://www.disasterassistance.gov/ or by calling 1-800-621-3362. A FEMA disaster assistance center is open in the 100 Oaks Mall and one is tentatively scheduled to open at Lebanon's Outlet Mall in the next few days. Thus far, over $2.27m in damages have been reported to governmental facilities here in Wilson County alone, with more than 500 structures affected by the flood.

On a different note, occupancy in the Animal Shelter is running high. We have the widest array of potential pets available since late last year. Please open your heart and home to a cat and dog. We are also in desperate need of active volunteers. While we have a large roll, at the end of the day it's been a handful of dedicated individuals who carry most of the volunteer load at the shelter. Interested? Call Sergeant Keith Youmans at 773-5533.

You will soon be able to monitor the progress of the North Mt. Juliet Road (NMJR) project while driving along the route. Public Works and Parks personnel are busy fabricating a couple oversized "thermometers" that will click off the number of months of the project. Look for them at strategic sites along NMJR next month.

Some new businesses on our horizon include Fire It Up (self pottery store), Sports Clips, Tennessee Cheese Cake Company, Nashville Tire and Battery, Ascend Credit Corporation, Whichwich Sandwiches, Firestone Service Center.

On a final note, I ran across an interesting and timely article in the 5 May edition of The Wall Street Journal I want to share with our Nixle and CM blog readers.

In "Surviving the Age of Humiliation", author Jeff Zaslow concludes that in today's internet age, the spirit of civility, courtesy and simple decorum is too often displaced with the harshness of mean spirited people hiding behind a veil of anonymity. Nameless, faceless bloggers spew drivel with the primary intent of tarnishing, destroying or humiliating others. Most often the brunt of their efforts are people whom they genuinely know little or nothing of.

One of the article's passages is of particular note: "The problem is that too many of us succumb to the anonymity of the web. We're braver when we type. We don't have to look someone in their eyes. It's easier to be vicious . . ." But another source quoted by Zaslow, seems to say it best when he writes: "There have always been people whose aim in life was to cause pain to others." That says a lot for the times we live in, but it's always easier to tear down than to build. Just some thoughts from the CM.

Take care and God bless. Talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: 5/11/10

2010-05-11T12:05:00.002-05:00

Good Morning MJ: At last night’s Commission meeting, much of the evening was spent discussing the flood’s impact on Mt. Juliet and relief operations. Below are a few notes from the discussion:

According to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate, the primary concern is registering people with FEMA and getting them temporary housing assistance. There are in excess of 17,900 individuals (as of 1300 hours,10 May) who have registered with FEMA so far, with more than $28 million in federal assistance committed.
For those with damage, the thrust at this time is to register in the FEMA database. Individuals who have flood damage, and who have not been contacted by FEMA, TEMA or local authorities, need to register in the FEMA data base. That process can start with calling 1-800-621-3362 (1-800-621-FEMA). You can also register through the web by going to www.disasterassistance.gov
Once registration takes place the person incurring flood damage will receive a phone call from FEMA to schedule an inspection of the residence or business. After the inspection, the FEMA official will provide a loss assessment, upon which a payment will be based.
Again, the key is registering in the FEMA data base. According to FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer, Gracia Szczech, once registered, it takes an average of 2-5 days for an inspector come out. It is taking an average of 7-10 days for the whole process to take place, from registration to payment. Any payment will be expedited by providing a checking account number, thus allowing the funds to be directly deposited.
Businesses with flood damage have their applications processed through the Small Business Administration (SBA). There are currently two FEMA Disaster Assistance Centers set up in middle Tennessee, with the closest one to Mt. Juliet at the 100 Oaks Mall. Chief John Jewell of WEMA indicates there is a plan to open one up at 350 Outlet Mall in Lebanon in the next few days. 448 houses, businesses or government facilities in Wilson County were identified to TEMA for eventual reporting to FEMA. Of that, 119 were in Mt. Juliet.
As you can see, the citizens of Wilson County were hard hit by the 1-2 May floods. Roughly 25% of the damaged facilities reported to FEMA were right here in Mt. Juliet. From a governmental perspective, we incurred damage to our road infrastructure as well to portions of the Charlie Daniels Park and City Hall. Possibly the biggest losses to our city stem from damages to the MJ Little League Park and Youth Football, with the LL Park extensively damaged and Youth Football loosing much of the equipment. At last night’s meeting the MJ BOC agreed to assist with rebuilding the Little League Park, and initially passed an ordinance to provide the League with $50k.

There will be more to come on the flood efforts, but I will close this report with a hearty thanks to the MJPD, Public Works and Parks for their exceptional work during this recent catastrophe.

Take care and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: 5/5/10

2010-05-05T16:45:00.004-05:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

It has been a few weeks since my last report, and in that time we’ve seen unprecedented challenges, tremendous opportunities. Here’s a few items to mention from my view:

Flooding: I’ve been asked by the papers and other media to describe flood conditions in Mt. Juliet. The best I can say is we were blessed. Yes, there was some significant damage, but it was very limited compared to other cities in the region. Several houses were flooded while possibly hundreds had some type of water damage. The Mt. Juliet Little League complex suffered extensive damage. I met with the League reps and they estimate tens-of-thousands of dollars in damages, with no insurance. It was truly heart-warming to so many volunteers rise to the challenge of the clean up process on Monday afternoon. Our Parks and Rec Department is working actively with League personnel, to schedule the use of the fields at Mundy Park to the fullest extent possible.
Speaking of Parks & Rec, the fences at the Youth Football fields at Charlie Daniels Park, as well as perimeter fence around the park took a significant hit. Mr. Lee, the Acting Parks Director, is partnering with Youth Football leaders to work through those issues. I want to thank the staff of the Charlie Daniels Park for their outstanding efforts in trying to keep the water pushed out of the Rec Center. While we had some overflow in the new Exercise Room and in the gym as well, the impact was minimal due to the staff’s diligence. While thanking people, my sincere appreciation goes to the men and women of the MJPD and the Public Works Department. They’ve had some very long days, and some extraordinary challenges.
Mr. Kenny Martin, the city’s Economic Development Director, toured several businesses yesterday. Stores in the Valley Center were hit hard; many will be down for days. It was an emotional experience visiting the fellow who just came from Brooklyn, New York, who was getting ready to open up his new “Poppy’s Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant” at the end of the Center, in the next couple weeks. Not only did he have water coming through the doors over the weekend, but he, as many of the individual businesses in the Center had major roof leakage as well. He was thoroughly committed to MJ though, and indicated despite losing all his carpet and ceiling, he still planned on opening within the next few weeks. Meetings like this truly underscore the need to “Shop Mt. Juliet” and keep your dollars here in our community.
For homeowners who had enough damage to force them out of their homes, please ensure you contact the WEMA Operations Center and let them know your predicament. WEMA officials are gathering data to support the Governor’s declaration of a disaster area, and for possible Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reimbursement. Even if you aren’t sure if you qualify, give them a call. The number is 444-8777. WEMA’s Chief Jewell has teams canvassing the county to assess damages to homes and businesses, but they may miss some areas, so again, if you have any questions call 444-8777. You can also tune into MJ Channel 3. Chief Jewell filmed a short “infomercial” with most details you would want to know about the flood. We’ll be running that several times a day over the next week.
On a concluding note, all-in-all Mt. Juliet was spared most of the worst flooding; thus my “blessed” statement. Other than a few street issues there was really no major infrastructure concerns from the flood. Rutland Elementary was flooded, but thanks to a host of volunteers, they were back in school today. Also kudos to the crew of WEMA Station 3. Between running calls all day Sunday, they were pumping and pushing water out of the station house. You guys are great. Thanks for what you do.

There’s nothing significant to report on the NMJR Road Project. While there has been a little progress, the weather obviously slowed various work crews down last week.

Want to get rid of that household “junk”? Remember, one person’s junk is another’s treasure. Join us at the Mt. Juliet Spring Community Yard Sale, this Saturday (8 May), from 0700 to 1200. Booths are only $20, and there some left. Last year we estimate over 2k persons attended the yard sale, and every vendor reported brisk business. Call the MJ Rec Center at 758-6522, or Tim Henson at 642-6130 to lock in your spot or for more info. As an added feature, the MJ Help Center will have a truck on site for those who wish to donate their “treasures” rather than cart them back home. What a deal!

There will also be a yard sale supporting the Mt. Juliet Animal Shelter on Saturday, 5 June, at the Bob Parks Realty Office, 547 North Mt. Juliet Road. Last year’s sale raised thousands of dollars for the Shelter, and provided the staff and volunteers with resources they wouldn’t otherwise have had to assist our furry citizens. Donations are being received now at the Bob Parks office, so if you’ve have items you just can’t wait to contribute, make the trip now. Questions? Call 585-5050.

For those who take the Music City Star, operations will be down for the rest of the week. For more info call 615 862-5950.

If you haven’t seen Channel 3 in a while take a look. Mr. Taylor and Mr. Adams have done a yeoman’s job repackaging much of the static info presented, while adding things like a schedule, weather reports, live camera shots from various interstate locations, and even a news “crawler” at the bottom of the screen. Stay “tuned” for more.

That’s about all for this week. Take care and God Bless.

R. Robertson
City Manager

Update: 4/14/10

2010-04-14T15:29:00.003-05:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

It’s in the mid 80’s in mid April . . . wow. Welcome to the mid south!

Just a few updates for the blog and Nixle readers:

We want to welcome to Aldi’s to Mt. Juliet. They opened their doors last week, and from all reports have developed quite a following within the community. Other businesses that recently or will soon cut the ribbon include Precision Eyecare, the Cricket Store, along with Courtney’s Cafeteria (meat & three) on NMJR. Here’s the business lineup we see in the near term: The Corner Pub, U.S. Bank, Billy Goat Coffee, Nails First, Pride Cleaners, Del Sol Mexican Restaurant, We Buy Gold Jewelry & Gifts, and Goin’ Postal. On the larger side we look forward to Cheddar’s Restaurant opening this summer, and to the Tennessee Cheesecake Company and KHS Jupiter Band Corporation who will open their doors. It’s an exciting time for Mt. Juliet.

Some more good news. We received our February sales tax report today. Despite being the shortest month of the year, and despite this February being one of the most weather challenged in recent history, the citizens of MJ continue to demonstrate they understand why it’s important to “Shop Mt. Juliet”. City sales tax receipts for February 2010 stood at $422k compared to February 2009 with $364k; over $58k more. When compared to the same time period for CY 09 the city is up a little over $100k in sales tax receipts. With further improvements in the economy and the continued expansion of the city’s business sector, we are on-track for a positive end to FY10. Complementing our sales tax numbers is semblance of a resurgence of new housing starts inside the city. From October 2008 to March 2009, there were 97 permits issued. For that same period in the 2009-2010 timeframe (Oct to March), 177 new housing permits were issued; nearly double the previous reporting period. The month of April also seem to be off to a great start with 16 permits in the pipeline.

Please encourage your family and friends to join us on Nixle. Those of you who received this notice know that we’ve partnered with WEMA to provide weather updates in addition to all types of postings on city affairs. It’s a tremendous way to keep abreast of what’s happening in Mt. Juliet. With all the work taking place on NMJR, why would you not want to be part of Nixle?

Congratulations to the staff and volunteers at the MJ Animal Shelter. We’ve been monitoring their numbers, and through the extraordinarily heroic adoptions efforts they do for each animal who enters the Shelter, the numbers confined there have been exceptionally low. I occasionally hear a discussion regarding the level of support given to the shelter. Like so many things governments do or don’t do, there’s often a lack of credible information about what actually happens in a specific program. Sergeant Youmans, who runs the MJ Animal Shelter, tells me that through the kind and very generous donations of many in our city, the Shelter staff has not had to spend any money on animal food for over a year. This is an extraordinary achievement; the kind of real information citizens should know about how their government operates. Again, thanks to all who donate their time, money and other resources to make the MJ Animal Shelter the renowned leader in middle Tennessee.

While we are blessed with so many active, caring churches in our community, a special thanks goes out to the leadership and congregation of Providence United Methodist Church (PUMC) for their recent efforts in supporting MJ. At Monday’s Board of Commissioners meeting, PUMC’s Reverend Armstrong told the Board and audience that on Sunday, 11 April, about 300 members of the Providence congregation donated their time towards working within our community. While it’s hoped that “Worship Without Walls” will be an annual event for PUMC, if this year’s results are any indication, it is off to a phenomenal start. On the city’s side we had Providence crews working at the Animal Shelter, at City Hall washing police cars and at Charlie Daniels Park clearing brush from the fence line. Congrats to Jacob, Becky and our own Tim Henson for their brilliant planning, coordination and execution. If there are any other churches or charitable organizations who would like to consider something similar, give me a call at 754-2552.

One final note. Last week we recognized a few men and of your own city staff, “Team Mt. Juliet”, for 5 or more years of accident free driving. On an average day we figure an MJ Police Officer will drive around 200 miles. You can do the math, but it comes out to be a very large number. Add to that the miles driven by our Parks personnel, our Sewer Department, the Roads crew, and the guys on the chipper truck, and . . . I think you get the point. When you multiply that by 5 years or more it comes out to be the equivalent of several round trips to the moon. There were 28 Team members who received this special recognition. They work for you! On Monday evening we also congratulated a unique collection of people who have been absolutely essential to this city, the adults and youth of the city’s Police Explorers, Civilian Auxiliary Police and Parks Special Events volunteers. While they are part of the fabric of every special activity MJ holds, at Monday’s BOC meeting they were recognized for accomplishments at the Easter in Park “Eggstravaganza”. The Parks and Rec staff tell me they estimated somewhere between 7k to 8k flooded Charlie Daniels Park for this year’s Easter Egg hunt; the largest in our history. We couldn’t have done it without the time and efforts of these dedicated volunteers. Many thanks to them and to Scott of Buffalo Wild Wings for the very generous gift certificate donation we were able to give to each volunteer.

That’s about all for this time. Remember, there’s going to be even more construction along NMJR in the next few months with various lane closures planned. Plan your commute accordingly and don’t forget to support the businesses along this route. They are accessible, open for business and anxious to serve. Take care and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: 3/26/10

2010-03-26T15:40:00.005-05:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

Its Friday afternoon, and a gorgeous day outside; just the spring-like weather we’ll be looking for tomorrow at MJ’s annual “Easter in the Park” at Charlie Daniels Park. I toured the Park today with Mr. Rocky Lee, Acting Parks Director, and listened to all the great things they have planned for tomorrow. If you haven’t been to Charlie Daniels recently, I hope you have a chance tomorrow; the Parks and Rec crew have pulled out all the stops. New shrubs, new banners and bunting, mulching and painting. Take a look at the fifty state flags they will have on display, or catch a tour of the new Exercise and Game Rooms inside the Rec Center. “Easter in the Park” is one of the largest annual events hosted by the MJ Parks and Rec Department. Tomorrow events kick off at 10:30, with egg hunts for ages 1-4 at 11:00; ages 5-7 at 11:30 and the search begins at 12:00 for the 8-11 year group. Over 16,000 eggs are to be found; all stuffed with sugary delicacies. At 12:30 join us for the golden egg hunt with 10 hidden golden eggs containing receipts to fabulous prizes totaling over $1,000. If egg hunting isn’t your thing, then the Rec Center is offering a 2 months for the price of 1 deal just to acquaint new comers to the fabulous new exercise and game room unveiled this week. It truly promises to be a great day in the life of the Mt. Juliet community and we hope you’ll join us and invite others.

While crusin’ the park tomorrow you’ll have a chance to see some of MJ's finest on display. No, it’s not the PD . . . it’s some of our canines from the MJ Animal Shelter. Where else can you hunt for Easter eggs and take home a four legged friend for life? Thanks Sergeant Youmans, Reverend Gray and all the staff and volunteers of the MJ Animal Shelter for making this happen.
Though it’s not visible, we’re making progress with the West Division Greenway project. The Greenway project is divided into several phases with Phase 1 scheduled to get underway in the April timeframe. Phase I, though a relatively short section, is one of the most expensive and challenging since it involves crossing North Mt. Juliet Road at the West Division Street intersection. Phase 1 will provide about an 8 feet wide section of paved surface from the train station to the 4th Street area. For those who travel on that route, you’ll note a series of small tree saplings planted in the northern side of West Division. We hope this is the first in a series of contributions to the Greenway project. The area they are in has been acquired by the city, and will serve as a “trail head” for the Greenway, that will eventually make its way down to South Greenhills Road. We are hoping this first part will be done in the September/October timeframe. Stay tuned for updates.

Congrats to Mr. Shannon (AKA: Cajun) Joyner, who was selected by the Chamber of Commerce as the 2009 MJ Civil Servant of the Year. Cajun is a tremendous fellow, and as Deputy Director of Public Works, absolutely essential to the daily operations of the city. Cajun was the catalyst for the successful application of the TDOT Local Interstate Connector grant we received for the Reverse L, and along with Mr. Casey Binion, is spearheading efforts for the North MJ Road widening project. Well done Cajun!

When you are in City Hall next time, check out our new info kiosk in the PD lobby. Don’t want to wait in line; you can go on-line from the lobby to conduct most city business. Thanks to Mr. Taylor, Mr. Adams and Mr. Pugh of the Parks Department for helping us make a quantum leap in customer service.

On a more somber note, don’t forget the people of Haiti. While it’s been several weeks, the pictures and news from this impoverished nation don’t grow much better with time. Won’t you help the men and women of Team Mt. Juliet in making a positive difference in the lives of others who so desperately need your help? Please give the American Red Cross or the charity of your choice in the campaign to bring some relief to these people who have suffered so very much.

On a final note: Um unsere liebste Freundin Ute. Auf dieser, Ihren Geburtstag, sind unsere Gedanken, Gebete und die besten Wünsche mit Ihnen. Sie Freundschaft ist ein Segen für uns und wir freuen uns darauf, wieder mit Ihnen. God Bless.

Take care MJ and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: 3/11/10

2010-03-11T16:08:00.002-06:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

Welcome to another edition of the City Manager’s blog. Here’s some items of interest and FYI:

Work continues to progress fairly well on the North Mt. Juliet Road widening project. While the weather remains an obstacle, I understand that for the most part the overall project is about where it was forecasted to be at this point. While that may start to sound a little like a broken record, it remains a good news story that bears repeating.

Come out and join the MJ Parks and Rec crew for their second annual Spring Fashion Show, starting at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, 13 March. There’s over 70 models representing stores from Belk and CJ Banks to Old Navy. Even the Mt. Juliet’s PetSmart and the MJ Animal Shelter have partnered up to bring you what the well dressed pooch will be wearing in 2010 in their “Beasty Beauty” contest. Last year’s event had over 300 viewers jammed into the Rec Center, so get there early for the best seats.

Other Park and Rec events rounding out this year’s Spring Break include 20 March’s Major League Baseball sponsored Pitch, Hit and Run contest, scheduled for 9:00 a.m. at Mundy Park. This promises to be one of the biggest youth oriented events of the year, so break out the old glove, loosen up the arm and join your friends for a great day of friendly competition and the chance to move on to the finals, held at this year’s MLB All Star Game.

Easter in the Park is scheduled for the following weekend (27 March), starting at 11:00 a.m. There’s three groups of egg hunters planned, with ages 1 to 4 starting at 11:00, ages 5 thru 7 hitting the field at 11:30, and ages 8 to 11 testing their agility and speed starting at 12:00. A special treat will be the search for the 10 golden eggs starting at 12:30 from the amphitheater. The golden eggs are filled with certificates for special prizes that add up to nearly $1,000. Mt. Juliet’s Easter in the Park is one of the biggest events of the year in Charlie Daniels Park so bring the entire family for a day of fun in the sun (hopefully). The MJ Animal Shelter will even be there showing off pets who need a home for the holiday.

Some good news for MJ. Police Chief Garrett’s crew has crunched the numbers and the overall crime rate for the city is down 10% from CY08 to CY09. The men and women of the MJPD do a magnificent job day-in and day-out. Next time you see one of the city’s finest, tell them thanks for what they do. Speaking of good news, another positive note from the city’s economic front today arrived today. Remember when the town basically came to a close during the last weekend of January due to the snow and ice? For a city that lives and breathes through sales tax, many of us here at city hall have been concerned about the impact winter’s weather has had on city sales tax receipt. While we haven’t seen the consequences of February’s President’s Day weekend snowstorm, the good news is we “weathered” January quite nicely with the city’s portion of sales tax receipts up nearly $27k from January 09. Thanks to everyone for continuing to “Shop Mt. Juliet”.

A final note . . . the census is coming. Help spread the word with your friends and family as to how absolutely critical it is to submit your annual census form. The forms should start showing up next week in mailboxes across the city. the 2010 edition is the shortest form in the history of the Census Department, with 10 simple questions that should take about 10 minutes or less to complete. The city’s population is a conduit to federal funds, so it’s not only required to complete a form, its’ imperative to our growth and development. Be watching Channel 3 for more details, or if we can answer questions the city’s “Chief Census Expert” is Mr. Bo Logan at 773-6237.

Take care and talk with you later.

Sincerely,

R. Robertson

Update: 2/21/10

2010-02-21T17:10:00.002-06:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

It’s Sunday afternoon and wow, what a beautiful day. I visited Charlie Daniels Park after church today, and it was packed. As I walked around a few park users told me how pleased they were to see the positive direction the MJ Parks and Rec system is taking. If you haven’t been to one of our three parks recently, I’d encourage you to check them out. Have a dog? We’ve got Wilson County’s only “Bark Park” at the South Park off Belinda Parkway. Like softball? There’s still time to get involved in Mundy Park league action for the spring. Give Mr. Tim Henson a call at 758-6522. If softball isn't your style, then try Frisbee Golf at Mt. Juliet’s only course located at Mundy Park. I understand the Frisbee course is so popular “golfers” had to wait for a “tee time” yesterday! At Charlie Daniels Park lots of work is underway in preparation for the “Easter Eggstravanza” scheduled for the last couple weeks of March, and culminating with our annual “Easter in the Park”, on Saturday, 27 March. Acting Director of Parks and Rec, Mr. Rocky Lee, and his crew are pulling out the stops to put a shine on Charlie Daniels Park. The new weight room should be up and operational by then, the skate park in going full blast, and the meeting room is available for your special events. Visit a park today.

The improved weather also means the pace of work is picking up on the North MJ Road (NMJR) widening project. Navigating NMJR was always a challenge, but during the construction it can be even more daunting. Plan your trips accordingly, but don’t forget our local merchants along the road. TDOT and the contractors are completely committed to ensure every one of them are accessible. These men and women rely on you and your business now more than ever, so “Shop Mt. Juliet”. For the latest update on the NMJR road project, you can tune into Assistant Public Works Director “Cajun” Joyner’s broadcast on Channel 3 or simply go to the city’s homepage (www.cityofmtjuliet.org).

If you haven’t checked out the city’s home page recently then you’ve missed a couple new items. First, we have a language translator that can handle anything from Albanian to Yiddish, and 50 languages in between. If you have friends, families or businesses connections overseas that might be interested in MJ, tell them to check out the translator. We’ve also partnered with CGI Communications to do a short video brief on Mt. Juliet. This project, done at no cost to the city, promotes several local MJ businesses, and is a good starting point for first time city web visitors. The CGI link can be found on the bottom left of our homepage. We also just received our completed electronic codification “book” from the contractor, and plan to have a link to it within the next few weeks (after a couple readings by the city Board of Commissioners). This initiative allows visitors, from the comfort of their home, to research city ordinances and resolutions back to the 1970’s.

A final note, the last week we’ve seen a great deal of interest in adoptions at the MJ Animal Shelter. A couple of local television stations noted our census was growing, and our citizens rose to the challenge. I’m pleased to report that today there are only 15 animals in the Shelter. And while one is too many, it’s good to know the deep cord of support the Shelter runs with the public. Thanks.

Until next time, take care MJ and God Bless.

R. Robertson

Update: 2/11/10

2010-02-11T22:28:00.002-06:00

Good Evening MJ:

Some notes from the last couple weeks FYI:

1. The MJ Animal Shelter continues to exceed all expectations with adoptions running neck-to-neck with animals who are sheltered. Yesterday we had 15 animals. This kind of success isn’t possible without a tremendous staff and extraordinary group of volunteers. If you want to give something special to your Valentine’s Day sweetheart, think about a dog or cat from the MJ Animal Shelter. It will be the gift of year round love.

2. Some great news: December’s sales tax report just came in and once again MJ continues to exceed expectations. Sales tax revenue for the city was up a little over $30k from December 2008. There’s a little concern that the rate of acceleration is slowing, and with no major “big boxes” or major projects in the near future, we may see some flattening rates, but all in all, for an economic year unlike any most of have ever seen, we are still in an enviable position. Mr. Martin also tells me there’s going to be a large announcement in the near future. Stay tuned.

3. Received a report today reflecting the size of all municipal police departments in Tennessee. Here are a few stats based upon the number of officers serving for each 1k population: Nashville: 2.65; Lebanon: 2.86; Smyrna: 1.91; Franklin: 2.33; Crossville: 3.64; Cookeville: 2.55; Murfreesboro: 2.16; Oak Ridge: 2.19; Hendersonville: 2.01; and MJ: 1.66. You can draw whatever conclusions you wish, but from my vantage, I salute the men and women of the MJPD for the absolutely extraordinary work they do. They are a value and credit to this community.

4. Despite some challenging weather, work on NMJR continues to progress. Mr. Joyner, the city’s action officer for the project, advises there’s some major activity planned as soon as the weather improves; just take a look at the concrete pipes lining the area north of the railroad tracks. Be sure to stay posted on the project progress by tuning into Channel 3, or clicking on the project icon at the city’s home page.

5. Speaking of home page, kudos to Mr. Taylor and Mr. Adams of our IT Department. They’ve done an extraordinary thing by streaming Channel 3 through the web. If you don’t pick up Channel 3, or will be out of town, just go to the city’s web page to keep up with what’s going on. Good job fellows! We’ve received several reports from people outside MJ who like what you’ve done. While on congratulations, a hearty thanks to Mr. Brent Terry, Mr. Roy Acosta and Mr. Brandon Ambrose, for the great job they did in clearing city streets during the recent snowstorm. These guys logged in over 100 hours during the last weekend in January to ensure the city’s roads were in the best possible condition for Monday morning. Also thanks to the MJ BOC for taking time at their last meeting to recognizing these three accomplishments and hard work.

6. We are a victim of our own success as it relates to the Charlie Daniels Red Center. We’ve seen unprecedented growth in membership and use of the facility, especially in the Exercise Room. Based upon the demand, the BOC is moving forward to help the Parks Department underwrite switching the Game Room and Exercise Room. The new Exercise Room will be over twice as large, providing users with a safer, more inviting area to work out. Mr. Lee, Acting Director for the Parks and Rec Department, advises he's been meeting with several vendors to see if we can come to terms with the cost of special flooring, and hopes to have the new room up and operational in the near future. Also, a special thanks to Mrs. Linda McCallahan, for helping the Parks and Rec Department secure a storage area they so desperately need. While not a city employee or a member of the Parks Board, Linda saw a need and helped fill it. We appreciate you.

That’s about all for this evening. Remember, the city has been approved by the American Red Cross as a donation site for funds for Haitian relief. While the story of Haiti doesn’t fill the papers every day now, the horrors of what has happened in that country will last for many years to come. Help us help them. Stop by City Hall and let Tina know you care.

Talk with you later.
R. Robertson

Update: 01/26/10

2010-01-26T16:50:00.002-06:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

A few short points of interest for those following the blog:

1. An advanced congratulations goes out to the winners for tonight’s annual MJ Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner. I know Mark, Anita and Jason have some great things planned for this evening. Also, a special thanks goes to the leadership of Del Webb for allowing the Chamber to use their facilities.

2. Have you heard????? Channel 3 is now available thru streaming video on the internet! Wherever you are, as long as you have an internet hook-up, you can follow events in City; Monday evening’s Board of Commissioners meetings; Thursday’s 6:30 p.m. Regional Planning Commission meeting; or Tuesday’s 9a.m Technical Review. Now, you don’t need a TV and Channel 3 to keep in touch with your community. For more info, go the city’s webpage at www.cityofmtjuliet.org, then scroll down to “Channel 3” at the bottom left side of the menu. We hope you enjoy.

3. We’re always looking for more volunteers. Whether it’s part of the Police Auxiliary, spending time with our furry residents at the Animal Shelter, helping with Special Events like the Christmas Parade, and Easter or Halloween in the Park we’ve got a job for you. Looking for more exotic work? We’ve got positions with our Economic Development Department working to attract new businesses, or with our IT department in continuing to push our communication programs to the community. You have a talent, we have a volunteer position. If you are interested, or know someone who is, give Tina a call at 754-2552.

4. We noted at last night’s Board of Commissioners meeting that nearly 70 people had signed up for Futsal, a type of indoor soccer. That’s fantastic! I understand several teams have been formed, with people of every age and gender. Interested? Call Parks and Rec at 758-6522 for more details. Speaking of Parks, I want to wish a fond farewell to Mr. Ryan Armstrong, at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center. While Ryan is moving on to bigger things at the U.S. Community Credit Union Bank, he will be sorely missed. Ryan was the spearhead for last year’s volleyball tournament, and has been a main stay at the Rec Center. Best of luck Ryan, and stay in touch.

5. A final note . . . on these tough winter days, driving down North Mt. Juliet Road and looking at all the construction, it’s hard to think about what the area will look like in the future. I’ve heard those concerns expressed several times over the last few weeks. My response is: “these are the signs and sounds of progress!” Yes, North Mt. Juliet Road looks bad now, and it can be a challenge to drive on. Frankly, that’s likely to be the way it is for quite a while, but the results will be worth the effort. Readers are encouraged to keep up to date on construction progress by tuning into Channel 3 for Mr. Shannon (aka: Cajun) Joyner’s biweekly status report. You can also catch “The Cajun Joyner Show” on the city’s webpage, by clicking on “Road Construction Info” on the right-hand side of the menu.

Take care and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: 1/17/10

2010-01-17T17:11:00.002-06:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

I’ll begin by wishing all a wonderful MLK birthday holiday celebration. I was particularly impressed by an article in Sunday’s Tennessean, which spoke about this being an opportunity to reflect on our past, consider how far we’ve come in the area of equality and human rights, and ponder the opportunities and challenges of our future. I thought it ironic that as we celebrate a national holiday residing on the values we hold most dear, while Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, struggles with the fallout of last week’s massive earthquake. We’ve received calls at City Hall asking how to help. We suggest what relief operations need most right now is money. You may wish to consider the Red Cross or other charities with the resources and infrastructure to ensure your gift goes to exactly to where you desire. If you have any questions you can speak with Sharon or Tina at City Hall (754-2552) and they’ll be happy to assist.

I had the privilege of speaking to the Del Webb Veterans Association last week, and had a wonderful time. They wanted an overall update on city-wide activities, so I based the discussion on the recent end of year report card provided the Board of Commissioners. I thought those on Nixle might be interested in reading some things you probably didn’t see in the paper. So, for your reading enjoyment, below is “Team Mt. Juliet’s” 2009 Report:

Board of Commissioners:

As we approach the end of 2009, I thought a short review of the tremendous work and accomplishments occurring throughout our community would be in order. Suffice to say as a staff, “Team Mt. Juliet” had one of our busiest and most successful years to date. Speaking for the Team, in looking back on 2009, we are extremely proud of the progress made and the possibilities of the new year. Just a few examples of what was done in 2009 include:

• The City of Mt. Juliet was the number one award winner from cities and counties across Middle Tennessee for projects and programs recognized by the Greater Nashville Regional Council.
• We established and fielded on-line payment systems for most city services. These systems are making a positive difference in our ability to handle program demands and population growth within the existing resources.
• With a mix of staff and contractors, we upgraded and relocated the city’s PD Dispatch Center at a fraction of the cost it would have taken to completely outsource the project. Mt. Juliet now has a state-of-the-art, TBI certified and approved center, with a functional and pleasantly designed Records Center that replaces two antiquated, potentially dangerous work areas.
• Led by the Parks and Rec Team, we remodeled the City’s Courtroom. It looks significantly better than it did just 3 months ago. The Team gutted and remodeled the former Archer building, transforming it into a one stop MJ Financial operation. Leveraging right-of-way expenses to our advantage, we reduced overall acquisition costs and used in-house personnel for most of the work. The MJ Finance Office is one of the finest in middle Tennessee and brings synergy to our financial management processes by aligning functional competencies under one roof.
• The Parks and Rec Team opened a 2.8k square foot expansion at the Rec Center that cost the city virtually nothing. Linking a new business interested in donating to the city with a world class recording artist resulted in a $400k gift that is now the pride of the MJ Parks and Recreation Department. This facility is literally transforming our business model by providing space for new services and programs.
• The Parks and Rec crew completely re-vamped business operations over the last year. Here’s just a few of their accomplishments and products:
1. A Frisbee Golf course
2. A Tournament Volleyball championship
3. A Fashion Show
4. A Flea Market and Holiday Bazaar
5. Zumba, Pilates and other athletic events
6. Movies in the Park, teen dances and concerts
7. Wilson County’s first “Bark Park” and Skate Park
8. A playground at South Park
9. A new, employee built pavilion at CD Park
• A combined team of staff and volunteers planned and provided exceptional community oriented events including our largest ever Easter and Halloween in the Park. We had a Christmas Parade with Astronaut Barry Wilmore as Grand Marshal, and a monsoon-like tornado threaten Fourth of July fireworks festival, where we effectively cleared the area with no known injuries. Those type of successful events occur only through the extensive efforts of an exceptional team and lots of careful planning.
• Leaders focused on continuous quality improvement by investing in people. In addition to numerous individual professional and academic training, two Department Heads completed capstone-level professional development programs (Deputy Chief Hambrick: Northwestern University Police Cmd & Staff and Mr. Martin: Oklahoma University Economic Development Pmg). Our focus on employee health initiatives was an enabler in driving lower claims from a larger covered population. We conducted an employee & family health and safety fair with more than 35 stations accentuating our concern for individual well being.
• We were able to remodel several Mt. Juliet low income residences through a Tennessee Housing Development Agency grant.
• The PW Team started and finished the long discussed “Reverse L”. Through extraordinary efforts and persistence, we secured an LIC grant that paid 50% of the $3m project, saving the citizens of Mt. Juliet approximately $1.5m.
• We created and fielded an on-line “Employment Assistance” site providing visibility and promoting opportunities to citizens in need of employment.
• This team established the first and only railroad “Quiet Zone” in the state of Tennessee!
• We identified, trained and equipped a volunteer fire-fighting contingent from within the City of Mt. Juliet. With the invaluable assistance of Mr. Shawn Donovan, we overcame countless obstacles to field a force of 12 volunteers who have very well served Mt. Juliet. At last review, a sizeable element of the volunteer force has been right beside the WEMA professionals at every actual structural fire in the city since they were constituted.
• The IT Team completely revamped the city’s web-page. Last year, the homepage averaged over 16k hits per month with more than 72k unique visitors from across the globe in its first year. Travis and Thomas also fielded the highly touted “Nixle” messaging alert system with nearly 700 users.
• We secured and moved forward on Wilson County’s first funded American Recovery and Relief Act (ARRA) project, the widening of North Mt. Juliet Road. Overall, this project has move forward extremely well. The Team continues to work with TDOT and the 6 separate and independent utilities to provide a coordinated effort. Heavily focusing on media, technology and personal interaction, this group has done a yeoman’s job in keeping citizens and businesses informed and involved in effort. Their diligence with this project resulted in securing funding and starting work at least 1 to 2 years earlier than planned.
• We built and opened the city’s first Animal Shelter. After just one year of operation the Mt. Juliet Animal Shelter is considered by many to be a model for other communities. Capitalizing on the efforts and contributions of nearly 300 volunteers, the Shelter has brought in over 600 animals and adopted over 600 animals; a success rate unheard of in other communities. Despite thousands of uncertainties in opening the city’s first shelter, the staff has kept right to the budget, while raising over $30k in additional contributions. The Animal Shelter has been a simply extraordinary accomplishment.
• Team PD efforts led to a reduced crime rate in the city by 10% from last year. At the same time, they responded to over 20k more citizen or PD initiated calls than in 2008. Despite the challenges presented by a growing population and businesses, the professionalism and diligence of this small force has been nothing but exceptional. Last year, the men and women of your Police Department orchestrated the largest drug bust in the city’s history, had 2% more arrests and oversaw a reduction of auto crashes by 44% from CY08.
• The entire Team strove to provide an top notched economic and community climate. The product was unprecedented business growth in the city. A record 192 new businesses opened their doors in Mt. Juliet last year, including some of the nation’s and region’s largest and most well known stores. The city saw the Panattoni complex finished and operating. Staying the course to bring more “white collar” development to Mt. Juliet, we secured a broader educational and medical care footprint with the announcement of Cumberland University and the University Medical Center coming to town. Despite the recession, the environment we have in Mt. Juliet, as evidenced by the city’s sales tax collections, was extraordinary. . . monthly sales tax revenue in 09 exceeded 08 every month through November. Finally, through the continued efforts of a superb financial team, the city secured its first Moody’s “Double A” bond rating.
• Members of the Team saved Mt. Juliet over $400k by closely working with competent, uniquely experienced professionals to refinance an old, highly volatile variable rate bond. This is a success story that will continue add to the city’s coffers for many years.
• We carried the city’s message to the community. Through especially designed meetings with HOA members, school leaders and the city’s clergy, we reached out and were well received by these overlooked elements of Mt. Juliet that have been absolutely crucial in promoting our city.
• With Kenny Martin at the lead, the entire Team secured tens-of-thousands of dollars in contributions. Aside from the Animal Shelter donations, the city was given cars, uniforms, thousands for the Shop with a Cop program, a remodeled Economic Development office, Christmas contributions, gravel, office furniture, food, exercise equipment, computers, and much more. ’
• We’ve built and promoted an environment focused on timely, quality customer service delivered in a respectful and courteous manner. It has been a team approach rather than the individual. The centerpiece is that public service is a tremendously honorable profession and the foundation is an assurance that our ethics are above reproach.

On behalf of Team Mt. Juliet, it has been an absolutely remarkable year. Thank you for your support and commitment to what we do. All of us look forward to serving you in an even better 2010.

A couple final notes for this posting. First, sales tax revenue from November, 2009 was reported last week, and MJ up approximately $60k from November 2008. As reflected above, sales tax revenue in 09 was higher every month thru November than in 08. Lastly, I’d ask everyone to be alert to litter. As we compete for homes, businesses and industries, something as simple but as distracting as litter can be a show stopper. Remember, there’s only get one chance to make a good first impression.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

Sincerely,

R. Robertson

Update: 12/31/09

2009-12-31T11:24:00.002-06:00

Good Morning and Happy New Year’s Eve MJ:

In early December I posted a Christmas message on this site. It was the same text sent in a hard copy format in the City’s Christmas card. As we end one of the most challenging years any of us can remember, I thought would be worthwhile to update some of the bullets from that posting:

Original: Wow, what a year! In the midst of what has been the worst recession in over seven decades, Mt. Juliet continues to thrive and prosper. Let’s review a little: The Mt. Juliet Village complex on Lebanon Road opened its doors late last year, and a second Publix store, at Providence Commons, just south of Providence Market Place, is scheduled to come on line in January. “The Paddocks” opened with anchor stores WalMart and Lowe’s doing brisk holiday business. Providence is operating at near maximum capacity, with several new stores opening around that area. On the north end of town Cool View and Mt. Juliet Commons brought over 20 new businesses to Lebanon Road. All told, Mr. Kenny Martin, the City’s Economic Development Director, indicates that 181 new businesses opened their doors in 2009; most of them mom-and-pop sized demonstrating the strength, vitality and confidence our citizens have in this community.

Update: We ended the year with 192 new business licenses issued. That’s more than a new business opening its doors every other day in Mt. Juliet! On a parallel note, we've seen an upswing in new housing permits during the last quarter of the year. From October to December 2008, there were 58 permits issued. For the same time period this year we’ve issued 83; over a 40% increase.

Original: But growth wasn’t limited to businesses. After years ground was finally broken on the North Mt. Juliet Road (NMJR) widening and improvement project. With work done on the water, sewer, electric, gas and communication networks serving the city, the NMJR project is reportedly the most expensive public works initiative ever done in Mt. Juliet. Not to be outdone, improvements were completed at the Bender’s Ferry intersection and traffic lights installed at the Charlie Daniels Parkway. Improvements to the Mt. Juliet Road/I-40 Interchange were completed on time and under budget; the city renovated created a centralized Finance Center while also doing a complete make-over inside City Hall. We upped-sized and renovated sanitary sewer lines along Old Lebanon Dirt Road and repaved over 10 miles of existing roads.

Update: Possibly one of the most important road building efforts MJ has undertaken in the last few years, The Reverse L, opened on 15 December. For those who are not familiar, the Reverse L is a section of road serving the new MJ High School. This effort relieves traffic volume, most of them student drivers, on a curvy, narrow Curd Road. Additionally, patch work on roads running into the construction area along NMJR was completed just before Christmas.

Original: Some of the more notable achievements weren’t just about buildings, roads and bricks. In November six needy and elderly area home owners received city-secured state grants for renovation and improvements to their residences. The doors of Mt. Juliet’s first Animal Shelter opened just one year ago, and what a year it was. Overseen by MJPD Chief Andy Garrett and Sgt Keith Youmans, the Shelter is a true “public service” facility that delivers as promised and on budget! With the assistance of Volunteer Coordinator Jon Gray, and an army of 300 registered volunteers, Mt. Juliet has one of the best animal shelters in Tennessee. Speaking of the Police, the crime rate continues to decline in the city. Though the MJPD is one of the smallest per-capita staffed departments in the region, this group of dedicated professionals go above and beyond the call of duty each day.

Update: Renovation began in December on the 6 houses selected for upgrades by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency. On 5 December we celebrated the first anniversary of the MJ Animal Shelter. We celebrated in an essentially empty facility, since efforts during “Black Friday’s” animal give-away cleared the Shelter; bringing national attention and recognition to the program. Through the efforts of the Shelter’s professional staff and volunteers close to $5k was raised from the sale of donated dog houses and tribute calendars. Finally, end of year reports show the overall crime rate for MJ declined by nearly 10%, while PD calls for service/self initiated calls increased by 49%, from 47,614 in 08 to 71,025 in 09. These numbers speak volumes about the diligent and competent force serving you.

Original: Not to be outdone the men and women of your Parks and Recreation staff have certainly had a banner year. In August they opened Mt. Juliet’s and Wilson County’s first pet “Bark Park”, and then, a month later, they opened the areas first skate-board board at Charlie Daniels Park. Following that, in October, working with Charlie Daniels and Panattoni Corporation leaders, they unveiled the city’s new $400k donated expansion facility. For the Parks and Rec crew 2009 wasn’t just about bricks and mortar though; they brought the community new programs from Yoga and Senior Bingo to the City Wide Flea Markets, Competition Volleyball and our recent Holiday Arts and Crafts Bazaar. Make a New Year’s vow to stop in the Charlie Daniels Rec Center or check out the city web page and see what your Parks and Recreation Department has to offer.

Update: You missed a real treat if you didn’t see the 2009 Christmas Parade. Led by Capt(USN) Barry Wilmore, Pilot for the Space Shuttle Atlantis, there were over 100 floats, vehicles and marching units making this year’s parade the largest in recent memory. Another first is our recently opened Frisbee Golf Course, the only one in West Wilson County, located at Mundy Park. Special thanks goes to Mr. Rob Porter, of Civil Site Design, for his kind donation in helping make the MJ Frisbee Course a real hit. On top of normal wintertime athletic events, some upcoming Parks and Rec programs to watch for include Fusal, a form of soccer played on an indoor basketball court, starting at the CD Rec Center on Thursday, 28 January; a Spring Fashion Show, and our second City-wide Flea Market.

Original: Closer to City Hall, Mr. John Rossmaier and his Finance team, assisted by Mr. Jason Holleman, City Attorney, quietly but aggressively took on the mission of tackling some old variable debt issues. As a result they successfully saved the city hundreds-of-thousands of dollars through timely refinancing of several bonds. Mrs. Sheila Luckett made it her goal to codify the city’s ordinances, going back our 1972 inception as a city. Today, through a lot of hard work and the power of the internet, at Mt. Juliet’s home page, you can get real-time up-dates on the city’s statutes and laws from anywhere in the world. Finally, kudos to Mr. Travis Taylor for all his contributions as the City’s IT Director. Travis led in transitioning our own Channel 3 television to a video-based capability. He developed and installed our current web-page, which had nearly 150,000 hits this year, and is the originator of the highly popular “Nixle” messaging system used across Mt. Juliet for those desiring to stay abreast of city activities.

Update: Did you catch the cover article in Wednesday’s (30 December) Tennessean? The Honorable Justin Wilson, Comptroller for the State of Tennessee, cites Mt. Juliet bond market experiences from several years ago as a prime example why he’s proposing legal changes to state-wide municipal lending practices. As noted above, John’s and Jason’s professionalism and competence were crucial ingredients in saving the city hundreds-of-thousands of dollars in refinancing efforts. If you are reading this from your Nixle account, then there’s also some great news. Mr. Taylor’s efforts to push Nixle enrollment has nearly double our numbers in the last two months. To the near 700 of you who receive this today via Nixle . . . have a happy, safe and successful 2010.

On a final note, I want to share a story with you. On Wednesday I had the opportunity to speak with Major General Douglas Carver, Chief of Chaplains for the United States Army. Chaplain Carver literally dropped into MJ City Hall while he was on leave in the area, looking for a possible retirement home. He’s a native Tennessean, and a graduate of UT Knoxville. He was excited about the possibility of returning home, and wanted to talk about Mt. Juliet and what made it unique. The point of my story is there are thousands of Doug Carvers out there, looking to move their homes, families and businesses somewhere. They want a growing place that values children, education, opportunity, diversity, security and education . . . a place that mirrors what they believe in. I encourage all who read this to help us find and recruit your own Doug Carver’s. They are our future.

Until next time, stay safe and have a safe and blessed New Year’s.

R. Robertson

Update: 12/11/09

2009-12-11T12:49:00.003-06:00

Good Afternoon MJ:

It was truly wonderful to be part of a very moving ceremony recognizing the achievements and contributions of Captain (USN) Barry “Butch” Wilmore at the MJHS this morning. A native of MJ, Captain Wilmore recently served as Commander of the Space Shuttle Atlantis. He and Mrs. Wilmore “tag-teamed” to bring the crowd of several thousand a heart-felt and inspirational message. Captain Wilmore will also serve as Grand Marshall for tomorrow’s Mt. Juliet Christmas Parade. With over 100 floats, marching elements and dignitaries, the 2009 MJ Christmas Parade is likely the largest we’ve ever had and promises to be one of our best. I hope you will join us, on Mt. Juliet Road between West Wilson Elementary and East Division Street starting at 11:00 (rain or shine).

Several of Team Mt. Juliet had the opportunity to meet with business owners from along North Mt. Juliet Road (NMJR) this week. The focus of the meeting was to discuss opportunities to improve communications and traffic during the on-going construction project. Mr. Shannon Joyner, MJ’s Deputy Director of Public Works, was principal speaker, and was very candid in bringing the group up to speed on the status of the project. The short version is this is the most expensive and complex public works initiative ever done inside MJ. While there’s been good progress, overall NMJR will take 30 to 36 months to complete. At least seven (7) independent construction elements are side-by-side in this effort: TDOT, West Wilson Utilities, Piedmont Gas, the City of Mt. Juliet, TDS, Comcast, and Middle Tennessee Electric. Each has made a commitment to mitigate the impact of the work on businesses, homeowners and commuters, and a vow that NMJR will remain open and every business accessible for the duration. I encourage everyone who reads this note to not forget the small shop owners lining NMJR.

The good news is as a city we continue to beat the recession with approximately 10% more sales tax collected in October 2009 than the year before. Specifically, Mt. Juliet’s share of the $845k collected sales tax for October 09 was $418k compared to $380k collected in 2008. We continue to maintain that it’s your efforts in supporting the city, by “Shopping Mt. Juliet”, that makes a difference in sustaining current operations. However, while speaking about economics, we’ve noted that revenue from the court is sharply down, as it is in several neighboring cities. While there doesn’t seem to be a singular reason for this decline, overall factors include the cost of gas, greater use of mass or shared transportation, personal delays in resolving court fees, and additional congestion along NMJR which relates to lower speeds. The bottom line is there seem to be some improvement in adherence to the speed and traffic laws at several locations throughout the city. On that note, please be aware that red light cameras are now in use at several locations throughout the city. Marked with warning signage, the cameras will be in a “test” mode until early January. If a violation occurs a warning citation will be issued, but no fines attached. Please drive safe during the holiday season.

A couple final notes, last Monday we recognized the members of the MJ Sewer Department. These men had recently undergone a “no-notice” inspection by the Tennessee Department of Environmental Controls and passed with flying colors. With one of the toughest jobs around, they work rain or shine, and are on call 24-7-365 to keep this city operating. They do a fabulous job and are well deserving of recognition. This coming Monday (14 Dec), just after a Special Workshop that starts at 5:00 in City Hall, we’ll have the opportunity to see the MJPD Color Guard in action and hear updates from the leadership of University Medical Center and Cumberland University on their on-going initiatives in Mt. Juliet. I hope you can join us. You’ll also hear an announcement about our latest technological break-through, live web stream broadcasting capabilities anywhere there is the internet. I hope you can join us at City Hall or on Channel 3.

Until next time, stay safe, God Bless and see you at the Christmas Parade.
R. Robertson

Season's Greetings Mt. Juliet - 12/4/09

2009-12-04T15:20:00.001-06:00

Greetings MJ: Since we can’t send everyone in the city a Christmas Card, we thought we would use the power of Nixle to send you our best.

Don’t forget tomorrow’s First Annual Birthday Bash at the Mt. Juliet Animal Shelter, starting at 11:00. Bring your pet in for time with Santa, reduced micro chipping costs, a blessing from Father Kibby of St. Stephens, and lots of holiday festivities and gifts. Also, don’t forget the Parks and Rec first ever Holiday Arts and Crafts Bazaar at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center. Open both Saturday and Sunday afternoon, the Bazaar has over 30 vendors with lots of specialty crafts just ready for you Christmas shopping.

Take care.

R. Robertson
Season’s Greetings Mt. Juliet

Unlike other “organizational” cards you receive at this time of year, we thought this would be a great opportunity to share a little about where we’ve been and where we’re headed.

Wow, what a year! In the midst of what has been the worst recession in over seven decades, Mt. Juliet continues to thrive and prosper. Let’s review a little: The Mt. Juliet Village complex on Lebanon Road opened its doors late last year, and a second Publix store, at Providence Commons, just south of Providence Market Place, is scheduled to come on line in January. “The Paddocks” opened with anchor stores Wall Mart and Lowe’s doing brisk holiday business. Providence is operating at near maximum capacity, with several new stores opening around that area. On the north end of town Cool View and Mt. Juliet Commons brought over 20 new businesses to Lebanon Road. All told, Mr. Kenny Martin, the City’s Economic Development Director, indicates that 181 new businesses opened their doors in 2009; most of them mom-and-pop sized demonstrating the strength, vitality and confidence our citizens have in this community.

But growth wasn’t limited to businesses. From our Public Works Department, Mr. Marlin Keel and Mr. Shannon (aka: Cajun) Joyner report that after years ground was finally broken on the North Mt. Juliet Road (NMJR) widening and improvement project. With work done on the water, sewer, electric, gas and communication networks serving the city, the NMJR project is reportedly the most expensive public works initiative ever done in Mt. Juliet. Not to be outdone, improvements were completed at the Bender’s Ferry intersection; traffic lights installed at the Charlie Daniels Parkway; and the “Reverse L” portion of the Eastern Connector was opened for traffic in December. Improvements to the Mt. Juliet Road/I-40 Interchange were completed on time and under budget; the city renovated created a centralized Finance Center while also doing a complete make-over inside City Hall. We upped-sized and renovated sanitary sewer lines along Old Lebanon Dirt Road and repaved over 10 miles of existing roads.

Some of the more notable achievements weren’t just about buildings, roads and bricks. In November six needy and elderly area home owners received city-secured state grants for renovation and improvements to their residences. The doors of Mt. Juliet’s first Animal Shelter opened just one year ago, and what a year it was. Overseen by MJPD Chief Andy Garrett and Sgt Keith Youmans, the Shelter is a true “public service” facility that delivers as promised and on budget! With the assistance of Volunteer Coordinator Jon Gray, and an army of 300 registered volunteers, Mt. Juliet has one of the best animal shelters in Tennessee. Speaking of the Police, the crime rate continues to decline in the city. Though the MJPD is one of the smallest per-capita staffed departments in the region, this group of dedicated professionals go above and beyond the call of duty each day.

Not to be outdone the men and women of your Parks and Recreation staff have certainly had a banner year. In August they opened Mt. Juliet’s and Wilson County’s first pet “Bark Park”, and then, a month later, they opened the areas first skate-board board at Charlie Daniels Park. Following that, in October, working with Charlie Daniels and Panattoni Corporation leaders they unveiled the city’s new $400k donated expansion facility. Again, for the Parks and Rec crew 2009 wasn’t just about bricks and mortar; they brought the community new programs from Yoga and Senior Bingo to the City Wide Flea Markets, Competition Volleyball and our recent Holiday Arts and Crafts Bazaar. Make a New Year’s vow to stop in the Charlie Daniels Rec Center or check out the city web page and see what your Parks and Recreation Department has to offer.

Closer to City Hall, Mr. John Rossmaier and his Finance team, assisted by Mr. Jason Holleman, City Attorney, quietly but aggressively took on the mission of tackling some old variable debt issues. As a result they successfully saved the city hundreds-of-thousands of dollars through timely refinancing of several bonds. Mrs. Sheila Luckett made it her goal to codify the city’s ordinances, going back our 1972 inception as a city. Today, through a lot of hard work and the power of the internet, at Mt. Juliet’s home page, you can get real-time up-dates on the city’s statutes and laws from anywhere in the world. Finally, kudos to Mr. Travis Taylor for all his contributions as the City’s IT Director. Travis led in transitioning our own Channel 3 television to a video-based capability. He developed and installed our current web-page, which had nearly 150,000 hits this year, and is the originator of the highly popular “Nixle” messaging system used across Mt. Juliet for those desiring to stay abreast of city activities.

There’s much more that could be said, but we’ll close as we opened . . . Wow, what a year! Please join us and Captain (U.S. Navy) Barry Wilmore, Commander of the Space Shuttle Atlantis and Grand Marshall for the Mt. Juliet Christmas Parade on Saturday, 12 December, at 11:00. To all, best wishes for a blessed Christmas and a safe, successful and happy 2010.

Team Mt. Juliet

Update: 11/30/09

2009-11-30T09:53:00.003-06:00

Good Morning MJ:

A couple short notes for the post Thanksgiving weekend:

Something happened on Friday that never has occurred in Mt. Juliet. In fact, I suspect we are one of just a handful of cities across the United States in which something like this has occurred, but thousands of other cities wish it would happen in their own back yard. What was it? For the first time since the doors have opened to the MJ Animal Shelter, it was completely cleared of pets. Thanks to the creativity and hard work by a lot of people, we had our own “Black Friday Clearance Sale” at the MJ Animal Shelter. And it truly was a “sale” because the pets were free. As a result 22 dogs and 9 cats found new homes, and we were left with a temporarily empty shelter. See the link below for more on this story. Thanks to all for setting the standard other cities wish they could imitate. But if you didn’t get the animal you desired, don’t let that deter you because new ones come in daily, and pets make fabulous Christmas gifts.

http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=11581895"

A second bit of good news was the opening of Mt. Juliet’s first and only Frisbee Golf Course at Mundy Park on Friday. Over 30 players were on hand ready to throw the first disc after the ribbon was cut. Thanks to the course designers, I.T. Director Travis Taylor and Corporal Alan Carver of the MJPD, and to the great men and women of the MJ Parks and Rec Department for turning their design into a reality that certainly seems to have found a nitch for many in our city.
Finally, Don’t forget to register and ask your friends and family to do the same for our “push” data and info service, “Nixle”. Just go to the city’s web page for further details.

Have a great week, take care and remember to “Shop Mt. Juliet” during the holidays.

R. Robertson

Update: 11/27/09

2009-11-27T10:49:00.003-06:00

Good Morning MJ:

It is my sincere hope that you and your family have had an extraordinary Thanksgiving. As for Darlene and I this was one of the few times in recent memory we were able to spend Thanksgiving with all our family. . . that made it extraordinary for us.

If you grow tired of shopping today please join the crew of the MJ Parks and Recreation staff at 12:00 at Mundy Park as they open Mt. Juliet's first Frisbee Golf Course. For the last couple months creating this 9 "hole" beauty out of the forest surrounding Mundy was a labor of love for the Rec staff. On behalf of Tim, Kat, Rose, Taylor, Jan, Tyler, Rocky, David, Kyle and all the professionals in Parks and Rec, join us at Mundy this weekend and see what's new in MJ.

Some other events on the calendar in the next few weeks include:

4-6 December: Holiday Art and Crafts Bazaar: Charlie Daniels Rec Center;
5 December: MJ Animal Shelter's First Anniversary Bash. 115 Industrial Drive, throughout the mid afternoon;
7 December: Special MJ Board of Commissioner (BOC) workshop and meeting. Starting at 5:00 p.m.;
12 December: MJ's Christmas Parade: Starting at 11:00 a.m., along Mt. Juliet Road;
14 December: MJ BOC meeting and workshop, starting at 5:00 p.m.; and
16 December: City Hall closed from 1200 to 2:30 for its annual Christmas luncheon.

Mr. Shannon Joyner, Deputy Public Works Director, invites you to tune into Channel 3 for updates on the North Mt. Juliet Road project. Mr. Joyner conducts a Q&A-based short community update every two weeks.

Finally, as we approach this magical time of the year, I want to say a special thanks to a group of tremendous public servants, who, regardless of whether its Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, the weekend or 2:00 a.m. are on duty protecting us. Today, as you watch the game on TV, digesting the remnants of your holiday feast; or while you are shopping for just that right gift, please remember our always vigilant Police, Fire and EMS personnel. They are the ones who stand ready, night and day to serve you. My thanks to each of them for all they do. Your contributions and sacrifices are appreciated.

Have a great week and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: 11/14/09

2009-11-14T19:25:00.002-06:00

Good Evening MJ:

At the end of a long but productive week here's a few items for your info:

1. Chief Garrett advised the PD have a confession in the vandalism incident at the outdoor restrooms at Charlie Daniels Park last week. A female juvenile confessed and has implicated others. This was just senseless; and it won't be tolerated. Parents, know what your children are up to; the consequences of not doing so could last a lifetime.

2. Speaking of a senseless act, you may have seen an article in the papers indicating a MJ Codes Enforcement Officer was struck while serving a Notice of Violation at a MJ residence this week. While we've heard a litany of excuses from the culprit, the bottom line is there is no excuse; the witness and the tape says it all. While no one wants to see a Codes Officer at the door, the consequences of not enforcing city ordinances would make MJ a less desirable place to live and work. These men are simply doing the job that your elected officials have asked them to do. It's ok to disagree, but not with acts of violence. This kind of behavior will not be tolerated; there's been an arrest and a hearing scheduled.

3. Several lane closings of North Mt. Juliet Road are scheduled next week. Plan accordingly.

4. Mark your calendars for the Holiday Arts and Crafts Bazaar at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center from 5 to 7 December. This indoor event will bring about 50 local and regional craft persons together for the ultimate in Christmas shopping. Also, don't forget MJ's Annual Christmas Parade is scheduled for the following Saturday, 12 December, starting at 11:00. The parade forms up at Stoner Creek Elementary and heads north to Division Street. This is one of our biggest events of the year, and the 2009 edition is extraordinary with Captain (USN) Barry Wilmore, the latest shuttle commander, serving as the Grand Marshal. And it's not too late to get a float in; call Taylor or Tim at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center.

5. Looking for something a little different to do in MJ. After visiting the Holiday Bazaar on the 5th, join us and hundreds of other animal lovers for the MJ Animal Shelter's 1st Anniversary celebration, at the Shelter on Industrial Drive. I know our volunteers will be there in force, hoping to give a pet a home for the holiday's. I understand there will be a blessing of the animals as well as a photo opportunity with your pet and a certain red-suited bearded fellow. I hope you'll put this on your calendar.

6. While city sales tax revenue was up for the latest reporting period (October), as a percentage the rate of growth was the smallest in nearly 18 months. What can you do? Frequent your local merchants and shop MJ. And please don't forget those stores along Mt. Juliet Road while it's under construction. We all know the holiday's are the biggest shopping time of the year, and in today's economy, it's a make-or-break time for many of these stores. TDOT and all utilities involved in the MJ Road project have committed that every store along the construction path will be accessible. While it might take a little extra effort please consider these long-standing merchants with some of your holiday shopping.

7. Our IT Director, Mr. Travis Taylor, ran some web use data last week and we continue to be amazed at the power of Mt. Juliet and the internet. Travis advises that over 24,000 first time visitors checked out the city's home page in the First quarter of the fiscal year (July thru October). That's a phenomenal number. Speaking of technology, please encourage your friends and colleagues to sign up for Nixle. Info on how can be found on the city's web page. We continue to get compliments of how this "push" message system helps keep citizens connected with events across the city. It's also a great way to know when there are emergencies or road closures that will save you time and frustration.

8. Finally, thanks to the many of you who have called city hall asking how to help with the county's contributions to the "Reverse L" road project. You must be reading the local papers or watching Channel 3. The short answer is call your County Commissioner. A listing of Wilson County Commissioners and their phone numbers can be found at: www.wilsoncountytn.com

Take care and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: 11/6/09

2009-11-06T10:38:00.002-06:00

Good Morning MJ:

Here’s a few items of interest and FYI:

Don’t forget the city is running a “Job Seeker Bulletin Board ” to assist those looking for employment. If you’re a city resident and in need of a job, know someone who is in need of a job, or may have a job your looking to hire for, please check out our Action Line on the City Web Page. Click on “Action Line”, then “Job Seekers Bulletin Board” and follow the directions. Just yesterday a major MJ employer asked for our assistance in filling 75 full and part time positions. At this time we are checking with those who have resumes on the Job Seekers Bulletin Board and some who recently posted their resume on the system. If you’re interested in us passing your name along for various retail and stocking positions please get your resume (in the format outlined on the web) to Ms. Tina Guinan, at 754-2552.

Yesterday we had the opportunity to recognize 15 residents who have made a tremendous positive difference in our community. The 15 are volunteers who have given at least 100 hours or more of time and service to the Mt. Juliet Animal Shelter. The Animals Shelter couldn’t operate the way it does without the efforts of these 15 and many more like them. I shared with yesterday’s audience that at the recent Tennessee City Manager’s Association several Managers from across the state approached me to ask just how we run such a first class operation at the Shelter. I told the audience how pleased and proud I was to know that leaders from one end of Tennessee to another had heard of how great the MJ Animal Shelter is. I also shared with the volunteers that much of the credit goes to them and their selfless contributions to our city and its animals. If you are interested in joining the elite group, please contact Sgt Keith Youmans, Director of the MJ Animal Shelter, or Mr. Jon Gray, Volunteer Coordinator, at 773-5533.

Construction work progresses well along North Mt. Juliet Road (NMJR) and the Reverse L. We hope to have the Curd & Clemmons Road intersection back on line today with the Reverse L projected to be drivable by mid December. What a tremendous safety improvement this will be for MJHS traffic! On this same note, NMJR motorist are again reminded to slow down and be patient. Work on the peripheral utilities has progressed well, but road work really hasn’t started. The NMJR project will take around 30 months to complete. Construction crews are doing everything they can to make your journey safe and timely, but there is no question of additional traffic delays and longer commute times. Please be mindful and drive respectful knowing that there are workers and heavy equipment all along this two mile section of road. Plan your trips accordingly!

SOME BAD NEWS: There was vandalism of the restrooms at Charlie Daniels Park Wednesday night. It was senseless destruction of public property that affects every citizen of Mt. Juliet.
SOME GOOD NEWS: The Police already have some suspects; they appear to be juveniles.
THE REST OF THE STORY: We simply will not tolerate this kind of behavior; it is an offense against all of us. We have, and will continue to use every resource possible to ensure things like this don’t happen, but if they do we will do everything within our means to ensure the perpetrators and their parents are held responsible. Parents, please know where your children are and what they are doing.

After months of work with a firm in Florida we now have a first draft of the city’s code. We are posting the draft on the city’s web page this evening, with a special invitation to everyone to open it up, see how its organized, and if you identify any errors. This represents the first time the city has ever posted the entire code going back to ordinances from 1972. There are thousands of them. Putting the code on-line means every citizen can check what the most current laws are on any issue within the city. Take a look and let us know what you think. The point of contact is Mrs. Sheila Luckett at 754-2552, or email sluckett@cityofmtjuliet.org

Those of you receiving this update via Nixle, I'm asking you to please ask your friends and family to register at www.nixle.com as well. Not only will they be able to receive the timely police alerts and/or community event announcements, but for the next 45 days we have the opportunity to raise money for the City. Nixle is offering a $10,000 grant to the (3) cities that get the most citizens registered per capita before mid-December. So please help by letting people know how much Nixle has helped you, and encouraging them to register.

In closing, my prayers and that of the city are sent to the families and friends of the soldiers and civilians murdered at Fort Hood yesterday. The Army was my and Darlene’s home for nearly 30 years. As retired officers we will always consider it our first love. The senselessness of yesterday’s tragedy is incomprehensible and beyond words. God Bless our brave soldiers and Department of the Army Civilians.

Take care MJ and talk with you later.

Update: 10/28/09

2009-10-28T21:54:00.002-05:00

Good Evening MJ:
I recently received an anonymous email posted on the blog which asked: " What is the best way to find out about upcoming events in Mt Juliet? I often read about them after they occur and wish I had known about them."
First I want to thank this reader for keeping posted. Mr. Taylor, the city's Information Technology Director, indicates we are averaging several hundred "City Manager's Blog" readers. Keep up the inquiries!
As to the question there are several ways I'd suggest keeping updated with City of Mt. Juliet events. The first is through the city web page, which normally would be the fastest and most timely route to follow. Go to: "www.cityofmtjuliet.org". Once on the main page in the bottom right corner there is a current events section to link up with our events calendar. You can also contact Ms. Tina Guinan or Ms. Sharon Bachelier at City Hall (754-2552). Sharon and Tina are on-duty from 8:00 to 5:00, Monday through Friday. Both local papers, The Mt. Juliet News and The Chronicle of Mt. Juliet post city updates. Finally, if you live inside the city and subscribe to Comcast, you can monitor our very own Channel 3. All current city events are posted there along with lots of other wonderful information.
Again, thanks for your support of the City of Mt. Juliet. Please don't hesitate calling on me or any member of my team for assistance.
Take care and talk with you later.
R. Robertson

Update: 10/22/09

2009-10-22T15:26:00.002-05:00

Good evening MJ

Just a short posting this evening. Kudos to Chief Garrett and his force for identifying the individuals responsible for several thefts around town. We have a great group of highly dedicated men and women who watch over our city 24/7.

My real note today is to thank the men and women of our armed forces for their service. Darlene and I have been back in our "home" of Heidelburg for the last few days. We've visited old friends in Bamberg, Mannheim, Schweinfurt and Heidelberg for the last week. We got to talk with colleagues who just returned from the Middle East after 15 months of hard, dangerous duty. There were mothers and fathers reunited with each other, there were fathers who have never seen their new born children, friends, families and nothing but smiles. There were also tears for several who did not return. It was wonderful to be back with these brave heroes, and we wish them every success and God's speed.

Back on Monday, see you then.

R. Robertson