1. This won’t be a “blog” per se. It isn’t meant to be a place to post all commentary or opinions. Everyone is invited to send in a note, but don’t be offended if it isn’t posted. There’s other sites that are perfectly content to drag through what they believe to be wrong with every issue at every turn. This is about what was done, why and where do we go from here. We won’t talk about two and three year old issues. If the desire is to engage in those discussions then look somewhere else.

2. This isn’t the Board of Commissioner forum. MJ has a City Manager form of government. The Board makes policy; the staff implements. I’ll be happy to pass your comments along to the Board, either good or bad, but the intent of this medium is to address how we could better enact policy and improve city services.

3. The narratives will be directly from me, your city manager. I won’t hide under some pseudonym or other persona. My name is Randy Robertson. My phone number is 754-2552. I am your City Manager. If your issue or concerns involves another department of the city (Public Works, Police, Animal Control, etc.) I will invite the appropriate team member to provide some comments, but it will still be done under the auspices of the City Manager.

4. I will try and be as timely as possible, but this is another one of the “additional duties” for which civil service is renown.

5. The City Staff is here for you. The desired outcome is for us to have a positive relationship with the citizens we serve, but we all know that always won’t happen. Everyone has an opinion. It is the staff’s responsibility to work through the opinions and emotion, meet the requirements of the laws and rules under which we operate, and hopefully serve the greatest number in that process. It is not an exact science. The more we have a relationship with you, the better we can meet your expectations.

6. Finally, this is about telling our story. Hopefully you will be able to sort the myth from reality or see the issue through a different set of lens. I hope you will find this of value and participate.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Local Fundraising Initiatives

Several have asked about the status of the flag project the I-40 and Mt. Juliet Road intersection. We’ve put a temporary hold on this effort based on a local organization taking up the call. Depending on their outcome we may reinstitute a campaign to raise funds to procure and install a garrison sized (e.g., approximately 30’ x 60’) flag.
In that vein, we have a couple of private on-going funding initiatives. The first is to assist Panattoni and the Parks and Recreation Department with the expansion program. We especially need funds for block work and furbishing for the new Conference Room. For those who haven’t kept up with activities in our Parks Department, the city is in the process of accepting two tracts of land to be used for park space. The first is a donation from the heirs of the Wiley estate, off S. Greenhills Road. This 12 acre plot will be used as a nature area. The second is the area used by the Park Glen Soccer League, across from the MJHS. It will take more resources than we currently have available to bring these new areas into our parks system, so we hope others will step up and help.
The other funding campaign is for the new Animal Shelter, located at 115 Industrial Drive. The Shelter is tentatively scheduled to open in mid November, but like the new parks, this is a program initiative for which we have extremely limited resources.
Anyone interested in donating to either campaigns should contact John Rossmaier, City Finance Director, at 754-2552. Those interested in volunteering at the Animal Shelter should speak with Sgt Keith Youmans or Ms. Jill Hart, of the MJPD Animal Control Division, through 754-2550.
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2 comments:

  1. AnonymousNovember 6, 2008 at 6:37 AM

    Which local organization has taken up the call to raise money for the flag proposal? If someone wanted to donate, who would they contac?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Randy RobertsonNovember 7, 2008 at 4:59 PM

    Hi, and thanks for posting. I'm unable to reveal the organization at this time. They would like to remain anonymous for now. I would recommend holding your donation until we see what happens on the primary course. But if you want to make a donation to that program, we can use those funds should the primary option fail to materialize. For that or any other donations, you can contact Kenny Martin(Economic Development Director)at 615-754-2552. Thank you for your interest!

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