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.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Update: 7/17/10

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
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