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.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Update: August 10, 2011

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
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