Update: December 2, 2011

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 17, 2011

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

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: September 3, 2011

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 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

Update: December 10, 2010

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

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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

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: October 25, 2010

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: September 26, 2010

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: 12/11/09

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