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: May 16, 2011

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: February 14, 2011

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: November 10, 2010

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