Good Evening MJ:
A few updates as we head into what’s forecasted to be a picture perfect weekend.
1. As mentioned in previous blogs and the local newspapers, the MJ Senior Citizens’ Center will be hosting a “Celebrate MJ Walk”, next Saturday, 29 October. Registration starts at 6 a.m., with a 6 miler scheduled for 7 a.m. and a half miler cranking up at 7:30 a.m. As a prelude to the festivities, the Center will have a “Spaghetti Day” Luncheon ( 11 to 2) and Dinner ( 4 to 7) on Friday the 28th (. . . just to stock up on carbs for the next day). All proceeds go to support the MJ Senior Citizens Center. Come out and join Channel 5’s on Vicky Yates and other celebs as MJ walks it’s way to health. For more info, call Linda at 615-758-9114; or write her at director@mjseniorcenter.org
2. A little early, but something to consider: Ms. Hannah Skaggs, a Senior at Wilson Central is working to earn her Gold Award, Girl Scouting’s highest honor. She is doing a community project to host a family preparedness day, focusing on the need for family's to plan for emergencies and disasters right at home. The MJ Lowes has invited Hannah to hold the event at their store, on Saturday, November 19, 2011, 10:00am till 3:00pm. A great thing to put on your calendar for those of us who live and work in “Flood and Tornado Alley.”
3. Did you read about some of the exploits of our own MJPD in this week’s papers? Over $100k in stolen goods recovered! Several teens who were on a car burglary spree caught in the act. A shop lifter busted in Providence with thousands in lifted items. To Chief Garrett, Deputy Chief Hambrick, Commander Mullins, and all the outstanding women and men of the MJPD and Reserves, thanks and well done!
4. Some interesting news: Monday a new ridership record on the Music City Star was set with over 1500 passengers on the train that day. Speaking of commuting, some news circulating that that next July there will be an opportunity for I-40 drivers to purchase passes allowing them to legally drive 1 pax vehicles in the HOV lanes during peak travel times. You might ask what’s the catch? There will be active enforcement to fine those who wither don’t have passes or multiple riders. Another reason to consider taking the train.
5. To better serve our citizens, our Chief IT and Comms ( . . . or the Head Geek as we call him) Mr. Travis Taylor, has navigated the multiple hoops and loads of red tape necessary to allow MJ to implement a “311” call system. Just think, you’ll no longer have to remember what was the number of the section or department you wanted to speak to . . . just punch in three numbers. Here’s a likely script of what you’ll hear: Thank you for calling the City of Mt. Juliet. If this is a life-threatening emergency, hang-up and dial 911. If you know your parties 3-digit extension, you may dial it at any time. Or to dial by name, press 9 now. For the Police Department press 1. For Sewer Billing and City Property Tax issues press 2 . . .
We’re set to unveil the MJ’s 311 system on Tuesday, 1 November, with more info to follow on Channel 3, the local papers and our the city’s web page. Thanks Travis!
6. Here a new one! Partnering with several MJ churches, our Parks and Rec Team will host a teen “Glow Party” the Saturday (22 Oct), starting at 8:00, at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center. The word is out on “Facebook” and we’ve had some terrific feedback about the potential of this event, and what it could lead to in the future. Too often we hear “there’s nothing to do in MJ.” Do you know a teen? Encourage them to head for the CD Rec Center this Saturday evening. Music, refreshments and lots of fun all for the price of a couple trips to Mickey D’s.
7. Get you long range calendar’s out. This is an open invite to join Darlene and I on Saturday, 17 December, at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center for a farewell reception. We’ve made far too many friends and supporters across our city for me to go out individually, so please consider this your personal invitation. It’s starts at 7:00. More on this later.
That’s enough for this time. Take care, God Bless and talk with you later.
R. Robertson
Showing posts with label MJPD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MJPD. Show all posts
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Update: July 15, 2011
Good Afternoon MJ:
Here’s a few items of interest for you:
The Music City Star set a single-month record for ridership in June with 26,989 passenger trips. It’s the third single-month ridership record set by the Star this year. Record ridership was achieved in February with 20,465 passenger trips and again in March with 25,321 passenger trips. For this June, ridership on the Star increased 53 percent compared to June last year; while for the year Star ridership is up 40 percent. Discussions with many newcomers indicate the Star is one of biggest reasons they chose to live in MJ. Beat the high cost of gas, save the wear, tear and time of the daily drive, and help reduce the ozone level. Take the Music City Star.
Sales tax receipts were slightly up last month, with MJ receiving $9k more than in June of last year. The concern is our percent of growth is the lowest it’s been in several years. MJ’s principle revenue stream is from sales tax receipts so please consider “Shopping Mt. Juliet First” when buying.
Our Parks and Recreation Team will be hosting MJ’s first ever “Splash Day”, on Saturday, 23 July, starting at 11:00 at Charlie Daniels Park. Come on out and bring the family during these “dog days” of summer to beat the heat with an afternoon of water oriented festivities and fun. There will be several water slide inflatables, dunking booths and even a water gun corral. Food will be available and prizes will be awarded. Best of all . . . its FREE!
Remember, invite your friends and family members to follow MJ activities through Nixle. For info on sign up procedures, simply go the city’s web page (www.cityofmtjuliet.org) and click on the “Nixle” logo at the bottom left side of the screen.
Kudos to the 2nd shift of the MJPD for some great police work this Wednesday night. While most of us were resting at home, the members of the MJPD conducted an extended vehicle pursuit of a drunk/reckless driver across a large segment of the southern portion of the city. After the driver did several evasive turns and maneuvers the force managed to get the vehicle pulled over. The driver was charged with DUI, evading the police and reckless endangerment. Well done! Speaking of DUI, we received a note from the Office of the District Attorney this week noting that of the 139 DUI cases disposed this quarter in Wilson County, 122 were found guilty; an 87% conviction rate. While these figures were for the entire county, they clearly demonstrate there’s a price to pay for DUI.
Thanks goes out this week to two Tom’s . . . first, Tom Hickle of H&H Supply off Belinda Parkway, for donating a unique air handling device for the conference room of City Hall. Valued at $600, this state-of-the-art machine will do wonders to combat high temps during these hot and humid days we’ve been experiencing. Our second Tom is the city’s old friend, Tom Needham, who donated shrubs, flowers and mulch to spruce up the front of the MJ Animal Shelter. Many of you who know Mr. Needham, recognize his long standing contributions in underwriting and conducting MJ’s 4 July fireworks. Tom’s not only loyal to his city in July, but throughout the year by donating materials and supplies. A final tip-of-the-hat goes to Mr. Jon Bateman, Construction Manager for Mapco. Jon, and the Mapco Team, just donated a couple of ice machines from the Mapco station that will be renovated at the intersection of Lebanon Rd and North MJ Rd to the city’s Parks and Rec and Public Works crews. Your kindness and generosity are truly appreciated. Thanks Gentlemen.
Stay cool, take care and talk with you later.
R. Robertson
Here’s a few items of interest for you:
The Music City Star set a single-month record for ridership in June with 26,989 passenger trips. It’s the third single-month ridership record set by the Star this year. Record ridership was achieved in February with 20,465 passenger trips and again in March with 25,321 passenger trips. For this June, ridership on the Star increased 53 percent compared to June last year; while for the year Star ridership is up 40 percent. Discussions with many newcomers indicate the Star is one of biggest reasons they chose to live in MJ. Beat the high cost of gas, save the wear, tear and time of the daily drive, and help reduce the ozone level. Take the Music City Star.
Sales tax receipts were slightly up last month, with MJ receiving $9k more than in June of last year. The concern is our percent of growth is the lowest it’s been in several years. MJ’s principle revenue stream is from sales tax receipts so please consider “Shopping Mt. Juliet First” when buying.
Our Parks and Recreation Team will be hosting MJ’s first ever “Splash Day”, on Saturday, 23 July, starting at 11:00 at Charlie Daniels Park. Come on out and bring the family during these “dog days” of summer to beat the heat with an afternoon of water oriented festivities and fun. There will be several water slide inflatables, dunking booths and even a water gun corral. Food will be available and prizes will be awarded. Best of all . . . its FREE!
Remember, invite your friends and family members to follow MJ activities through Nixle. For info on sign up procedures, simply go the city’s web page (www.cityofmtjuliet.org) and click on the “Nixle” logo at the bottom left side of the screen.
Kudos to the 2nd shift of the MJPD for some great police work this Wednesday night. While most of us were resting at home, the members of the MJPD conducted an extended vehicle pursuit of a drunk/reckless driver across a large segment of the southern portion of the city. After the driver did several evasive turns and maneuvers the force managed to get the vehicle pulled over. The driver was charged with DUI, evading the police and reckless endangerment. Well done! Speaking of DUI, we received a note from the Office of the District Attorney this week noting that of the 139 DUI cases disposed this quarter in Wilson County, 122 were found guilty; an 87% conviction rate. While these figures were for the entire county, they clearly demonstrate there’s a price to pay for DUI.
Thanks goes out this week to two Tom’s . . . first, Tom Hickle of H&H Supply off Belinda Parkway, for donating a unique air handling device for the conference room of City Hall. Valued at $600, this state-of-the-art machine will do wonders to combat high temps during these hot and humid days we’ve been experiencing. Our second Tom is the city’s old friend, Tom Needham, who donated shrubs, flowers and mulch to spruce up the front of the MJ Animal Shelter. Many of you who know Mr. Needham, recognize his long standing contributions in underwriting and conducting MJ’s 4 July fireworks. Tom’s not only loyal to his city in July, but throughout the year by donating materials and supplies. A final tip-of-the-hat goes to Mr. Jon Bateman, Construction Manager for Mapco. Jon, and the Mapco Team, just donated a couple of ice machines from the Mapco station that will be renovated at the intersection of Lebanon Rd and North MJ Rd to the city’s Parks and Rec and Public Works crews. Your kindness and generosity are truly appreciated. Thanks Gentlemen.
Stay cool, take care and talk with you later.
R. Robertson
Friday, January 14, 2011
Update: January 14, 2011
Greetings MJ:
It has been a challenging week, with weather related issues and closings abounding. I want to commend our citizens for the patience and care in driving on the snow; PD records reflect there were 10 weather related auto crashes, but none were serious enough to require hospitalization.
We received info on our share of November sales tax. MJ continues to do well with an 8% increase over November 09. Thanks to all those who understand and continue to support our “Shop Mt. Juliet” campaign. Here’s a few other data points for 2010:
1. Sales tax was up every month of the year compared to 2009;
2. We issued 367 building permits in CY10. Compare that to 217 last year; that’s nearly a 60% gain in a year; and
3. 179 new business permits were issued in CY10. Think about it . . . that’s a new business nearly every other calendar day; and
4. Police calls for service was nearly 83,000; about 6,000 more calls for your police department than last year; and
5. There were 210 auto crashes, with 58 injuries. There were also 117 DUI’s. That’s too many of both.
6. Close to 400 animals were adopted from the Shelter. The Shelter now enters its third year without having spent tax dollars for animal food; and
7. Over 6,000 hours were donated last year by Shelter Volunteers. This contribution would have cost the city over $100,000 if the Volunteers were paid; and
8. Congratulations to the citizens of MJ for being the rated by the Tennessee Center for Policy Research as #1 Business Friendly City in the State! 2010 was a good year!
Here’s a business update from Mr. Martin, Economic Development Director:
- Zaxby’s is under Construction
- The Corner Pub Between the Lakes build-out underway
- A branch of the Wilson Bank and Trust is under construction
- Grading Work is underway for a branch of Region’s Bank
- Paddocks Dental build-out is underway
- Tokyo Restaurant build-out is on-going
- Ballroom Dancing Studio build-out is underway
- A Sushi Restaurant is undergoing construction
- A Greek Cuisine and Grill recently opened
- There was a closing on property within Paddocks for Murphy Oil
- Construction should start on LEXON Insurance this Spring
- A build out for The Party Zone is underway
- Plans have been approved for a Super Speedy Car Wash
- A cell tower is being constructed at Life Assembly Church
Pretty impressive list isn’t it? We’re also gearing up to make a special announcement about a federal agency who will soon have a footprint right here in MJ. Stay tuned.
The BOC will be holding another special work session on fire protection issues on Wednesday, 19 January, in City Hall starting at 4:00 p.m.
Make plans for a Father/Daughter Dance, hosted by the MJ Parks at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center, on Saturday, 5 February. It’s a perfect Valentine’s day gift for daddy’s little girl. For more info or to register, call the MJ Parks Department at 758-6522. Some other Parks and Rec coming initiatives are Zumba classes (a Latin jazz style of aerobics) and our own “Sarge’s Fitness Boot Camp”. Both are fun ways to help stick to that New Year’s resolution. Both programs will likely start in early February. For more info, call 758-6522.
Several adorable puppies at the Shelter looking for homes. There are Chow and Lab mix, or full Labs that are ready to leave now; the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for that special person. Speaking of the Shelter, don’t forget we still have some 2011 Animal Shelter Calendars and Commemorative bricks for sale. Your contribution will go straight to support the work of the Shelter, and its continuing mission of serving both our animals and the health and safety of our community.
On a final note, if you know anyone who might be interested in donating a couple acres on the south side, please give me or Kenny Martin a call at 754-2552. We’d be happy to talk about potential tax implications and good will associated with this initiative.
Have a safe Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. For those of you that have time on Monday, here are some local ceremonies honoring this great American.
It has been a challenging week, with weather related issues and closings abounding. I want to commend our citizens for the patience and care in driving on the snow; PD records reflect there were 10 weather related auto crashes, but none were serious enough to require hospitalization.
We received info on our share of November sales tax. MJ continues to do well with an 8% increase over November 09. Thanks to all those who understand and continue to support our “Shop Mt. Juliet” campaign. Here’s a few other data points for 2010:
1. Sales tax was up every month of the year compared to 2009;
2. We issued 367 building permits in CY10. Compare that to 217 last year; that’s nearly a 60% gain in a year; and
3. 179 new business permits were issued in CY10. Think about it . . . that’s a new business nearly every other calendar day; and
4. Police calls for service was nearly 83,000; about 6,000 more calls for your police department than last year; and
5. There were 210 auto crashes, with 58 injuries. There were also 117 DUI’s. That’s too many of both.
6. Close to 400 animals were adopted from the Shelter. The Shelter now enters its third year without having spent tax dollars for animal food; and
7. Over 6,000 hours were donated last year by Shelter Volunteers. This contribution would have cost the city over $100,000 if the Volunteers were paid; and
8. Congratulations to the citizens of MJ for being the rated by the Tennessee Center for Policy Research as #1 Business Friendly City in the State! 2010 was a good year!
Here’s a business update from Mr. Martin, Economic Development Director:
- Zaxby’s is under Construction
- The Corner Pub Between the Lakes build-out underway
- A branch of the Wilson Bank and Trust is under construction
- Grading Work is underway for a branch of Region’s Bank
- Paddocks Dental build-out is underway
- Tokyo Restaurant build-out is on-going
- Ballroom Dancing Studio build-out is underway
- A Sushi Restaurant is undergoing construction
- A Greek Cuisine and Grill recently opened
- There was a closing on property within Paddocks for Murphy Oil
- Construction should start on LEXON Insurance this Spring
- A build out for The Party Zone is underway
- Plans have been approved for a Super Speedy Car Wash
- A cell tower is being constructed at Life Assembly Church
Pretty impressive list isn’t it? We’re also gearing up to make a special announcement about a federal agency who will soon have a footprint right here in MJ. Stay tuned.
The BOC will be holding another special work session on fire protection issues on Wednesday, 19 January, in City Hall starting at 4:00 p.m.
Make plans for a Father/Daughter Dance, hosted by the MJ Parks at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center, on Saturday, 5 February. It’s a perfect Valentine’s day gift for daddy’s little girl. For more info or to register, call the MJ Parks Department at 758-6522. Some other Parks and Rec coming initiatives are Zumba classes (a Latin jazz style of aerobics) and our own “Sarge’s Fitness Boot Camp”. Both are fun ways to help stick to that New Year’s resolution. Both programs will likely start in early February. For more info, call 758-6522.
Several adorable puppies at the Shelter looking for homes. There are Chow and Lab mix, or full Labs that are ready to leave now; the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for that special person. Speaking of the Shelter, don’t forget we still have some 2011 Animal Shelter Calendars and Commemorative bricks for sale. Your contribution will go straight to support the work of the Shelter, and its continuing mission of serving both our animals and the health and safety of our community.
On a final note, if you know anyone who might be interested in donating a couple acres on the south side, please give me or Kenny Martin a call at 754-2552. We’d be happy to talk about potential tax implications and good will associated with this initiative.
Have a safe Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. For those of you that have time on Monday, here are some local ceremonies honoring this great American.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day March
Nashville's Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day March usually begins at around noon on Monday at Jefferson Street and following the march there's also normally a MLK day convocation scheduled at Tennessee State University. - Scaritt Bennett Center
The Scaritt Bennett Center also offers their own Martin Luther events, every year that includes lectures and/or workshops all about Martin Luther King. - Discovery Center
On Monday, the Children's Museum at Discovery Center at Murfree Spring usually hosts a Free Admission day in honor of the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr. There's always plenty of special activities for the day
Until next time, stay safe and God Bless.
R. Robertson
Sunday, September 26, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
City Manager Update - July 13, 2010
Good afternoon MJ;
A short note today:
We received our sales tax receipts for June and the city took in $105k more this year than in 09. The numbers were $488k in 2010 compared to $383k last year. Overall MJ receipts constituted about 40% of all sales tax receipts in the county . . .nearly a half million reasons to continue to “Shop MJ!”
Early voting will be at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center starting 16 July. Stay tuned for more details.
I received an anonymous note based on a posting to a recent blog about Fall Softball. Yes, Fall Softball will not be held at Mundy Park this year due to the temporary relocation of Youth Football practice from Charlie Daniels Park to Mundy several days a week. We truly regret the disruption to our softball community, but over utilization and ever increasing traffic at CD Park during football season have moved the Parks staff to this option. We are hoping efforts towards developing new multipurpose fields at the Bel Air complex in CY 11 will help alleviate the situation.
I also mentioned in an earlier blog that the MJ Board of Commissioners approved aggressive execution of State Street Aid money in repairing and/or repaving more MJ streets than we’ve done in many years. All totaled nearly $490k has been earmarked for street repairs/repaving this year. The list includes a priority needs of streets from all points around the city, with some of the names including: Bass Drive, Springhill Road, segments of West Division and Old Lebanon Dirt Rd, Jefferson Dr., and Sunrise Circle as well as portions of Belinda Parkway.
Kudos to the MJPD’s Detectives Bonnie Harris and David Stolinsky for their exceptional professionalism and diligence in the recent child abuse/murder case. They are a treasure to our community.
A final note: the Animal Shelter numbers are running high. We need your help! Get involved by sharing a few hours a month as a Shelter volunteer. Better yet, adopt a dog, cat or both and become a volunteer as well. You will be glad you did.
Until next time, take care and God Bless.
R. Robertson
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Update: 3/11/10
Good Afternoon MJ:
Welcome to another edition of the City Manager’s blog. Here’s some items of interest and FYI:
Work continues to progress fairly well on the North Mt. Juliet Road widening project. While the weather remains an obstacle, I understand that for the most part the overall project is about where it was forecasted to be at this point. While that may start to sound a little like a broken record, it remains a good news story that bears repeating.
Come out and join the MJ Parks and Rec crew for their second annual Spring Fashion Show, starting at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, 13 March. There’s over 70 models representing stores from Belk and CJ Banks to Old Navy. Even the Mt. Juliet’s PetSmart and the MJ Animal Shelter have partnered up to bring you what the well dressed pooch will be wearing in 2010 in their “Beasty Beauty” contest. Last year’s event had over 300 viewers jammed into the Rec Center, so get there early for the best seats.
Other Park and Rec events rounding out this year’s Spring Break include 20 March’s Major League Baseball sponsored Pitch, Hit and Run contest, scheduled for 9:00 a.m. at Mundy Park. This promises to be one of the biggest youth oriented events of the year, so break out the old glove, loosen up the arm and join your friends for a great day of friendly competition and the chance to move on to the finals, held at this year’s MLB All Star Game.
Easter in the Park is scheduled for the following weekend (27 March), starting at 11:00 a.m. There’s three groups of egg hunters planned, with ages 1 to 4 starting at 11:00, ages 5 thru 7 hitting the field at 11:30, and ages 8 to 11 testing their agility and speed starting at 12:00. A special treat will be the search for the 10 golden eggs starting at 12:30 from the amphitheater. The golden eggs are filled with certificates for special prizes that add up to nearly $1,000. Mt. Juliet’s Easter in the Park is one of the biggest events of the year in Charlie Daniels Park so bring the entire family for a day of fun in the sun (hopefully). The MJ Animal Shelter will even be there showing off pets who need a home for the holiday.
Some good news for MJ. Police Chief Garrett’s crew has crunched the numbers and the overall crime rate for the city is down 10% from CY08 to CY09. The men and women of the MJPD do a magnificent job day-in and day-out. Next time you see one of the city’s finest, tell them thanks for what they do. Speaking of good news, another positive note from the city’s economic front today arrived today. Remember when the town basically came to a close during the last weekend of January due to the snow and ice? For a city that lives and breathes through sales tax, many of us here at city hall have been concerned about the impact winter’s weather has had on city sales tax receipt. While we haven’t seen the consequences of February’s President’s Day weekend snowstorm, the good news is we “weathered” January quite nicely with the city’s portion of sales tax receipts up nearly $27k from January 09. Thanks to everyone for continuing to “Shop Mt. Juliet”.
A final note . . . the census is coming. Help spread the word with your friends and family as to how absolutely critical it is to submit your annual census form. The forms should start showing up next week in mailboxes across the city. the 2010 edition is the shortest form in the history of the Census Department, with 10 simple questions that should take about 10 minutes or less to complete. The city’s population is a conduit to federal funds, so it’s not only required to complete a form, its’ imperative to our growth and development. Be watching Channel 3 for more details, or if we can answer questions the city’s “Chief Census Expert” is Mr. Bo Logan at 773-6237.
Take care and talk with you later.
Sincerely,
R. Robertson
Welcome to another edition of the City Manager’s blog. Here’s some items of interest and FYI:
Work continues to progress fairly well on the North Mt. Juliet Road widening project. While the weather remains an obstacle, I understand that for the most part the overall project is about where it was forecasted to be at this point. While that may start to sound a little like a broken record, it remains a good news story that bears repeating.
Come out and join the MJ Parks and Rec crew for their second annual Spring Fashion Show, starting at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, 13 March. There’s over 70 models representing stores from Belk and CJ Banks to Old Navy. Even the Mt. Juliet’s PetSmart and the MJ Animal Shelter have partnered up to bring you what the well dressed pooch will be wearing in 2010 in their “Beasty Beauty” contest. Last year’s event had over 300 viewers jammed into the Rec Center, so get there early for the best seats.
Other Park and Rec events rounding out this year’s Spring Break include 20 March’s Major League Baseball sponsored Pitch, Hit and Run contest, scheduled for 9:00 a.m. at Mundy Park. This promises to be one of the biggest youth oriented events of the year, so break out the old glove, loosen up the arm and join your friends for a great day of friendly competition and the chance to move on to the finals, held at this year’s MLB All Star Game.
Easter in the Park is scheduled for the following weekend (27 March), starting at 11:00 a.m. There’s three groups of egg hunters planned, with ages 1 to 4 starting at 11:00, ages 5 thru 7 hitting the field at 11:30, and ages 8 to 11 testing their agility and speed starting at 12:00. A special treat will be the search for the 10 golden eggs starting at 12:30 from the amphitheater. The golden eggs are filled with certificates for special prizes that add up to nearly $1,000. Mt. Juliet’s Easter in the Park is one of the biggest events of the year in Charlie Daniels Park so bring the entire family for a day of fun in the sun (hopefully). The MJ Animal Shelter will even be there showing off pets who need a home for the holiday.
Some good news for MJ. Police Chief Garrett’s crew has crunched the numbers and the overall crime rate for the city is down 10% from CY08 to CY09. The men and women of the MJPD do a magnificent job day-in and day-out. Next time you see one of the city’s finest, tell them thanks for what they do. Speaking of good news, another positive note from the city’s economic front today arrived today. Remember when the town basically came to a close during the last weekend of January due to the snow and ice? For a city that lives and breathes through sales tax, many of us here at city hall have been concerned about the impact winter’s weather has had on city sales tax receipt. While we haven’t seen the consequences of February’s President’s Day weekend snowstorm, the good news is we “weathered” January quite nicely with the city’s portion of sales tax receipts up nearly $27k from January 09. Thanks to everyone for continuing to “Shop Mt. Juliet”.
A final note . . . the census is coming. Help spread the word with your friends and family as to how absolutely critical it is to submit your annual census form. The forms should start showing up next week in mailboxes across the city. the 2010 edition is the shortest form in the history of the Census Department, with 10 simple questions that should take about 10 minutes or less to complete. The city’s population is a conduit to federal funds, so it’s not only required to complete a form, its’ imperative to our growth and development. Be watching Channel 3 for more details, or if we can answer questions the city’s “Chief Census Expert” is Mr. Bo Logan at 773-6237.
Take care and talk with you later.
Sincerely,
R. Robertson
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Update: 2/11/10
Good Evening MJ:
Some notes from the last couple weeks FYI:
1. The MJ Animal Shelter continues to exceed all expectations with adoptions running neck-to-neck with animals who are sheltered. Yesterday we had 15 animals. This kind of success isn’t possible without a tremendous staff and extraordinary group of volunteers. If you want to give something special to your Valentine’s Day sweetheart, think about a dog or cat from the MJ Animal Shelter. It will be the gift of year round love.
2. Some great news: December’s sales tax report just came in and once again MJ continues to exceed expectations. Sales tax revenue for the city was up a little over $30k from December 2008. There’s a little concern that the rate of acceleration is slowing, and with no major “big boxes” or major projects in the near future, we may see some flattening rates, but all in all, for an economic year unlike any most of have ever seen, we are still in an enviable position. Mr. Martin also tells me there’s going to be a large announcement in the near future. Stay tuned.
3. Received a report today reflecting the size of all municipal police departments in Tennessee. Here are a few stats based upon the number of officers serving for each 1k population: Nashville: 2.65; Lebanon: 2.86; Smyrna: 1.91; Franklin: 2.33; Crossville: 3.64; Cookeville: 2.55; Murfreesboro: 2.16; Oak Ridge: 2.19; Hendersonville: 2.01; and MJ: 1.66. You can draw whatever conclusions you wish, but from my vantage, I salute the men and women of the MJPD for the absolutely extraordinary work they do. They are a value and credit to this community.
4. Despite some challenging weather, work on NMJR continues to progress. Mr. Joyner, the city’s action officer for the project, advises there’s some major activity planned as soon as the weather improves; just take a look at the concrete pipes lining the area north of the railroad tracks. Be sure to stay posted on the project progress by tuning into Channel 3, or clicking on the project icon at the city’s home page.
5. Speaking of home page, kudos to Mr. Taylor and Mr. Adams of our IT Department. They’ve done an extraordinary thing by streaming Channel 3 through the web. If you don’t pick up Channel 3, or will be out of town, just go to the city’s web page to keep up with what’s going on. Good job fellows! We’ve received several reports from people outside MJ who like what you’ve done. While on congratulations, a hearty thanks to Mr. Brent Terry, Mr. Roy Acosta and Mr. Brandon Ambrose, for the great job they did in clearing city streets during the recent snowstorm. These guys logged in over 100 hours during the last weekend in January to ensure the city’s roads were in the best possible condition for Monday morning. Also thanks to the MJ BOC for taking time at their last meeting to recognizing these three accomplishments and hard work.
6. We are a victim of our own success as it relates to the Charlie Daniels Red Center. We’ve seen unprecedented growth in membership and use of the facility, especially in the Exercise Room. Based upon the demand, the BOC is moving forward to help the Parks Department underwrite switching the Game Room and Exercise Room. The new Exercise Room will be over twice as large, providing users with a safer, more inviting area to work out. Mr. Lee, Acting Director for the Parks and Rec Department, advises he's been meeting with several vendors to see if we can come to terms with the cost of special flooring, and hopes to have the new room up and operational in the near future. Also, a special thanks to Mrs. Linda McCallahan, for helping the Parks and Rec Department secure a storage area they so desperately need. While not a city employee or a member of the Parks Board, Linda saw a need and helped fill it. We appreciate you.
That’s about all for this evening. Remember, the city has been approved by the American Red Cross as a donation site for funds for Haitian relief. While the story of Haiti doesn’t fill the papers every day now, the horrors of what has happened in that country will last for many years to come. Help us help them. Stop by City Hall and let Tina know you care.
Talk with you later.
R. Robertson
Some notes from the last couple weeks FYI:
1. The MJ Animal Shelter continues to exceed all expectations with adoptions running neck-to-neck with animals who are sheltered. Yesterday we had 15 animals. This kind of success isn’t possible without a tremendous staff and extraordinary group of volunteers. If you want to give something special to your Valentine’s Day sweetheart, think about a dog or cat from the MJ Animal Shelter. It will be the gift of year round love.
2. Some great news: December’s sales tax report just came in and once again MJ continues to exceed expectations. Sales tax revenue for the city was up a little over $30k from December 2008. There’s a little concern that the rate of acceleration is slowing, and with no major “big boxes” or major projects in the near future, we may see some flattening rates, but all in all, for an economic year unlike any most of have ever seen, we are still in an enviable position. Mr. Martin also tells me there’s going to be a large announcement in the near future. Stay tuned.
3. Received a report today reflecting the size of all municipal police departments in Tennessee. Here are a few stats based upon the number of officers serving for each 1k population: Nashville: 2.65; Lebanon: 2.86; Smyrna: 1.91; Franklin: 2.33; Crossville: 3.64; Cookeville: 2.55; Murfreesboro: 2.16; Oak Ridge: 2.19; Hendersonville: 2.01; and MJ: 1.66. You can draw whatever conclusions you wish, but from my vantage, I salute the men and women of the MJPD for the absolutely extraordinary work they do. They are a value and credit to this community.
4. Despite some challenging weather, work on NMJR continues to progress. Mr. Joyner, the city’s action officer for the project, advises there’s some major activity planned as soon as the weather improves; just take a look at the concrete pipes lining the area north of the railroad tracks. Be sure to stay posted on the project progress by tuning into Channel 3, or clicking on the project icon at the city’s home page.
5. Speaking of home page, kudos to Mr. Taylor and Mr. Adams of our IT Department. They’ve done an extraordinary thing by streaming Channel 3 through the web. If you don’t pick up Channel 3, or will be out of town, just go to the city’s web page to keep up with what’s going on. Good job fellows! We’ve received several reports from people outside MJ who like what you’ve done. While on congratulations, a hearty thanks to Mr. Brent Terry, Mr. Roy Acosta and Mr. Brandon Ambrose, for the great job they did in clearing city streets during the recent snowstorm. These guys logged in over 100 hours during the last weekend in January to ensure the city’s roads were in the best possible condition for Monday morning. Also thanks to the MJ BOC for taking time at their last meeting to recognizing these three accomplishments and hard work.
6. We are a victim of our own success as it relates to the Charlie Daniels Red Center. We’ve seen unprecedented growth in membership and use of the facility, especially in the Exercise Room. Based upon the demand, the BOC is moving forward to help the Parks Department underwrite switching the Game Room and Exercise Room. The new Exercise Room will be over twice as large, providing users with a safer, more inviting area to work out. Mr. Lee, Acting Director for the Parks and Rec Department, advises he's been meeting with several vendors to see if we can come to terms with the cost of special flooring, and hopes to have the new room up and operational in the near future. Also, a special thanks to Mrs. Linda McCallahan, for helping the Parks and Rec Department secure a storage area they so desperately need. While not a city employee or a member of the Parks Board, Linda saw a need and helped fill it. We appreciate you.
That’s about all for this evening. Remember, the city has been approved by the American Red Cross as a donation site for funds for Haitian relief. While the story of Haiti doesn’t fill the papers every day now, the horrors of what has happened in that country will last for many years to come. Help us help them. Stop by City Hall and let Tina know you care.
Talk with you later.
R. Robertson
Monday, September 7, 2009
Update: 9/7/09
Good Afternoon MJ and Happy Labor Day:
Have you taken some time recently to explore the MJ City homepage? I ask because last Friday I received a very kind note from a fellow who complimented our webmaster (Mr. Travis Taylor) on the superb work he's done to organize and present community-wide information in a logical, easy to find manner. And just last week Mr. Taylor, along with his colleague, Mr. Shannon Joyner, Assistant Public Works Director, unveiled a new initiative that should be on line in the next few days. Using a new tool provided by the City Commission, we now are empowered to move Channel 3 from a power-point to a video-based medium through the use of a video "scheduler". What this means is we now have the capabilities to show public "infomercials" any time of the night or day on Channel 3. Harnessing that capability, Mr. Taylor and Mr. Joyner collaborated to bring the MJ community a bi-weekly video update on the status of the North Mt. Juliet Road (NMJR) widening project. Right now the leadership of TDOT as well as reps from West Wilson Utilities District (WWUD), the MJ Sewer Department, Middle Tennessee Electric, TDS and COMCAST have biweekly meetings to review issues, challenges and the next steps associated with this project. What we will be doing is bringing you "real time" project updates straight from those directly involved. We believe this will be of tremendous use to our citizens and commuters as the NMJR project picks up steam over the next few months. The plans are to bring this initiative to both your TV and your computer by the end of next week. Tune in Channel 3 or to check out the MJ homepage for the latest info. Thanks Mr. Taylor and Mr. Joyner for some real "out of the box" thinking!
Speaking of road work, here's the latest: blasting has started by WWUD on the west side of NJMR, while there's been aggressive action to clear the trees north of the library. On the Reverse L, work continues to progress well, with the contractor planning to grade out 5 lanes as opposed to the originally planned 3. We are still on track for mid December "drivability" with the Reverse L and final acceptance scheduled for early Spring of 2010. Finally, we are very pleased with the build-out plans for the Paddocks area and the recently installed cul-de-sac on what was once Pleasant Grove Road. Very few problems or complaints have been reported to the TDOT contractors.
You should soon see a public notice in both the MJ News and Chronicle about the sewer billing average season starting to wind down at the end of the month. You'll also be receiving the notice on your next monthly sewer bill. I'd encourage you to take a few minutes to read and familiarize yourself with the process . . . it could save you money and frustration. For more info contact Mr. Wayne Griffin at 754-2554.
Has it been a while since you've been inside your City Hall? Take a few minutes and drop by and see what the combined efforts of the skilled crews from your Parks and Recreation and Public Works Departments did to transform City Hall and the city's new combined Sewer and Finance Building at the corner of E.Caldwell and NMJR. Mt. Juliet is blessed to have some of the most dedicated and professional workmen on duty just for you. And speaking of professionalism, Chief Garrett tells me that calls for service to the Police Department have gone up by more than 50% in the same reporting period between CY08 and this year, while reportable crimes have declined. This just demonstrates the superb job your MJPD is doing to be responsive to our community.
Finally, make plans now to join us for the 09 iteration of Mt. Juliet's Halloween in the Park. Halloween in the Park is the largest event hosted by the city's Parks and Rec crew. It will be on Saturday, 10 October, at Charlie Daniels Park. We plan on the new Rec Center Expansion facility being up and operational by then, so the Parks and Rec crew have several new ideas to add to the mix. If Halloween isn't your thing, then just come by and see how the Charlie Daniels Park has been totally transformed in the last year. A new exercise "Para-course", a new skate park, expanded volleyball courts, and the new Rec Center expansion are all for you. And on that note, a final comment; if you haven't been to South Mt. Juliet Park to see the County's first and only Bark Park, you owe it to your furry companion to take a look. In addition to the Bark Park, which now has a fresh water source for your K-9, within the next couple weeks we plan to have a new children's playground up and operational. We want to thank the citizens of the Belinda City area for your support in making the playground, Bark Park and other new programming opportunities at South MJ Park a reality.
Take care MJ and talk with you later.
Sincerely,
R. Robertson
Have you taken some time recently to explore the MJ City homepage? I ask because last Friday I received a very kind note from a fellow who complimented our webmaster (Mr. Travis Taylor) on the superb work he's done to organize and present community-wide information in a logical, easy to find manner. And just last week Mr. Taylor, along with his colleague, Mr. Shannon Joyner, Assistant Public Works Director, unveiled a new initiative that should be on line in the next few days. Using a new tool provided by the City Commission, we now are empowered to move Channel 3 from a power-point to a video-based medium through the use of a video "scheduler". What this means is we now have the capabilities to show public "infomercials" any time of the night or day on Channel 3. Harnessing that capability, Mr. Taylor and Mr. Joyner collaborated to bring the MJ community a bi-weekly video update on the status of the North Mt. Juliet Road (NMJR) widening project. Right now the leadership of TDOT as well as reps from West Wilson Utilities District (WWUD), the MJ Sewer Department, Middle Tennessee Electric, TDS and COMCAST have biweekly meetings to review issues, challenges and the next steps associated with this project. What we will be doing is bringing you "real time" project updates straight from those directly involved. We believe this will be of tremendous use to our citizens and commuters as the NMJR project picks up steam over the next few months. The plans are to bring this initiative to both your TV and your computer by the end of next week. Tune in Channel 3 or to check out the MJ homepage for the latest info. Thanks Mr. Taylor and Mr. Joyner for some real "out of the box" thinking!
Speaking of road work, here's the latest: blasting has started by WWUD on the west side of NJMR, while there's been aggressive action to clear the trees north of the library. On the Reverse L, work continues to progress well, with the contractor planning to grade out 5 lanes as opposed to the originally planned 3. We are still on track for mid December "drivability" with the Reverse L and final acceptance scheduled for early Spring of 2010. Finally, we are very pleased with the build-out plans for the Paddocks area and the recently installed cul-de-sac on what was once Pleasant Grove Road. Very few problems or complaints have been reported to the TDOT contractors.
You should soon see a public notice in both the MJ News and Chronicle about the sewer billing average season starting to wind down at the end of the month. You'll also be receiving the notice on your next monthly sewer bill. I'd encourage you to take a few minutes to read and familiarize yourself with the process . . . it could save you money and frustration. For more info contact Mr. Wayne Griffin at 754-2554.
Has it been a while since you've been inside your City Hall? Take a few minutes and drop by and see what the combined efforts of the skilled crews from your Parks and Recreation and Public Works Departments did to transform City Hall and the city's new combined Sewer and Finance Building at the corner of E.Caldwell and NMJR. Mt. Juliet is blessed to have some of the most dedicated and professional workmen on duty just for you. And speaking of professionalism, Chief Garrett tells me that calls for service to the Police Department have gone up by more than 50% in the same reporting period between CY08 and this year, while reportable crimes have declined. This just demonstrates the superb job your MJPD is doing to be responsive to our community.
Finally, make plans now to join us for the 09 iteration of Mt. Juliet's Halloween in the Park. Halloween in the Park is the largest event hosted by the city's Parks and Rec crew. It will be on Saturday, 10 October, at Charlie Daniels Park. We plan on the new Rec Center Expansion facility being up and operational by then, so the Parks and Rec crew have several new ideas to add to the mix. If Halloween isn't your thing, then just come by and see how the Charlie Daniels Park has been totally transformed in the last year. A new exercise "Para-course", a new skate park, expanded volleyball courts, and the new Rec Center expansion are all for you. And on that note, a final comment; if you haven't been to South Mt. Juliet Park to see the County's first and only Bark Park, you owe it to your furry companion to take a look. In addition to the Bark Park, which now has a fresh water source for your K-9, within the next couple weeks we plan to have a new children's playground up and operational. We want to thank the citizens of the Belinda City area for your support in making the playground, Bark Park and other new programming opportunities at South MJ Park a reality.
Take care MJ and talk with you later.
Sincerely,
R. Robertson
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Update: 7/29/09
Good Afternoon MJ:
Some items of interest to pass along:
Many of you know the city applied for a federal grant to supplement the force size of the MJPD. Basically, the COPS (Community Oriented Policing) grant, would have covered salaries of additional police for three years. Chief Garrett and his staff worked very hard collecting and analyzing data and developing a comprehensive grant application to submit for 8 officers. We learned yesterday that we were not selected. 168 cities and municipalities across Tennessee applied for the grant with only 19 selected. Of the 19, only one city, Nashville, was in middle Tennessee. The federal government applied an extremely complex scoring methodology to the decision process. The good news is while we didn’t rate a grant, MJ crime rates, a primary factor in the award process, continues to be one of the lowest in the region.
QUESTION: What do you get when you put close to 50 men and women in a room to talk about a building project?
ANSWER: The first full “pre construction” conference for the North Mt. Juliet Road (NMJR) widening project; the largest and certainly the most expensive infrastructure effort the city has ever undertaken. This morning representatives from TDOT, the Federal Highway Administration, West Wilson Utilities, Comcast, TDS, Piedmont Gas, the Mt. Juliet Sewer Department, MJ Public Works and Police Departments, Middle Tennessee Electric, and the Nashville Eastern Railroad packed City Hall for a round table planning discussion on this bold and exciting initiative. While most of the dialogue dealt with technical issues, there were several “takeaways” for the average resident and commuter.
First, the City will host a “Town Meeting” on Tuesday, 11 August, at 6:30, in Mt. Juliet High School auditorium. Representatives from all the utilities and the Tennessee Department of Transportation will be on hand to walk attendees through project plans, concerns and timelines. Whether you are a resident along the road, a daily or frequent commuter or simply interested in a project, this meeting outlines an initiative that promises to transform the face of Mt. Juliet. You’ll want to be there!
Second, we’ve spoken with the contractors and there is a high possibility of having a traffic light at the intersection of Charlie Daniels Parkway and NMJR installed early in the project. City leaders have pressed TDOT for a light at this intersection for years, but now, with the construction, there’s a good chance we can have a light installed in the next few months. I’ll provide more info on that issue as details unfold, but if it holds true what a welcome site for all of you who use Charlie Daniels Park during the football and cheerleading season!
Third, the tentative plan for the actual road widening is to start on the left side (western side) and then go to the right (eastern side). There will be lane closures so we’ve asked TDOT and the project manager to keep us up to date so we can use the web, Channel 3 and our new Nixle messaging system to post the latest info for you.
Fourth, as MTEMC replaces the poles along the route, the City will pay for upgrades to metal.
Fifth and last, 31 October 2011 is the estimated project completion date. Now remember, that’s an estimate and its over two years away. Lots can and will happen between now and then. It is a long and very complex project, but it is the price of progress.
A tip of the hat to WEMA and the MJPD for their magnificent performance this past Monday during the natural gas leak on NMJR. The men and women of both organizations were on-site within a matter of a minutes after a 4” line was breached. They quickly assessed the situation, established a perimeter, evacuated the area and established a safety buffer zone, and sustained essential emergency traffic and communications the entire time. While television helicopters buzzed overhead, these brave civil servants maintained their professional demeanor as well as control of a dynamically developing situation despite the sweltering heat and humidity. Topping things off there was a citizen who decided to try and take the traffic measures in his own hands, “crashing” the police barrier. It was all in a day’s work and demonstrated the great cooperation, teamwork and superb inter-agency training between the MJPD and WEMA. Well done ladies and gentlemen!
A short note on the Nixle messaging system mentioned above. Mr. Taylor, the City’s Director of Information Technology, recently rolled out Nixle for city “alert” messaging services. For simplicity Nixle is basically a “pushed” emergency message notification that can go via email, text or website. Nixle will not only be used for emergency's, but if you choose the option, you'll get community and traffic alerts as well. We were amazed how many people let us know during the gas leak/NMJR road closure that they had received an timely alert message. For more info or to sign up go to the city home page or check out the advertisement on Channel 3.
Finally, the Charlie Daniels Skate Board Park is about done. We plan to have a ribbon cutting on Saturday, 8 August, at 11:00 at Charlie Daniels Park. Come check out the newest and only skate board park in Wilson County. We’ve got a great program lined up and hope to see you there.
That’s about all for now. Take care and talk with you later.
R. Robertson
Some items of interest to pass along:
Many of you know the city applied for a federal grant to supplement the force size of the MJPD. Basically, the COPS (Community Oriented Policing) grant, would have covered salaries of additional police for three years. Chief Garrett and his staff worked very hard collecting and analyzing data and developing a comprehensive grant application to submit for 8 officers. We learned yesterday that we were not selected. 168 cities and municipalities across Tennessee applied for the grant with only 19 selected. Of the 19, only one city, Nashville, was in middle Tennessee. The federal government applied an extremely complex scoring methodology to the decision process. The good news is while we didn’t rate a grant, MJ crime rates, a primary factor in the award process, continues to be one of the lowest in the region.
QUESTION: What do you get when you put close to 50 men and women in a room to talk about a building project?
ANSWER: The first full “pre construction” conference for the North Mt. Juliet Road (NMJR) widening project; the largest and certainly the most expensive infrastructure effort the city has ever undertaken. This morning representatives from TDOT, the Federal Highway Administration, West Wilson Utilities, Comcast, TDS, Piedmont Gas, the Mt. Juliet Sewer Department, MJ Public Works and Police Departments, Middle Tennessee Electric, and the Nashville Eastern Railroad packed City Hall for a round table planning discussion on this bold and exciting initiative. While most of the dialogue dealt with technical issues, there were several “takeaways” for the average resident and commuter.
First, the City will host a “Town Meeting” on Tuesday, 11 August, at 6:30, in Mt. Juliet High School auditorium. Representatives from all the utilities and the Tennessee Department of Transportation will be on hand to walk attendees through project plans, concerns and timelines. Whether you are a resident along the road, a daily or frequent commuter or simply interested in a project, this meeting outlines an initiative that promises to transform the face of Mt. Juliet. You’ll want to be there!
Second, we’ve spoken with the contractors and there is a high possibility of having a traffic light at the intersection of Charlie Daniels Parkway and NMJR installed early in the project. City leaders have pressed TDOT for a light at this intersection for years, but now, with the construction, there’s a good chance we can have a light installed in the next few months. I’ll provide more info on that issue as details unfold, but if it holds true what a welcome site for all of you who use Charlie Daniels Park during the football and cheerleading season!
Third, the tentative plan for the actual road widening is to start on the left side (western side) and then go to the right (eastern side). There will be lane closures so we’ve asked TDOT and the project manager to keep us up to date so we can use the web, Channel 3 and our new Nixle messaging system to post the latest info for you.
Fourth, as MTEMC replaces the poles along the route, the City will pay for upgrades to metal.
Fifth and last, 31 October 2011 is the estimated project completion date. Now remember, that’s an estimate and its over two years away. Lots can and will happen between now and then. It is a long and very complex project, but it is the price of progress.
A tip of the hat to WEMA and the MJPD for their magnificent performance this past Monday during the natural gas leak on NMJR. The men and women of both organizations were on-site within a matter of a minutes after a 4” line was breached. They quickly assessed the situation, established a perimeter, evacuated the area and established a safety buffer zone, and sustained essential emergency traffic and communications the entire time. While television helicopters buzzed overhead, these brave civil servants maintained their professional demeanor as well as control of a dynamically developing situation despite the sweltering heat and humidity. Topping things off there was a citizen who decided to try and take the traffic measures in his own hands, “crashing” the police barrier. It was all in a day’s work and demonstrated the great cooperation, teamwork and superb inter-agency training between the MJPD and WEMA. Well done ladies and gentlemen!
A short note on the Nixle messaging system mentioned above. Mr. Taylor, the City’s Director of Information Technology, recently rolled out Nixle for city “alert” messaging services. For simplicity Nixle is basically a “pushed” emergency message notification that can go via email, text or website. Nixle will not only be used for emergency's, but if you choose the option, you'll get community and traffic alerts as well. We were amazed how many people let us know during the gas leak/NMJR road closure that they had received an timely alert message. For more info or to sign up go to the city home page or check out the advertisement on Channel 3.
Finally, the Charlie Daniels Skate Board Park is about done. We plan to have a ribbon cutting on Saturday, 8 August, at 11:00 at Charlie Daniels Park. Come check out the newest and only skate board park in Wilson County. We’ve got a great program lined up and hope to see you there.
That’s about all for now. Take care and talk with you later.
R. Robertson
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