Update: 11/19/10

Good Afternoon MJ:

Here’s some items of interest from around the community:

1. We’ve had a rash of vandalism at all of our parks this week. This week the Mt. Juliet Parks and Recreation Department announced that someone had vandalized the children’s play area at South Park; tore up one of the holes at Mundy’s Frisbee Golf Course; bent the frame and stolen a soccer net from the city’s soccer park on Curd Road, and tore up some of the platforms and defaced some of the signs at the recently renovated Planet Playground at Charlie Daniels Park. That’s mean spirited shortsightedness. Deputy Chief of Police James Hambrick indicated that funds may be available for any tips to who was responsible for these acts. You can get more info on our “Crime Stoppers” program at the city’s homepage, or by calling Corporal Tyler Chandler, our community policing officer at 394-3092.

2. Some better news: the Nashville Business Journal announced today that MJ was Tennessee’s number one business friendly city as declared by the Tennessee Center for Policy Research. This is absolutely fantastic news, and speaks volumes to the vision and goals of this community, and of the Mayor and Board of Commissioners of our city. Congratulations MJ! Click below for a link to go to the full story.
http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/feature/tennessee-center-for-policy-research.html?surround=etf&ana=e_article

3. Calling all Citizens interested in alternative transportation, clean air, traffic mitigation, healthy lifestyles, and biking. We will be holding a public meeting for Phase 3 of our West Division Greenway project this Monday at 5:00 p.m., in City Hall. To refresh your memory, we should be finishing up Phase 1 construction, which runs from the MJ Train Station to 4th Avenue within the next few weeks . . . stay tuned for an announcement on the ribbon cutting. We learned a couple weeks ago, that we were one of the few communities in Tennessee to be awarded Congestion Mitigation – Air Quality (CMAQ) funding, to push Phase 2 initiatives. Phase 2 will take the greenway/bike path from 4th Avenue to Brookstone. Phase 3, the longest, most challenging and most expensive element of the project, will run from Brookstone to South Greenhill Road. Monday’s Public Hearing is a requirement for future grant opportunities. We hope you can join us.

4. Some upcoming Parks and Rec events: Our first ever Urban Master Gardner program is tentatively scheduled hold its kick off meeting on Tuesday, 14 December, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the MJ Community Center in Charlie Daniels Park. Come join Master Gardner and class leader Johnnie Harper of the University of Tennessee Extension, Wilson County Masters Gardeners Association in the ground breaking (pardon the pun) Parks and Rec initiative. For more info call Jan Litterell, at 758-6522. Stay tune to Channel 3, the city’s web page and the local papers for more info.
Our 2nd Annual Holiday and Crafts Bazaar will be held on 4 and 5 December, at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center. Times are 9am to 7pm on Saturday, and 11am to 5pm on Sunday. This Bazaar will feature booths specializing in holiday related items, jewelry, floral, art, crafts, home décor, skin care and much more. We’re expecting over 40 vendors from across the region. It will be a great place to get that unique gift for the hard to buy family member or loved one. If you are interested in a vendor’s stall, call Taylor Bates or any of the Parks crew at 758-5622.
Finally, anticipation continues to build for our 11 December Christmas parade with “Rudy” Ruettinger and Ross Browner as the co Grand Marshals. Rudy is known for the inspirational film about his Notre Dame football exploits, aptly titled “Rudy.” Ross Browner was the fellow who pushed to have Rudy get in during the final game of the season, and who went on to over a decade in the NFL. This promises to be MJ’s biggest parade with tons of floats, marchers, bands, horses and even a nationally renowned bagpiper. The place to be on 11 December is along Mt. Juliet Road, from West Wilson Middle School, north to Division Street; starting at 11:00 a.m.

5. Notice the progress along the North MJ Road project. I had the opportunity to meet with the TDOT leadership and project contractor last week, and they are really pleased with the initiative. Barring major material or weather problems they are looking for an October 2011 completion date; months earlier than originally forecasted.

6. Here's a couple of ways to help support your city:
- The Mt. Juliet Senior Center designed and is selling Christmas Ornaments for $10 each. Proceeds benefit the Senior Center. Contact Pat Gwin at patgwin@comcast.net
- In a similar vein but on a different note, our very own Animal Shelter has 2011 calendars for sale. They are $15 each or (8) for $100. The calendar features animals from our own shelter and has several discount coupons attached. To pick some up, call any member of the MJ Animal Shelter at 773-5533

7. On a final note, if you live or frequently travel towards the southern end of the city, on South MJ Road, there will be some significant traffic changes coming up next week, weather permitting. With help of some technology and some existing asphalt, we’ll be creating a middle turn lane in the South Providence/Publix Number 2 area early next week. This is should be a real boost to commuters and businesses in the area. For more info check out the power point slide on Channel 3.

That's enough for this week. Take care and God Bless.

R. Robertson

Update: August 11, 2010

Good Afternoon MJ:

Welcome to this first posting for August. City Hall has been pretty busy the last few weeks, so this update will cover quite a few topics.

I’ll begin with relaying how proud I was of MJ last week when the remains of Specialist Michael Stansbery came home last week. We received notice late Tuesday night, but with the help the City’s IT Director and members of the MJPD, several Nixle notices were posted and a continuous loop message went out on Channel 3. Deputy Chief Hambrick and I spoke with Michael’s parents on Saturday and they asked me to pass along to everyone how truly wonderful it was to see the crowd lining South Mt. Juliet Road. Bringing just a little gladness in the midst of this tragedy was an exceptional thing. Thanks to all who were there in person or spirit.

Mt. Juliet was just named a “Playful City” by Kaboom Corporation, the nation’s largest manufacturer of outdoor playground equipment. For the last four years, Kaboom has surveyed thousands of cities across the county to recognize and reward municipalities that appreciate and take steps to improve exercise and recreational activities. This year Mt. Juliet was just one of 134 cities in the U.S. recognized by Kaboom as a “Playful City” and the only city in Tennessee so designated. Since 2008, nearly $4m has been earmarked in grants to “Playful” communities, so MJ has a conduit to some of those funds. Many thanks to Mr. Rocky Lee, Assistant Parks & Rec Director, and Team member Kat Cook for making this effort a reality. Well done. While on Parks and Rec, there are a couple upcoming events for your calendar. First is our end of summer “Movie in the Park” which takes place at the Charlie Daniels Park Amphitheater, on Friday, 27 August, starting at dusk. The film “Rudy” will be shown, with an added feature, Special Guest Defensive End Ross Browner, former Notre Dame Player and 2 time All American Trophy winner will be there for autographs. There will be prizes and concessions available. The next day, Saturday, 28 August, has been proclaimed as “MJ Play Day”. From 2:00 to 6:00 come join us at Charlie Daniels for a variety of athletic and recreational events, including water pistol fights with some of MJ finest. This free event promises to be a great time for the entire family. I hope to see you there.

Some financial news for MJ: New Housing permits took a nose dive in July with less than half the number of permits issued compared to June. So far, August seems to be improved with 14 permits as of last Friday. On the sales tax side we received some good news with July’s data showing the city’s share was slightly more than $557k, over $100k up from July 09. This reflects the same positive results seen throughout Tennessee with this July being the first month in over two years to exceed sales tax projected revenue. Remember: Shop Mt. Juliet.

Remember, LOCK YOUR CAR!. Last Monday, an MJ neighborhood was hit with a string of car burglaries. I don’t want to compromise an on-going investigation, but suffice to say every one of the multiple cars broken into were unlocked.

Check out a couple of the newest features on the city’s home page. The first addition is our new chipper truck notification menu located at the top right corner of the homepage. This item will allow customers to keep track of chipper services and know when the Chipper Truck will be in your area. The attached map outlines the various zones of the city, while the other icon allows the user to sign up for automatic weekly alert messages notifying the recipient where the truck is located. We’ve had several positive comments about this initiative and encourage customers to register. The second addition is oriented towards the our business development and real estate community. Under the city’s “Economic Development” menu item on the left, there’s now an “Available Properties” section which allows individuals to peruse commercial properties available throughout the city. Mr. Kenny Martin, the city’s Economic Development Director, will be regularly updating the information, so if you’d like to get something posted, give Kenny a call at 754-2552.

While our Nixle subscriber’s roster continues to grow, we know there are still many out there who would like to receive these messages. If you know of anyone interested in community, weather or police updates that are automatically pushed to their email or smartphone, refer them to the instructions on the city homepage. Click on the “Nixle” icon at the bottom left of the page.

BTW: The metal framework going up just north of the McDonald’s on SMJR is a Cheddars Restaurant. Cheddars is one of the fastest growing dining establishments in the county. The MJ Cheddars is looking for a late October/early November opening.

If you haven’t checked out the summer edition of MJ’s Citizen Update, you can easily do that by going to:
http://www.egovlink.com/public_documents300/mtjuliet/published_documents/Administration/Quarterly%20Newsletter/SUMMER%202010.pdf
There’s some timely and informative articles in this edition. Please let your family and friend know.

Thanks to the Chamber, Wal Mart and many NMJR-based businesses for the support and positive comments on the recent installation of “NMJR is Open for Business” signs place at the intersection of Division and NMJR, and further north on NMJR. The signs, paid for by Wal Mart, look fabulous and speak loudly that despite the construction noise and dust, nearly 100 store and business owners along NMJR are there to serve you. Think about them the next time you’re shopping.

Take care and God Bless MJ. Stay out of the heat.

R. Robertson

Update: 7/15/10

Good Afternoon MJ:

I had an interesting posting on the blog today that I thought should be shared. Since responses to the blog are anonymous unless the writer identifies him/her self, the only way to respond, if one is warranted, is this way. With that in mind below is today’s note:

From: Anonymous
To: Randy Robertson
Sent: Thu Jul 15 01:04:02 2010
Subject: [City Manager Blog] New comment on City Manager Update - July 13, 2010.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "City Manager Update - July 13, 2010":

“I was looking at the Charlie Daniels Park website and noticed that the park was temporarily shut down for repairs from "vandalism". Well I can just hope you cant blame all of that on the free runners out there. We do not want to hurt any of your property and we are terribly sorry about the slide. We are using EXTREME CONSIDERATION and putting a lot of thought into our tricks at the park so I just wanted to let you know that MJ is our home.
NOTHING ELSE WILL BE BROKEN BECAUSE OF US WE LOVE OUR PARK!”

RESPONSE: If “Anonymous” is credible, I want to thank him or her for recognizing what they did to Planet Playground, and thank them for posting to my blog. I spoke with Parks and Rec Director Cameli this morning, and here’s some data he asked me to share with “Anonymous” and others who participated in our “free running” episode:

- A new left turn slide will cost $2,423.17
- There were 10 broken board on the floors that were replaced;
- There were 7 broken handrails that were replaced;
- There were broken chains that were replaced;
- There was graffiti that had to be removed;
- The cost of manpower to do all the above was about as close to $3,800.

While not all of the damage listed above was attributable to your “free running” adventures, most of it was. All told, the bill was over $6,000. But most important, what’s been missed in this issue is the immeasurable losses our community has felt; to the parents and children who haven’t been able to use Planet Playground this past few weeks. I’m not sure how much “EXTREME CONSIDERATION” or “LOVE” for the Park we can afford. Thanks for indicating that “NOTHING ELSE WILL BE BROKEN” and please give some thought to stepping up your courage a little more and going over to the Rec Center to help fix what you've broken. Years from now you will be glad you did.

On a much different note, please remember early voting starts tomorrow at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center and runs through 31 July. Hours will be from 0800 to 1800 Monday thru Friday; and 0800 to 1300 on Saturday’s. While at the Rec Center, take a few minutes to look at the facility and programs. Lots of effort went into the new exercise and game rooms, so while you’re there consider becoming a member.

One last comment, the Nashville Sounds Baseball Team is sponsoring Mt Juliet League Night this Sunday July 18th at 6:30. 100% of the proceeds of League ticket sales will go back into our own Little League. We want to thank the leadership of the Sounds for this kind and generous offer to help rebuild the MJLL fields after the devastating May floods. I want to encourage all on Nixle or who read the CM blog to head for the Sounds game this Sunday, and please share this note with your family and friends. Until next time . . . take care and God Bless.

R. Robertson

Update: 3/26/10

Good Afternoon MJ:

Its Friday afternoon, and a gorgeous day outside; just the spring-like weather we’ll be looking for tomorrow at MJ’s annual “Easter in the Park” at Charlie Daniels Park. I toured the Park today with Mr. Rocky Lee, Acting Parks Director, and listened to all the great things they have planned for tomorrow. If you haven’t been to Charlie Daniels recently, I hope you have a chance tomorrow; the Parks and Rec crew have pulled out all the stops. New shrubs, new banners and bunting, mulching and painting. Take a look at the fifty state flags they will have on display, or catch a tour of the new Exercise and Game Rooms inside the Rec Center. “Easter in the Park” is one of the largest annual events hosted by the MJ Parks and Rec Department. Tomorrow events kick off at 10:30, with egg hunts for ages 1-4 at 11:00; ages 5-7 at 11:30 and the search begins at 12:00 for the 8-11 year group. Over 16,000 eggs are to be found; all stuffed with sugary delicacies. At 12:30 join us for the golden egg hunt with 10 hidden golden eggs containing receipts to fabulous prizes totaling over $1,000. If egg hunting isn’t your thing, then the Rec Center is offering a 2 months for the price of 1 deal just to acquaint new comers to the fabulous new exercise and game room unveiled this week. It truly promises to be a great day in the life of the Mt. Juliet community and we hope you’ll join us and invite others.

While crusin’ the park tomorrow you’ll have a chance to see some of MJ's finest on display. No, it’s not the PD . . . it’s some of our canines from the MJ Animal Shelter. Where else can you hunt for Easter eggs and take home a four legged friend for life? Thanks Sergeant Youmans, Reverend Gray and all the staff and volunteers of the MJ Animal Shelter for making this happen.
Though it’s not visible, we’re making progress with the West Division Greenway project. The Greenway project is divided into several phases with Phase 1 scheduled to get underway in the April timeframe. Phase I, though a relatively short section, is one of the most expensive and challenging since it involves crossing North Mt. Juliet Road at the West Division Street intersection. Phase 1 will provide about an 8 feet wide section of paved surface from the train station to the 4th Street area. For those who travel on that route, you’ll note a series of small tree saplings planted in the northern side of West Division. We hope this is the first in a series of contributions to the Greenway project. The area they are in has been acquired by the city, and will serve as a “trail head” for the Greenway, that will eventually make its way down to South Greenhills Road. We are hoping this first part will be done in the September/October timeframe. Stay tuned for updates.

Congrats to Mr. Shannon (AKA: Cajun) Joyner, who was selected by the Chamber of Commerce as the 2009 MJ Civil Servant of the Year. Cajun is a tremendous fellow, and as Deputy Director of Public Works, absolutely essential to the daily operations of the city. Cajun was the catalyst for the successful application of the TDOT Local Interstate Connector grant we received for the Reverse L, and along with Mr. Casey Binion, is spearheading efforts for the North MJ Road widening project. Well done Cajun!

When you are in City Hall next time, check out our new info kiosk in the PD lobby. Don’t want to wait in line; you can go on-line from the lobby to conduct most city business. Thanks to Mr. Taylor, Mr. Adams and Mr. Pugh of the Parks Department for helping us make a quantum leap in customer service.

On a more somber note, don’t forget the people of Haiti. While it’s been several weeks, the pictures and news from this impoverished nation don’t grow much better with time. Won’t you help the men and women of Team Mt. Juliet in making a positive difference in the lives of others who so desperately need your help? Please give the American Red Cross or the charity of your choice in the campaign to bring some relief to these people who have suffered so very much.

On a final note: Um unsere liebste Freundin Ute. Auf dieser, Ihren Geburtstag, sind unsere Gedanken, Gebete und die besten Wünsche mit Ihnen. Sie Freundschaft ist ein Segen für uns und wir freuen uns darauf, wieder mit Ihnen. God Bless.

Take care MJ and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

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

Update: 2/21/10

Good Afternoon MJ:

It’s Sunday afternoon and wow, what a beautiful day. I visited Charlie Daniels Park after church today, and it was packed. As I walked around a few park users told me how pleased they were to see the positive direction the MJ Parks and Rec system is taking. If you haven’t been to one of our three parks recently, I’d encourage you to check them out. Have a dog? We’ve got Wilson County’s only “Bark Park” at the South Park off Belinda Parkway. Like softball? There’s still time to get involved in Mundy Park league action for the spring. Give Mr. Tim Henson a call at 758-6522. If softball isn't your style, then try Frisbee Golf at Mt. Juliet’s only course located at Mundy Park. I understand the Frisbee course is so popular “golfers” had to wait for a “tee time” yesterday! At Charlie Daniels Park lots of work is underway in preparation for the “Easter Eggstravanza” scheduled for the last couple weeks of March, and culminating with our annual “Easter in the Park”, on Saturday, 27 March. Acting Director of Parks and Rec, Mr. Rocky Lee, and his crew are pulling out the stops to put a shine on Charlie Daniels Park. The new weight room should be up and operational by then, the skate park in going full blast, and the meeting room is available for your special events. Visit a park today.

The improved weather also means the pace of work is picking up on the North MJ Road (NMJR) widening project. Navigating NMJR was always a challenge, but during the construction it can be even more daunting. Plan your trips accordingly, but don’t forget our local merchants along the road. TDOT and the contractors are completely committed to ensure every one of them are accessible. These men and women rely on you and your business now more than ever, so “Shop Mt. Juliet”. For the latest update on the NMJR road project, you can tune into Assistant Public Works Director “Cajun” Joyner’s broadcast on Channel 3 or simply go to the city’s homepage (www.cityofmtjuliet.org).

If you haven’t checked out the city’s home page recently then you’ve missed a couple new items. First, we have a language translator that can handle anything from Albanian to Yiddish, and 50 languages in between. If you have friends, families or businesses connections overseas that might be interested in MJ, tell them to check out the translator. We’ve also partnered with CGI Communications to do a short video brief on Mt. Juliet. This project, done at no cost to the city, promotes several local MJ businesses, and is a good starting point for first time city web visitors. The CGI link can be found on the bottom left of our homepage. We also just received our completed electronic codification “book” from the contractor, and plan to have a link to it within the next few weeks (after a couple readings by the city Board of Commissioners). This initiative allows visitors, from the comfort of their home, to research city ordinances and resolutions back to the 1970’s.

A final note, the last week we’ve seen a great deal of interest in adoptions at the MJ Animal Shelter. A couple of local television stations noted our census was growing, and our citizens rose to the challenge. I’m pleased to report that today there are only 15 animals in the Shelter. And while one is too many, it’s good to know the deep cord of support the Shelter runs with the public. Thanks.

Until next time, take care MJ and God Bless.

R. Robertson

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

Update: 01/26/10

Good Afternoon MJ:

A few short points of interest for those following the blog:

1. An advanced congratulations goes out to the winners for tonight’s annual MJ Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner. I know Mark, Anita and Jason have some great things planned for this evening. Also, a special thanks goes to the leadership of Del Webb for allowing the Chamber to use their facilities.

2. Have you heard????? Channel 3 is now available thru streaming video on the internet! Wherever you are, as long as you have an internet hook-up, you can follow events in City; Monday evening’s Board of Commissioners meetings; Thursday’s 6:30 p.m. Regional Planning Commission meeting; or Tuesday’s 9a.m Technical Review. Now, you don’t need a TV and Channel 3 to keep in touch with your community. For more info, go the city’s webpage at www.cityofmtjuliet.org, then scroll down to “Channel 3” at the bottom left side of the menu. We hope you enjoy.

3. We’re always looking for more volunteers. Whether it’s part of the Police Auxiliary, spending time with our furry residents at the Animal Shelter, helping with Special Events like the Christmas Parade, and Easter or Halloween in the Park we’ve got a job for you. Looking for more exotic work? We’ve got positions with our Economic Development Department working to attract new businesses, or with our IT department in continuing to push our communication programs to the community. You have a talent, we have a volunteer position. If you are interested, or know someone who is, give Tina a call at 754-2552.

4. We noted at last night’s Board of Commissioners meeting that nearly 70 people had signed up for Futsal, a type of indoor soccer. That’s fantastic! I understand several teams have been formed, with people of every age and gender. Interested? Call Parks and Rec at 758-6522 for more details. Speaking of Parks, I want to wish a fond farewell to Mr. Ryan Armstrong, at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center. While Ryan is moving on to bigger things at the U.S. Community Credit Union Bank, he will be sorely missed. Ryan was the spearhead for last year’s volleyball tournament, and has been a main stay at the Rec Center. Best of luck Ryan, and stay in touch.

5. A final note . . . on these tough winter days, driving down North Mt. Juliet Road and looking at all the construction, it’s hard to think about what the area will look like in the future. I’ve heard those concerns expressed several times over the last few weeks. My response is: “these are the signs and sounds of progress!” Yes, North Mt. Juliet Road looks bad now, and it can be a challenge to drive on. Frankly, that’s likely to be the way it is for quite a while, but the results will be worth the effort. Readers are encouraged to keep up to date on construction progress by tuning into Channel 3 for Mr. Shannon (aka: Cajun) Joyner’s biweekly status report. You can also catch “The Cajun Joyner Show” on the city’s webpage, by clicking on “Road Construction Info” on the right-hand side of the menu.

Take care and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: 11/27/09

Good Morning MJ:

It is my sincere hope that you and your family have had an extraordinary Thanksgiving. As for Darlene and I this was one of the few times in recent memory we were able to spend Thanksgiving with all our family. . . that made it extraordinary for us.

If you grow tired of shopping today please join the crew of the MJ Parks and Recreation staff at 12:00 at Mundy Park as they open Mt. Juliet's first Frisbee Golf Course. For the last couple months creating this 9 "hole" beauty out of the forest surrounding Mundy was a labor of love for the Rec staff. On behalf of Tim, Kat, Rose, Taylor, Jan, Tyler, Rocky, David, Kyle and all the professionals in Parks and Rec, join us at Mundy this weekend and see what's new in MJ.

Some other events on the calendar in the next few weeks include:

4-6 December: Holiday Art and Crafts Bazaar: Charlie Daniels Rec Center;
5 December: MJ Animal Shelter's First Anniversary Bash. 115 Industrial Drive, throughout the mid afternoon;
7 December: Special MJ Board of Commissioner (BOC) workshop and meeting. Starting at 5:00 p.m.;
12 December: MJ's Christmas Parade: Starting at 11:00 a.m., along Mt. Juliet Road;
14 December: MJ BOC meeting and workshop, starting at 5:00 p.m.; and
16 December: City Hall closed from 1200 to 2:30 for its annual Christmas luncheon.

Mr. Shannon Joyner, Deputy Public Works Director, invites you to tune into Channel 3 for updates on the North Mt. Juliet Road project. Mr. Joyner conducts a Q&A-based short community update every two weeks.

Finally, as we approach this magical time of the year, I want to say a special thanks to a group of tremendous public servants, who, regardless of whether its Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, the weekend or 2:00 a.m. are on duty protecting us. Today, as you watch the game on TV, digesting the remnants of your holiday feast; or while you are shopping for just that right gift, please remember our always vigilant Police, Fire and EMS personnel. They are the ones who stand ready, night and day to serve you. My thanks to each of them for all they do. Your contributions and sacrifices are appreciated.

Have a great week and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: 11/14/09

Good Evening MJ:


At the end of a long but productive week here's a few items for your info:

1. Chief Garrett advised the PD have a confession in the vandalism incident at the outdoor restrooms at Charlie Daniels Park last week. A female juvenile confessed and has implicated others. This was just senseless; and it won't be tolerated. Parents, know what your children are up to; the consequences of not doing so could last a lifetime.

2. Speaking of a senseless act, you may have seen an article in the papers indicating a MJ Codes Enforcement Officer was struck while serving a Notice of Violation at a MJ residence this week. While we've heard a litany of excuses from the culprit, the bottom line is there is no excuse; the witness and the tape says it all. While no one wants to see a Codes Officer at the door, the consequences of not enforcing city ordinances would make MJ a less desirable place to live and work. These men are simply doing the job that your elected officials have asked them to do. It's ok to disagree, but not with acts of violence. This kind of behavior will not be tolerated; there's been an arrest and a hearing scheduled.

3. Several lane closings of North Mt. Juliet Road are scheduled next week. Plan accordingly.

4. Mark your calendars for the Holiday Arts and Crafts Bazaar at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center from 5 to 7 December. This indoor event will bring about 50 local and regional craft persons together for the ultimate in Christmas shopping. Also, don't forget MJ's Annual Christmas Parade is scheduled for the following Saturday, 12 December, starting at 11:00. The parade forms up at Stoner Creek Elementary and heads north to Division Street. This is one of our biggest events of the year, and the 2009 edition is extraordinary with Captain (USN) Barry Wilmore, the latest shuttle commander, serving as the Grand Marshal. And it's not too late to get a float in; call Taylor or Tim at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center.

5. Looking for something a little different to do in MJ. After visiting the Holiday Bazaar on the 5th, join us and hundreds of other animal lovers for the MJ Animal Shelter's 1st Anniversary celebration, at the Shelter on Industrial Drive. I know our volunteers will be there in force, hoping to give a pet a home for the holiday's. I understand there will be a blessing of the animals as well as a photo opportunity with your pet and a certain red-suited bearded fellow. I hope you'll put this on your calendar.

6. While city sales tax revenue was up for the latest reporting period (October), as a percentage the rate of growth was the smallest in nearly 18 months. What can you do? Frequent your local merchants and shop MJ. And please don't forget those stores along Mt. Juliet Road while it's under construction. We all know the holiday's are the biggest shopping time of the year, and in today's economy, it's a make-or-break time for many of these stores. TDOT and all utilities involved in the MJ Road project have committed that every store along the construction path will be accessible. While it might take a little extra effort please consider these long-standing merchants with some of your holiday shopping.

7. Our IT Director, Mr. Travis Taylor, ran some web use data last week and we continue to be amazed at the power of Mt. Juliet and the internet. Travis advises that over 24,000 first time visitors checked out the city's home page in the First quarter of the fiscal year (July thru October). That's a phenomenal number. Speaking of technology, please encourage your friends and colleagues to sign up for Nixle. Info on how can be found on the city's web page. We continue to get compliments of how this "push" message system helps keep citizens connected with events across the city. It's also a great way to know when there are emergencies or road closures that will save you time and frustration.

8. Finally, thanks to the many of you who have called city hall asking how to help with the county's contributions to the "Reverse L" road project. You must be reading the local papers or watching Channel 3. The short answer is call your County Commissioner. A listing of Wilson County Commissioners and their phone numbers can be found at: www.wilsoncountytn.com

Take care and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: 10/10/09

Good Evening MJ:

It is 8:00 p.m. Saturday evening and I've just left this year's Halloween in the Park. What a wonderful day it was. By our count we had between 6k and 7k ghosts & goblins, princesses, skeletons, Michael Jackson look alikes, pirates and the parents they brought with them; our largest crowd ever according to Commissioner Jim Bradshaw who has been part of Halloween in the Park since the first one. Not only was it the largest but by every comment it was also the best. There are dogs trying to find a home spearheaded by Jon Gray and Marty Potts of our Animal Shelter, Mr. Buddy Brent of U.S. Community Credit was giving away popcorn by the barrel, there were lines for the best costume contests, the petting booths and our wagon ride, and overseeing it all was Mr. Rocky Lee, Acting Parks Director, who is certainly one of the best MC's around. To me "Halloween in the Park" exemplifies the great spirit of Mt Juliet. To the thousands who were there, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. I hope to see you at the 24 October Flea market, or if you want to up your calorie burn join Ms. Kat Woodson as she introduces Yoga at the Rec Center. For more info call 758-6522.

The Parks and Rec Crew have really been hustling the last few days. Yesterday the Mayor and Commissioners, Hayne and Whitfield Hamilton of the Panattoni Corporation, along with David Corlew and Angela Wheeler of the Charlie Daniels Band cut the ribbon on our new Rec Center extension building. Over a year in the making, this new, 2,800 square foot facility houses a large meeting room, fully equipped kitchen and an expanded weight room/exercise area. It is a tremendous gift made possible between a three-way partnership between the city, Mr. Charlie Daniels and the Panattoni Corporation. We invite the public to check it out.

In addition to the ribbon cutting on Friday we had a major announcement regarding higher education in Mt. Juliet. After extensive discussions with city reps over the last couple years, Dr. Harvill Easton, President of Cumberland University (CU), announced the January 2010 opening of a division of the CU's School of Nursing to be held here in Mt. Juliet. With primary classrooms done at the Shiloh Plaza on Lebanon Road, CU is also partnering with Mt. Juliet's Environmental Sciences Corporation (ESC) to conduct lab-centric classes at ESC's Lebanon Road complex. This marks the city's first permanent presence for higher education and a milestone in expanded educational, employment and professional opportunities in the community. Many thanks goes to Mr. Peter Schuler of ESC, Dr. Eaton and Mr. Joe Gray of Cumberland University, and the city's own Mr. Kenny Martin for making this long awaited initiative a reality.

Remember, to keep in touch with work on North MJ Road, check out Channel 3, where Mr. Shannon Joyner, Deputy Public Works Director for the City, posts biweekly updates. You'll can also keep abreast of other road and emergency type issues by signing up with Nixle. Just go to the city's home page and join the several hundred who get real time postings about issues across Mt. Juliet.

That's all for tonight. Take care and have a great rest of the weekend.

R. Robertson

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

Update: 08/27/09

Good Afternoon MJ:

The Parks and Recreation Department hosted their first Mt. Juliet Community Flea Market last Saturday and boy was it a great success. Bargain hunters and gawkers were lined up to get into Charlie Daniels Park well before the 0700 opening, and the crowd was steady until the event closed at 1200. Mr. Rocky Lee, Assistant Director of Parks told the MJ Board of Commissioners last Monday that by their estimates more than a 1,000 customers visited the 32 vendors with booth space. The Market was so well attended that the Parks crew are looking to another event in late October, just in time to give those with Christmas gift lists on their minds an opportunity to find just the right present. Stay tuned to the city web page and this blog for more on that. Mr. Lee also noted that even though it rained just before starting our first “Movie in the Parks” a couple weeks ago, there were still more than one hundred participants who stayed the course and enjoyed a great night of video under the stars. Rocky and his staff are looking to see when they might be able to do another movie. If you have any thoughts let them know.

We want to welcome Mr. Bruce Abbott, the newly named General Manager for Wal-Mart to our community. I know the community is excited to have you as part of the Mt. Juliet fabric. Speaking of new comers, we welcomed Mr. Steve Foote, the city’s new Director of Planning to the team last week. Steve comes from the City of Gulf Shores, Alabama, where he held the same position as he does here. There is an awful lot on Steve’s plate, but he’ll be out in the community asap.

The city’s Sewer Billing Division has been combined with the Mt. Juliet Finance Department at its new location on 2365 North Mt. Juliet Road. With this initiative the city now has a single site responsive to all financial issues (except traffic tickets) under one roof. Mr. John Rossmaier, the City Finance Director will assume oversight with Mr. Wayne Griffin heading up day-to-day operations of the Sewer Billing Division to create a more robust and responsive customer-focused shop for those we serve. On this note, I want to encourage readers to use our automated on-line sewer billing system. As road, water, electric and sewer construction continues on North Mt. Juliet Road getting access to City Hall and to the Finance Department will be a little more challenging. Our customers will undoubtedly find it much easier and convenient to use the on-line payment system. For more details check out the on-line payment option found under the “Public Works Department: Sewer Billing” (soon to be moved to the “Finance Department”) of the city’s webpage.

Finally, a special thanks to TDOT Commissioner Nicely and his staff for their efforts to extend our “Local Interstate Connector” (LIC) grant on the Reverse L to include 50% payment for the grading of 5 lanes as opposed to our original plans to grade 3. This effort will save the citizens of Mt. Juliet approximately $250k in immediate expenditures, but more importantly it provides us a ready-made platform to cheaply and quickly expand that section of road to 5 lanes once demand catches up.

That’s about all for this edition. I’ll end by encouraging you to stop by the Mt. Juliet Animal Shelter and take a look at the selection. This is a first class operation, but we rely on your support. Take a look at the WTVF - Channel 5 News story on the shelter by clicking this link: http://www.newschannel5.com/global/story.asp?s=10998488 I think you will like it. Take care MJ and talk with you later.


R. Robertson

Update: 8/14/09

Greetings MJ:

I had the opportunity to ride in the locomotive of the Music City Star yesterday. Mr. Shannon Joyner, our Deputy Director for Public Works and I were invited to ride along and see how the Quiet Zone was working. Our train engineer for the day was Shawn, and he readily discussed the Quiet Zone and some of the concerns he’s seen since the whistle went silent along the Mt. Juliet portion of the tracks.

My primary reason for this blog is to encourage MJ residents with children to ensure their kids don’t walk or play along the tracks. Shawn told me of repeated instances where the horn is sounded because there are kids along the tracks, particularly in the Willoughby Station area. The Music City Star reaches 60 miles an hour . . . it takes an tremendous amount of time and distance to stop hundreds-of-thousands of pounds of steel moving at that speed. Kids mixed with railroad tracks is simply an invitation to an accident. If you see or know of children who hang out by the train tracks please take the appropriate action.

Congrats to our Parks & Rec crew in hosting last night’s “Bridal Gala” at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center. Ashley of “Bridal Elegance”, along with the MJ Parks and Rec staff totally transformed the gym into breathtaking mini convention center; with vendors catering too soon to be brides and grooms. The organizers told me the “Gala” was a great success and demonstrates the “out of the box” thinking the Mt. Juliet Recreation staff is doing to bring new, innovative programs to the community. Speaking of something different, I hope you can check out our first “Movie in the Park” effort. Tonight (Friday, 14 August) at dusk, we will have Madagascar II, Return to Africa, playing on the lawn at the Charlie Daniel Amphitheater. It promises to be a wonderful family oriented event. Bring your lawn chairs or a blanket. Finally, I hope to see you at our first ever MJ Community-wide Flea Market, on Saturday, 22 August, starting at 0700. Exotic items from around the world plus second-hand “steals” will all be on display in the parking lot of the CD Rec Center. If you haven’t secured your own booth it isn’t too late; just stop by the Rec Center and talk to one of the clerks. See you there.

Thanks to all of you who joined us Tuesday evening at the MJHS for a “Town Hall” meeting on the North MJ Road widening project. If you missed the session we’ve received a copy of the tape from the MJHS video broadcasting department and will be playing it back on Channel 3 most days next week. It’s a good way to keep current on what will be happening along North MJ Road over the next couple years.

Finally, we will be moving the MJ Sewer Department to its new home next week. Sewer billing and services will now be done out of the facility at 2365 N. Mt. Juliet Road, which is at the corner of East Caldwell and North MJ Road. This move allows us to link sewer billing services with our Finance Department; creating a one-stop budgeting synergy the city has never had before. It will take a couple days before we are up and fully operational, but once done we believe it will be far more convenient to our customers.

Take care and have a safe weekend.
R. Robertson

Update: 08/11/09

Good Afternoon MJ:

I want to extend this special invitation to all our citizens to join us tonight at 6:30, at the auditorium at Mt. Juliet High School, for a “Town Hall” meeting on the North Mt. Juliet Road (NMJR) widening project. It promises to be a unique opportunity to not only hear from City and State representatives but also officials from TDS, Piedmont Gas, MTEMC, West Wilson Utilities (water), and Comcast. We plan to open the floor to hear from you so come prepared with your questions. Whether a business owner along NMJR, a resident or just a commuter, this endeavor promises to be the largest and most challenging infrastructure initiative in our city’s history. We cordially invite you to be part solution. I hope to see you there.

Some good news. The state reports sales tax numbers about two months in arrears. We received our June figures and once again Mt. Juliet continues to exceed expectations. The city’s share for June 2009 was over $431k, a 12% gain from June 2008 with a reported $383k. We want to thank all our citizens for shopping Mt. Juliet first, and for the large and continually growing list of businesses that have their opens open to the public.

I visited the Animal Shelter today and want to share a great data point with readers of this blog. Despite the challenges facing other municipal and non-profit institutions the population numbers inside the MJ Animal Shelter are very, very low. That’s absolutely great news. Aside from a new born litter of kittens we had less than 30 pets in our control. Thanks to all of you who either have adopted an animal or who volunteer to make our shelter the best in Tennessee. Keep up the hard charge.

Speaking of great things inside the city; check out the first and only skate park in Wilson County, right here in Mt. Juliet at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center. Saturday’s ribbon cutting was flawless; the weather was great, there was a spectacular crowd, and the fellowship was phenomenal. What an auspicious beginning for our newest recreational program. If you were one of the hundreds at the park that day you also noted the tremendous progress being made on our new Rec Center expansion facility. The latest report is we might take possession in mid-to-late September. Speaking of the parks, we hope you are able to join us at Charlie Daniels Rec Center this Friday evening, at dusk (about 8:00 p.m.) for our first “Movies in the Park” showing. The feature presentation is Madagascar 2: Return to Africa. It promises to be a great evening; a free movie, great company and lots of refreshments. Our final note on Parks and Recreation is our first ever Mt. Juliet Super Flea Market, on Saturday, 20 August, Charlie Daniels Park, starting at 7:00 a.m. and running till about noon or later. Interested in getting rid of some of those household “treasures”. $20 will buy you a booth; basically the size of two parking spaces. Come on out and buy those one of a kind items, or simply make an offer the owner “can’t refuse”. There’s lot of new things going on inside the Mt. Juliet parks and Rec Department. Come be a part of it.

Well another school year started and despite the occasional local naysayer, the traffic flow to the HS worked great. A tip-of-the-hat to Principal Mel Brown and his staff for the great coordination they had with the MJPD. For those who haven’t been out there is the last couple weeks, the first let of the “Reverse L” is up and operational; significantly enhancing traffic headed to and from the high school. From the city side a personal thanks to Mr. Shannon (aka: Cajun) Joyner for his superb work on this project.

Finally, another plug for our emergency email alert system, Nixle. If you were haven’t signed up for Nixle yet I would strongly encourage you to do so. To check it out go to the city web page.

Until next time take care and talk with you later. Sincerely . . .

R. Robertson

Update: 6/3/09

Good evening MJ:

Sorry to have been away for a while but I was in Colorado last week, at Fort Carson, commemorating and participating in Memorial Day activities. The 4th ID and Ft. Carson assigned units have taken some hard casualties during the War on Terrorism, so being back with and among soldiers on this special day was especially meaningful for my wife and I.

Here’s a couple quick notes about city activities. We’ve had a few callers ask about the status of the skate board park and Rec Center expansion projects at Charlie Daniels Park. As we all know May has been extremely wet; in fact I’ve heard it was the wettest May since records were kept. The bottom line is the contractor needs nearly a couple weeks of dry weather to move on the skate park. The ground needs to be dry enough to compact to nearly the industrial level as building a section Interstate highway; and it simply hasn’t been that way for a long time. Rest assured Mr. Buchanan and the Parks crew will push the contractor to move out just as soon as the ground moisture permits. It’s been about the same story for the Rec Center expansion, but with the foundation poured we have worked with Panattoni leadership (who are paying to have the facility constructed) to start laying block asap. They’ve done a request for bids to acquire the block and the mason work, and have committed to start work NLT mid June.

On another note, apparently many of you have seen the TV news article about the potential of evening nursing courses coming to MJ. We’ve been working to bring higher education to the city for some time, and hope to soon conduct an educational needs assessment of the community in partnership with MJHS. Dr. Harvill Eaton, Cumberland University’s President, is committed to bring whatever resources he can to MJ, but has indicated he needs at least 25 students to enroll in classes starting in January. If you are interested in the program please contact Mr. Kenny Martin, the city’s Economic Development Director and Liaison Officer at kmartin@cityofmtjuliet.org. This is truly an exciting initiative and on behalf of the Board of Commissioners we want to thank Mr. Martin, Dr. Eaton and a whole host of officials both here in City Hall and at Cumberland for all the work that has taken place to get to this point.

Utility work is really picking up on both the Reverse L (off Curd Road, by MJHS) and on North Mt. Juliet Road. Due to the complexity of the project and the population and building density along North Mt. Juliet Road, the widening project will be one of the biggest road building initiatives ever done inside the city limits. At last check, the Tennessee Department of Transportation will soon decide on the contractor. Once that is done we’ll be conducting more “Town Hall” sessions to keep you posted on what is happening. It truly is an exciting time for the city.

Finally, I want to commend a recent addition to the City’s Channel 3; the “Job Action Line”. Mr. Taylor, the city’s Information Technology Director, advises there are nearly 25 individuals who have already posted their resumes on the job line. Laid off? Downsized? Fired, or simply looking for a job? If you are a city resident and would like to exponentially increase the visibility of your job search, consider adding your resume on Channel 3. For info on how to do this simply check out the City Web page or call Tina at 754-2552. Happy hunting!

Take care until next time.

Sincerely,

R. Robertson

Update: 5/3/09

Good afternoon MJ:

Greetings from City Hall. There’s been a flurry of activity around here this week; much of it associated with the long anticipated work to widen North Mt. Juliet Road. While the state legislature has not formally adopted TDOT’s package of road improvement projects, we have high confidence the North MJ Road widening effort will move forward in the not too distant future. Those who live, work or travel along the North MJ Road see visible signs of pending work with water and gas company construction crews plotting the way forward.

The City’s Public Works staff tell me the widening project is scheduled to be about a two year initiative. It will involve every element of municipal services: water, gas, sewer, electric as well as the actual road building. In an effort to keep our citizens up to date regarding this major undertaking we are planning a “Town Hall” meeting in the May. The meeting will consist of information briefings from representatives of each utility and the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Stay tuned to Channel 3 and the city Web page for date, time and location info.

On another note, with the outbreak of swine flu the city switchboard has seen some calls this week for information and guidance. The City of Mt. Juliet does not have a physician, nurse or public health person on staff; that is the role of the Wilson County Public Health Office. For more information their number is 444-5325.

As an update, the rainy weather we’ve seen the last few weeks has really slowed work on the Charlie Daniels Skate Board Park and the Rec Center Expansion Project. Public Works officials advise the ground must be thoroughly dry for well over a week before skate park paving materials can be laid. Let’s all hope for some drier weather. On a more positive note though, all of us extend our thanks to Mr. Frank Horton of Providence Development for their tremendously generous gift of $10k to help equip the kitchen of the Rec Center expansion facility. Providence has been and continues to be a great partners with the city in its efforts to expand recreational and community-based activities. Thanks!

Finally, a short note on the upcoming city budget. While most budget years are tough, quite frankly I don’t think any of us have seen anything like this year. For those of us in City Hall these are truly unprecedented times. On the positive side the city has seen increases in sales tax revenue in Mt. Juliet. That comes at a cost though, because across Wilson County rates have been off 7 of the last 12 months and state sales tax revenue is off tremendously. On the negative side, while MJ’s sales taxes are slightly better than others (we’ve also seen a couple declining and flat months) virtually everything associated with home building is significantly down this year. Initial projections indicate we may see as much as a $700k decline in fees, permits, etc. That causes all of us some concern, but our commitment is to continue to provide you with the best municipal services possible. I’ve been asked about what roads will be built, whether we will pick up more patrol officers, if we will acquire more park land or build a fire department. The short answer is only time, and the availability of resources will tell.

Until next time, as they same in the Army, keep your powder dry! Take care and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: 4/17/09

Hello MJ:

The City staff or otherwise known as Team Mt. Juliet held our Second Annual Health and Safety Fair this week, and by every account the event was a tremendous success. The only reason I mention what is considered a “staff only” event is this year we invited residents of our assisted living communities and members the MJ Senior Citizens Center to participate. I know all the staff and participating local health care professionals were extremely appreciative of the kind remarks made by our guest. With nearly 40 health and safety related booths packed into Charlie Daniels Rec Center last Wednesday, we saw an outstanding display of partnerships and cooperation all focused on good health and preventive activities that will ultimately save our citizens dollars spent on health care expenditures and staff lost time. A big thanks to everyone who worked and participated in this free event.

The most exciting news of the week comes from an article in the Tennessean regarding TDOT’s listing of North Mt. Juliet Rd (N MJ Rd) for widening. We’ve received several questions from citizens since the article was posted. Our concern is, that at this time the listing and the associated budget still has to be approved by the Tennessee State Legislature. Although we certainly believe this announcement, will, in short time prove to be a very positive move for our city, right now it is premature to indicate the road has been “approved”. Speaking with Ms. B.J. Dowdy, TDOT Spokeswoman, she indicated it would likely be a couple weeks before the legislature would formally act on the list. Until then those of us here in City Hall continue to plan for the widening, but we won’t be making individual responses or public announcements about timelines, start dates, costs or other elements of the project. We’re just going to wait for the process to run its full course and then hopefully do our best to keep the entire community up to date on this challenging but extremely positive initiative.

As I conclude I want to give a little advance notice to an effort the Parks and Rec crew are working on for this summer. Once we have the Skate park and Rec Center expansion projects done we hope to start a series of “MJ Movies in the Park”. We are looking for wholesome, family oriented films to show outside this summer at the Charlie Daniels Park. Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Henson of the Parks and Rec Department are to be commended for their continued effort to expand recreational opportunities to our community. I invite readers to share their thoughts with them on what they would like to see.

Until next time, take care.

Sincerely,
R. Robertson

Update: 3/20/09

Hello MJ:

Just returning from Charlie Daniels Park and I thought it this would be a great time to spend a few minutes with you on things happening in our Parks system. I say that because yesterday was over 70 degrees and Charlie Daniel’s was packed. Although largely because of Spring Break, the numbers also reflect the growing trend we’ve seen in citizens spending time inside one of Mt. Juliet’s great parks.

If you been to the Charlie Daniels Park in the last few days you saw we are in the midst of the largest construction project since the Rec Center was built. Just behind the tennis courts are mounds of freshly turned dirt. Within weeks Mt. Juliet’s and Wilson County’s first skateboard park will take shape. This area will be a skateboarders paradise with state-of-the-art ramps, slides and all types of cool skateboarding stuff. And one of the best things is the park will be expandable; so as we grow, so can our skateboarders heaven.

On Monday the 23rd, park visitors should see our second construction project starting; expansion of the Rec Center. For those who’ve read the papers or kept up with this on the web, we want to thank the Panattoni Corporation and Mr. Charlie Daniels for this near 2,700 square foot expansion. Estimated in the $250k range, this project represents the largest donation in the history of the Mt. Juliet Parks and Recreation Department. We’re hoping that the work will be done by early summer. And while we thank those who are making this possible, there’s still several building items we are looking to have donated. We’ve had an offer to purchase the block and brick at cost, but we are hoping someone or a business will take some or all of that effort on. We also have a tremendous need for doors, cabinetry and furbishing. Every donation means we’ll have more funds to dedicate to programs for our community.

We also are looking towards a banner year at Mundy park, with softball games starting next week. If you are interested in a team please contact Mr. Tim Henson, Athletic Director, at 758-6522. And not to be outdone, at South Mt. Juliet Park (off Belinda Parkway) this week we opened another first for Mt. Juliet and Wilson County, our own “Bark Park”. This football-field sized, fenced in area was designed and built to provide you and your pooch with a first class area to run, play and interact with other dogs. Rules have been posted as well as necessary doggy “bags”. As resources become available we plan to get a water source, some training items, and more trees and bushes. We encourage you and your furry friend to check it out.

In closing today I go back to my military roots. One of the finest elements of military service was involvement of volunteers. If you take a trip to Ft. Knox or Ft. Campbell and you will see Red Cross, Community Services, youth and hospital volunteers in action across the installation. More important are the hundreds of spouses and family members of deployed personnel who have joined the Battalion or Brigade Family Readiness Group’s (FRG). These folks are the life line for soldiers, providing touches of home and family to love ones serving down range. I mention this because just a few days ago, I ran across a Wall Street Journal article talking about the growing army of volunteers who are serving in communities across America. While the down side is many of them come from the growing ranks of unemployed, the good news is that cities, counties, and all types of public service organizations are enjoying the expertise, experience, and “can do” spirit this growing cadre offer. Please know that the City of Mt. Juliet is anxious to have any volunteers as part of our team. Whether your passion is helping run programs and special events (remember the Easter egg hunt at Charlie Daniels Park will be on Saturday, 4 April, starting at 10:30) inside our Parks and Rec Department, working with pets at our new Animal Shelter, or assisting in our Police Department Explorer Post, we have a job for you. If your interest lies more towards career enhancing or sustainment matters, then we can are always in need of automators, programmers, graphic artists, marketing personnel, legal and paralegals, engineers, and finance and human resource assistants. As Mayor Elam pointed out at the recent State of the City address, Mt. Juliet City government is renowned for pinching pinching pennies, dimes and dollars. We could use your help. If interest please email me or give me a call at 754-2552.

Until next time, take care.

Sincerely,

R. Robertson

Update: 3/10/09

Good Morning MJ:

Since it has been a while since my last posting, I thought I would bring readers up to speed on a few items.

Our numbers indicate we continue to excel at the MJ Animal Shelter. We have stayed steady state for some time with around 40 dogs and cats as temporary residents. I would like to encourage you to drop by and spend some time with the animals . . . you may either find a friend for life or discover a passion to help.

A hearty congratulations and job well done to the Parks and Recreation staff for their magnificent performance last Saturday in hosting Mt. Juliet’s first Fashion Show at the Park. Over 300 participants crowded into the Charlie Daniels Recreation Center to see the latest in spring apparel for men and women, boys and girls. Even our own Mr. Rocky Lee, Deputy Director of Parks and Rec, who served as the Master of Ceremony for the event, was able to show off in his tux and tails. It was a truly wonderful event and demonstrates how much the crew at your Parks and Recreation Department will do to bring new, innovative programs to our city. Thanks for all you do.

March is renown to roar in like a lion and creep out like a lamb. In that fashion we are hoping that on Monday, 20 March, the Mt. Juliet Railroad Quiet Zone will roar in with the sound of silence. After several years of discussion, untold meetings, reams of emails, and countless phone calls the quite zone is scheduled to take effect on the 20th. A special thanks goes to Mr. Shannon Joyner of the Mt. Juliet Public Works Department, Mr. Bill Drunsic of the Nashville Eastern Railroad for their diligence and vision in this initiative, and to Mr. Randy Williams of the Tennessee Municipal League (TML) for working through the insurance and liability issues.

On a final note, several citizens have asked about plans to finance building the Reverse L; the section of road that will run in front of the new MJ High School . The overall estimate is to be about +/-$3m. TDOT recently selected that project to receive matching funding (50%) based upon award of a State Industrial Connector grant. Since this portion of the road is in Wilson County, technically it isn’t the responsibility of the city to upgrade. However, city elders believe it to be a must do initiative, both for the safety of our citizens and to improve future traffic movement on the eastern part of Mt. Juliet. In that vein City leaders have crafted and forwarded a resolution to the Wilson County Commission asking them to contribute $950k towards construction of the road. Mt. Juliet citizens are invited to contact their county representative and encourage them to fairly and rightly contribute to this project. A full listing of Wilson County Commission can be found at http://www.wilsoncountytn.com/

Take care and have a safe week.

Sincerely,
R. Robertson