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
Showing posts with label reverse L. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reverse L. Show all posts
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Update: 11/6/09
Good Morning MJ:
Here’s a few items of interest and FYI:
Don’t forget the city is running a “Job Seeker Bulletin Board ” to assist those looking for employment. If you’re a city resident and in need of a job, know someone who is in need of a job, or may have a job your looking to hire for, please check out our Action Line on the City Web Page. Click on “Action Line”, then “Job Seekers Bulletin Board” and follow the directions. Just yesterday a major MJ employer asked for our assistance in filling 75 full and part time positions. At this time we are checking with those who have resumes on the Job Seekers Bulletin Board and some who recently posted their resume on the system. If you’re interested in us passing your name along for various retail and stocking positions please get your resume (in the format outlined on the web) to Ms. Tina Guinan, at 754-2552.
Yesterday we had the opportunity to recognize 15 residents who have made a tremendous positive difference in our community. The 15 are volunteers who have given at least 100 hours or more of time and service to the Mt. Juliet Animal Shelter. The Animals Shelter couldn’t operate the way it does without the efforts of these 15 and many more like them. I shared with yesterday’s audience that at the recent Tennessee City Manager’s Association several Managers from across the state approached me to ask just how we run such a first class operation at the Shelter. I told the audience how pleased and proud I was to know that leaders from one end of Tennessee to another had heard of how great the MJ Animal Shelter is. I also shared with the volunteers that much of the credit goes to them and their selfless contributions to our city and its animals. If you are interested in joining the elite group, please contact Sgt Keith Youmans, Director of the MJ Animal Shelter, or Mr. Jon Gray, Volunteer Coordinator, at 773-5533.
Construction work progresses well along North Mt. Juliet Road (NMJR) and the Reverse L. We hope to have the Curd & Clemmons Road intersection back on line today with the Reverse L projected to be drivable by mid December. What a tremendous safety improvement this will be for MJHS traffic! On this same note, NMJR motorist are again reminded to slow down and be patient. Work on the peripheral utilities has progressed well, but road work really hasn’t started. The NMJR project will take around 30 months to complete. Construction crews are doing everything they can to make your journey safe and timely, but there is no question of additional traffic delays and longer commute times. Please be mindful and drive respectful knowing that there are workers and heavy equipment all along this two mile section of road. Plan your trips accordingly!
SOME BAD NEWS: There was vandalism of the restrooms at Charlie Daniels Park Wednesday night. It was senseless destruction of public property that affects every citizen of Mt. Juliet.
SOME GOOD NEWS: The Police already have some suspects; they appear to be juveniles.
THE REST OF THE STORY: We simply will not tolerate this kind of behavior; it is an offense against all of us. We have, and will continue to use every resource possible to ensure things like this don’t happen, but if they do we will do everything within our means to ensure the perpetrators and their parents are held responsible. Parents, please know where your children are and what they are doing.
After months of work with a firm in Florida we now have a first draft of the city’s code. We are posting the draft on the city’s web page this evening, with a special invitation to everyone to open it up, see how its organized, and if you identify any errors. This represents the first time the city has ever posted the entire code going back to ordinances from 1972. There are thousands of them. Putting the code on-line means every citizen can check what the most current laws are on any issue within the city. Take a look and let us know what you think. The point of contact is Mrs. Sheila Luckett at 754-2552, or email sluckett@cityofmtjuliet.org
Those of you receiving this update via Nixle, I'm asking you to please ask your friends and family to register at www.nixle.com as well. Not only will they be able to receive the timely police alerts and/or community event announcements, but for the next 45 days we have the opportunity to raise money for the City. Nixle is offering a $10,000 grant to the (3) cities that get the most citizens registered per capita before mid-December. So please help by letting people know how much Nixle has helped you, and encouraging them to register.
In closing, my prayers and that of the city are sent to the families and friends of the soldiers and civilians murdered at Fort Hood yesterday. The Army was my and Darlene’s home for nearly 30 years. As retired officers we will always consider it our first love. The senselessness of yesterday’s tragedy is incomprehensible and beyond words. God Bless our brave soldiers and Department of the Army Civilians.
Take care MJ and talk with you later.
Here’s a few items of interest and FYI:
Don’t forget the city is running a “Job Seeker Bulletin Board ” to assist those looking for employment. If you’re a city resident and in need of a job, know someone who is in need of a job, or may have a job your looking to hire for, please check out our Action Line on the City Web Page. Click on “Action Line”, then “Job Seekers Bulletin Board” and follow the directions. Just yesterday a major MJ employer asked for our assistance in filling 75 full and part time positions. At this time we are checking with those who have resumes on the Job Seekers Bulletin Board and some who recently posted their resume on the system. If you’re interested in us passing your name along for various retail and stocking positions please get your resume (in the format outlined on the web) to Ms. Tina Guinan, at 754-2552.
Yesterday we had the opportunity to recognize 15 residents who have made a tremendous positive difference in our community. The 15 are volunteers who have given at least 100 hours or more of time and service to the Mt. Juliet Animal Shelter. The Animals Shelter couldn’t operate the way it does without the efforts of these 15 and many more like them. I shared with yesterday’s audience that at the recent Tennessee City Manager’s Association several Managers from across the state approached me to ask just how we run such a first class operation at the Shelter. I told the audience how pleased and proud I was to know that leaders from one end of Tennessee to another had heard of how great the MJ Animal Shelter is. I also shared with the volunteers that much of the credit goes to them and their selfless contributions to our city and its animals. If you are interested in joining the elite group, please contact Sgt Keith Youmans, Director of the MJ Animal Shelter, or Mr. Jon Gray, Volunteer Coordinator, at 773-5533.
Construction work progresses well along North Mt. Juliet Road (NMJR) and the Reverse L. We hope to have the Curd & Clemmons Road intersection back on line today with the Reverse L projected to be drivable by mid December. What a tremendous safety improvement this will be for MJHS traffic! On this same note, NMJR motorist are again reminded to slow down and be patient. Work on the peripheral utilities has progressed well, but road work really hasn’t started. The NMJR project will take around 30 months to complete. Construction crews are doing everything they can to make your journey safe and timely, but there is no question of additional traffic delays and longer commute times. Please be mindful and drive respectful knowing that there are workers and heavy equipment all along this two mile section of road. Plan your trips accordingly!
SOME BAD NEWS: There was vandalism of the restrooms at Charlie Daniels Park Wednesday night. It was senseless destruction of public property that affects every citizen of Mt. Juliet.
SOME GOOD NEWS: The Police already have some suspects; they appear to be juveniles.
THE REST OF THE STORY: We simply will not tolerate this kind of behavior; it is an offense against all of us. We have, and will continue to use every resource possible to ensure things like this don’t happen, but if they do we will do everything within our means to ensure the perpetrators and their parents are held responsible. Parents, please know where your children are and what they are doing.
After months of work with a firm in Florida we now have a first draft of the city’s code. We are posting the draft on the city’s web page this evening, with a special invitation to everyone to open it up, see how its organized, and if you identify any errors. This represents the first time the city has ever posted the entire code going back to ordinances from 1972. There are thousands of them. Putting the code on-line means every citizen can check what the most current laws are on any issue within the city. Take a look and let us know what you think. The point of contact is Mrs. Sheila Luckett at 754-2552, or email sluckett@cityofmtjuliet.org
Those of you receiving this update via Nixle, I'm asking you to please ask your friends and family to register at www.nixle.com as well. Not only will they be able to receive the timely police alerts and/or community event announcements, but for the next 45 days we have the opportunity to raise money for the City. Nixle is offering a $10,000 grant to the (3) cities that get the most citizens registered per capita before mid-December. So please help by letting people know how much Nixle has helped you, and encouraging them to register.
In closing, my prayers and that of the city are sent to the families and friends of the soldiers and civilians murdered at Fort Hood yesterday. The Army was my and Darlene’s home for nearly 30 years. As retired officers we will always consider it our first love. The senselessness of yesterday’s tragedy is incomprehensible and beyond words. God Bless our brave soldiers and Department of the Army Civilians.
Take care MJ and talk with you later.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Update: 9/30/09
Hello MJ:
Last night I, several Department Heads and other leaders of Mt. Juliet had the opportunity to attend the Greater Nashville Regional Council’s (GNRC) 42nd Annual Awards and Recognition Ceremony. My purpose in today’s posting is to let you know how it turned out (. . . before next week’s newspapers) and to express my pride and thanks in the accomplishments of Team Mt. Juliet, your public servants.
Of the 12 categories of public service programs for which we were qualified, Team Mt. Juliet captured six (6) awards. That is absolutely phenomenal! Recognition included the “Communications Award” for efforts in creating the Job Action Line and use of the Nixle emergency messaging system; the “Parks and Recreation Facilities Award” for the Skate park, Bark park, and Charlie Daniels Rec Center expansion project; the “Planning Award” for Mt. Juliet’s self-prepared 2008 Land Use Plan; two “Public Safety Awards”, the first for our state-of-the art designed and operated Animal Shelter, and the second for the MJPD Color Guard and Citizens’ Police Academy; and the “Transportation Award” for implementation of Tennessee’s first railroad Quite Zone. Yes, 50% of the awards for every municipality (53) and county (13) in Middle Tennessee went to the City of Mt. Juliet. To top off the night, we were also one of the four members of the Wilson County GIS Enterprise System recognized by winning GNRC’s Marshall S. Stuart Memorial Award for Intergovernmental Cooperation. Again, simply phenomenal.
The GNRC Local Government Awards are the benchmark for quality in governmental services and operations in Middle Tennessee. Competition for the awards is intense with cities like Franklin, Hendersonville, Goodlettsville, Nashville, Brentwood and Clarksville all in the mix. To quote the GNRC guidebook, the “awards honor local governments in the greater Nashville region which have exhibited excellence, outstanding accomplishment, and achievement or innovation in areas of public service.” As a 30+ year veteran of state, federal, military and municipal service I am well aware that in the area of governmental services there’s always more to be done and seldom sufficient time, manpower or resources. Mt. Juliet has the smallest number of civil servants serving one of the fastest growing cities in the state. This dedicated team of men and women have done a fantastic job of selflessly serving others. I am truly proud of them and want to share that pride and appreciation with the citizens of Mt. Juliet.
On some other notes, coming up next week (5-8 October) the intersection of Curd and Clemmons Road will be closed due to construction on the Reverse L. While we know this will inconvenience some, this was the optimal time to do the work due to the Fall Break for MJHS. Road signage, Nixle alerts, and additional Channel 3 and MJ City web updates will be posted. Speaking of road issues, the light at the intersection of Charlie Daniels and North Mt. Juliet Road (NMJR) should be operational by the end of this week. We are waiting on the contractor to finish painting the stop lines. Also, take note of the metal utility poles going up along NMJR? These are being installed at the behest and commitment of the Mt. Juliet Board of Commissioners . . . kudos to them. Once the construction is complete this should be a great visual improvement to the center of our city.
Finally, this is an open invitation to join in at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Charlie Daniels Rec Center Expansion Facility. The ceremony will be at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, 9 October, at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center. This is a red letter day for Mt. Juliet, receiving its new, $400k building, made possible through the combined donations of the Panattoni Corporation and Mr. Charlie Daniels. We truly hope to see you there.
Until next time, take care.
Sincerely,
R. Robertson
Last night I, several Department Heads and other leaders of Mt. Juliet had the opportunity to attend the Greater Nashville Regional Council’s (GNRC) 42nd Annual Awards and Recognition Ceremony. My purpose in today’s posting is to let you know how it turned out (. . . before next week’s newspapers) and to express my pride and thanks in the accomplishments of Team Mt. Juliet, your public servants.
Of the 12 categories of public service programs for which we were qualified, Team Mt. Juliet captured six (6) awards. That is absolutely phenomenal! Recognition included the “Communications Award” for efforts in creating the Job Action Line and use of the Nixle emergency messaging system; the “Parks and Recreation Facilities Award” for the Skate park, Bark park, and Charlie Daniels Rec Center expansion project; the “Planning Award” for Mt. Juliet’s self-prepared 2008 Land Use Plan; two “Public Safety Awards”, the first for our state-of-the art designed and operated Animal Shelter, and the second for the MJPD Color Guard and Citizens’ Police Academy; and the “Transportation Award” for implementation of Tennessee’s first railroad Quite Zone. Yes, 50% of the awards for every municipality (53) and county (13) in Middle Tennessee went to the City of Mt. Juliet. To top off the night, we were also one of the four members of the Wilson County GIS Enterprise System recognized by winning GNRC’s Marshall S. Stuart Memorial Award for Intergovernmental Cooperation. Again, simply phenomenal.
The GNRC Local Government Awards are the benchmark for quality in governmental services and operations in Middle Tennessee. Competition for the awards is intense with cities like Franklin, Hendersonville, Goodlettsville, Nashville, Brentwood and Clarksville all in the mix. To quote the GNRC guidebook, the “awards honor local governments in the greater Nashville region which have exhibited excellence, outstanding accomplishment, and achievement or innovation in areas of public service.” As a 30+ year veteran of state, federal, military and municipal service I am well aware that in the area of governmental services there’s always more to be done and seldom sufficient time, manpower or resources. Mt. Juliet has the smallest number of civil servants serving one of the fastest growing cities in the state. This dedicated team of men and women have done a fantastic job of selflessly serving others. I am truly proud of them and want to share that pride and appreciation with the citizens of Mt. Juliet.
On some other notes, coming up next week (5-8 October) the intersection of Curd and Clemmons Road will be closed due to construction on the Reverse L. While we know this will inconvenience some, this was the optimal time to do the work due to the Fall Break for MJHS. Road signage, Nixle alerts, and additional Channel 3 and MJ City web updates will be posted. Speaking of road issues, the light at the intersection of Charlie Daniels and North Mt. Juliet Road (NMJR) should be operational by the end of this week. We are waiting on the contractor to finish painting the stop lines. Also, take note of the metal utility poles going up along NMJR? These are being installed at the behest and commitment of the Mt. Juliet Board of Commissioners . . . kudos to them. Once the construction is complete this should be a great visual improvement to the center of our city.
Finally, this is an open invitation to join in at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Charlie Daniels Rec Center Expansion Facility. The ceremony will be at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, 9 October, at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center. This is a red letter day for Mt. Juliet, receiving its new, $400k building, made possible through the combined donations of the Panattoni Corporation and Mr. Charlie Daniels. We truly hope to see you there.
Until next time, take care.
Sincerely,
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
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
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
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
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Update: 7/9/09
Good Afternoon MJ:
Wow, what a Fourth of July weekend!!!
What started about 3:00 p.m. to be a perfect Saturday afternoon, with thousands of visitors streaming into Providence Market Place in anticipation of our 9:00 p.m. fireworks extravaganza turned into a rain soaked postponement. Those that were there can attest that we couldn’t have had better weather until about 5:00 p.m., when what we hoped would be a short-lived summer squall tuned into an all evening downpour intermixed with a couple breaks and then some building winds. However, in spite of the weather, I have heard nothing but absolute raves for the volunteers and city staffers who made this a 4th to remember. I particularly want to thank the MJPD and the MJ Parks Department for a rock-solid, military precise plan that worked as designed. The decision to not shoot was not made lightly; we understood thousands would be disappointed. But if hindsight is perfect, then we all saw that by 9:00 p.m. Saturday night, Providence Marketplace was under a deluge of water, with tornado warnings topping it off.
Plans for Mt. Juliet’s Fifth of July Fireworks show began about 9:30 pm on the 4th! The challenge was Sunday evening started out to look about the same as the night before. About 4:30 p.m. on Sunday it rain harder than anytime I can recall here in Mt. Juliet. Then, like clockwork the rain stopped, then started, stopped again, then started again. . . over and over until about 8:00 p.m. Until Tom Needham lit the first fuse it was a guessing game whether we would be able to shoot or not. But “Providence” was with us, both literally and figuratively; and at 9:10 p.m., Tom and his crew were able to get party started. And it was a fantastic party for the estimated 10k brave souls who trekked to south Mt Juliet; they were the recipients of a justly rewarded 45 minute pyrotechnical display. I left about 10:00 p.m., but as I understand, due to some wet wicks, Tom was “still cranking some rounds down range” for the next hour or so. Where else but here in beautiful MJ can one get this kind of entertainment for free.
There were hundreds of volunteers and countless businesses, churches, non-profits, scouts, etc., etc., etc., who made 4 and 5 July truly special for our community. I can’t name them all so I won’t try; they know who they are. On behalf of the Board of Commissioners, the City staff and the citizens of our community, thanks for all you did.
Finally, a particularly bright spot on Saturday’s activities was the volunteers who turned out to help the MJ Animal Shelter Adopt-a-thon turn into an unparalleled success. Seven dogs and cats found new, loving homes thanks to the “can do” spirit of Reverend Jon Gray and a handful of dedicated volunteers. A heartfelt thanks goes to these remarkable men and women because the gift of their time and energy will make a lifetime difference for a pet.
On a different note, construction progresses well for both the N MJ Road and Curd Rd. (Reverse L) projects. So far we’ve not seen any accidents directly attributed to activities around this large scale efforts. Remember, plan your trips accordingly, build a little more time into your travel, and above all remain calm. As Karen Carpenter says, “We’ve only just begun.”
A warm welcome to Andy Wright, who is replacing Judge Steve Grauberger as the new Mt. Juliet Municipal Judge. Andy, you have stepped into some big shoes. I know the men and women of the MJPD and Codes Department look forward to working with you in continuing to keep our streets safe and our city clean. Best of luck.
Finally, I want to thank the nearly 30 clergy who joined us last Thursday for a City Update. What a great start to this initiative. I’ve heard some very positive feedback, and will certainly look to do this event again later in the year.
Until next time, take care MJ and talk with you later.
v/r
R. Robertson
Wow, what a Fourth of July weekend!!!
What started about 3:00 p.m. to be a perfect Saturday afternoon, with thousands of visitors streaming into Providence Market Place in anticipation of our 9:00 p.m. fireworks extravaganza turned into a rain soaked postponement. Those that were there can attest that we couldn’t have had better weather until about 5:00 p.m., when what we hoped would be a short-lived summer squall tuned into an all evening downpour intermixed with a couple breaks and then some building winds. However, in spite of the weather, I have heard nothing but absolute raves for the volunteers and city staffers who made this a 4th to remember. I particularly want to thank the MJPD and the MJ Parks Department for a rock-solid, military precise plan that worked as designed. The decision to not shoot was not made lightly; we understood thousands would be disappointed. But if hindsight is perfect, then we all saw that by 9:00 p.m. Saturday night, Providence Marketplace was under a deluge of water, with tornado warnings topping it off.
Plans for Mt. Juliet’s Fifth of July Fireworks show began about 9:30 pm on the 4th! The challenge was Sunday evening started out to look about the same as the night before. About 4:30 p.m. on Sunday it rain harder than anytime I can recall here in Mt. Juliet. Then, like clockwork the rain stopped, then started, stopped again, then started again. . . over and over until about 8:00 p.m. Until Tom Needham lit the first fuse it was a guessing game whether we would be able to shoot or not. But “Providence” was with us, both literally and figuratively; and at 9:10 p.m., Tom and his crew were able to get party started. And it was a fantastic party for the estimated 10k brave souls who trekked to south Mt Juliet; they were the recipients of a justly rewarded 45 minute pyrotechnical display. I left about 10:00 p.m., but as I understand, due to some wet wicks, Tom was “still cranking some rounds down range” for the next hour or so. Where else but here in beautiful MJ can one get this kind of entertainment for free.
There were hundreds of volunteers and countless businesses, churches, non-profits, scouts, etc., etc., etc., who made 4 and 5 July truly special for our community. I can’t name them all so I won’t try; they know who they are. On behalf of the Board of Commissioners, the City staff and the citizens of our community, thanks for all you did.
Finally, a particularly bright spot on Saturday’s activities was the volunteers who turned out to help the MJ Animal Shelter Adopt-a-thon turn into an unparalleled success. Seven dogs and cats found new, loving homes thanks to the “can do” spirit of Reverend Jon Gray and a handful of dedicated volunteers. A heartfelt thanks goes to these remarkable men and women because the gift of their time and energy will make a lifetime difference for a pet.
On a different note, construction progresses well for both the N MJ Road and Curd Rd. (Reverse L) projects. So far we’ve not seen any accidents directly attributed to activities around this large scale efforts. Remember, plan your trips accordingly, build a little more time into your travel, and above all remain calm. As Karen Carpenter says, “We’ve only just begun.”
A warm welcome to Andy Wright, who is replacing Judge Steve Grauberger as the new Mt. Juliet Municipal Judge. Andy, you have stepped into some big shoes. I know the men and women of the MJPD and Codes Department look forward to working with you in continuing to keep our streets safe and our city clean. Best of luck.
Finally, I want to thank the nearly 30 clergy who joined us last Thursday for a City Update. What a great start to this initiative. I’ve heard some very positive feedback, and will certainly look to do this event again later in the year.
Until next time, take care MJ and talk with you later.
v/r
R. Robertson
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
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
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
