We badly need a permanent covered stage and public rest rooms for the Veterans' Park addition (we plan to build that property up to the level of Veterans' Park and the Family Dollar Store).
Mr. W.H. Bowlin has agreed to pay the cost of the stage materials and construction and we are greatly indebted to him for that gesture that will benefit our entire community. Mr. Bowlin has always been willing to help with community development and has been a consistent contributor to a multitude of community activities. I want to thank him on behalf of the City Council, the Tourism Commission and all citizens of Jellico and surrounding areas. That is the type of tangible suppport that will enable us to get some things accomplished including the revitalization of the downtown area.
(Mr. Roy Price will work to find a source of funding for the public rest rooms).
The Jellico City Planning Commission has issued a building permit to Wendys, Inc. for the lot across from Rocky Top Market (formerly Fireworks Outlet).
We recently had our first workshop concerning our cable TV carrier (Falcon).
During that meeting, I, Councilmen Jimmy Dobson andd Bill Barton and City Administrator Mike Jones raised questions and concerns that have been expressed to us from local cable subscribers. Major items discussed during the meeting:
Mr. Hudson stated that those problems are being addressed through more use of fiber optic cable that greatly reduces the amount of signal loss (our main cable into town is now fiber optic but no lead-in cables to homes and businesses have yet been converted although that action will gradually be accomplished). Utilizing the fiber optics for our main cable puts us ahead of a great majority of small-town cable systems.
Satellites are expected to relay local channels within the next three years and Falcon will utilize that service - and at a cost lower than can be provided through Direct TV or another cable TV service.
Channel-9 (Channel-27) from Lexington, Kentucky is a case in point when dealing with weak station signals. A few systems have reportedly removed that channel due to poor reception that cannot be improved. Others have considered exchanging Channel 27 for the channel originating in Hazard, Kentucky. Falcon has left it on our local menu of channels due to the number of Kentucky fans (and Tennessee fans) who want to watch University of Kentucky athletics - presumably for entirely different reasons. But it is a situation of either poor reception or non-availablility and most apparently prefer the former.
The toll free 800 number is checked at least hourly during other times including weekends and holidays. Repair service is dispatched immediately any time the main cable is out of service. Individual homes and businesses will receive service on the following Monday.
NOTE: Chris Baird attended the meeting at the invitation of myself and the City Council. Chris furnished us information from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) obtained from the internet. The information listed average rates and increases in the cost of cable service throughout the United States.
The FCC information also clarified the new policy of deregulation. Prices for Basic Cable Service are still regulated by the Federal Government. However cable companies are free to charge whatever they choose for additional channels such as Home Box Office, Cinemax, Showtime, etc., etc.
Entusiasm and support for our special "Clean-up, Paint-up, Fix-up Week" seems to be gathering momentum. I have been contacted by several individuals and businesses expressing support for that upcoming activity since I made the original proclamation. Some simply wanted to say that they think it is a very good idea while others made commitments to get involved in some manner. Some of our high school students have volunteered to help with one project and a lot of folks are anxious to see the work announced by Sterling Baird to be done on the old Coca-Cola Plant.
Among those who have said that they will participate since publicattion of the original list includes June Maiden who plans to plant Dogwoods on her Fifth Street property; John Trammel states that he will clear property on Fifth Street; Postmaster Bo Robinson will have Dogwoods planted around the post office; and Heritage Pizza will plant a row of Dogwoods between the restaurant and Rocky Top Market. And there probably have been others since this article was written.
But perhaps the most meaningful commitment came from Mrs. Bessie Steely. Mrs. Steely says that she loves the idea of a special week for cleaning-up, painting-up and fixing-up and that she plans to get involved as much as possible. "I can't do much but I plan to do something if it is nothing more than picking up around my area. We all need to do something!".
That is exactly the type of positive attitude that we are trying to create throughout Jellico and it is the type of attitude that we must have if we are to be successful in what we are attempting to achieve. We can not do it alone!!!
The Dogwoods that were planted along our sidewalks have not yet reached their first year of age but several have bloomed out enough this spring to give an idea of what they will add to the appearance of our town once they reach maturity within the next few years.
The trees planted by McComb Supply Company next to the post office had only a few blooms but they too were beautiful. And I have asked McCombs to finish ringing that lot with flowering trees.
The library has now moved to the new Trammel Building although work still remains to be done in getting everything in place.
The Office of Tourism was in the process of making the transition from the Fifth Street office when this article was written.
Note: The Jellico Office of Tourism badly needs one or more glass cases in which to display historic and other exhibits. The Tourism Commission would appreciate anyone donating such cases and would be willing to attach a plate designating the name of the donor(s).
The Commission has previously been the recipient of some office furniture donated by the Union Bank.
City Administrator Mike Jones, City employees and Utilities Department employees have done a great job in woking to restore the tennis court in Tannery Hollow to playing condition. We did not have the money to do expensive repairs to the court but Jones and the City crews have worked hard to make it available to local tennis enthusiasts. Hopefully it will be ready for use by the time this article is published.
The adjoining basketball goal is already playable and lighting will be added to make it usable at night.
The golf driving range that we are attempting to establish behind the baseball field has been mowed and will be kept mowed as much as weather and available time will allow. And we welcome any volunteer help from the community with the mowing.
Some have already begun hitting balls there although the ground is still very, very rough.
I have just received a copy of the recent audit of the Jellico Housing Authority compiled by the auditing firm of Darnell and Thompson of Lawrenceville, Georgia under contract with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The audit is highly complimentary of both the bookkeeping procedures and the actual accounts maintained by the Jellico Housing Authority. A report to the Board of Commissioners includes the following introductory statement, "We noted no matters involving the internal control over financial reporting and it's operation that we consider to be material weakness.
Final Note:
I want to thank Shannon Buckner and Dessie Johnson for a suggestion that I acted upon immediately. They pointed out that we have placed a large sign on the four-lane pointing the way to our downtown for those exiting the interstate from the north. But no similar sign has been available to those exiting from the south - sometimes creating confusion for those possible visitors to our town.
Mr. Charles Bruce has been preparing the signs that may already be in place when this article is printed.
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