The April meeting of the City Council has definitely been the low point of my thirteen months in the office of mayor. I left that meeting disappointed and very discouraged after all six councilmen refused to make a motion for an expenditure that I considered to be very important to our town.
But it is clear now that the vast majority of the citizens of Jellico feel the same way about that issue that I do. The outpouring of encouragement and support from our citizens that I have received over the past three weeks has been nothing short of surprising!
I am now convinced that we can, indeed, get our town back on the road to recovery because unquestionably , the vast majority of our citizens want to see that happen - and even more importantly they believe, that by working together, we can make it happen.
Is that building that houses the Library worth spending another $5,080.00? That question has been answered loudly and clearly! Librarian Dorothy Potter has informed me that the new childrens' reading room has already inspired fourteen new enrollments as of April 26th and more are coming in each day or two as word spreads at school, etc.
What better way to spend $5,080.00 than for a building that so motivates our children to want to read and to listen to good readers? I know of none!
A local minister has informed me that he has heard only positive remarks from everyone that he has talked to concerning my position on that issue. Additionally several have contacted me and offered to help raise the money for the lettering and radio station WJJT has offered to help sponsor the drive. I sincerely appreciate all their offers.
I do not intend to take every issue personally that happens to arise and I want no quarrel with the members of Council. But I need and expect the Council's support when I make necessary and justifiable requests - and the lettering, awnings and a "community bulletin borard" was based upon necessity and was more than justified.
And the building housing our Public Library still has no identification lettering. One man told me that he considers that the most important part of my request. In his words, "Half the people in town still don't know what all is to be located in that building."
I have committed to raise the money to purchase the lettering and I intend to follow through on that commitment. But I will have to put that project temporarily on hold for a few days since I am already involved in so many things that I simply don't presently have available time.
In the meantime, we may need to put up some "homemade" signs from poster board or whatever is available. We will probably be having numerous out-of-town visitors over the Memorial Day weekend who may want to attend our official "Open House" (probably on Memorial Day but definite date and hours will be announced as soon as all details are completed). And we will need to have some form of identification on the building for them - in addition to our local citizens who are still not familiar with the building.
And before I conclude my remarks this week on that subject I think that it is only fair to report that one councilman has told me that he supports my recommendation and regrets that he did not make the required motion.
We all make mistakes and I have made them by the thousands. And sometimes it is hard to admit that fact. I appreciate his comments.
Our new gas lamps are beautiful and we certainly appreciate Gasco for their donation to our town. (They will also provide the refreshments during our open house).
The lamps will be lowered (and the flame will be lowered) as soon as the new awnings are in place. The flames are high now to draw everyone's attention to them.
I felt very honored one night last week when I received a telephone call from Mr. James Hayden Siler in Oak Park, Illinois. Mr. Siler grew up in Jellico but has been away for many years. He is very interesting to talk with - having compiled one of the first (if not the first) comprehensive histories of the city of Jellico.
He reminded me that Homer Rodeheaver actually spent his early years in Newcomb and that his namesake was his nephew - the son of Clyde and Dean Rodeheaver. (I need a copy of his history to help me stay historically accurate).
Mr. Siler still loves Jellico, maintains contacts with people from around this area and manages to keep up with what is currently happening in Jellico. He also subscribes to this paper (and possibly the internet).
He was extremely complimentary in his comments of the job he has been told that I am doing and expressed his appreciation. He also encouraged me to stay the course.
"We don't miss the water until the well runs dry!" How many times have we heard that old adage? However when the well is dry - literally or figuratively - we all understand how important it is to have a reliable source of potable water. Some residents found that out last Thursday.
Our Jellico water comes from a source that sometimes requires extensive treatment. The water may at times be cloudy and the trace of chemicals can very rarely be slightly detected through smell or taste. But our water system produces bacteria free drinking water that consistently receives high ratings following inspections by the State of Tennessee. And that is a real plus for our town.
Compare that to our neighbors in some sections of nearby Whitley County who on occasion experience disruptions in their non-Jellico supplied drinking water - with the resulting hardships that always go with such disruptions.
A recent cautionary advisory encouraged Whitley residents in the affected areas to boil or buy bottled water for drinking purposes. And the school system was forced to purchase and haul enormous amounts of bottled drinking water for all schools located within those areas. Purchasing the water, transporting it to the schools, assigning personnel to issue and reducing student class time all amounted to additional expense to the school system alone. There were hardships created for almost everyone in one form or another.
I want to publicly commend Suprevisor Woody Swafford, Burr Elliott, Jackie Owens, Rick Ridenour, Jim Leach, Bill Haun, Keith Blair, Bill Barton, Mary Marsee, Jeremy Mullins, Jerry Hughes, and Chris Smith for the great job they do with processing our drinking water as well as keeping our waste water treatment facility functioning - and that during one of the most difficult periods in our town's existence as both "Smithburg"?, "Smithville"? and as "Jellico".
Our city employees receive very low pay with little or no recognition for the jobs they perform. Some of them are almost unknown as city employees to the majority of our citizens. And I must admit that situation was at one time true of myself.
For that reason I plan to start naming and thanking the employees in one department each week until I have named and thanked them all for the valuable services they provide for all of us.
There are also so many that I need to thank for getting positively involved in our special week for cleaning-up, painting-up and fixing-up. But there is no way that I can list them all.
I do want to be sure to thank Willie Singleton and the utilities crew for putting up the banner in town; Ray Enix for welding the rusted places in the caboose; Jellico Elementary students Alice Preston, Dana Heatwole, Niki Blakely and Courtney Fontana for preparing some great posters for this week; Maudie Smith, Charles Allen, Hardees, and Orrin Bray for joining others in planting flowers and flowering trees on Fifth Street; Dr. David Bosscher for making similar plantings on South Main; Quenton Ivey for helping o build support among our young people; the Seventh Day Adventist School for several projects they have planned. And many, many more.
I hope to get a complete list of everyone working this week and during previous weeks but I know that that will be impossible. One lady has told me that she can never remember as much activity designed to improve appearances as is taking place in Jellico at the present time.
If I leave out your name/contribution - just let me know and I will include it in a future column.
I have been informed anonymously that Reverend Jerome Walden, Pastor of the Church of God, Mountain Assembly, recently arranged for three men in his church to paint the house of some ladies who were unable to get that job done to their home.
The ladies were able to furnish the paint and Lawrence Proffitt, Gary Moses and Russell Edwards did the painting - finishing the job in one day.
That is exactly what we have been emphasizing every week in this column. I hope that other churches, organizations, groups and individuals will follow suit. It's a great idea.
Several have told me that they thoroughly enjoy this column because I do thank people for their contributions and that I do it individually when it is possible to do so. They seem to like the fact that I print the names and I can certainly identify with that.
I always read and enjoy Jean Nayles column, "People and Places" for that same reason - although in many cases I do not personally know the named individuals.
On my agenda for last Thursday night's public meeting, my first item was to emphasize getting our own residences and neighborhoods cleaned-up, painted-up and fixed-up. But my neighbors have always done those things anyway.
But two of my neighbors took my request one step further. Robert and Janie Gilburth had been saving and planning for a complete renovation of their home for sometime in the future. But the Gilburths decided to do it now in keeping with the objective of making some real and visible progress this year.
And they have done a great job! It looks like an entirely different house.
I see similar renovations and construction going on all over town.
I hope that everyone had a chance to drive up Cumberland Avenue this spring while the Dogwoods, Azaleas, etc. were in full bloom That street exemplifies what I hope we can do with North Main Street, South Main Street, Sunset Trail, Indian Mountain Road, Newcomb Pike, etc.
Fifth Street already has numerous flowering trees and shrubs and more are being planted now. And I hope that even more will be planted in the future.
With everything taking place right now, it may seem like a strage time to bring up the "Census 2000". But as virtually everyone know, the U.S. Constitution requires a "head count" or "census" of our citizens every ten years that started in 1790. So of course one is due for the year 2000.
And the results of the census have become extremely important within the past 30 years or so because so much federal funding now depends upon the final counts of everyone (individuals, families, communities, towns, cities, counties, states and our entire country).
Volunteer help is a necessity when collecting and processing data (although many people are hired and trained to help with that task). The Mountain Womens' Exchange (MWE), Wanda Perkins, Director, will voluntarily assist us in making our town's population count.
We should receive our forms in April, 2000 (some will be hand delivered) and it is very important that they are filled out completely and correctly and returned within the specified time.
(I will be including more information throughout the year due to the importance of this census report to the city of Jellico).
I mentioned in last week's column that I intend to begin working toward some public rest rooms for Veterans Park. I received a quick response!!!
Mr. Arnold Musick has told me that he will draw up a set of plans (free of charge) as he works on the permanent stage.
Mr. Ralph Davis stopped by the office to say that he will voluntarily pour the concrete slab (labor) and do the plumbing (labor).
Dr. Louise Angel called to say that she will donate toward that project or the lettering for the new building or whatever is most needed.
Forster Baird, Joe Brown, Johnny Buckner, the WJJT staff and others have offered to contribute.
(As I stated earlier, I will begin on those projects following this special week).
Attorney Tom Barclay suggested that the time has come to drop the "replacement" from "Tramell Replacement Building". So I guess we just need to again begin referring to it as the "Tramell Building" to continue something like 80 years of tradition.
The building was originally named for Mr. H.K. Tramell, one of our very first civic leaders. Mr. Tramell originally came to Jellico in 1885, carrying his entire fortune - valued at less than ten dollars. Through hard work at a number of jobs, he found financial success; established Jellico's first drug store; studied law and qualified for the bar; constructed Jellico's firtst two story building; and eventually served at least two terms as mayor.
He was married to Charlotte Smith, daughter of Rev. T.M. Smith, the first Pastor of Jellico First Baptist Church, shortly after that congregation moved from the Good Hope Church at Oswego.
At the time of his death, Mr. Tramell was reputed to own something like 30,000 acres in this area.
(We will place lettering to designate "City of Jellico/Public Library/Office of Tourism/Community Conference Room" on the building. But I will also ask the Tramell family to place a plaque on the building citing its historic significance).
I have asked George Hackler, Sr. and Geroge Hackler, Jr. to place a similar plaque on the old First National Bank Building, citing that fact plus the fact that it originally was first constructed as the "Jellico Opera House". (Note: The original building may have been gutted by fire circa 1912).
There are numerous other buildings around town that need similar identifying plaques: old Coca-Cola plant, old Union Bank building, old South End Grill, etc., etc.
I have received a letter from Mrs. Maudie Smith stating that she would like to see a street (preferably close to the new Union Bank) named in memory of Mr. Jake McClary. In Mrs. Smith's words, "He was a man who had great interest in Jellico and a friend to us all".
I agree with Mrs. Smith. Mr. Jake McClary helped a lot of people in this town for a lot of years and is very deserving of such an honor.
I have copied Mrs. Smith's letter and placed a copy in each councilman's mailbox for their action.
There are some exciting things happening that may lead to future development in the Jellico area. Myself, City Administrator Mike Jones, Utilities Director Cheryl Tidwell, Planning Commission Chairman Roy Price, and Tourism Director Joann Watts have been attending a series of meetings and I will give a full report in next week's column (in additon to a report as to the success or failure of our first "Clean-up, Paint-up, Fix-up week").
Final Note:
Some citizens have asked me to announce that there will be a voluntary community wide "Litter pick-up" this Thursday, May 6th (7:00 pm - 9:00 pm).
This event is scheduled by citizens in support of the "Jellico clean-up, paint-up, fix-up week" but is not officially sponsored by the city of Jellico.
Everyone is invited to participate by picking up their immediate areas and any other areas they may select.
View the Archives of this column.