I recently wrote that I expect to see extensive development in our area in the very near future and that I had already attended a private presentation concerning a proposed second development - in addition to Rarity Mountain. The presentation was extensive and very professionally done. At the time I was the only non-involved participant in the meeting and was assured that more information would be forthcoming in the future...

Tourism Director Jake Bennett informed me last week that he too has now seen the complete layout of the projected development and that's good. Attracting motorists/tourists/visitors will certainly play a big part in its eventual success..

Since I distributed that article, several have told me that they had been hearing rumors for some time concerning a new development and wanted to know the validity of those rumors. I would not confirm nor deny what they had heard since I gave a commitment to confidentiality.

I have had numerous questions as to what economic impact it can have on our local economy. The answer to that question is that it could have a great impact - as can anything that creates business for our area. And one of the most asked questions that I have received is, "Will there be a golf course?" The initial presentation that I was shown did include a nine (9) holes course but since that time, I have been informed that the course layout has had to be modified and that the changes will be included in the final plans..

Additionally, preliminary plans for a very impressive residential development in an entirely different area of town were brought before the Jellico Planning Commission at our last meeting. And I earlier was told that a development will take place in another across town location in the future - but I have not had any update on that possible development in several weeks.

Future increased development is now inevitable and we just need to keep working toward improving our town and getting prepared for it! We can't afford to let the progress die!

It's Fall Fest time and vendors, exhibitors, etc. can claim areas any time after 6:00 PM this Thursday, October 5th..

Things will officially kick off on Friday with SCHOOL DAY. Of course there will be numerous things of interest to folks of all ages that day, but special emphasis will be placed upon acquainting our students with the way things used to be when people had to be virtually self-sufficient. As I wrote last week, an awful lot of our culture is being lost to present and future generations and our children need to be made aware of it. In fact curriculum materials have been distributed to area schools' teachers to help them prepare students for what they will see exhibited and demonstrated to enhance their learning.

But on the other hand as I also wrote, if Derek Brown is able to be here with the National Emergency Vehicle as planned, students will be introduced to some mind boggling futuristic technology that will exceed any lessons they will learn in their science classes.

Everyone is reminded that highly decorated Lt. Col. Scott Cuel will make his jet flyover of Veterans Park on Saturday at 7:00 PM.. His flyovers sure kindle the patriotic fervor in an awful lot of folks since he flies the same type plane that he flew in Iraq to save some of our Marines.

Along with our Christmas Parade and Fourth of July Celebration, the Fest has now become our most anticipated and attended event each year and I again request our businesses and residences to join in the spirit of things by decorating windows, lawns, etc.. They add a lot to the atmosphere and as usual, there will be judging of the displays with winners announced.. And it looks as if the Bucks may complete the one building currently undergoing exterior

renovation prior to the Fest and that will help to completely change the appearance of that area of North Main Street that only a few months ago had reached such a deteriorated condition..

The annual Jellico High School Homecoming is just a few days away and I mentioned in my last notes how many visitors to that activity last year commented on the improvements that are taking place in our town's appearance. And since that time I have had numerous personal contacts with those and other visitors and I have received numerous e-mails expressing those same comments.

One that I received this week from Patricia Delk is quoted:
"Dear Mayor Clifton, I read your column often and I really am pleased that you take such an interest in the city. I was born and raised in Jellico and have some fond memories. I graduated in 1965 and was back last year for the reunion. I was so pleased to see that Jellico is still a great place to be.

I walked around down town and although a lot of things have changed, it is still home and I enjoy visiting. I hope to be there in October for the homecoming and look forward to just being 'home'. No matter where life takes us, there is still 'no place like home'. Thank you for all you do and keep up the good work. (Oh the one thing I did miss was the old water fountain on the corner that used to be my favorite 'watering hole'………). Continued success to you sir."

Thank you Pat for the kind words and I am reprinting your e-mail as verification of what I continuously write in these notes: Folks do notice our progress and we just need to stay at the task until we have Jellico completely restored. And that goal is now finally coming within reach!

Ironically I have been talking with a representative of a firm that manufactures clocks of all kinds concerning an electronic display for our downtown that would indicate time and temperature. I had planned to soon bring the matter before the City Council and to ask for the funds with which to purchase such a display. Then driving to the mayor's office the other afternoon, I saw the commercial sign being erected by the Family Drug Center that indicates the time and temperature - which of course eliminated the need for purchasing one from city funds.

One of our biggest problems now in completely restoring our downtown is the property located at the corner of Fifth Street and Kentucky Street - and we continue in our attempts to get corrective action taken there. However there are some entanglements involved with that property that are beyond our control and that frustrate our attempts.. But we certainly do not intend to discontinue our efforts and eventually we will succeed.

A great example of what can be done to restore badly neglected property can be seen at the corner of South Main Street and North Myrtle Street Owners of that property have removed the badly deteriorated house there; brought the area up to street level with fill dirt; and are clearing Tannery Hollow Creek running along side of all of the undergrowth. Once everything they are doing is completed and the area is grassed over, a beautiful potential home site will be the result.

In fact I had an e-mail from a lady whom I will not name but whose name and e-mail address are available upon request. She is highly complimentary of what has taken place with that property and adds, "Thank you for your campaign for cleaning up Jellico."

And a lady told me that a businessman in Whitley County recently stated to her that "Jellico now looks the best to him that he has ever seen it look". I thanked her for relaying the compliment and assured her that it can and will look even better in the future

We have areas all over town that can stand such improvements as the South Main/North Myrtle Street property is undergoing and that is why I have proclaimed the period of October 9-14 as our first "Fall Clean-up, Paint-up, Fix-up Week" that was suggested to me several weeks ago. As I mentioned then, our Campbell County Environmental Officer Glennis Monday has agreed to bring his crew to Jellico at that time and help us in our efforts.

. That week should be an almost ideal time if the weather holds. Days are generally warm rather than hot, and the clean up efforts will be just prior to our annual Jellico High School Homecoming which brings so many out-of-town visitors to Jellico.. Here's hoping that our folks will get involved and put our town in the best possible light!

If I heard a television announcer correctly on one of our local channels, leaf colors are expected to be very good this year, although they will possibly be a little later reaching their peak.

It will be great if they are at - or near - their peak for the JHS Homecoming since a lot of folks at homecomings say that they look forward to seeing the colors each year.

A lady made a comment to me the other day that she could not understand why the City of Jellico does not have a drug testing program for employees like other towns, cities and private employers. She was more than a little surprised when I informed her that we have had a very good program in place for quite some time now.

Member of Council Elsie Crawford with her many years working in the medical profession, drew upon her vast experience to develop a very comprehensive random drug testing program that was adopted by the City Council.. It is a program that could be a model for others to utilize.

The program is computerized utilizing soft ware that insures that tests are called for on a completely random basis. Employees may be called in for testing one day, shortly thereafter and again and again. Or they may be tested and then not be tested again for an extended period of time - depending solely upon whether or not they are selected by the computer program for testing.. No individual is involved in the selection process other than supplying the commands to the computer to generate the random list.

Prior to being tested, employees are required to supply certain information including whether or not they are required to take properly prescribed medication and if so - both the type and amount of such medication. And our employees have cooperated fully with all requirements!

Note: I have been told that the Utilities Department may be getting complaints concerning the posting of political signs on utility poles which is prohibited! They often fade and/or tear in the weather and create eye sores.. But more importantly, I understand that they can present safety problems for linemen who may have to climb poles with attached signs.

I always put my signs on private property with the consent (and in many cases at the invitation) of the property owners. I never put them on utility poles and if anyone should attach one of mine to a pole, please let me know and I will immediately personally remove it! We are working to improve our town and posting political signs on utility poles is just working against what we are trying to accomplish!

E-mail me at: mayor@jellico.tn.us

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