I have recently had some success in the "it never hurts to ask department".
During our Fourth of July weekend, I had an opportunity to talk with Mr. Chet Riley from Williamsburg who brought vehicles to our antique/old cars display. Mr.Riley is an official with Walmart and was impressed with some of the things that we are attempting to do with the downtown.
I mentioned the ideas that we have for the caboose in Veterans Park including constructing a deck on the front and adding picnic tables, patio furniture, etc. The caboose would be further renovated by the Jellico Rescue Squad that hopes to utilize it for a permanent facility.
Mr. Riley expressed his willingness to help where possible since many Jellico area residents shop at the Williamsburg Walmart store.
I received a call from Mr. Riley on July 8th stating that the Rescue Squad would receive a check for $1,500.00 within the next few days to help with that project.
We certainly appreciate the willingness of Walmart to contribute to our downtown renovation and revitalization program. (I had earlier hoped to use the $5,000.00 "Tree Grant" to help the squad with landscapping for its new building).
I also met a few days ago with Ms. Ester Rufner, an official with the Tennessee Valley Authority. I inquired from her as to what funds might be available toward community improvement in areas served by the TVA. She promised to check for any possible sources of funds.
Mrs. Wilma Cox and I have been hoping to eventually construct a suitable monument to our coal miners who, along with the early railroaders, were basically responsible for our town's existence.
Ms. Rufner indicated that we might possibly be granted funds for a large clock that could sit upon some type of tower (possibly used brick). A bronze plaque with figurines of coalminers could then be placed on the structure bearing the names of miners gathered from descendents, friends, old records, etc.
A nice display could serve the intended purpose and also add greatly to the appearance of the downtown. I hope that Ms. Rufner is successful in locating some funds for us to apply toward the cost of that proposed project.
I have mentioned several times that we are in the process of obtaining a 1.3 tract of land from Norfolk Southern that is yet to be surveyed. Hopefully the tract will border the property next to Veterans Park Annex that runs parallel to Rite Aid Pharmacy and McComb Supply Company.
I have already had at least three discussions concerning the possible availability of the land for sale and future development. A fenced area may be included with the property (although that is still to be determined) and one firm has expressed a possible interest in obtaining a fenced area for the storage of equipment.
We will certainly look at every possibility for the property to help with our drive to revitalize our downton including one now utilized by other towns.
Some area towns are bringing people back downtown by setting up areas for "citizen markets" and "farmers' markets". The city of LaFollette started one a few years ago and the crowds that gather there on Thursday, Friday and Saturday are sometimes hard to believe. Exhibitors and customers are coming from all around the area including Middlesboro, Lake City, etc. Others come even greater distances to buy and/or exhibit.
I asked Detective Eddie Barton, Campbell County Sheriff's Department, to get me information concerning the manner in which LaFollette organizes that activity.
LaFollette limits their program to three days a week and utilizes the main parking lot in the downtown area. Director Bill Maxwell charges $2.00 or $3.00 for each space (one vehicle or table permitted per space). He collects from each exhibitor on a first come, first served basis and writes a receipt. He also oversees the opration to see that there is no problem with littering, etc. He is compensated by taking one half of the collected fees and the other half goes to the city of LaFollette.
There initially was opposition from a very few businesses surrounding that area. But even those have experinced increased volumes of sales brought about by the number of people now coming to the downtown area. Even some new businesses have reportedly opened.
There is no liability upon the city of LaFollette unless negligence is proven and Maxwell is there to see that there are no areas of potential injury, etc.
No facilities such as booths, tables, etc. are provided by the city of LaFollette and each exhibitor is responsible for setting up on their own to include everything that they will need. The city does provide restroom facilities.
What would be required for us to do something similar to what LaFollette and the other towns do???
As stated earlier we do have available property if we do not choose to use it for some other purpose. Some site preparation would be required to include the removal of some metal structures and grading of the surface with our city equipment. Gravels might be good although that area does seem to be pretty firm due to the railroad beds that were there until removed a few years ago.
A bridge would be required over the ditch for exhibiting vehicles and pedestrians (non-participating vehicles could be parked near the stage and in Veterans' Park). We might also want to tile and fill the ditch and a decorative wooden fence with a wide gate could improve the appearance of the entire park and hide the displays from view.
Rest rooms would be required and someone would be required to do the job done by Mr. Maxwell (possibly a retiree).
I have asked the Council to give this and any other ideas serious consideration.
I welcome any ideas from our citizens and Jerry Hyslope gave me one last week that I hope we can carry out.
Jerry says that since we hope to bring all of our Fourth of July activities to the downtown area next year, a great touch could be added by playing patriotic music during the fireworks display.
Several Jellico people annually attend the Fourth of July activities at the World's Fair site in Knoxville when they do not conflict with our events. By far and away the most popular activity during the day and evening is the concluding concert by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.
The KSO always plays the "War of 1812 Overture" near the end of the concert which builds to a crescendo and then breaks into John Philip Sousa's classic, "Stars and Stripes Forever", just as the fireworks begin overhead. It is a very moving patriotic experience.
We can possibly do the same with taped music and speakers placed all around the new stage. A large speaker donated to the city by radio station WJJT has great volume and that speaker, combined with several others, should be heard throughout a large section of town.
I received a letter from Governor Don Sundquist and First Lady Martha Sundquist dated July 1, 1999 announcing the "Tennessee Looks Good to Me" campaign for our state.
The letter outlined all that will be done by the state to improve appearances. Cities, towns, counties, etc. were asked to participate to the maximum extent possible and mayors were requested to "lead clean up projects of their own and to invite colleagues, family, and friends to join them".
As I have said before, we are already way ahead in that respect with our special weeks for cleaning painting, fixing-up, doing plantings, etc.
This article was written prior to last Thursday night's meeting of the City Council but some important items on the agenda for that meeting were an update on the current status of the final draft for the waste water treatment facility; discussing the future of the recycling program; and establishing priorities for street repairs and contracting.
I will include a full report on the meeting in next week's article.
I want to congratulate our Jellico Girls Softball All-Star Team (ages 11 and 12) for their outstanding accomplishments in the recent tournament at Harlan, Kentucky. At the time this article was written, our team had already beaten very good teams from both Middlesboro and Pineville and had lost only a hard-fought, one-run game to Burnside.
Even more importantly, they had impressed opponents and spectators alike with their conduct on and off the field.
I also want to thank all of the adults who have helped that team and all of our other teams with coaching, transportation and in various other ways. I once coached an American Legion baseball team and few would believe the amount of time I spent that summer - practicing and playing games, picking up players before the game and taking them home afterward, etc.
But it is quality time for everyone involved and time well spent. The volunteers deserve the appreciation of everyone in our community.
Ronnie Dabney also sponsored the first "Saturday Night in the Park" last Saturday night but I didn't know how that turned out either at the time this article was written. But he does expect it to grow with each passing week and he again invites musicians, singers, performers, etc. to come and voluntarily perform. (Gospel and country music).
(He plans to have the activity every Saturday night except August 7th - if there is sufficient interest from the community). All nights are subject to cancellation in the event of inclimate weather.
I mentioned last week that there will be increased interest in all public utilities throughout the country following the enactment of deregulation legislation. I also reported that Gasco of Zanesville, Ohio (our local natural gas distributor) had again submitted a proposal to purchase our local utilities system and that I had furnished copies of the proposal to all members of the Council and Utilities Board.
I have been informed indirectly since that time that at least two area electric cooperatives may be interested in discussing the idea of a merger with our system. However I have not had any direct contact from either to this point.
Johnny Ivey, Captain of the Jellico Rescue Squad, has asked me to announce that the 25" color television raffled by the squad during the Fourth of July celebration was won by Mrs. Mildred Lay of Jellico.
I earlier announced that an across the board raise would be granted to city employees by the City Council totalling probably somewhere around .35 to .40 cents per hour. (Depending upon projected revenue).
But after careful study of that particular category of the budget, it now looks as if the projected revenue will support a raise closer to .45 cents per hour.
The Jellico Electric and Water System Utility Board is now accepting applications for the postion of a Recording Secretary. The requirements are as follows: to record and type the minutes and be available to all board members within a two day period and to attend all monthly and special call board meetings.
Applications will be available at the Jellico Electric and Water System office between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM - Monday through Friday. Return applications before August 9, 1999 to the attention of John W. Leach, Manager.
(This notification from John W. Leach, Manager and James Edward Branam, Chairman of the Utilities Board).
Final Note:
I often mention how much I appreciate the contributions of our citizens toward the downtown renovation and revitalization project.
Two weeks ago I noted in this column that I would now have to raise the money to pay for the gravels placed on the Veterans Park Annex. (Jellico Stone Company allowed me to purchase the gravels for $2.50 per ton as opposed to their regular price of $4.50 per ton).
Mrs. Betty Hurst, City Recorder, received a telephone call from Jellico Stone Comany on July 14th stating that the bill for the gravels had been paid by the Robert Cox family.
I want to say thanks to the Cox family for that donation and to everyone who has contributed in any way to the downtown project. If we all continue to work - we will continue to make a difference. But it will certainly take all of us working together toward that purpose as was pointed out by Mrs. Margaret Dykes in a recent letter to the editor of this paper.
And as I have said many times before, if we succeed in building a positive attitude and outlook concerning the future of our town - then we will have accomplished a great deal!!!
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