This is the Saturday night (September 11th) that we have chosen to try to get the largest crowd downtown that we have had in many years. The big crowds that are already attending the "Saturday Nights in the Park" have convinced many of us that we can once again attract people back to the downtown area and make it a place of interest to our citizens.
One of our main goals is to "renovate and revitalize" the downtown and Saturday night will give us an opportunity to gage the level of success that we have attained so far in achieving that objective.
I appreciate all of our businesses that have agreed to remain open until 10:00 PM and I hope that they will have potential customers to visit their stores and shops. I want to thank Mrs. Bessie Steely for her efforts to organize the event and all those who have agreed to get involved with the activity.
Tentative plans include keeping the Library/Office of Tourism/Community Conference room open from 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM; Crazy Quilt Friendship Center will have a display in the conference room; we have asked Rev. Chuck Summers to offer his book of beautiful nature photos for sale if his schedule allows; concessions will be available; caps and t-shirts will be sold; Interstate 2000 may have an exhibit (old First National Bank building); some citizens have indicated that they may possibly set up booths; free blood pressure checks will be available; we would like to have some activities for the kids; and of course the "Twin Rivers Band" will play 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM as it does every Saturday night.
Although we are working to have entertainment and items of interest, the hope is that everyone will come to town Saturday night just to be part of something different. A few years ago, the Tennessee Lady Vols sponsored a night for having the largest crowd to ever watch a womens' basketball game and they were more than successful. Several hundred had to be turned from the gates. Many in attendance were not interested at all in the game but simply wanted to participate in something special. I hope that a similar situation develops in Jellico this Saturday night.
And we want everyone from the entire area. Hopefully residents of Newcomb, Elk Valley, Morley, White Oak, Eagan, Fairview, Lot, Boston, Highcliff, Habersham and all surrounding communities will be here too. That's the way it used to be and we would like to see it that way once again.
And who knows what can develop in the future if this first attempt is successful? It might prove to be a real stimulus to business development in the downtown. Businesses need potential customers.
Again I want to invite everyone to come to town this Saturday night including the out of town subscribers and internet users who may be looking for a good excuse to come home. We would love to have them. Inform family, friends and neighbors and encourage them to be present also.
The success that we have will depend upon the number of people who learn about the event and of course, the weather. We will get out as much publicity as possible and pray for good weather. Let's have the largest crowd downtown that we have had in many years!!!
This is our first attempt to have such an event and we will have to learn from experience. Traffic control and parking will require some planning because there are so many more vehicles on the road. But the Police Department and Rescue Squad will be on hand to help prevent any problems from developing.
And the idea is to get people back walking the sidewalks so those living in the immediate vicinity of the downtown may want to walk and leave the car at home. In fact, some who attend the "Saturday Nights in the Park" already do that for the exercise and opportunity to talk to those they meet.
I want to remind everyone that the much requested bluegrass and gospel music will start this Friday night (September 10th). Sponsored by Mr. Robert Johnson.
The local papers have run an article concerning the City Administrator vacancy. A comment in that article indicated that I would be willing to accept the position if offered.
I have explained my position on the issue of the City Administrator in several previous columns. I originally favored and voted for a City Administrator because I felt that we need a full time person. I still do!!!
But if I continue to work the hours that I am presently spending on the job of Mayor, we do not need the second individual. I have turned down quite a bit of work on my part time job during the past year to take care of the city's business -- in essence paying the city of Jellico to work for it.
I have used my car to travel to numerous meetings in Jacksboro and other areas and receive no reimbursement for gas or wear and tear upon my vehicle. But money is provided in the budget to reimburse the City Administrator if he makes those same trips to perform those same services for the city. (I make nothing for serving as Mayor at the present time because I have committed my Mayor's salary for several months to pay for the badly needed awnings on the new city building. The City Council refused to approve an expenditure for that purpose although we ended up with a surplus in the budget).
But the salary is not my main consideration. My reason for working so hard and long for no pay at the present time is the fact that I was born and reared here, love Jellico and want to see it thrive once again. I do not think that many individuals who have never even seen Jellico and who certainly have done no voluntary community service, could possibly be motivated for the same reasons. And that is not to say that there are not a lot of competent individuals who would be willing to come to Jellico and work hard for the betterment of our town!
I have not asked any Councilman to nominate me for the job and I have asked none to vote for me should I be nominated. They are well familiar with what I have and have not done as are our citizens. They will need to decide based upon my record to date as Mayor.
Should the Council decide to combine the office of Mayor and City Administrator, I would be agreeable to working the job for the existing Mayor's pay until January 1, 2000. I would be willing to do so because we need some funds to make inprovements in the downtown area and the unused Administrator's salary could be applied toward making those improvements. The Veterans Park Annex area requires blacktopping; benches are needed; we simply must construct some public rest rooms (we will be forced to rent and pay for portable facilities this weekend); and we need furniture for the Community Conference Room. We are constantly receiving requests from community groups wanting to use that room but we must deny the requests due to the lack of furnishings.
I would expect the Administrator's salary after that date minus all benefits. I am retired with my own health insurance and I do not need those or any other benefits provided for the City Administrator. That would result in a considerable savings to the city.
But if the Council decides to again bring in someone from the outside, I will cooperate with, and help, the selected individual to the maximum extent possible.
But it is clear that the Council must soon do something!!!
I was asked recently if I now favor allowing chairmen of the department committees the authority to oversee their departments and the answer is yes. And I also favor consulting with the members of Council on all significant issues facing the city.
But there are times when decisions have to be made in addition to the day-to-day operations and the Mayor or City Administrator must be free to make those decisions!! And all the time and attention spent upon very minor things can be better utilized by working on major issues. Jellico faces far too many serious problems to be conducting long discussions and/or questioning every action that must be taken without total Council approval.
I mentioned earlier that state representatives including Representative William Baird, have been contacting the Tennessee Commissioner of Transportation asking him to grant my request for funds for the construction of a visitor center in Jellico.
I have received a copy of a letter from State Senator Randy McNally expressing his support for the center. Senator McNally too, pointed out in his letter that Jellico is the ideal spot for the proposed center since we are both first and last in Tennesse for traffic along Interstate-75.
Last week I ran a list of those making donations to the Veterans Memorial fund in honor of James "Jim" Tidwell. Since that initial listing, donations have been received from Mrs. Jeanette Petrey ($100.00) and Mrs. Ruth Albright ($100.00). (The late Jim Albright was a decorated veteran of World War II.)
The United States Congress is considering enacting legislation that would entitle every veteran to a military funeral to include as a minimum, an American flag and the playing of taps (even if taped). That is something that should have been done a long time ago.
We are fortunate in Jellico to have veterans who continuously carry out military honors for their fallen comrades in arms. The detail rendering the honors includes Gary Leach, J.L. Collins, Billy Loudin, and James Arnold. Other veterans, including Veterans Service Officer Bob Andreas, help on occasion also.
Last week I congratulated Paula Centers for her selection as a member of the U.T. "Pride of the Southland" marching band. This week I want to offer similar congratulations to Brad Sharp and Tommy Bowlin. Brad has been selected for the U.T. Football Team as a walkon. And that is no small achievement with all of the talent that is now based in Knoxville since the Big Orange won the National Championship. And the team could not have accepted a finer young man (and good football player) than Brad Sharp.
From all reports, Tommy Bowlin looked good in the Tennessee East-West High School All-Star Game this summer. And he has apparently followed up that performance with an outstanding pre-season practice at Cumberland College.
We are all very proud of the accomplishments of these young citizens. And we are equally proud of all our young people who stand out academically and in other areas. They all make great ambassadors for Jellico and the Jellico area.
I have just received word that our commercial district will be considered by the Tennessee Historical Commission State Review Board for nomination to the National and Tennessee Registers of Historic Places. Listing in the National Register provides recognition and assists in preserving our nation's heritage.
There are also some very tangible benefits following approval of such national and state designations.
Most of the interior work has been completed on the old library. And Mrs. Betty Hurst and Lora Marples have arranged the office space to accomodate the Police Chief, Police Records Clerk and Building Inspector/Fire Inspector. Those departments will move into their new space as soon as computer and communication facilities are installed.
The move will accomplish the objective of making those offices more accessible to the public. The offices will now be entered directly from the front sidewalk rather than having to go all they way through the City Council/Court Room into the rear of the building.
Several have told me that I am setting a precedent by writing this column, doing a weekly radio program and attending, and sometimes addressing, numerous public meetings and functions. According to those individuals, our citizens have now become accustomed to receiving the information that I furnish to them and they will expect future Mayors to continue with those functions.
I certainly hope that they are correct in their opinion. Our citizens need to be kept informed concerning how their tax dollars are being spent, what issues we face and the actions that are being taken to improve and advance our town. I try to report everything possible that is taking place in Jellico including the good and the not-so-good. In fact one individual told me a few months ago that he discontinued occasionally coming to meetings of the City Council because he finds out more from reading my column than he did by actually attending the meetings.
The city needs to be represented at public functions although it is an impossibility for me or any other individual to attend every one. But I try to attend as many as I possibly can.
There is another very good reason for keeping people informed. I have found that our citizens are willing to get involved in a lot of improvement projects if they know what is taking place and what they can do to help. Voluntary participation in our downtown renovation project and the special "Clean-Up, Paint-Up, Fix-Up Week" and "Tree Planting Week" have clearly demonstrated that fact.
And there is no better way to kill rumors and misinformation than by simply presenting the facts to the public. This column is well worth while if only for that reason.
Final note:
I have recently been on a roll!!!
Last winter Mrs. Charlotte Lindsay asked me to purchase the last square on a Super Bowl board she was selling to raise money for a very worthy charitable organization. I bought it and won with my third quarter score.
The other night I purchased a ticket for a drawing at "Saturday Night in the Park". I had the winning number for a hand painted ceramic set after no one had the first two numbers that were drawn.
Two Sundays ago I attended the welcoming reception for Dr. Daryl Wilkens and won the "door" prize in a drawing.
I am thinking seriously about buying a couple of lottery tickets.
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