Spring break

Here we are, mid-week during Spring break for students of the city school system.  And for the teachers too.  They all need a break I'm sure.

Traffic is down around Tennessee High - that's always an indicator.  Add to that the school message board  announcing the break and it's pretty much conclusive.

Although this week is no different for most us than any other, it's still is a time to grab a few extra moments of rest and relaxation by whatever form it takes.

So everybody enjoy the remainder of Spring break - you'll feel better because of it.

Donation

If you drove to Steele Creek Park in February, you were one of 3,293 vehicles that entered the park that month.  That's 113 vehicles a day that came to enjoy our premier city park.

In the not too long ago old days, you had to pay $1.00 at the gate for entry.  But a few years ago the gate was removed and the pay box no longer required feeding for entry.  All to encourage greater use of the park.

So while it's now free to enter, some folks still choose to voluntarily donate - to the tune of $53.95 during the month.

Thank you good folks for your contribution - we promise to use it wisely.

Ribbon

Police officer Shaun Antonino received the departments Distinguished Award with ribbon as the result of a recent arrest made of a suspect that had performed numerous vandalism's in the city.

The perpetrator was a professional graffiti artist that spray painted a number of private and public properties in Bristol.

Congratulations Shaun for your awareness and action in response to a situation resulting in this arrest.

Surround

Here's a little management tip - surround yourself with the very best and your success will be exponentially better because of it.

Works in life too.

Serve and protect

Police Captain Charlie Thomas and Detective Bobby Bedwell assist a stranded motorist at the Bristol race last week.

It's always nice to see our folks go the extra mile to help our visitors and guests.

I trust you see and recognize it too - because it happens all the time.

Thanks Charlie and Bobby.

Work plan

The city council focused on the draft Fiscal 2013 Goals and Objectives Program last night in work session.

Three hours later a greater understanding of the potential work plan for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2012 was had.

The draft included 164 specific objectives in the key areas of protecting health and safety and maintaining basic service levels; enhancing and sustaining the economic climate of the community; improving existing housing and protecting neighborhood quality; and enhancing city attractiveness and controlling the cost of government.

The work plan will be refined and presented for formal adoption of council in the budget later in the year.

And with its adoption, the staff will hit the mark running with clear direction as to the important tasks to be achieved next year.

Sunday evening

Sunday evening following another successful Spring race week in Bristol.  Despite morning rain, it just doesn't get any nicer.  Beautiful sunny skies ushered in the number 2 Miller Lite Dodge driven by Brad Keselowski who won his second consecutive Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

BMS Executive Vice President and General Manager Jerry Caldwell  and his staff again provided an outstanding race experience for the thousands that attended.  

Tomorrow things return to normal in town - until August for the night race.  Then we get to do it again - and we're sure glad to do it.  Thanks to our guests for visiting Bristol - you're always welcome - anytime of the year.

I-beam

Here's a pretty interesting photo for you structural engineers in the room.

Look closely:  a tree trunk serves as a post, right in the middle of Beaver Creek mind you, to hold up steel I-beams upon which the former 3-story, Sears Department store rose.

I wonder if that would pass inspection today?  It's probably better not to ask.

Density

Manila Philippines is the densest city in the world with 111,576 persons per square mile.

And guess what : Bristol Motor Speedway will top that this Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

With a capacity crowd of 160,000 within its 33.5 acres, BMS will have the equivalent of over 3,000,000 people per square mile - besting Manila by a factor of 26 times!  And in a much more comfortable setting I might add.

Pretty amazing isn't it.

Outstanding

The City of Bristol received a rating of 99 out of 100 from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Water Supply, for this year’s sanitary survey of our water system.  This rating is one of the highest in the state.

The city met all of the standards and requirements of the Division of Water Supply in the areas of system management and operation; operator compliance; source of supply; treatment; monitoring and data verification; finished water storage; pump facilities and controls; and distribution system and cross connections.  By doing so, our utility retained its status as an elite provider of water services in the state.  It reflects a commitment to professionalism in delivering a quality product to the community.

Special recognition is in order for Deputy City Manager Bill Sorah, Water Plant Superintendent David St. John, Utility Maintenance Superintendent Frank Neal, and the entire Utility Services Division for a job well done.

A deal

The city issued tax bills during the month of October for the 2011 real and personal property taxes on over 14,000 taxable parcels.  The total amount billed:  $14.2 million (plus change).

Through the month of January, a total of $12.7 million of it was collected.  This represents 89.5% of the total billed.

This collection rate is 0.5 percent higher than the collection percentage for the same period last year - always a good sign.

And if you're wondering - and I know you are - here's what you would pay to the city for a house with a market value of $100,000:  $697.50 a year.

Yep - less than $2.00 per day for the finest in municipal services.  Now that's what I call a good deal - and is another good reason to live in Bristol.

All points

Race week has arrived - 70's degree weather on tap through next Sunday. 

Should be pretty dry too - a few isolated thunderstorms later in the week; but heck, it is March - not even Spring yet. 

The city is looking fine - as always - to usher in the arrival of BMS fans. 

Speaking of fans, a number have already arrived and are enjoying the great weather, scenic beauty, and hospitality of Bristol. 

There's still plenty of time - c'mon down, up, or over from wherever you are.  You won't be disappointed.

Peru

So where is Bristol anyway?

Well to start with - it's located in Sullivan County in Northeast Tennessee, adjacent to the Commonwealth of Virginia.  And of course in the United States of America, on the continent of North America.

But what else?  In the World Geodetic System our latitude is 36° 35′ 42″ N and our longitude is 82° 11′ 19″ W; and in the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) geographic coordinate system we're 17S 393682 4050603.  Don't ask - beats me too.

So for reference - in the states we're on the same latitude as Las Vegas Nevada and Virginia Beach Virginia, and just a little bit north of Santa Fe New Mexico and a little south of San Francisco California.  Internationally, think Algiers Algeria, Athens Greece, and Tokyo Japan and you're just about right.

And up and down (north and south) we're in basic alignment with Cleveland Ohio and Orlando Florida; and Panama City Panama and San Jose Costa Rica in Central America.  And for you trivia buffs, we're also in alignment with the port city of Talara Peru, the westernmost city in all of mainland South America.

Huh - I didn't know that.

Academy

The participants in the 2012 class of the Citizens Municipal Academy were recognized last night for completion of the program designed to increase their knowledge about the operation of city government.

The class showed great interest at each of the six sessions which made it a pleasure to visit with them on our various areas of responsibility.

One of the graduates was kind enough to share the following thoughts today that summed up his experience in the program:

"Thanks so much for everything during the CMA classes.  They were wonderfully informative, and very well run.  I continue to be amazed at the extraordinarily positive attitude of the city staff.  Perhaps I should have asked the average salary of a City of Bristol employee.  In all seriousness, please pass this thought along to the staff with whom we had contact, not just the speakers, but the support staff, and even the personnel that cleaned up our messes at the end of the evening.  The good attitude was pervasive at all levels."

Members of the class of 2012 included David Akard III, Nancy Cook, David "Spence" Flagg, Cindy Green, Matthew Mills, Lea Powers, George Rogers, and Walt Stickley.  The program was again ably coordinated by Director of Community Relations Terrie Talbert.

Watch for the next session of the Citizens Municipal Academy that will be held later this fall - we'd love to have you join in.

Rotary

Enjoyed lunch today with the Bristol Virginia/Tennessee Noon Rotary Club at the Bristol Train Station in downtown Bristol.

It's always nice to see a group of women and men who join together to foster the ideals of service to others; high ethical standards in business and professions; and goodwill, peace, and fellowship.

The Bristol Train Station was the perfect backdrop for a presentation on the strategic economic development plan.  The completely renovated building is a centerpiece of downtown revitalization efforts nearly 162 years after the first passenger train pulled in on October 1, 1856.  Several stations have ably served the community with the current building constructed in 1902.

The Rotarian's and guests in attendance were very kind to share their time - and it was my pleasure to do it.

Creek

Looking north from Shelby
Street

Work continues on Phase 1 of the Beaver Creek flood reduction project in downtown Bristol.  With continued good weather, the project should be completed by June 1.

Holston Avenue

Saturday morning - day of rest, right?

Nope.  Community Development Director Shari Brown and I had the opportunity to visit with 30 residents from the Holston Avenue neighborhood to discuss a community development issue.

The morning meeting went very well - Shari did her usual outstanding job of discussing the issue of the day.

The neighbors were energized too and helped us understand their perspective to a public policy decision to be made by city council.

A Saturday morning well spent I say - thanks to residents that cared enough and were able to spend their time with us.

Thanks to you residents of the Holston Avenue area.

Spring race

Race banners showed up downtown today so that can only mean one thing - spring race week at Bristol Motor Speedway is just around the corner.

The Ford Ecoboost 300 will take place on Saturday, March 17 followed by the Food City 500 on Sunday the 18th.

The city will be ready, as always, to welcome the throngs of visitors that will pack the speedway to enjoy the finest that NASCAR has to offer.

This great race and community experience can't be matched anywhere else on the circuit - and will be all the much better if the weather cooperates.

So keep your fingers crossed for great weather to go along with a great race.

Spillway

The spillway at Steele Creek Lake dam on a sunny March day.