Attention

Process and results - two very different things with equal importance in local government.

Pay attention to both and your community - and you - will be better off because of it.  

Cycle

Each year city crews inspect, flush and flow test all public fire hydrants in the water system.  And why do you ask?  To ensure their operation for fire suppression activities, to enhance water system quality, and to comply with various National Fire Protection Association, American Water Works Association, and Insurance Services Office standards.

So how many you ask?  At last count, 1,147 of the 1,299 hydrants were tested - as were 668 hydrant blow-offs.

So we're also almost there - until next year, when the cycle begins again.

CDBG

Each year the city receives a Community Development Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

It's not a lot of money - but a lot is done with it.

This past year the funds were used to complete a major rehab on an owner-occupied home and to undertake emergency repairs on 2 others; 10 first-time home buyers received forgivable grants to assist them into home ownership; 12 families received affordable childcare assistance; 3 dilapidated structures were demolished; support was provided to 2 emergency shelters to assist the homeless; and 480 residents received instruction and services at the literacy academy.

Importantly, 95% of the funds expended benefited low- and moderate-income persons.

Yes, a whole lot was done with it - thanks to the good work of Jan Detrick and Shari Brown and the Department of Community Development.

Opportunity

I had the opportunity to visit with several residents this week with requests on issues as varied as can be.

Not all of the outcomes were perfect for the requester, but in each case the city helped where it could, and how it could.

And that's the way government is supposed to be.

Inspection

Steele Creek Lake overlooking the dam from
the Lake Ridge Trail

For many of us in the states, we were treated to a four-day Thanksgiving Holiday.

I took a field trip to Steele Creek Park to conduct an inspection.

Work, work, work.............. it just never ends.

Porch

State Street - the Birthplace of Country Music scored it big yesterday with the announcement that the Appalachian Cultural Music Association will relocate its Mountain Music Museum to downtown Bristol with a Spring 2013 opening.

The weekly live Pickin’ Porch music show will take place on Mondays starting in January and will also be broadcast live on the radio and Internet.

More good news on top of good news for the birthplace of country music - the hits keep coming.

Good health

The city team completed the 2012 Health Challenge recording 768, 30-minute workouts.  This equals 384 hours of physical activity or 16 straight days of cardio-pulmonary, stretching, and weight-training exercises.

We salute the members of our team including Shari Brown, Tim Eads,  Mandy Hall,  Kristi Hensley; Jaime Johnson, David Metzger, Chris Poulin, Tim Robinson, Darlene Rosenbalm, Virginia Smelser, Charlie Thomas, David Vencill, Stephen Wagner, and Jeff Worley.

Thanks for supporting the home team - and good health.

Southern tip

Lucky number 6 happened this week - the Republic of South Africa on the southern tip of Africa weighed-in adding Africa to the list of continents that have taken a look at this blog.

Six of 7 - just Antarctica left.

As mentioned on October 12, Antarctica was excused as it has no permanent inhabitants.  But heck - just one more to go.  So no more excuses.

Perhaps a researcher at Vostok Station will be mindlessly googling one cold night and stumble onto this site.



And then success.  Anybody out there?  I hear it is -45 degrees F but feels like -65 degrees F.

Tonight could be the night.

Top notch

Juvenile (note yellow-green legs)

Adult black-crowned night heron

Well, the consensus of our top notch naturalist staff is that the bird featured in my post the other day is a black-crowned night-heron.

These herons do not fit the typical body form of the heron family.  They are relatively stocky with shorter bills, legs, and necks than their more familiar cousins the egrets and "day" herons.

What I photographed the other day was an immature bird - a juvenile with its numerous pale spots and yellowish-green legs.

Glad that's settled - and that it's Friday too - aren't you?

Cardinal

This little guy - actually he was pretty big - was seen fishing on the new spillway near the Beaver Creek Plaza downtown.

I'm told that he is a Kingfisher - but is she/he?

Legs are too long and the beak is too short, I think, to be a Kingfisher.

But what do I know - I'm not an ornithologist after all.

Now if it was a cardinal - that I could identify.

Success

According to the First Tennessee Development District's 2012 annual report, the City of Bristol was the most successful government in the eight-county region in acquiring economic development grants from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to promote private sector growth.

Bristol received, or is in the process of acquiring, three grants totaling $1.63 million in state funds for three significant projects bringing more than 1,200 jobs to the city.

Not bad work - thanks to Deputy City Manager Mike Sparks and Networks Sullivan Partnership CEO Richard Venable - in partnership with the staff of the First Tennessee Development District.

Traffic flow and safety

The Volunteer Parkway median improvement project was completed last week which included the installation of a raised concrete median from State Street to Anderson Street, improved drainage, and surface improvements.

This project will significantly improve traffic safety and flow at the Volunteer Parkway/State Street intersection, which is the worst ranked intersection in the city with a 1.13 critical rate factor and 23 crashes last year.

The improvement extends the left-lane storage lane from 125 to 500 feet that will allow 20 cars to queue.  Because of the high volume of left turns onto West State Street and a left turn lane with a maximum queue of only five vehicles, left turn traffic routinely blocks the left through lane which has been significantly improved with this project.

Most of the work was performed by Public Works Department crews for which our thanks - and those of the motoring public - are extended.

DC-2

Chairman Ken Maness

The Tri-Cities Airport Authority became operational this morning with the election of officers, adoption of bylaws, and other related actions to transition the former unincorporated joint venture to a non-profit, public benefit corporation.  Ken Maness was elected as the first chair.

Today was also a day of celebration as it marks the 75th anniversary of TRI - the Tri-Cities Regional Airport.  A ceremony recognizing this milestone was held and was highlighted with guest speakers Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey and Commissioner of Transportation John Schrorer.

And in case you wanted to know, an American Airlines DC-2 was the first commercial airline to land at TRI back in 1937 - with its 14 passenger capacity and maximum speed of 210 miles per hour at 6,800 feet.  Now those were the good old days.

S.A.

On October 12th I posted that not a single page view had taken place from folks on 4 of the 7 continents.

North America, Europe, and Asia - yep; but not Africa, South America, Australia, or Antarctica.

Then on the next day, Australia showed up leaving three to go.

And now this past week, South America has weighed in from Brazil and Venezuela.

So five down and two to go -  and I'll keep checking. 

A good thing

Last night, the City Council amended the erosion and sediment control ordinance which has as its fundamental purpose to protect the waters of the state from the discharge of sediment and construction related pollutants from construction sites.

Importantly, the amendment included language empowering the city to assume full authority, on behalf of the state, to regulate this program within the city.   Bristol was one of a select group of only five local governments statewide chosen to participate in a pilot program placing this responsibility fully at the local level.

The advantages of being selected in the pilot program are many to our development community friends as it eliminates a duplicative review and approval process that now involves both the city and the state.  With state involvement removed a more efficient, timely, and less costly review and approval process results - and that is a very good thing indeed.

Home sweet home

I recently returned from a trip to a foreign land.

Wow, what a stark difference.

Be proud of what we have in basic services, infrastructure, and quality of life.

You don't really know what you have until it's gone - which in this case for me, was only a week.

It was a great trip that I'll never forget - and it's equally great to be back home.

Cluck

It's not often that Mayor Joel Staton lays an egg - but he sure did at the Pumpkin Palooza event.  

Accompanied by Colonel Peg and grand daughters Kaylee and Emily, the group posed for a photo at the 12th annual festival at the Downtown Center.

Thanks for being such a good sport Mayor Joel - cluck cluck cluck.