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.