Conga line

Well, the last day of the work year has arrived - Friday, December 30, 2011.

No fanfare, no cakes, no balloons. I thought I saw a conga line starting to form a few minutes ago on the first floor......but I was wrong. Just folks going about their business.

It should to be a very quiet day if the first two hours are an indication. No telephone calls, no walk-in's, just a few random emails.

So it's a good day to look over the collection of letters, memo's, reports, and other assorted papers and notes covering the desktop, update the to-do list, get the 2012 calendar of events current, and just get ready for the new year.

My wish to each of you is that 2012 is the best year ever. However you measure "best" - may you reach and surpass it next year. It may take some work, effort, good fortune, and a little luck - but you can get there if you put your mind to it and focus on making it happen.

I think 2012 will be a good year for Bristol - the signs are pointing in the right direction. It will take some work, effort, good fortune, and a little luck - but we can get there too. We're focused on it.

Savvy

The Department of Community Relations was recently recognized for winning two Savvy Awards from the City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA).

The city won a 1st place Savvy Award for its submittal "Then & Now - The Bristol Sign" in the category of TV and Videos - Regularly Scheduled Programming. A 2nd place Silver Circle Award was also received for the 2010 Farmers Market Posters under the category of Printed Publications.

The Savvy Awards competition recognizes outstanding local government achievements in communications, public-sector marketing and citizen-government relationships. The Savvies salute skilled and effective city, county, agency or district professionals who have creatively planned and carried out successful innovations in communications and marketing.

Our hats go off to Terrie Talbert, Director of Community Relations, and her talented staff for bringing home these awards this year.

Work week

Whoa, the last few days have been different. Two shortened work weeks in a row - with one more to come to usher in the new year.

They say getting out of your routine is a good thing - shake things up, a bit of fresh air.

I suppose they're right, but there is something comforting in the same old, same old.

But for now I look forward to the return of a full five-day work week - at least until the next holiday rolls around.

Pageviews

According to my blog-o-meter, this is the 100th posting since the first one went live in early July 2011.

A total of 2,573 pageviews were recorded for the first 99 posts led by the U.S. with 87% of the total. The next most pageviews by country are Russia, Germany, France, Latvia, United Kingdom, China, Israel, Malaysia, and Poland.

Thanks to all for spending a few minutes of your day this past six months. Hopefully you've come to know the Bristol Tennessee community better as a result of the time spent and will visit often in the future.

It's Christmas eve here - Christmas day for many of you already - so I'm signing off for now.

Next up: Number 101. Merry Christmas to all.

Going on 9

The City Council recently recognized Finance Director Tara Musick for being awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010.

This prestigious award is given to state and local governments that go beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles to prepare comprehensive annual financial reports that evidence the spirit of transparency and full disclosure. The report this year is a mere 175 pages long.

The City of Bristol has received this award for the 8th consecutive year and is one of only 27 cities in Tennessee to be so awarded this year.

Thanks to Tara and her staff for a job well done, year-after year.

Property value

Did you ever wonder what the total taxable assessed value of property is in the city? This number is important as it is the basis upon which property tax revenues are generated.

According to the the Sullivan County Tax Assessor, the amount is $660,383,000.

And how does it break down by category you ask? Commercial and industrial property is $286.8 million; residential property is $280.5 million; personal property is $66.9 million; public utility property is $16.6 million; and other real property is $9.4 million.

Of course the assessed value is just a fraction of the actual value of the property - an amount established at $2.13 billion.

So we have $2.13 billion in improvements in Bristol - sounds about right doesn't it.

Land use

City Attorney Jack Hyder presented a training session this evening to members of the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals on land use law.

The class was one of several scheduled this year to satisfy the continuing education and training requirements for members of these important boards.

A rather dry subject you say? In theory - perhaps. But in camera - not a bit. Jack was able to weave important concepts into learnable moments with real life examples and an instructional cadence conducive to knowledge sharing.

The city staff in attendance took away much from this session as well - time well spent on a Monday evening.