Mayor's weekly blog
Monday, February 4, 2008 – Sunday, February 11, 2008
Greetings from the Mayor’s office. I hope that you and your
family have had a good weekend and that you enjoyed the
beautiful weather. I don’t recall when the weather has been as
agreeable during February as it has been this year.
Monday morning I had breakfast at Lu Vici’s restaurant with Evan
Thornton and Bill Matthews. Evan is our Finance Director, and
Bill is a local attorney and friend. We had an enjoyable
breakfast, and Bill caught me up on looking at re-financing
existing mortgages at the present time. I am going to look into
that for myself.
I stayed busy in the office this morning catching up on things
that had taken place over the weekend, and getting ready to
attend two meetings that will involve Congressman Bud Cramer.
I discussed the situation with the Kidney Association’s
transportation program with our City Attorney, and made plans to
have a special called meeting of the City Council on Wednesday
morning at 10:00 a.m. to act upon the resolution to place the
program under the local hospital.
I had lunch at the Mooresville Bar and Grill with Tom Hill, our
Economic Development Director. We were going to the Airport to a
meeting with Congressman Bud Cramer related to economic
development in North Alabama. During lunch we talked with the
owner, Jerry Evans, about the restaurant business. His place
here in Mooresville seems to be doing OK. He said they were
packed out for the Super Bowl last night. They had a huge crowd
because the restaurant is actually located in the City of
Huntsville. They have Sunday sales of alcohol and this drew a
crowd out to watch the ball game. Jerry told us word had come to
him that Giovinni’s Restaurant in Athens has closed. I heard
from him and from other restaurant owners that the business has
not been as good as usual since Christmas. I am not sure why it
isn’t as good except that the national economy is suffering from
a turndown.
The meeting we attended with Bud Cramer included Mayor Loretta
Spencer of Huntsville, Mayor Don Kyle of Decatur, Mayor Dwight
Tanksley of Hartselle, Limestone County Commission Chairman,
David Seibert, Morgan County Chairman John Glasscock, and
several people from our three counties who are involved in
economic development. We discussed the current methods used by
the State of Alabama’s Economic Development offices in dealing
with local communities in the recruitment of industry.
I came back to town and met John Stockton, our Water/Wastewater
Department, and Councilperson, Milly Caudle. We went to
Huntsville to Congressman Cramer’s office to discuss our need
for additional funding to build our new sewer treatment
facility. This seemed to be a productive meeting, and the
Congressman and his staff assured us that they will be looking
for money to help us with our new sewer facility.
I came back to town and went by the Council on Aging to practice
for the Polk Sallet Review. This program will be coming up
during the first part of the month of March. There will be a lot
of new talent this year, so make plans to be there.
Tuesday morning I met with Council President, Johnny Crutcher
and a Department Head to discuss a staffing need for the
department.
I received word from Waymon Pace from the TVA Huntsville office,
that the Nuclear Regulatory Agency has checked fifteen issues at
the Brownsferry Plant and issued a yellow rating for one
operational issue. The Unit One which was put back on line
several months ago has shut down five times due to this
operational issue. The other issues have received green, or the
highest rating. The yellow rating is not related to safety
issues. The rating means that the regulators will give more
scrutiny to this particular issue in the future. This rating
information will be published by the local media soon.
Kay and I went to vote this morning around 10:30 a.m. at the
Hobbs Street Church of Christ. There were several folks voting
while we were there. Many thought the ballots were somewhat
confusing. I had heard you had to vote for the delegates of your
presidential preference in order for that person to get to count
the delegates, but the ladies running the polls said it
automatically counted the delegates. I voted for the delegates
also just to cover all the bases.
I wish we didn’t even have parties. I would like to have a
ballot with all those qualifying for president listed in
alphabetical order, and I could vote for the one I wanted based
upon their qualifications and not the party.
Wednesday morning we had our lives changed for the next few
weeks. Kay fell from the top of the five steps leading from our
utility room, down to the garage floor. I had just gone down the
steps to roll my garbage can out to the curb, and I always get
the morning paper from the mailbox paper holder and carry it
back to her before I leave for work. Just as I touched the
roll-out can, she fell from where she was standing and landed on
the concrete floor on the face and shoulder. Blood immediately
spurted from her arm and I immediately thought she had broken
her neck or her back, and possibly fractured her skull. I got to
her within two seconds and knew immediately her arm was broken,
and was concerned about the huge lump over her left eye.
Fortunately our daughter, Dinah, had not left for work, so after
getting Kay settled a bit; I went back inside and called Dinah
from her room.
We worked with Kay and finally she was able to tell us where she
hurt the most, and she actually sat upright. We checked her legs
and back, and when she said she could move everything, we helped
her to stand upright, opened the car door and sat her down in
the front seat. I drove to the emergency room and turned her
over to them. Dr. Falcon was in charge, and she and the nurses
were very efficient and assured us that everything would be done
to help her. They did x-rays of the arm and a cat-scan of her
head. The broken are was the worst injury because the broken
bone punctured the skin on the side of her wrist. The cat-scan
showed no bad things about the lick on her head.
The hospital made arrangements to transfer her to Crestwood
Hospital by ambulance because Dr. Jack Moore was out of town. We
were sent to see Dr. …. He did the surgery at 5:30 p.m. and was
through by 5:50. He told me he had to put metal plates and
screws to repair the break. It was a very bad break, but he
expects her to recover and regain full use of the arm. He even
said she could have the metal removed at a later date if it
gives any problem.
The City Council met in special session Wednesday morning to
consider the resolution to support the local hospital providing
the transportation for the Kidney Association. The Council did
pass the resolution.
Thursday morning I went to the hospital to get Kay. She had a
rough night because the pain medication and the anesthesia had
made her extremely ill. We arrived home around 11:00 and spent
the day getting everything set to care for her.
I went to the office for a meeting about a business proposition.
Our City Attorney and two Councilmen met with me about this
situation.
I went to the drug store tonight and got a seat to use in the
shower and bath tub so she would not have to stand. I think it
will give her stability in taking a shower, and it will make me
feel better that her chances to fall will be lessened. She was
able to sleep tonight, but spent a good part of it in the
recliner. I think the recliner gives her a little more support
to her arm.
Friday morning I fixed our breakfast and she was able to get a
shower and wash her hair. I wrapped her arm in a garbage bag and
duck tape. She felt much better after her bath, but she is still
nauseated from the combination of anesthesia and pain
medication. We are really trying to learn how to perform your
usual actions with one arm. It is very difficult but she is
really trying to get back to normal as soon as possible.
I came to work and met with David Seibert to plan a press
conference about a bill we are having introduced in the
Legislature concerning annexation by cities outside the county.
We met with the Athens News Courier and Decatur Daily reporters
at the County Commission Boardroom this afternoon for the
conference.
I met with a citizen today to try to solve a problem he is
having with his utilities.
I went home and got lunch for Kay and myself. I also assembled a
set of new telephones because our old phone is shot. Our phone
system is connected to our TV cable along with the computer and
Television. We seem to have had more problems with the phone
since it has been on the cable than we had before cable.
I came back to the office to finish up a good bit of work. I had
a few conversations with our city attorney about several items
of city business.
I don’t know if you have seen the news about the mayor, council
members, policemen, employees, and a reporter of Kirkwood,
Missouri, being shot by an irate citizen at a city council
meeting yesterday. Some of these people were involved in the
National League of Cities Organization, of which I am member. I
am including a statement from Cynthia McCullom, member of the
Madison City Council, and President of the National League:
"We are deeply saddened by the senseless tragedy that occurred
in Kirkwood yesterday. Local officials are often the unsung
heroes of our communities, yet daily they put themselves on the
front lines to ensure the quality of life in our cities and
towns. Today, our hearts go out to the families of Council
Members Michael Lynch and Connie Karr, Public Works Director
Kenneth Yost, and Officers Tom Ballman and Bill Biggs, the
community, and to all those who knew these capable men and
women. We pray for the full recovery of Mayor Mike Swoboda.
"The city of Kirkwood has been ably represented by their mayor
and council at the national level. Both Mayor Swoboda and
Council Member Lynch have offered their guidance and leadership
to several efforts within NLC. Mayor Swoboda plays a prominent
role in NLC's Small Cities Council and serves on the Energy,
Environment and Natural Resources Committee. Council Member
Lynch was active in promoting training and the need for strong
local governments, serving on the Leadership Training Council,
Transportation Infrastructure and Services Committee, and the
City Futures Panel on Democratic Governance.
"Their contributions - like those of all local officials -
provide the bedrock on which America's democracy is built. We
mourn these tragic losses to our friends in Missouri."
I am not sure what motivated this man to commit this horrible
act. There are now five or six families in this town mourning
their loved ones who died senseless act of violence. It is a
shame he couldn’t have been stopped before he killed so many. He
shot a policeman outside the council chamber, then went in and
took his time shooting others.
We have recently installed a metal detector in our local police
station to be used when we have council meetings and city court
in our auditorium. I hope this will assist us in catching any
potential shooter or any person coming to the meetings with an
evil intent.
We had a nice quiet evening at home. Our son, Charles, brought
supper from the Catfish Cabin to our house. It was very good,
and we always enjoy eating at the Catfish Cabin and talking with
Mr. Graham, the owner.
Saturday morning was as beautiful as you would want any day to
be. I made breakfast for us and then ran a few errands up town.
Kay seems better and was able to shower without any assistance.
She has talked with several friends by phone today, and she and
our daughters are still planning a party next Saturday for our
niece, Della Stanford, who will be married on March 29.
Later I decided to get out and get some exercise. I walked from
my house in Westgate to Athens Pharmacy in thirty minutes. I
stopped there and had a little rest, then walked on to City
Hall. I took a rest here, and then walked back to our house. I
was gone for about two hours and enjoyed the walk. However,
about two hours after my walk, my body let me know that I am not
getting enough exercise. I had really stretched some muscles. I
have got to do better than this.
Mark and Phyllis Whitt came by and brought supper for our family
tonight. Daniel and Jennifer Whitt and daughter Stella, also
came by and brought us a custard pie. Phyllis had made a
wonderful casserole and cornbread muffins. She also had a
gelatin salad with a topping. Carol and Ted Whitlock had earlier
brought a big bowl of chicken stew and cornbread. She also had a
delicious pecan pie. Chad Wise had brought us a bowl of
Jambalaya, so we are set for a while for food. The kids came
over tonight to eat with Kay.
I went to Huntsville tonight to the Round House to attend the
Athens/Limestone Hospital Foundation Gala. It was an exciting
affair. The theme for this year was Denim and Diamonds. The
ladies were decked out in all kinds of outfits that sparkled,
and the men were mostly in jeans with a blazer or fancy coat. I
wore my jeans and my denim jumper, but most everyone looked a
lot better than me. The food included rattlesnake, alligator,
prime rib, steak slices, and lamb chops. There were all the
trimmings to go with the food.
The Jeff Whitlow band performed and the crowd enjoyed dancing to
good country music. I sat at the table with CDPA accountants,
Annette Barnes and Cecil Armstrong, and their other guests. The
food and conversations were good, and I think everyone enjoyed
the night out.
Sunday morning Kay still is not feeling too well. I made us a
little breakfast and we stayed in for the morning. The kids came
after Church to eat lunch with us. Charles and I rode to
Huntsville this afternoon to look at some computers. We are in
the market for a new one.
We stayed in tonight and enjoyed visits from Joy and Holly
Whitt, and my sister Joan, Jimmy and Della Stanford.
The City Council will meet tomorrow night, so I will be busy
tomorrow getting ready for that meeting. I guess this is enough
for this time. Take care and I’ll see you next time. mayordan
