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THE CHRONICLE
of Mt. Juliet
The Largest Circulation in Wilson County 
Celebrating our 28th year as the leading newspaper in Mt. Juliet and West Wilson County
 www.thechronicleofmtjuliet.com
 Volume 29 June 24, 2009 Number 24
Commissionpasses budget:will MJ be inthe red?
Page 3
 You Heard it First
Sen. Beaversmaking movefor WilsonCountymayoral seat
Page 13
Calling allclergy: the cityof MJ needsyou
Page 5
Saddlewood
Saddlewood
homeowners
fi
ght
homeowners
fi
ght
HOA in court
HOA in court
Several Mt. Juliet homeowners are upset about an homeowners association set up in their subdivisionagainst their will, and the matter is scheduled to go to court – again – soon in Wilson County. Accordingto Saddlewood subdivision resident Lisa Rich, a company called Paragon Management Group (PMG)was called in several years ago to set up an HOA although many of the Saddlewood residents don’twant it. Pictured are Samantha Rich, Jeff Rich, Erin Pinkston, Ethan Pinkston, Melissa Jolley andchildren, Catherine Walley, Eve Wilson Mary Andrykovich. Not pictured but involved are Mike Raway,Diane Eldridge, William and Odalis Beswick, Beverly Roberts, David and Dena Pinkston and KimberlyKrusbe. ~ See story on Page 5
Will Bel Air atBeckwith beaccepted intoMJ?
Page 8
 
Page 2, The Chronicle of Mt. Juliet, June 24, 2009
THE CHRONICLE
of Mt. Juliet
Largest Circulation in Wilson Countywww.thechronicleofmtjuliet.com
 Published each Wednesday in West Wilson County by Mt. Juliet Communications, Inc. A home-owned and operated community newspaper.
Tomi Wiley
Managing Editoreditor@thechronicleofmtjuliet.com
Tonya Hinesley
Production Managerproduction@thechronicleofmtjuliet.com
 Amanda Oswalt
Sales Manageramanda@thechronicleofmtjuliet.com
Brenda Parker
Accounts Managerbrenda@thechronicleofmtjuliet.com
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 647Mt. Juliet, TN 37121
Office Location:
11509 Lebanon RoadMt. Juliet, TN 37122
Telephone:
754-6111
Fax:
754-8203
Office Hours:
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-F
Classified Deadline:
1 p.m. every Monday
By Debbie Whitaker
Special to The Chronicle
Grace United Methodist Church invites all children ages four thru completed 5th graders to go to the edge this summer for Vacation Bible School: CAMP E.D.G.E.: EXPERIENCE + DISCOVERGOD EVERYWHERE is an extreme adventure camp taking kids onexciting Bible treks to experience and discover God everywhere,every day. The fun begins July 13 and ends July 17 from 6:00-8:30 pmat 2905 North Mt. Juliet Road. Each Bible trek is supported with science activities, songs, crafts,games, and snacks.To be a part of all the extreme fun at CAMP E.D.G.E.: EXPERIENCE + DISCOVER GOD EVERYWHERE, visit the church’s website at www.graceumc.net/VBS All kids have a place at Grace and shepherds areavailiable for childrenwith special needs.
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Writers from acrossthe state gathered atCumberland University Friday, June 13, andSaturday, June 14, to shareand learn from noted authorsat the Tennessee WritersAlliance ‘09 WordFest.Friday’s sessionsfeatured Wilson County’s ownLeon Alligood, who spoke toa packed room on multi-media presentations. WyattPrunty, professor anddirector of the SewaneeWriters Conference,
fl
ewin from the University of the South for a Friday and Saturday session onpoetry, both well-attended.Editor Kathryn Knight andagent Etta Wilson read andcritiqued the
fi
rst pages of manuscripts brought by conference participants. Thissession is always a favoriteand was also packed.On Friday evening,participants moved fromthe Cumberland campus toSherlock’s Book Emporiumin Lebanon, where ownersSteve and Patty Guynnprovided a reception for TWAparticipants.It was aperfect evening for musicand camaraderie, and both were in abundance, as JimPhiffer and Friends playedin the courtyard while TWAmembers chatted withfeatured authors WilliamGay and J. Wes Yoder.Yoder and Gay did tworeadings from their worksin the Sherlock’s theaterand answered questionsafterwards. Several membersalso took advantage of openmic readings as well.Saturday was packed with events, as J. T. Ellisonand Eric Wilson spoke atboth morning and afternoonsessions, while Whitney Ferre’ hosted a morningsession on creativity andWyatt Prunty an afternoonon poetry.Eric Wilson presentedthe keynote address duringthe luncheon in historicBaird Chapel, where thegroup dined on Southernfried chicken, almondinegreen beans, herbed redpotatoes, and apple pie.Songwriter Ron Block wrapped up the conferencein the Heydel Fine ArtsCenter, along with his friend,singer/songwriter RandallGoodgame, on piano. Blockis a long-time member of Allison Krauss & UnionStation, and he treated theaudience to a performancehis Dove-award winningsong, “A Living Prayer,”among other selections.Personal connectionsand networking is a primary draw for the writersconference, and there weremany at this year’s event.For example, Etta Wilson was formerly the librarianat Castle Heights Military Academy and at Mt. JulietHigh School, and she re-connected with friendsDorothy Jenkins and Dr.Bobbie Speck. Likewise,Kathryn Knight had beena college student of WyattPrunty’s at Virginia Techand was thrilled to see himagain. Gaye Hawks visited with friends Ron and SandraBlock throughout the day.Professor Randy Mackinfrom Middle Tennessee StateUniversity was instrumentalin bringing both WyattPrunty and William Gay tothe conference and was gladto spend time with them.Severalteachers attendedthe event from Manchester,as well as Montgomery,Smith, and Wilson countiesand commented that the workshops were ideal forprofessional development.Participants wereoverheard to say that theCumberland campus wasa perfect place for theconference, and there werealready those anticipatingnext year’s event.
Writers from across TN converge in Wilson for TWA ‘09 WordFest
Longtime journalist and Wilson County resident Leon Alligood, left, gave a multi-media presentation onFriday to a packed classroom at Cumberland University during WordFest, a celebration of the writtenword hosted by the Tennessee Writers Alliance. For more information on the TWA visit their website atwww.tn-writer.org ~ Photo by Tomi L. Wiley / 
The Chronicle
 
The Chronicle of Mt. Juliet, June 24, 2009, Page 3
By Tomi L. Wiley
 Managing Editor 
   O   L   D   H   I   C   K   O   R   Y   B   L   V   D .   M   T .   J   U   L   I   E   T   R   O   A   D   D   O   N   E   L   S   O   N   P   I   K   E
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COME SEE AND DRIVE THE NEW FORD CAR LINEUP.
2010 Taurus
– We’ll be pulling off the silk onthis new car to reveal the dynamic design of the new 2010 Taurus. You’ll be able to see andexperience its incredible quality and craftsmanshipinside and out. And there are 10 class-exclusive
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* EPA estimated 41 city/36 hwy mpg, Fusion Hybrid; 26 city/34 hwy mpg Fusion S I-4 Automatic. Actual mileage will vary. Midsize class per R.L. Polk & Co.
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 Not only are there great carsto see and drive, but we’ll have great food, And don’t forget toenter your name into a drawing to win a 2010 Taurus
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76 Belinda Parkway • Mt. Juliet, TN
www.tworiversford.com
This Friday, June 26th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Mt. Juliet citycommissioners approved thecity’s
fi
scal year 2009/2010budget Monday night andended the discussion on ahigh note: with $75,000.00added to the fund balance,the projected balance at year’s end will be a projected$1.375 million.“I’m going to give you every con
fi
dence inthe world that we’re goingto exceed one million,” Mt. Juliet City Manager RandyRobertson said. He addedthat the budget does notre
fl
ect estimated sales taxrevenues from Wal-Mart,Aldis or any other “big box”retailers, only what thecommission included for theopening of Lowe’s, projectedto open next month.The budget wasamended several timesand discussed at length.Mayor Linda Elam madethe motion to amend theconservative number toincrease the estimated fundbalance by $75,000.00 upto $1,972,308.07, secondedby District 4 Commissioner Jim Bradshaw, andthe commission votedunanimously on theamendment.An amendmentsuggested by District 3Commissioner Ed Hagertyto remove the ½ cost of living pay increase plus ½merit increase based onperformance would proposed1% performance-based raisefor employees performing well was seconded by Elam. The mayor questioned theprocedure used to ensureall employees are treatedequally.“I want to eliminatethe teacher’s pet,” she said.Robertson saidemployment performanceis evaluation-based,and he would review theevaluations. Robertsonadded that he “appreciatesthis type of conversation”and Hagerty’s amendment.Hagerty said he hoped everyemployee would get the 1%on the performance-basedincrease.The amendment,however, was voted down 2 – 3, with Bradshaw, District1 Commissioner Ted Floydand District 2 CommissionerWill Sellers voting against.An amendment tohave the Citizen Report, theCity’s quarterly newsletter,available only online at asavings of $12,000.00 wasalso voted down 2 – 3, withBradshaw and Hagertyvoting for the online-onlyversion. Elam suggestedalso to reduce the quality of the newsletter to newsprintquality and have fewerpages, to be published fourtimes a year, at a cost of approximately $10,000.00,but the motion did notreceive a second and failed.Hagerty alsoattempted to amend theAnimal Control budget,remarking that some$400,000.00 is allocatedfor Animal Control “and wecut the organizations thathelp people.” He suggestedeliminating $100,000.00but received no second, andthe motion failed.Hagerty then madea motion to “temporarilyeliminate” the city codesdepartment at an estimatedcost of $80,000.00. Thatamendment received nosecond from the commissionand failed.Elam made a motionto reduce the general fundexpenses by an additional.003 percent of the totalappropriations, which wouldbe shy of $30,000.00, tobring the fund balance to $1million. Sellers stated thatthe staff had already offeredcuts. Floyd suggestedremoving $25,000.00 forthe 2010 July 4
fi
reworkscelebration. By a 3 – 2 vote,commissioners approvedan amendment removing$25,000.00 from the
fi
reworks budget, but if Lowe’s opens prior to October2009 that amount will beadded back. Bradshaw andHagerty voted against theamendment.Bradshaw noted thathe would not vote to approvethe budget, although hecommended City staff “fordoing a great job” withthe budget. He said thecommission has cut over$73,000.00 from grants, which was why he would notvote to approve the budget.The budget wasapproved as amended onsecond reading by a 3 – 2vote, with Bradshaw andHagerty voting against.An increase in sewerrates was approved 3 – 2 on
fi
rst reading, with Bradshawand Hagerty votingagainst. The rate increaseto $1.25 will mean some$219,000.00 for the Cityper year, according to PublicWorks Director Marlin Keel.He added that the cost forMetro Nashville to treat Mt. Juliet’s sewer is $1.6 - $1.8million per year, in additionto the costs of maintainingand
fi
xing “aging” sewer andhome hookups.A Board of Commissioner ProcedureManual was not approved on
fi
rst reading, with Bradshaw,Hagerty and Sellers votingagainst it.A resolution toauthorize the acceptanceof the property located onIndustrial Drive and theAnimal Control Shelter andauthorize the mayor to signthe documents to purchaseand close on the AnimalControl Shelter locatedon Industrial Drive wasunanimously approved.An ordinance toamend the FY 2008/2009budget general fund/AnimalControl by $14,650.89 wasunanimously approved on
fi
rst reading.An ordinance to addMt. Juliet Police DetectiveGreg Graves as a signeron the con
fi
dential drugchecking account wasunanimously approved on
fi
rst reading.
MJ leaders approve FY 2009/2010 budget, year end bal: $1.375 M
of 00

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