Say, we're 'Historic' too, and lots more

While the election of a new mayor and vice-mayor stole the headlines from Monday night's City Commission meeting (scroll down to Monday night's post for details), there's lots of other news to report. For instance ....

Bank a welcome sight
Rick English shared with the commission that Red Mountain Bank will open in three to four weeks at the corner of Franklin Road and Maryland Way. All who have passed or turned that corner in the past few years know what an improvement the bank has made since acquiring the forlorn-looking building that most recently was home to dry cleaning and computer repair businesses.
English shared that Red Mountain has spent $18,000 on landscaping alone. A grand opening is planned in late June.

Historic Franklin move over
While recognizing her request was late in the city's budget-making process, Brentwood Cool Springs Chamber president Cindi Parmenter asked the commission to consider using a portion of its motel tax to support the Williamson County Convention and Visitors Bureau (http://www.visitwilliamson.com/). She held up the bureau's latest tourism brochure that only mentions Historic Franklin on its cover "because we are not supporting the CVB," she said. (The county seat just loves it when people use that capital "H". It's Historic, you know.)
With city support, Brentwood would hold more seats on the bureau's board, could possibly be home to a new visitor's center and could get a piece of the tourism organization's $1.1 million budget, Parmenter said.
"It is an investment, not just an expenditure," she added. Brentwood has more hotel/motel rooms than any other city in the county, making the request seem reasonable.

A November election ahead?
City resident and active chamber member Chris Bosen asked commission members to discuss turnout at last week's municipal election, and what each thought of holding the non-partisan event in conjunction with state or national races as a way to increase voter interest.
Of the commissioners who responded, none spoke in favor of making a change. Anne Dunn cited partisan interference in the past as one reason the commission years ago voted to have its own election day.
Commissioner Joe Sweeney, however, did suggest that Bosen and the chamber undertake a study and to share the results with the commission. A step in the right direction.

Picayune, Miss. pays it forward
Did you know if a natural disaster strikes Brentwood and chaos and crime run rampant in the aftermath, all we have to do is make a phone call to Mississippi and reinforcements will be on their way?
This comforting bit of information was shared by Police Chief Ricky Watson as he presented a proclamation and plaque given to the city from its counterpart in Picayune, Miss. Nineteen of Brentwood's finest went to help out there immediately after Hurricane Katrina.
Watson said the area had looting, assaults and no services after the storm.
"It's just undescribable what you could see as you flew over," he said of his visit to check on his crew while they were there.
Greg Mitchell, Picayune's mayor, called his proclamation a "pay it forward" one, Watson said. Let's hope we never have to cash it in.

Saying goodbye to the Judge
There was a reception Tuesday for retiring City Judge Thomas Schlater who served all but two of the past 40 years on the city's bench. Haven't heard, but I hope all of the teenagers he has taken licenses from over the years didin't catch wind of it. It could have gotten ugly.
Seriously though, I bet more than a few of them would love to shake his hand and say thanks now that a little bit of time, or in Judge Schlater's case, a lot, has passed.

What else? Well, Comcast is suing the city but apparently we don't have to worry about it ... yet.

Have BrentWord worthy news to share? Email me at brentword@comcast.net.