Beech Tree News Network

Morgantown Mayor Linda Keown has officially endorsed the current City Council members in the upcoming November 6th election.  Keown released a personal letter (posted below) to the media this afternoon stating the reasons for her endorsements.

Message from Mayor Keown:
Look around your city. Do you see projects going on and that have been completed that you haven’t seen in a long time?
I think the answer to that is (yes).
Please go to the polls on November 6th and vote for the council members that are now in office:  Edra Dean Hampton, Terrell House, Sharon Johnson, Gary Southerland, and Russell Givens (Rick Scott is not running for office).
Citizens of Morgantown, I am asking that you help keep the council members in place that we now have.  They have been excellent servants of the community.  They have been devoted to making our city a better place to live. They have spent many hours in planning, attending several work sessions and training sessions, along with attending the usual monthly council meetings which usually last two hours or longer. Council members alongside some community volunteers in meetings, have actually planned and worked on city projects, helping to locate the material that is needed, and doing paperwork that is necessary to get the project from beginning stages to the completion of the project.
Projects undertaken during this administration:
Park:
Lights at the soccer fields, fencing, curbing, dirt work, and scoreboards at the ball fields
Pool House: inside completely renovated, new roping for swimmers
New Disc Golf area
Tennis Courts: new fencing
Storage Building: new roof, doors, and paint
Industrial Area:
Working with existing industries and businesses
Purchased approximately 23 acres of industrial land with the help of the County
Recently cleared the tree line between the above property and other industrial land
Visited industrial sites
Constantly working with our industrial recruiter to locate possible factories or businesses
Attended training provided by TVA to educate us in economic development
The City:
Improved the appearance of city by planting flowers, providing banners, promoting events in town such as singings, festivals, parades, cruise-ins, ect
Sidewalks:
New walkways on G.L. Smith Street, Main Street in front of Dr. Wan’s South Tyler, and also work on Ohio Street.  All of these are handicapped accessible and reduce liability risk for the City.
Tiles and Streets:
Work has been done on several drainage tiles and two streets have been blacktopped.
Comprehensive Plan:
Also, one of the most important items we are still working toward is the City’s Comprehensive Plan, the master plan for the city, both present and in the future.  The Plan is truly”…of the people, by the people, and for the people.”  It is suppose to be revisited at least every five years.  We feel it should be revisited at least every two or even yearly.
Other Policies and Ordinances:
There is much work to be done in reviewing and updating in these areas.

These Council members have proven they have been wise servants and an asset to our community.  Go to the polls on Tuesday, November 6th, and vote for these five incumbents: Gary Southerland, Edra Dean Hampton, Sharon Johnson, Terrell House, and Russell Givens.
Mayor Linda Keown