Alexandria, home to 837, is a small town that’s wasted no time in getting organized. The town’s list of accomplishments is impressive and has enriched the community’s quality of life. The town has been recognized with a 2009 Tennessee Municipal League Achievement Award for Small Town Progress. The award was presented on Tuesday, June 16th during TML’s 70th annual conference at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
Alexandria’s indomitable sprit and prudent use of resources is a shining example of small town cooperation and leadership at its best. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen rolled up their sleeves and went to work fixing problems by forming a new town charter, creating a modern budget process and a code with organized laws and regulations, a planning commission that understands its responsibilities, modern personnel policies, and a beer board to regulate the sale of alcoholic beverages.
In the meanwhile, the Board requested that the Municipal Technical Advisory Service undertake an annexation study and prepare a plan of services for an area of 1,000 acres.
“I had serious doubts to the town’s ability and political will to undertake such an ambitious annexation.” said Don Darden, MTAS Municipal Management consultant.
“To my amazement the proposed annexation has been implemented,” Darden continues. “It is not uncommon for a town or city to make one or two such improvements. What is extraordinary is that this little town has made all the improvements during the past 15 months.”
“When I was notified we were receiving the award for our list of accomplishments, I hadn’t thought about how many items we had accomplished,” said Mayor Ria Baker. “I just thought completing these things was what we were supposed to do.”
“The town of Alexandria is an example of what can be accomplished when city officials work together, use all the resources available to them, and make the best effort to do what is right and in the best interests of its citizens,” said Darden. “This little town knows where it is going and it has never looked back.”
Each year the Tennessee Municipal League honors cities throughout the state for overall excellence, improvement, specific out standing programs, or department accomplishments.
Other award winners for 2009 include: Chattanooga, for Excellence in Human Resource Programs; Dyersburg, for Excellence in Quality of Life Initiatives; Erwin, for Excellence in Governance; Gallatin, for Excellence in Police Services; Kingsport, for Community Progress; and Knoxville, for Excellence in Green Leadership; and Sparta, for Excellence in Public Works.
The Tennessee Municipal League is a voluntary, cooperative organization established by the cities and towns of the state for mutual assistance and improvements. The League’s primary function is to advocate on behalf of city governments. TML works with the Tennessee General Assembly promoting legislation helpful to cities and opposing legislation harmful to cities.
(Pictured: seated left to right- Tony Tarpley, Mayor Ria Baker, and Derrick Baker; Standing left to right- Charles Griffith, Shelia Clayborn, and Maureen Tubbs. (Eddie Tubbs absent)
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