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Mayor Bell files for full term as Mayor of City of Columbia Mayor files early to leave no doubt of his intentions. Releases Progress Report with impressive list of accomplishments. In interview, he lays out some of plans for Columbia's future. By Ed Waggener Mayor Patrick R. Bell filed candidacy papers this morning, Thursday, May 25, 2006, at 9:00 a.m. for election to a full term as Mayor of Columbia. Deputy Clerk Casi Melton processed the application in the office of the Adair County Clerk. His papers were signed by Chief of Police Mark D. Harris and City Utilities Commission office manager Betty Coop. Mayor Bell is now only into his 19th month as Mayor. He is filling out the unexpired term of Mayor Curtis Hardwick, who resigned to take a high ranking job in the Fletcher Administration. Mayor Bell began his term on November 1, 2004, after being approved by the Columbia City Council. The filing deadline for candidates is Tuesday, August 8, 2006, to file, but Mayor Bell said he wanted to file early to leave no doubt in anyone's mind that he is running. Already an impressive recordClick here for related comment His record for getting grants, streamlining city government, and making city government has been impressive. He maintains a City of Columbia Progress Report which shows everything from restocking the city lake to grants received (2,885,917.00 in 2005), and a quick perusual of the list shows progress enviable by any city of this size in America. It follows below: Mayor Patrick R. Bell's City of Columbia Progress Report November 1, 2004 to May 25, 2006
*The following Grants have been received during 2005:
Total Grants Received During 2005: $ 2,885,917.00 *The following Grants have been applied for during 2005 but were not received:
*The following Grants have been applied for during 2006:
State Line Item Budget $ 475,000.00 (Addition to City Hall) TOTAL GRANTS APPLIED FOR 2006 $1,604,064.00 Annexations:
But he's looking to do more: In an interview after the filing this morning, the Mayor listed several unfinished projects he hopes to see through in the next term, if elected. These include: A Major Upgrade to the City's Cable System. The city's franchise agreement with Falcon Cable is up in August, 2006. While the company has made major improvements, with considerable prodding, the mayor would like to see one company offer cable, telephone service, and broadband, "We don't want to have to keep begging to get decent service," he said, "We want to be on the cusp of the best anyone in the nation gets." He thinks that may happen with new interest from a leading telecommunication firm. Completing the sidewalks, bikeways, and City Park program."I've been in contact with Commissioner Marc Williams and with Curtis Hardwick," he said, "and I think we're going to see the sidewalks on Dillon Street and Greensburg ST done this summer in time for the start of school." But, he said, there is a lot more to be done. "Doug Coomer flew me over the new construction and along the path of the new bypass and interchange construction. Columbia has a lot of beautiful, green, open spaces. I'd like to see us take advantage of grant money available to for sidewalks and bikeways." And, he added, he hopes that grant money can be found for a new City Park which would be managed by a Parks and Recreation Board being established by City Council. A Communications Center. The whole project might not reach, in dollars, the total in the new Columbia-Adair County water treatment plant, but one of the most impressive accomplishments of the Bell Administration is now in the works. It's the combined City-County operation of a new Communications Center to be located on the corner of Campbellsville ST and Adams Alley. With the help of Kentucky State Senator Vernie McGaha, nearly one-half million in a state grants has been approved for the construction of the building, and Mayor Bell has the assurance of Homeland Security authorities that if major help in outfitting the building will come from DHL. "You build, we'll fill it," Mayor Bell says he has been told. The building will handle dispatching for 911 services for local emergency response agencies and will also allow a secure facility for maintaining an immediate link to National Crime Information Center for Columbia Police, the Adair County Sheriff, and other local law enforcement agencies. A new emphasis on the Arts. Mayor Bell's interest in the visual and performing arts is well known. He's an often called on speaker, and has contributed a lot to visual arts with compelling water color interpretations of Adair County landmarks. He's hoping to see the City give a leg up to the Adair County Arts Council and hopes to see the Council occupy, maintain, and keep open the Trabue-Russell House. Continued emphasis on beautification. The PRIDE clean-ups were major steps, he said. "I can't say enough about how well Carolyn Edwards (City Clerk Carolyn Edwards) handled the PRIDE clean-ups," he said, and added that intensifying the effort will be a big part of the remainder of this term and any additional one. And of course, to see new economic development. "You know," he says, "everytime we get people to look at Columbia, they see what everyone who lives here sees. That this is a special place. And they want to be a part of it. I think that we'll get more jobs here as others see what a great place Columbia is. I'm going to do all I can to keep making it more and more attractive." In a lighter vein, Mayor Bell has always told his county resident friends who worry about being annexed, "While I'm Mayor, we going to make Columbia so good people will be asking to be annexed." So far, he's been right. The city has grown by annexation several times since he became Mayor, and each time the annexation was by request. This story was posted on 2006-05-25 15:09:36
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115 Jamestown St. Columbia, KY. 270-384-2496 
  
   
 Provided by the Adair Co Fiscal Court and the Adair Co. Emergency Mgt. Agency 
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