ISSUES
Listening to thousands of residents, I have heard some repeated concerns. People want our city to remain a faith-based, family community led by someone with a proactive approach to the challenges ahead.
Compare Jamie Clary to the other candidates
ISSUES
Traffic and Infrastructure
Before 2016 the City was repaving fewer than four miles of roads per year. Many roads were on a repair list that was 40 years long. Now, we are on track to repave 20 miles of roads this year.
We adjusted the timing of several traffic lights and are starting to synchronize all the signals in the city. Major traffic projects at Gallatin Road & Walton Ferry Road and on Drakes Creek Road & Stop 30 Road will begin soon.
The Saundersville Road tunnel will remain a high priority. We are applying for a federal grant to pay for the construction of the whole project, possibly $12 million. If approved, we will push that project with full urgency.
We have fixed 65 drainage problems and will keep going. We opened two new parks while I have been mayor and have two more parks on the way.
Regarding the traffic to and from Nashville, the city cannot widen I-65 and Vietnam Veterans Boulevard. We are working frequently with the state to move that project along.
I certainly can help medical providers understand that if they come out here, they've got 3,300 health care professionals that want to work for them.
That is helpful, especially for older folks, if they've got to go see a doctor. A trip to Nashville is going to take several hours out of their day.
Jobs
Our economic development efforts have brought new businesses here and supported the expansion of existing companies (International Machine, Rocky McElhaney Law Firm, Magnetic Hold, International Machine, St. Thomas, Xtend Healthcare, Vanderbilt Hospital, Celebrity Coaches, and many others). Business owners have invested $134 million in new commercial buildings since 2016. We will continue making pitches to bring more professional employers to Hendersonville and searching for companies to build spec office space.
Image
I care deeply about the image of Hendersonville. With the vision of being a recreation destination, we are increasing participation in race events that bring outsiders to Hendersonville. In addition, dozens of positive news stories were shared in the Nashville media about our exceptional city. To better serve neighbors living near ugly property, we streamlined residential maintenance complaints. We opened a new greenway near Saundersville Road. Next, we will finish the greenway along Sanders Ferry Road.
Apartments
Hendersonville has been growing at a phenomenal rate over the past seven years, and I love that people want to live in our exceptional city. However, new houses and apartments have caused us to out-grow our roads, schools, parks and drainage capacity. It is essential that we strengthen and reinforce our existing infrastructure in order to accommodate our current needs before growing further
Overall Vision
I will continue being a pro-active mayor focused on jobs, infrastructure and image. Those three concerns impact everything else that is important in Hendersonville.
Other Issues and Concerns:
Growth and development
We have out-grown ourselves. We need more jobs, not more people. Business growth will help our infrastructure; residential growth presents more challenges.
Several years ago I led 800 people to fight a proposed apartment complex on Indian Lake Blvd. It would have cost the city $360,000 in services annually beyond the property tax revenue. We were successful in getting the application denied, and now several stores are in that space. They are producing $260,000 in annual sales tax for the city and a similar amount for schools.
The next step is to bring more professional jobs to Hendersonville.
Recycling
We need a recycling program that is economical for everybody in Hendersonville. (video)
City budget and taxes
I opposed the city property tax increase for three reasons:
1. The city’s sales tax revenue is increasing significantly every year.
2. Long-term obligations are expiring, freeing up money for other priorities.
3. The census should generate an additional revenue for the city from state-shared taxes.
Many residents on fixed incomes worry about outliving their assets. A tax increase means that some seniors may have to move from Hendersonville.
Professional experience
For 17 years I consulted for growing companies needing help navigating government red tape. They were bringing jobs, taxes, and infrastructure to communities. Hendersonville needs more jobs, and I am the candidate who understands what employers are looking for and avoiding.
This work in the private sector prepared me to lead the city. But, my community experience is also vital. I have been an alderman, planning commissioner, vice-president of the chamber of commerce, board member for many local non-profit organizations, and member of multiple city committees. No other candidate has my level of experience in government and the private sector.
Traffic
We have completed the bidding and planning process for synchronizing traffic signals. Construction will start soon. Meanwhile, we have tweaked some signals to improve traffic in very specific situations:
-
Turned some signals to blinking yellow during some parts of the day.
-
Switched off left-turn arrows when nobody is turning left.
-
Stop automatic cycling on some signals with pre-set timing,
-
Lengthened the time that green lights are on for roads with heavier traffic.
The long-term solution is to bring more jobs to Hendersonville. That will help relieve traffic heading to Nashville every day on Gallatin Road, Vietnam Veterans Boulevard, and the streets that lead to those roads.
Maintenance of roads
For too long roads only received attention after they become dangerous. At the same time, the City was budgeting only enough money to pave four miles of roads per year. That was way two few.
Two years ago we developed criteria for prioritizing roads to be repaved. We also started budgeting more money. This year we will pave between 20 and 30 miles of roads.
Older sections of Hendersonville
The first Hendersonville house I lived in is on Walton Ferry Road. The first house I owned is off Sanders Ferry Road. My first school was Lakeside Park. The second house I owned is on Shivel Drive. I watched the city neglect the older parts of our town. The infrastructure and the image suffered.
I opposed moving city hall and the library from the heart of our city. Those decisions had a negative impact on property values. As mayor I have:
• Enforced codes on West Main Street and on property owned by absentee landlords.
• Activated a steering committee of owners of property on West Main Street.
• Sought city funding to improve Main Street infrastructure.
• Began leading us through the grant process to secure funding for the Drakes Creek Greenway.