There's an old saying: If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a merry Christmas.
Blytheville Mayor James Sanders must have entertained a similar thought this year, his first in the mayor's office.
Sanders is known as a spiritual man, and he is certain to enjoy the Christmas season like the rest of us.
But if there were no $3.2 million debt to the Internal Revenue Service, think of how differently this year would be remembered.
Maybe it would be remembered as a fresh start. The new administration and freshmen City Council members Stan Parks, Missy Langston and John Musgraves have brought a new energy to the table. They have laid the ground work for some positive things in the future. Obviously, there is plenty more to do, but by most accounts it seems they have played their hand as well as could be expected, given the circumstances.
Maybe 2011 would be remembered for the big cleanup efforts that brought hundreds together this fall for a common cause. Folks of all walks of life labored together in unity to rid some of the high-crime areas of vegetation that was not only unsightly, but used as a hiding place for the criminal element. Councilmen Musgraves and Parks had the vision last year, and more than 40 churches came together to make it happen. Local church leaders made up an executive board that spearheaded the project. In a unified effort, young, old, black, white, rich, poor cleared alleys and cleaned lots. They even found a home that was buried in vegetation during the first cleanup. It was inspiring, to say the least.
Maybe the year would be remembered for the city's finances beginning to turnaround. Before laughing off that statement, consider the water department's finances have improved to the point that it can cover $10,000 a month to the Internal Revenue Service. The water company is turning a profit now. The city has paid its payroll taxes this year, which admittedly sounds undeserving of congratulations. But obviously that has been an issue in the past. The new regime has made it a point to partner with local industries, along with putting cost-saving measures in place. The Council is considering refunding the 2005 Water Revenue Bonds for interest cost savings. The move is estimated to save around $300,000 by the time the bonds retire in 2020. The city would pay a projected interest rate between 2.0 percent and 3.050 percent through 2020, instead of the current rate of 3.6 percent to 4.2 percent over that time, according to figures from Stephens Inc. As of Feb. 1, the city owes $3,245,000 on the bond. Also the city is shopping around for the best price on chemicals, something it hasn't done in the past and an effort that could save thousands. Then, next year the city will have a projected $700,000 in 1/4-cent parks and recreation money to relieve the strain on the General Fund. Add that to a 1/4-cent police and fire tax and 1/4-cent infrastructure tax, and the city would have been in a position to be at least in better shape than the past few years.
Maybe the year would be remembered as trust being restored. There is still a long, long way to go in that happening. Local leaders don't get the benefit of the doubt, which is not necessarily a bad thing, because they should be held accountable. They have to earn that trust. That's been difficult to do this year for obvious reasons. One thing is for sure, most of the new city leaders are working harder than some of their predecessors to make Blytheville better.
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com