Blytheville, Gosnell mayors discuss their plans for 2019

After Election Day in November and, in one of the town's case, a runoff election in December, Blytheville and Gosnell citizens had their picks for the mayors of their respective towns sworn in on Tuesday.

In Blytheville, Mayor James Sanders was re-elected for his third term in the position and in Gosnell a new mayor was victorious, former city councilwoman Teresa Walker.

The Courier spoke with both mayors about their plans for their cities going into 2019.

Sanders said, “What our concerns are, and it is the same concerns that we have had, and that is the quality of life issues...over the past eight years we have already worked hard to get our finances and to try to make sure our finances in order and I believe we are moving in the right direction...at this point we have been able to develop tools that we need to develop a cleaner and a safer Blytheville. What we will be doing in the coming year is continuing to build upon that by working with our infrastructure and when I say infrastructure, I'm not just talking about pipes...public works, our police department and our fire department and making sure they have all the necessary resources.”

Sanders added that one particular issue that is being looked into is the nuisance abatement board, which was passed in 2018. Sanders said that the city has to completely understand the legal tools and strategies that it has to fight — issues like what the board will address, saying “that is something we will be working on this year.”

Sanders stated the city will also be working on identifying all the properties that it owns as well as finding ways of being more efficient with the operation of those properties.

“In attempt to try to bring new ideas to the table and also bring new ideas to the community with an effort from the mayor’s office to the community and from the community to the mayor's office to try to develop a relationship to move the city forward. I believe that it is the duty of the mayor to try to set the atmosphere for the growth of the community and at the same time it is the community's efforts are to grow the community and we should be there to support that effort of growth. That is what is going to help establish a better Blytheville,” Sanders said.

In Gosnell, Walker spoke about what she would like to do in the opening of 2019 to better the city of Gosnell. Though this is Walker’s first term as mayor, she has previous experience in municipal government from her time serving as a city council woman.

“I want to search for grants to improve the infrastructure of the city and I want to get control over the spending. I want to get the citizens more involved in the city like it was when I moved here 25 years ago. Citizen used to get together and pick up trash on the highway...you really don't see that anymore...I'd like to see that happen again. I want to build the morale of the city back up again,” Walker said.

She stated that she knows she cannot do everything at once but she intends to try to get more citizens attending council meetings for both their benefit and the city's benefit.

Walker stated that she also intended to work closely with the sewer supervisor to address drainage issues in the city.

“I know the first couple of weeks are going to be an adjustment for everybody for me and citizens and city employees. I'm hoping everything will run fairly smooth, but I'm prepared for anything,” Walker said.

gwilliams@blythevillecourier.com