A Few Minutes with the Mayor – July 2026

HELLO EVERYONE! As you might have noticed, I have been absent from my desk in City Hall since February 23rd. After postponing it for longer than I should have, I recently had a very successful spinal surgery. I’m happily back in my office again. I want to acknowledge our city staff and our most capable City Council for taking over most of my duties while I was recuperating. Council President Andrea Thompson really stepped up to chair City Council meetings and step in for me when I couldn’t be available. It was such a relief to have the time to heal and regain my strength, knowing that my daily duties were handled with such care and attention to detail. I am grateful to work with such a professional group of folks. I would also like to thank those of you who called, sent flowers, offered assistance, and otherwise supported my family during this extended period. It’s true, Jacksonville is the best place to live!

As most of you are aware, we are gearing up for a summer that may bring significant fire danger. Lightning, wind, heat, and the water situation through the valley will all contribute to our worries and heightened awareness of what could happen this fire season. If you have not already, please stop by City Hall and pick up copies of our Citizens’ Emergency Guide and our Emergency Evacuation Checklist & Map. These valuable publications were designed specifically for Jacksonville and could make a huge difference in the decisions you make to keep your family safe. Keep copies in all of your vehicles and share them with your family members. Have a family plan in place to address all contingencies, and also remember to check your “Go Bags” for family members and pets. I don’t recommend any particular bag, but there are many articles online about different types of bags and what should be in them to help you make the right choice for your situation.

I regret to inform you that the Mayor’s 4th of July Picnic will be on hiatus this year for a variety of reasons. Due to my recent surgery and continued recuperation, I cannot host the event. Our ancient BBQ grill is not dependable; it is so tired that the money we would need to spend to keep it running is prohibitive.
City offices will be closed on Friday, July 3rd, and I don’t feel it is right to ask employees to come in on Friday to set up for Saturday and come back on Saturday to take everything down. Many of our volunteers have asked for a year off to regroup. We will use this time to revisit the picnic for next year. With fresh volunteers, a new grill, and more folks to help, we can come back refreshed and renewed. If anyone has a commercial grill they don’t need anymore, please contact me. Thank you for understanding, and enjoy this Independence Day with your family and friends.

On a safety note, summer is here. That means more folks out and about everywhere in town, including our children. Jacksonville historically hosts a lot of events and tourists each summer. Please abide by traffic laws, including not speeding, and watch for people in our crosswalks and designated crossing areas. Children can be especially hard to see sometimes, and older people need more time to walk across an intersection. Allow more time to travel if you are an impatient driver. It is never worth it to be part of an accident that could have been prevented.

I am looking forward to some additional events this summer, including a soft opening of our History Center. The History Center, in Old City Hall, is coming along beautifully, with continual progress every day. It will be a wonderful place to start touring Jacksonville’s historical sites and gain a new, full comprehension of how we came to be. In the modern world, we sometimes forget the reasons Jacksonville is so well preserved and the history that is behind us. Next, the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce never fails to surprise me with the ideas they come up with to feature our town. The Chamber has a whole new slate of projects they are working on to promote Jacksonville. Last, but not least, the Britt has a wonderful lineup of performers this year and is off to a great start. Progress on their move into the U.S. Hotel building continues its development, a prospect we all look forward to.

Stay tuned to this publication for updates on all of the exciting news from our historic city, and enjoy a Jacksonville summer!