MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2011 1st Extraordinary Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Blount, Frazier, Horhn, Browning, Butler (38th), Collins, Davis, Fillingane, Hyde-Smith, Jackson (32nd), Kirby

Senate Concurrent Resolution 519

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE CITY OF CLINTON, MISSISSIPPI, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR MIKE PARKER FOR WINNING THE CLARION LEDGER/MISSISSIPPI MUNICIPAL LEAGUE 2011 EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR ITS BIOSOLIDS DRYER AT THE SOUTHSIDE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT AND THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT FOR DEVELOPING THE QUISENBERRY LIBRARY.

     WHEREAS, Clinton was the only city recognized with two 2011 Excellence Awards from the Mississippi Municipal League.  Clinton earned two awards:  one for its state-of-the-art Quisenberry Library that opened in May 2010, and a second for its cutting-edge solar greenhouse system at the city's main Southside Water Treatment Plant; and

     WHEREAS, The Clarion-Ledger/Mississippi Municipal League Excellence Awards recognize and encourage the achievements of Mississippi cities in management, increasing citizen participation, and reaching toward higher service levels.  An independent panel of judges honored the 2011 Municipal Excellence Award Winners at the Mississippi Municipal League Annual Conference held in Biloxi, Mississippi.  The Mississippi Municipal League Excellence Awards program, which began in 1993, recognizes cities that utilize innovative problem solving, excellence in management, citizen participation, and community partnerships to provide increased services and a better quality of life for local citizens.  The competition is divided into two population categories, under 10,000 and over 10,000.  Within each population category, cities can vie for awards in Public Safety, Planning and Economic Development, Public Works and City Spirit.  Judges also select one application as the Best Overall.  This year the Mississippi Municipal League received 53 entries, the most ever, and the judges all agreed that the applications were some of the best they have ever reviewed; and

     WHEREAS, the 25,000-square-foot library, situated in the woods on Northside Drive, was the winner in the category of Planning and Economic Development in cities with a population over 10,000.  The solar greenhouses captured the award for public works in the same category; and

     WHEREAS, the City of Clinton began operating a biosolids dryer facility to provide a cost-effective and flexible biosolids reuse program.  This facility takes liquid biosolids, a by-product of the main wastewater treatment processes and converts them, using heat, to a dry pellet used as fertilizer.  These pellets meet strict state and federal guidelines required to achieve a Class A Exceptional Quality (EQ) rating and provides the city with the most options for safe reuse or cost-effective disposal.  Drying biosolids into pellets decreases the volume to a small fraction of the original amount while producing a safe and useful landscaping product; and

     WHEREAS, the Quisenberry Public Library Advisory Board include the following:  Susan Lassiter, Tom Henderson, Missy Jones, Myra Kinchen, Shellie Zeigler, Ricky Nations, Freida Hartness, Deanna Dillard, Wayne Richey and Jim Temple; and

     WHEREAS, a cooperative city government with an attitude of growth and business-oriented educational facilities in Mississippi College at Clinton and Hinds Community College at nearby Raymond add to the business-friendly climate of the city.  "To be a city that received two awards is quite an accomplishment," Alderman-at-Large Jehu Brabham said of the accolades, which are based in part on a city's vision, planning, architectural design and project implementation; and

     WHEREAS, it is with pride that we recognize the high level of public works and community development services provided to the citizens by this model community which has brought honor to the State of Mississippi:

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the City of Clinton, Mississippi, Public Works Department and Public Works Director Mike Parker for Winning The Clarion Ledger/Mississippi Municipal League 2011 Excellence Award for its biosolids dryer at the Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Planning and Development Department for developing the Quisenberry Library and extend to Mayor Rosemary Aultman, the Clinton Board of Aldermen and citizens of Clinton our best wishes on this auspicious honor.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Mayor Rosemary Aultman for the City of Clinton, forwarded to Public Works Director Mike Parker, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.