Video: Shelton Says City Unified, With Strong Momentum, In Third State Of The City Address

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TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Tupelo department heads and city workers had an opportunity to get a report
on how things have been going during the past year.

After the presentation of colors, an invocation , the Pledge of Alliegiance
and the National Anthem, Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton presented his third state of the city address.
Shelton spoke for about an hour without prepared notes, covering a variety
of issues.

Shelton said the designation of Tupelo as an All America City for the fifth
time was a high point of 2015.

“Only seven cities in the entire country can claim that, so that’s at the
top of the list,” Shelton said.

The mayor took the opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of the late
Jack Reed Senior to the city , state and nation. Members of the Reed family
were given flags that flew over Tupelo City Hall, in honor of Mr Reed.

“Dad was a patriot, he loved America and we do too so this is a wonderful
gift, opportune time to celebrate his life and our country,” said Jack Reed Jr.

For the second year in a row, sales tax receipts have set a record.
Taxpayers saved more than 250 thousand dollars when the city clerk refunded
bonds from 2007. It all means no tax hike.

“There’s so many different departments in the city, they are all doing a
fantastic job , we’ve got money being collected at park and rec, so many
other departments, coliseum, we basically look to see how we’re doing,
constantly assess that monthly,” said City Clerk Kim Hanna.

Shelton also touted the success of the Mayor’s Outreach Task Force, saying
the diverse group of citizens helps keep the city unified.

“It’s very important to have this outreach task force, one of the main
reasons is to keep peace, we need peace because there’s wars all over this
country and the good city of Tupelo we are always got a good report of
having a good city and we want to keep it that way,” said Rev. Chris Traylor, of the Mayor’s Outreach Task Force.

Department Heads were also recognized before the THS choir closed the
program.

Shelton also stressed the importance of cooperation between the city and the
Tupelo Public School District.