MAYOR, ALDERMEN TOUR CITY DEPARTMENTS

JACKSON -- While his fellow tourists ambled around Jackson's police headquarters Tuesday, Mayor Paul Sander tacked a business card with his work, home and car telephone numbers onto a bulletin board.

After all, he toured headquarters at least twice after being elected mayor in 1993. It was that year he decided to invite aldermen on annual trips through every city department.

Sander leaves the business cards to remind employees they may call him at any time to air complaints or make suggestions, but he said he thinks going to employees is a better idea. Aldermen Kerry Hoffman and David Hitt, both able to accompany Sander this year, made similar comments.

"When you go to see them, it goes a long way in winning their confidence," Sander said. "We may not be able to make 100 percent of the city employees happy, but we can show them the courtesy of coming out here and addressing their concerns."

On Tuesday, Sander, Hoffman, Hitt and City Administrator Steve Wilson visited Jackson's public works, police, fire, power, water and maintenance departments. Today, they are scheduled to visit the electric, street, sanitation, waste-water, cemetery and park departments.

They were to tour the public library either Tuesday or today.

For Hoffman, appointed in the spring to complete Alderman Kevin Sawyer's unfinished term, Tuesday was a learning experience. He met several city employees at a picnic Saturday, he said, but the tour gave him an opportunity to see where they work and what they do.

"I've been in Jackson all my life and I'm still learning about this town," Hoffman said. "I still have seven months to go on this one-year term, and the more information I have the better off I am."

He said a knowledge of the city would help him get elected if he decides to run in April, which is a possibility.

Hitt looked at the tours from a budgetary point of view. He said it is easier to make decisions in planning the city budget when he has seen the equipment employees presently use.

Hitt also wanted to meet the people who keep Jackson's city services going.

"There are over 100 city employees, and I probably know 20 or 30," he said. "It's nice to get out and meet the other 70."

Some city employees the mayor and aldermen met Tuesday said they appreciated their elected officials' concern. Police Chief Marvin Sides said it gave him the opportunity to speak to them one-on-one and express his department's wants and needs.

And Leisa Floyd, assistant to the public works director, said the tours showed the mayor and aldermen really wanted to know what was going on in their city.