OFFICIAL WILL RETIRE FROM CITY HE LOVES

JACKSON -- Carl Talley has a philosophy about running the city of Jackson.

If it is written down somewhere, don't use up brain space to remember it. The information can be looked up later.

It works for Talley. After 24 years on the job, there is a lot for a city administrator to remember.

Talley's story, while not a rags-to-riches tale, is impressive.

In 1956, he began at the bottom of the ladder, working for Jackson's street department.

Talley, then 20, remembers days of running behind dump trucks once a month, picking up garbage that homeowners couldn't burn.

Things are a little easier for Talley these days -- at least physically.

But on Saturday, he will say goodbye to his life as full-time city administrator and hello to retirement. ~

It isn't complete retirement, though, according to Mayor Paul Sander.

"I definitely want to stress that Mr. Talley will be here for two years part-time, probably longer if he desires," Sander said.~

Talley would be an asset during the transition period in hiring a new city manager.

Talley, 58, will serve as a consultant for Jackson until he turns 60 in March 1996.

After that, the city administrator said, he intends to enjoy his time away from the job.

A recent canoe trip reminded him of how good vacations can feel.

He said he wouldn't miss the job for the job's sake but would miss being involved.

But, he said, "I'm looking forward to retirement."

After 38 years of service to Jackson -- 24 as city administrator -- the rest is deserved.

Talley hasn't taken a sick day since 1965.

During his career, he served in the city engineer's office, at the power plant and in the general superintendent's office. He became city administrator in 1972.

In his years of city employment, Talley watched Jackson's population grow from 4,000 to 10,000. He helped in the development of parks and industry. And he fell in love with his hometown -- over and over again.

"Even when there were just 4,000 people here, it was a quaint little town," Talley said, adding that it is~ a "great place to live," and it remains a family-oriented community.

Statistics prove him correct. Sander said 1994 might be a record year for the building of single-family dwellings in Jackson.

Middle-class homes are snatched up as soon as they are placed on the real estate multi-listing.

Over the years, Talley had a part in the policy-making that created the clean, relatively peaceful town.

He proposed the city's junk car program, which persistently forces careless landowners to clean their yards.

He helped initiate the One Step Program, which encouraged people to take one step, no matter how small, toward improving their yards or homes.

In 1974, Talley spearheaded the effort to pass a 1-cent sales tax to pay for free residential refuse collection, city park developments, capital improvements and street improvements.

Four years ago, Talley aided the city in getting a grant for waste water treatment plant improvements.

The power plant has been expanded several times during his career, and the fleet of city service vehicles has grown from 10 to 88.

More than 100 qualified people have applied for Talley's job, but none could be the walking encyclopedia of Jackson that he has become.

Still, he has some advice for the successful applicant.

"Be committed," he said, because the job is demanding. ~"I don't even use a clock as more than a guide. I just keep working until the job is done."