Weekly Update 02/14/2014

From Bob Schwartz, City Manager 


Lineman Apprentice Program - We have enrolled Dustin James in the Lineman Apprentice Program conducted by ECG. This is a three year program with training at the Forsyth training center and on-the-job training that Jody and Scottie will monitor here.
Software Upgrade - We have been put on the schedule to have our utility billing and other software upgraded to the new more versatile and more Windows based product. The upgrade and changeover will be in about a year – next February and March, 2015.
CPR Training - Lauran Willis, safety coordinator, reports that she, Stacey, and Dustin received their CPR training and certification last week. Jody, Scottie and Jamie were recertified. This was part of the ECG monthly safety training that we do together with the Covington electric department.
Snow Daze - We were open all day Tuesday. We closed city hall Wednesday and reopened Thursday (but only had six customers). The Public Works department and the Police Department worked nonstop. Lt. Pilgrim spent the night Wednesday. Public Works came in early (1:30 AM Wednesday and stayed for the duration until about 2 PM Thursday. We were very lucky compared to areas just east of here. We didn’t have as much ice accumulation and our tree trimming program over the last few years really helped us out. We only lost two household services. Public Works spread calcium chloride and sand and responded to road problems. Lt. Pilgrim reports that the all-wheel drive Ford patrol car performs very well in the snow and ice. It normally runs in rear wheel drive, but when it senses slippage the all-wheel drive comes on automatically. Here are some pictures including Public Works using the backhoe to help an ambulance that was stuck off of Emory just north of the city.



Oxford Historical Cemetery Foundation - The Cemetery Foundation held its annual meeting Sunday, February 9th. Councilmember Davis, Mayor Roseberry, and I attended. There were about 20 members in attendance. Since we had just erected the Historical Shrine marker and since Emmie Johnson had written the wording for the sign, we took advantage of the occasion to take the protective wrapping off the sign.