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New mayor focuses on the
future in the City of Hospitality
Published Tuesday, July 7
By Angela Storey
The Banner-Independent
BOONEVILLE - On the eve of being sworn in as Booneville's new mayor, Joe Eaton said he isn't nervous but he is excited and ready to hit the ground running.
"We've got a lot to do," he says.
Eaton and the five incoming aldermen, David Bolen, Harold Eaton, Mark McCoy, Wilda Pounds and Jeff Williams were sworn into office Wednesday morning, July 1, in a ceremony held on the steps of Booneville City Hall. Only Bolen returns from the outgoing administration, beginning his fourth term, while Harold Eaton is a former alderman, serving in 2001-05. The new mayor and board officially took office July 6. The new administration has already met for several work sessions, both lasting over four hours and until after 11 p.m.
"We get to bouncing ideas around and things to work on ... making good notes and a 'to do' list. We've got three rookies and they're asking a lot of good questions," Eaton says.
In one work session, David Jones, the city's CPA, and city clerk Glennice George met with them to present a picture of where the city stands financially.
"For someone not used to looking at all those numbers it can be overwhelming. Our city is not in the boat alone," he adds about tight budgets during tough economic times. "Every municipality is experiencing the same problems."
Eaton says the new board members are also excited about serving. "Thankfully we've got experience as well as new perspectives. I believe we'll have a good blend of ideas we can use. I believe everyone is very eager to work together."
He plans on having open communication with the board and the public. The new administration is expected to have a full plate. High on the priority list is MEMA requesting an updated map of property in the flood zone by July 11.
There will be a meeting between the city board and the Prentiss County Board of Supervisors "to find out what we can do to help them and work closer with them," he says. The contract with the jail facility is also coming up for renewal.
Then, there's the priority of filling the position of Street Department Superintendent with the retirement of Jimmy Harris effective June 30. Public property head Tom Sanders has also said he wants to retire. Eaton wants those transitions to take place as smoothly as possible.
What can the public expect to take place at the first meeting of the new administration tonight?
The municipal judge, city attorney, CPA, city engineer, prosecutor and public defender will be appointed, he said.
"As far as department heads, because of retirements involved, we will take a slow and steady approach and not panic. "We'll sit down with each department head. If there are any changes, they won't be made until August."
In their second week in office, the new officials will attend the Mississippi Municipal League Convention in Biloxi.
The new mayor plans to meet separately with each department of city employees. A date hasn't been set but he wants to address their issues and his ideas with each department. He also plans to be involved with his department heads.
"I need that feedback from them. I know Roger had a staff meeting every week. I'll continue that. I did that at Caterpillar," he said.
For the last 2-1/2 years Eaton has worked as operations supervisor at Caterpillar in Corinth, with his last day at Caterpillar being June 26. Eaton has over 27 years of business management experience covering areas such as human resources, asset management and public relations. Twenty-five of those years were in Booneville at Cartwright Motors, Davidson Chevrolet and Carquest Auto Parts.
Eaton served two terms as alderman, from 1993 until 2001, with the late Wade Lambert serving as mayor both of those terms. Eaton was vice mayor during his second term as alderman.
He ran for mayor four years ago, losing the Democratic nomination to Wayne Michael who was ultimately unsuccessful in his bid for a second term as mayor.
Since his first term as alderman Eaton knew he wanted to serve the city as mayor some day.
"My focus was being an alderman but as I grew into the position, I saw things I'd like to be involved in and it kind of grew from there. I knew at some point in time I'd enjoy doing that."
He hopes to see the city experience new growth south of town as well as spearhead an atmosphere of overall community growth. He wants to keep promoting cultural events such as the bluegrass music presented twice a month in the old Booneville Hardware building in downtown, a building that now belongs to the city. Eaton even envisions some type of venue for outdoor concerts in the park with a stage similar to the one in The Grove at Ole Miss. He has already talked with Perry Edge of Double E Promotions who has the contacts to invite various artists to entertain. Like everything else connected to city government, such visions require finding funding and seeking grants.
He also wants to continue with downtown revitalization efforts and "try to recruit some sort of niche we don't have somewhere else in town." He wants to see empty buildings filled. "At the same time we don't want to neglect the other merchants in other areas of town." While he and the new board have goals they hope to see realized, at the same time the incoming mayor asks the citizens to be patient with the new administration as they go through an adjustment period.
In the meantime, he has vowed to be open and available to his constituents. He thinks back to when Wade Lambert was mayor and the good rapport he had with people when they came by to talk.
"Whether someone's problem is big or small, it's their problem and they need to talk about it. If I'm available I will talk to them. Then if we need to make an appointment, we'll do so," Eaton said. "They'll have the opportunity to speak with me personally."
Eaton thanks Mayor Roger K. Smith for the spirit of the 2009 mayoral campaign.
"He stuck to the issues and focused on Booneville. I tried to do the same thing." He adds, "I'd like to thank Roger and the previous board for everything they've accomplished and we hope to complete the projects they started." Eaton will mark his 53rd birthday July 21. His wife, the former Cherry Childers, teaches art at Anderson Elementary and plans to also be active in the community. They have two sons, Brenon, assistant band director in Hernando, and his wife Lindsey, who reside in Olive Branch; and Drew who will be a student at Ole Miss this fall, working toward his business administration degree in health related fields.
As he begins this new chapter in Booneville's history Eaton says, "I'm looking forward to improving our community and working with its people."
