A bit of good news in regards to criminal offenses in Harriman, our Police Dept reported that the number of offenses recorded in 2005 was more than 1600 and in 2008 that number was reduced to less than 800!  This is great news and this is a great testament to the progress we are making in that department.  We will continue to attack the criminals in an aggressive manner to make that number even lower....this is a top priority with me.  Chief Randy Heidle is also starting the Neighborhood Watch program in Harriman, for more information call the police department at 882-3383.

The water project at the golf course is now in the final phase which will enable us to keep the fairways watered during the dry season.  This has been a project that has always been needed and we are sure that it will bring extra revenue to us by attracting more play during the summer months. The golf course is very close to being self supporting in terms of expenditures and revenue; this is a goal that we have had since the golf board was appointed at the beginning of my term.  The board has made a lot of adjustments to cut spending and has also increased revenue by almost doubling the membership!  Here again we have great progress.  Keep up the good work! 

We are also in the process of lighting the intersections on the North end of Harriman, which is also badly needed and has been a concern for those residents who live in that area.  We had originally budgeted for that project, but after a little research we have found that monies were appropriated to Harriman through Lamar Alexander's office several years back and we never took advantage of that funding.  So we have decided to use that money and save the money that was originally budgeted.  Great news during these times of economic downturn. The street department committee which consists of Lonnie Wright and Kenyon Mee have been meeting with Drack Langley and Bob Tidwell to create a "paving schedule" that will give the City a proactive plan for paving our streets.  This plan was badly needed in order to start maintaining our streets and a plan to continue the maintenance from now on.  We are hoping and trying to acquire some of the stimulus money that was passed by Congress to help us with the project.

The Princess Theater for Arts and Education is continuing to make super progress with a class being held at Roane State Community College.  This class is being taught by Bill Landry and is happening because of the hard work of the Princess Foundation members.  We hope to complete this project in the near future so the classes will be able to be held at the Princess along with all of the other great things that will be there i.e.  F.M. radio station operated by RSCC students, Ch. 15 operated by RSCC, TTC at Harriman and Roane County students, live theater and more!  I am sure that this project, when completed, will be one of the best things that have happened to Harriman in a long time.  I don't think any of us working on this project know the actual magnitude of the project and I don't think it will be realized for a long time.  This project has my whole-hearted support and also has the support of the city council.

Chris Mason, Mayor Public Service Announcement