Mizell looks back on first six months in office

Attitude.

That is what’s behind what some people say is a visible change under way in Bogalusa, according to Mayor Charles Mizell. “I think there has been a change in attitude from (city) department heads and employees because they know I am supporting them.”

But Mizell said he felt the attitude change stretches beyond just those city employees he mentioned.

Bogalusa Mayor Charles Mizell
takes notes during a recent
meeting of the city council.
(Photo by John H. Walker)

“I think we’re seeing a change in the community’s attitude, as well. I think what citizens wanted  to see was that somebody cared. I come to work every day and you can find me, either working here or out in the community.”

Mizell, who completed his first six months in office on Monday, sat down with wpnewsblog prior to the city council meeting to talk about those 180 days in an exclusive interview.

WPNB: “Mr. Mayor, thank you for the opportunity to sit down and discuss your first six months. Did you have any preconceived ideas about the task ahead of you when you took office?”

CM: “I pretty much had a notion of what we faced. There were some things that were clearly going to have to be handled.”

WPNB: “What are the key issues that have proved to be most challenging?”

CM: “The water system has been a challenge, to say the least. It is an antiquated system that we’ve patched and patched and patch. We would patch a leak and the next day, get a call to let us know it was leaking again … we’d go back, dig it up and find out it was not the original leak, but one a couple of feet away. We’ve applied for Capital Outlay Funds, which will allow us to address the problems en masse … until then, we will continue to prioritize the leaks and get them done.”

WPNB: “Has the time spent dealing with the water issues affected other areas?”

CM: “In a word, yes. With our personnel reductions (10 down in public works), we just don’t have the people to throw at problems, so it has caused some delays in our pothole patching and street repair. That being said, we’re gaining and within three months I think we’ll be caught up (on potholes and street repair). I’m extremely proud of Border Drive and Avenue B and what we’ve done there to open up the drains, uncover the drains and clear the sides of the streets to help the water move when we have rains. We're proud of what we've done at Cassidy Park with the asphalt walking trail, replacing park benches and putting up posts to keep people from driving across park grounds.”

WPNB: “From driving Border Drive every day, it’s nice that it’s not so rough anymore.”

CM: “One of the first things we did was go in and smooth out the spots where pavement had buckled and been patched at, so it wouldn’t be so rough on drivers and their vehicles. We’re trying to do that around the community.”

WPNB: “What’s the biggest accomplishment thus far?”

CM: “I think it is the attitude of the employees and their willingness to work together. I had heard that no one worked together and their was no cohesive effort. I haven’t found that at all … I think they just needed direction and leadership and, as I said earlier, to know someone cared about them and they job they had to do. We’re doing much more with far fewer people (157 now vs. 180 a year ago).”

WPNB: “What’s the biggest disappointment?”

CM: “Anytime we lose jobs, such as the 149 at Sitel. We’re working right now to make an announcement to replace those jobs and we’re working with a developer to try and improve our housing through the construction of 32 tax credit homes, which will create some construction activity.”

WPNB: “How about a recap, or overview of these past six months?”

CM: “With the economy in its current condition, we’re having to be more self-sufficient. We have to be pro-active and we have to be on the job, managing and working every day to make sure we run this like the business it is. Our department heads have been charged with certain responsibilities and they are held accountable every day … we now have eight radar units on the street to help our police bring some of the speeding issues under control … we have officers in school for training and there is good communications in the department under Chief (Joe) Culpepper and (Assistant Chief Effie) Clayton.

“In the fire department, we have all new hoses. We could never have afforded to purchase those, but because the department wrote its own grant, we got the 400 to $500,000 needed to do that. We laid three firemen off last year … and they’ve been hired back.

“I’m excited that people are starting to notice a cleaning community. I’ve seen citizens out on the street, picking up trash and trying to make a difference. This was a magic city at one time, but that is behind us … we must bring back the spirit of working together to make things happen … to make things better and to help our neighbors. It’s not a company town any more and there’s no one to take care of us. We need to be more responsible.

“We must become more self-sufficient. We need to look at the glass being half full, instead of half empty. We have a lot of good people willing to invest in our community — the hospital and technical college, for example.

“I would say government does not work as fast as private business and, sometimes, that’s frustrating because I just want to say, ‘Let’s get that done.’ But I know all those layers and checks and balances are good.

“While we would always want things to be better, I think the excitement we’re seeing and the opportunities ahead far outweigh the disappointments.”

WPNB: “Mr. Mayor, thank you for your time.”

CM: “You’re welcome.”

(Published first at http://www.wpnewsblog.blogspot.com)