Tim Kent seeks re-election as Mayor of New Albany

Kent says New Albany progress has been the work of many people

New Albany Mayor Tim Kent gives credit to many people for the many improvements in the city during his time in office. Although he can cite impressive accomplishments, he reminds everyone that success comes from people in the community working together, not just the work of any one individual.

“We’ve experienced dramatic growth in employment opportunities, secure jobs that pay good wages with good benefits – Toyota, Diversified Vuteq, and S and A Industries to name a few. We have just opened a new industrial park to recruit more industrial jobs.

Many improvements fall under the general category “quality of life”

One of Kent’s most notable accomplishment may be the creation of the Tanglefoot Trail Rails-to-Trails project after the Illinois Central Railroad abandoned the right-of way. Kent is credited with taking the lead in promoting the project and necessary funding when officials in other cities failed to see the potential in it.. Since the 43-mile Tanglefoot Trail opened in October, 2013, it has seen increasing use by local people and has attracted cyclists and hikers from around the United States and Canada.

The Tanglefoot was the 2019 inductee in the national  Rails to Trails Hall of Fame. Kent pushed for the development  of the Tanglefoot Plaza at the trailhead in downtown New Albany. The Plaza, with its attractive arch, has become a popular venue and gathering place. A new bridge carries the trail over Main Street.  A Tanglefoot visitor center with public restrooms has been completed.

More recently, the city has seen the renovation of the Community Center into a viable meeting and social space available to the public, along with improved landscaping and playground equipment.

To help promote youth sports, during Kent’s administration  the city has added soccer fields, a nationally-recognized tennis complex and has refurbished 10 baseball fields, including one baseball diamond upgraded to professional standards.

Quality of life improvements Kent has supported also include a multi-million-dollar expansion of the Union County Heritage Museum. The museum on Cleveland Street is often cited as among the best small town museums in the United States.

Repairing and maintaining the Spray Park is among parks priorities

“I want to get the Spray Park fixed and for it to be well-maintained in the future,” Kent said.

Kent said he is seeking another term as mayor because, “There are projects I want to see finished. One is the Tallahatchie River and the other is street paving.” He wants to see the river developed as more of a recreational area, perhaps with a way to raise the water level, dress the banks, and create a river walk that someday could even have small businesses along the way.

He said some grants for parks improvement have been applied for and the community is working with the National Parks Service to create a plan for the river.

National recognition, creation of Community Development Department, thriving downtown

Just a few days ago, Southern Living Magazine selected New Albany as among the best for 2021. The magazine named New Albany one of The South’s Best Small Towns for 2021. New Albany was the only city in Mississippi so chosen. Development officials have called New Albany the most progressive town in Northeast Mississippi. Last year the city was been named The Best Southern Small Town by USA Today,

During Tim Kent’s time as mayor, a new Community Development Department was created to work with the Main Street organization and assure a healthy central business district. “I think the accomplishment I am proudest of is a thriving downtown,” Kent said. “There are lots of towns with empty buildings. That’s one reason I really pushed the Tanglefoot Plaza.

“Other mayors come in here and ask ‘how did you do this?’” he continued. “People come from Memphis to Christmas shop here. It used to be that people went to Tupelo to eat but now groups of people are coming from Tupelo to eat here.

“I think so many privately-owned businesses are part of what make the community. We are the envy of most small towns. One visitor who shops here said she felt safe, could talk to people and it felt just like a little Hallmark town.”

Improvements in city facilities

During Kent’s current term as mayor the city purchased the old Fred’s and WICs buildings to create a new municipal complex; City officials are working with architects planning the complex to house the New Albany Police Department and the city-owned New Albany Lights, Gas and Water Department (NALGW).

Work is nearing completion on NALGW’s new $15-million wastewater treatment plant north of the city on County Road 324. The new plant is expected to be complete and in operation by late summer. The new plant will increase the city’s capacity for future growth. The new plant will also eliminate odor problems that sometimes occur from the older, more centrally located plant. The new wastewater plant is being financed by a grant and loan program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Working to meet future needs

“New Albany is one of he fastest growing small towns in Mississippi,” said Kent. “Completion of Interstate-22 through the city in 2015, the growth of Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County — perhaps the best small town hospital in Mississippi — our strong public schools, our top recreational facilities and so forth make it inevitable that New Albany will continue to grow.

“We need to improve our streets and consider all the things we must do to assure that our small town quality of life is maintained as we grow. We’ve made a lot of progress, but I want to see the important things through to completion,” he said.

Kent said it is particularly important to have an experienced mayor when several – perhaps even a majority – of the board of aldermen could be newcomers. At least two, and potentially all, aldermen could be different for the next term. “There’s just such a learning curve,” he said. “About the best thing a new alderman can do is just listen for the first six or eight months.”

Since Kent became mayor in 2005, New Albany has improved it financial status while maintaining a low property  tax rate. Increasing sales tax and tourism tax revenues have accompanied growth, keeping the city solidly in the black.

Over the years, Kent has served as chairman of the North Mississippi Mayors’ Association, chairman of the Three Rivers Planning and Development District board and president of the North Mississippi Industrial Development Association.

Before his election to the mayoral post, Kent served as an investigator and officer for the New Albany Police Department for 11 years and worked for an insurance agency for 12 years prior to that. He graduated from W.P. Daniel High School in 1975 and received degrees from Northeast Mississippi Community College in 1977 and the University of North Alabama in 1980.

Tim Kent is on the Republican ballot in the April 6 city primary.