Mayor touts carousel horses in annual report to city council

By By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
Feb. 1, 2003
Mayor John Robert Smith used the "Around Town Carousels Abound" public art project as his theme when he presented the city's annual report Friday to the Meridian City Council.
The 20-page report complete with eye-catching colors, pictures and graphics boasted about the city's success last year and its goals for the future. Smith touted it as a marketing tool.
Cooke Communications designed the magazine-style report for the second straight year. Maureen Lofton, assistant for governmental affairs for the city, served as editor.
Smith said he used the horses in the report to "capture the spirit of that beautiful Dentzel carousel that so many generations of Meridianites have enjoyed."
In his report, Smith pointed to some of the carousel horses around downtown and the messages they promote.
Each city department head read portions of the report. Mark Naylor, head of the city's parks and recreation, said his department saw success in events for every age group.
Smith said the city is using its "unique places and special treasures" to move forward.
He used projects, including the restoration of the Grand Opera House and Marks-Rothenberg building, to show that Meridian is dipping into its rich arts history to build for the future.
Said Smith: "These and many other community projects, most notably the city and county joint venture in developing a new industrial park, are moving us along a course of increased growth and prosperity."