Bertrand gets a boost

BERTRAND, Mo. — From hosting this week’s MayFest to receiving grants to repave roads and add sidewalks, the city of Bertrand is bursting with positive changes these days.

The Mississippi County town of about 820 residents will host the three-day Mississippi County MayFest, which is an expansion of the city’s annual one-day event.

“We are definitely moving in the right direction,” said Bertrand Mayor James Mercer.

Mercer, who was elected in 2017, has been at the helm of applying for grants and making changes necessary to give Bertrand the boost it needs.

“I’m a go-getter and aggressive. I grew up here and knew what I wanted,” Mercer said, adding road and park improvements were at the top of his list.

Mercer said his memories of the festival, which marks its 22nd year, are from his childhood as he served in the military for 14 years.

“It’s always been a one-day event, and I’ve watched it struggle,” Mercer said.

Mercer wondered if a change to the annual festival was needed.

“I reached out to my surrounding towns: East Prairie, Charleston and they gave me some advice and tips and I got out and talked to some carnival vendors, and we have a full three-day event,” he said.

Set for Thursday through Saturday at Bertrand City Park, the MayFest will include carnival rides, a pageant, live music, vendors, games, food, parade and 5K walk/run. Arm bands for rides will be available nightly from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. for $20. Performers include: Justin Heskett Band, Used and Refused, Caitlin Krauss and Jennifer Morgan.

All proceeds from Mayfest will contribute to the Bertrand volunteer Fire Department and Bertrand Park improvement.

Early this year, there were four fires in 21 days in Bertrand, and the fire fighters’ equipment took a beating.

“Our gear is on the dire need of replacement and I’d like some of the funding to go back to the fire department,” Mercer said.

In addition to expanding May Fest, the city of Bertrand is also the recipient of some recent grants to make citywide improvements.

In late April, Mercer learned the city was one of six local communities to receive a grant from the Missouri Department of Economic Development Community Development Block Grant program that will improve roads. Bertrand was awarded $459,091.

According to the Bootheel Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission, the City of Bertrand will see improvements to Jobe Street Loop, Beech Street, South Hickory Street and the intersection of East Oak Street and North Poplar Street. The streets listed have existing gravel streets but will be replaced with an asphalt pavement overlay and sealcoat. All improvements will be completed by fall 2020.

“Once it gets started, the project will go quick,” Mercer said, adding that 12 streets will be impacted by the project. “The existing streets need some TLC. There were many years of not being able to maintain the streets because of a lack of revenue coming in, and some sections of streets that have sinkholes.”

In addition to the grant to pave streets, Bertrand has also been awarded a $100,000-grant from the Transition Assistance Program, or TAP, to provide American Disabilities Act-compliant sidewalks in the city. Eight-tenths of a mile of new sidewalks will be added from Bertrand Estates down to the city park, Mercer said. The actual project will take place in 2020.

Also, in December 2017, the city purchased and install a new piece of playground equipment. The goal is to continue to add new pieces at the playground to provide a fun and safe place for all kids, he said.

Bertrand residents seem pleased with the improvements being made.

“The ones who come in to City Hall are super excited and glad to see us doing these things,” Mercer said.

Besides the physical improvements to the city, Mercer said he’s looking to increase pride in the community.

“We don’t have a store here … and for many of us, we’re tired of being a bedroom community. I want to stop ‘just being’ and start existing,” Mercer said.

And he wants to improve not only Bertrand, but the region as a whole.

“Mississippi County is one of the poorest in the state of Missouri,” Mercer said. “If we can make the town more appealing, maybe we can draw business or boost economics.”

Mercer’s wife, Jessica Mercer, who also serves as the city clerk, created a “blessing box” located outside of City Hall. The motto of the box is: “Take what you need; leave what you can.” A box has been set up at city hall where residents can leave items for those in need and those same residents can also take from items from the box if needed.

“The idea is for people who can’t make it from paycheck to paycheck to come and take something from the box to be able to feed their family,” Mercer said.

Then once someone gets back on their feet, maybe they will pay it forward and leave items in the box for someone else in need. In addition to boxed and canned food items, personal hygiene items have also been left in the box, he said.

Mercer said he’s not finished applying for grants. He said as long as there are grants available, he will continue to apply for them. He’s already looking to bring a farmers’ market to the city, and he’s looking into applying for a grant to construct a FEMA-safe building which could double as a community center/gymnasium.

Over the past couple years, Mercer said he keeps getting asked: how do you make something relevant that’s not?

He said he never knew how to answer that question until recently.

“The way you make something relevant that’s not is,” Mercer said. “ … you just do it.”