| 1 | | - | MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE 2025 Regular Session To: Rules By: Representative Foster House Resolution 83 (As Adopted by House) A RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING THE HONORABLE ISLA TULLOS UPON HER RETIREMENT AND COMMENDING HER FOR 28 YEARS OF DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVICE AS THE MAYOR OF RAYMOND, MISSISSIPPI. WHEREAS, the Honorable Isla Tullos, Mayor of the City of Raymond, Mississippi, is retiring from her position at the helm of city leadership after 28 extraordinary years of dedicated public service; and WHEREAS, first elected in 1997 after tossing her hat into the ring at the urging of two local aldermen, Mayor Tullos won her office offering citizens a vision of the Raymond she saw the then-stagnant city had the potential to become; and WHEREAS, while Mayor Tullos was anxious to undertake beautification and historic preservation projects that would have been immediate signs of progress to the townsfolk, her first priority after taking office was to tackle critical infrastructure projects desperately needed, such as the drilling of a deeper water well for cleaner water, extending water lines and making sewer system upgrades; and WHEREAS, with the city's fundamental infrastructure needs being greatly improved, Mayor Tullos put to use her planning and organizational skills to lead the quaint town in ongoing efforts to improve its aesthetics, a focus that actually had begun a few years before Mayor Tullos assumed office when she and her husband, Max, purchased an early 1800's dilapidated building on the town square and transformed the structure into a masterpiece of a home complete with a courtyard and stunning gardens; and WHEREAS, one of Mayor Tullos's earliest beautification and historic preservation projects was the transformation of what some may have considered an eyesore, a rare 1905 Chicago Bridge and Iron Company metal water tank right in the center of the town square, which is now designated an official Mississippi Landmark, surrounded by meticulously maintained plants in a garden-like setting; and WHEREAS, throughout her seven terms of office, Mayor Tullos has been at the forefront of efforts to preserve Raymond's history, and in 1998, in order to purchase a local Confederate battlefield, she and six others established Friends of Raymond, Inc., a nonprofit preservation group comprised solely of volunteers which continues to this day to actively work with the City of Raymond and other local entities to preserve the area's rich history and coordinate historic preservation efforts; and WHEREAS, to help cement official recognition of the city's historical significance by its own residents and visitors alike, Mayor Tullos led the board of aldermen in adopting policies and securing various designations in furtherance of preservation efforts in Raymond, including the implementation of comprehensive zoning regulations, developed in conjunction with the Mississippi Planning and Development District in 2002, and in 2003, the establishment of the Historic Preservation Commission, the Heritage Overlay District approved by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, and the Raymond Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Districts, as well as achieving Certified Local Government Status under the National Historic Preservation Act by the National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior; and WHEREAS, Mayor Tullos spearheaded other activities which showcased the beauty of the small town while engendering a sense of pride and community among Raymond's residents, including a pilgrimage of homes, churches and other historic properties, a celebration of the iconic 100-year-old water tower, and a celebration marking the city's 175th birthday; and WHEREAS, the high quality of life and beauty the City of Raymond has to offer has not gone unnoticed, and in 2004, the city was recognized as a Designated 2004 Preserve America Community in honor of its commitment to preserving and using its cultural and natural resources for the benefit and enjoyment of the public, in addition to receiving a letter and certificate of commendation from United States First Lady Laura Bush; and WHEREAS, other honors the city received during Mayor Tullos's tenure include its 2009 recognition by the Governor's Community Projects of Excellence Awards Program as the BEST Small Municipalities and Limited Population Counties Project and a 2016 National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Innovation Award for the project "The City of Raymond City Hall and Courtroom Renovations"; and WHEREAS, Mayor Tullos, designated a Graduate of the Certified Municipal Official Course, Professional Development Level, by the Mississippi Municipal League and past president of the Metro Mayors Association, served as the 2006-2007 President of the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Heritage Trust, which fittingly selected Mayor Tullos as the recipient of its 2022 Heritage Award for Distinguished Service; and WHEREAS, devout in her faith, Mayor Tullos has served many years as a Warden at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Raymond; and WHEREAS, Mayor Tullos, who considers her 28 years as Mayor of Raymond her "entry and departure into politics," admits having a passion for Raymond, and over her nearly three decades in office, she has phenomenally not only preserved the city but shaped it into a special place -- a "best-kept secret" according to residents -- one where, in her own words, there is "a warm, loving, diverse bunch of people ... in a safe place to live ... [with] all the wonderful assets of a large city and still [offering] the peace and quiet of small-town-in-the-country living"; and WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and pay tribute to outstanding Mississippians, especially those such as Mayor Isla Tullos, whose long and distinguished selfless public service to the City of Raymond has enriched the lives of her fellow citizens and community, bringing honor not only to the City of Raymond but also the entire State of Mississippi: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby congratulate the Honorable Isla Tullos upon her retirement and commend her for 28 years of dedicated public service as the Mayor of the City of Raymond, Mississippi. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we do hereby extend our sincerest wishes to Mayor Tullos for every success in all her future endeavors. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mayor Isla Tullos and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps. |
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| 1 | + | MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE 2025 Regular Session To: Rules By: Representative Foster House Resolution 83 A RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING THE HONORABLE ISLA TULLOS UPON HER RETIREMENT AND COMMENDING HER FOR 28 YEARS OF DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVICE AS THE MAYOR OF RAYMOND, MISSISSIPPI. WHEREAS, the Honorable Isla Tullos, Mayor of the City of Raymond, Mississippi, is retiring from her position at the helm of city leadership after 28 extraordinary years of dedicated public service; and WHEREAS, first elected in 1997 after tossing her hat into the ring at the urging of two local aldermen, Mayor Tullos won her office offering citizens a vision of the Raymond she saw the then-stagnant city had the potential to become; and WHEREAS, while Mayor Tullos was anxious to undertake beautification and historic preservation projects that would have been immediate signs of progress to the townsfolk, her first priority after taking office was to tackle critical infrastructure projects desperately needed, such as the drilling of a deeper water well for cleaner water, extending water lines and making sewer system upgrades; and WHEREAS, with the city's fundamental infrastructure needs being greatly improved, Mayor Tullos put to use her planning and organizational skills to lead the quaint town in ongoing efforts to improve its aesthetics, a focus that actually had begun a few years before Mayor Tullos assumed office when she and her husband, Max, purchased an early 1800's dilapidated building on the town square and transformed the structure into a masterpiece of a home complete with a courtyard and stunning gardens; and WHEREAS, one of Mayor Tullos's earliest beautification and historic preservation projects was the transformation of what some may have considered an eyesore, a rare 1905 Chicago Bridge and Iron Company metal water tank right in the center of the town square, which is now designated an official Mississippi Landmark, surrounded by meticulously maintained plants in a garden-like setting; and WHEREAS, throughout her seven terms of office, Mayor Tullos has been at the forefront of efforts to preserve Raymond's history, and in 1998, in order to purchase a local Confederate battlefield, she and six others established Friends of Raymond, Inc., a nonprofit preservation group comprised solely of volunteers which continues to this day to actively work with the City of Raymond and other local entities to preserve the area's rich history and coordinate historic preservation efforts; and WHEREAS, to help cement official recognition of the city's historical significance by its own residents and visitors alike, Mayor Tullos led the board of aldermen in adopting policies and securing various designations in furtherance of preservation efforts in Raymond, including the implementation of comprehensive zoning regulations, developed in conjunction with the Mississippi Planning and Development District in 2002, and in 2003, the establishment of the Historic Preservation Commission, the Heritage Overlay District approved by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, and the Raymond Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Districts, as well as achieving Certified Local Government Status under the National Historic Preservation Act by the National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior; and WHEREAS, Mayor Tullos spearheaded other activities which showcased the beauty of the small town while engendering a sense of pride and community among Raymond's residents, including a pilgrimage of homes, churches and other historic properties, a celebration of the iconic 100-year-old water tower, and a celebration marking the city's 175th birthday; and WHEREAS, the high quality of life and beauty the City of Raymond has to offer has not gone unnoticed, and in 2004, the city was recognized as a Designated 2004 Preserve America Community in honor of its commitment to preserving and using its cultural and natural resources for the benefit and enjoyment of the public, in addition to receiving a letter and certificate of commendation from United States First Lady Laura Bush; and WHEREAS, other honors the city received during Mayor Tullos's tenure include its 2009 recognition by the Governor's Community Projects of Excellence Awards Program as the BEST Small Municipalities and Limited Population Counties Project and a 2016 National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Innovation Award for the project "The City of Raymond City Hall and Courtroom Renovations"; and WHEREAS, Mayor Tullos, designated a Graduate of the Certified Municipal Official Course, Professional Development Level, by the Mississippi Municipal League and past president of the Metro Mayors Association, served as the 2006-2007 President of the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Heritage Trust, which fittingly selected Mayor Tullos as the recipient of its 2022 Heritage Award for Distinguished Service; and WHEREAS, devout in her faith, Mayor Tullos has served many years as a Warden at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Raymond; and WHEREAS, Mayor Tullos, who considers her 28 years as Mayor of Raymond her "entry and departure into politics," admits having a passion for Raymond, and over her nearly three decades in office, she has phenomenally not only preserved the city but shaped it into a special place -- a "best-kept secret" according to residents -- one where, in her own words, there is "a warm, loving, diverse bunch of people ... in a safe place to live ... [with] all the wonderful assets of a large city and still [offering] the peace and quiet of small-town-in-the-country living"; and WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and pay tribute to outstanding Mississippians, especially those such as Mayor Isla Tullos, whose long and distinguished selfless public service to the City of Raymond has enriched the lives of her fellow citizens and community, bringing honor not only to the City of Raymond but also the entire State of Mississippi: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby congratulate the Honorable Isla Tullos upon her retirement and commend her for 28 years of dedicated public service as the Mayor of the City of Raymond, Mississippi. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we do hereby extend our sincerest wishes to Mayor Tullos for every success in all her future endeavors. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mayor Isla Tullos and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps. |
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