MCKENZIE (July 27)- The city of McKenzie will soon be in the residential rental business following action by the McKenzie City Council. Mayor Walter Winchester was given approval to negotiate rental terms on a home, recently acquired from the Lawrence family as part of a purchase of land adjoining the city park.

The 980-square foot frame, two-bedroom home, built in 1939, is in "fair to good condition," according to Mayor Walter Winchester. It has a good roof, but needs some carpet. He estimated the carpet at $3.00 per square yard plus the cost of installation. The Mayor said real estate professionals indicate a fair rental price at $350 monthly. After a discussion about appliances, the council suggested the mayor purchase kitchen appliances as part of the rental.

Councilwoman Jill Holland encouraged the mayor to purchase appliances in McKenzie if possible.

Bids for the purchase of a radar trailer were opened and sent to an ad hoc committee consisting of Police Chief Harry Cooper, Councilman Willie Huffman, and Councilman Gene Hale. Decatur (Illinois) Electric bid $12,500, Peterson Group of Cullman, Alabama bid $13,873, and Public Safety Products of Cape Coral Florida bid $14,500. The committee will review the accuracy of the bids and make a recommendation to the full council. The radar trailer would monitor the speed of traffic and display the speed to the motorist. If purchased, the cost will be shared equally between the police, water, and street departments.

Bids will be sought on eight mobile radios for the Fire Department, after the council approved the measure. Councilwoman Darra Adkins, Fire Department liaison, said the department needs the units to replace aging radios in the pumpers, chief car, and rescue truck. Fire Chief Brian Tucker said one of the Motorola radios would have a dual head for placement on one of the newer pumpers. The dual head allows the pump operator to serve as the scene command while working the pump controls. The other units would be single head units mounted solely in the cab of the vehicle.

Property taxes will be rounded to the nearest whole dollar when tax statements are issued in October. The Council approved the resolution authorizing amounts 49 cents and less to be rounded down and 50 and above to be rounded up. A test of the system revealed a 13-cent overall difference in total tax collections on the approximately 2,500 taxable properties.

Winchester was given authority to contract with a firework vendor for the July 4, 2007 event. The city is starting early to assure the fireworks show can be provided on the actual holiday. The mayor said the two vendors generally ask the amount of the city's budget for the show and give a bid equal to that amount. One of the vendors uses electronic ignition for the fireworks and guarantees a quality aerial show or a discounted price is applicable.

In reports, Adkins said the Fire Department has responded to 129 calls this calendar year and has collected $17,745 from rural fire contracts.

Holland said neighbors of Mulberry Park are disturbed by the field lights which are turned on by kids and left to shine all night. Parks and Recreation Director Ricky French said he was meeting with a lighting contractor on possible remedies for the problem.

Holland also queried if a solution could be found for the litter problem.

Councilman Gene Hale was absent.

CARROLL COUNTY - After two rate increases within one year, consumers of Tennessee Valley Authority electricity are going to get a small rate break this fall.

The board overseeing the country's largest public utility on Friday approved a cut in wholesale electric rate along with a fuel cost adjustment mechanism that will allow TVA to automatically adjust rates up or down as fuel and purchased power costs rise and fall.

Carroll County Electric Department will share the rate cut with its 15,843 customers in Carroll County and a small portion of Henderson County in the Parker's Crossroads area, according to Lynn Compton, manager of the local electric department. The decreased rate will be effective on all meters read on or after October 1.

Compton said he received a courtesy call Friday concerning the rate decrease and cost adjustment mechanism, followed by written confirmation Monday.

The rate reduction is worth approximately $405 million to TVA customers in the 2007 fiscal year. The Board also approved a 2007 fiscal year budget with project revenues of $9.3 billion.

The federal utility raised rates 7.5 percent last October and 9.95 percent in April to absorb rising costs of fuel and power purchased from other utilities to meet demand. Carroll County Electric passed along both increases to its customers.

Compton estimates a typical household using 1,000 kilowatt hours a month will save $2.65 on their monthly bill, which amounts to $31.40 annually, when the rate decrease goes into effect.

That will only partially offset the two recent hikes, which added approximately $11.70 to the average residential monthly bill or $140 annually.

Although the decrease is good news for consumers, TVA's implementation of the fuel cost adjustment mechanism could offset the decrease.

Compton said the fuel cost adjustment mechanism will adjust rates every three months beginning January 2007, based on fuel costs (including natural gas, coal, and gasoline) to reflect the forecasted difference in fuel and purchased power costs from the baseline amount. The baseline amount is established from the 2007 budget, and the fuel cost adjustment will start at zero for the first quarter.

"The rates can go up or they can go down," said Compton. During months of high demand the rates will likely go up, and likewise during months of low demand the rates would go down.

Compton added, "The cost of doing business today has gone haywire, with fuel and material costs skyrocketing." As an example, he stated that last year he was paying $365 to $385 for a residential transformer. This year the cost is $625. The cost of utility poles, wire, etc has doubled, he said.

Although Compton has not yet seen a report revealing the demand for electricity in Carroll County in July, he believes it may have set a record. TVA previously announced record-setting demand and he believes the county may have experienced record-setting levels as well.

"Employees of TVA are focused on controlling operating and maintenance costs and capital expenditures, completing the restart of Unit 1 at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant and increasing productivity to help make this rate reduction possible," said TVA President and Acting Chief Executive Officer Tom Kilgore. "The fuel cost adjustment will help reduce the need for large rate actions in the future by better matching revenues to unpredictable changes in the cost of fuel and purchased power. The 2007 budget presents some challenges, but our employees had demonstrated they are resourceful in finding ways to improve productivity so that we can continue providing affordable, reliable power to the people of the Tennessee Valley."

TVA is completely self-financed with revenues of $7.8 billion in 2005. TVA provides power to large industries and 158 power distributors that serve approximately 8.6 million consumers in seven southeastern states. TVA also manages the Tennessee River and its tributaries to provide multiple benefits, including flood damage reduction, navigation, water quality and recreation.

Huntingdon (July 25, 2006) During its regular meeting, Huntingdon Mayor Dale Kelley advised that due to terms of the waste collection service agreement entered into by the town and Waste Management Services (WMS) of Jackson, the city's collection and disposal rates would be increasing by 4.2 percent effective July1. Kelley noted that residential service would increase 48 cents ($11.28 to $11.86) and commercial service would increase $1.18 ($28.02 to $29.20). He added that WMS had based their rate increase upon the Consumer Price Index from May 2005 until May 2006.

Upon recommendation by the Utility Department, the council approved the following increases in water/sewer connection tap fees: 3/4" line connect from $250 to $400; 1" line from $350 to $500; 11/2 line from $600 to $750; 2" line from $800 to $1,100. The price for a 3/4" water service connection outside city limits was approved for increase from $500 to $650. Sewer connection fees were also approved for increase from $500 to $700. Kelley noted that the water service connection fee increases allows the town to recoup costs incurred due to price increases in materials and labor necessary to properly maintain the town's water system. He noted that the increases in water system tap fees were the first in his 13-year tenure as mayor.

On recommendation by the Public Safety Committee, the council also approved increases in fees for dog impoundment, changing the present fee of $10 to: $25 for the first pickup; $35 for the second pickup; cited into court for the third pickup. The daily boarding fee of $2 was deleted.

Both committees met and discussed the aforementioned issues at 5:30 p.m. prior to presenting their recommendations to the council at the regular meeting.

The council, at the motion of Melissa Powell and second by John Sanders, adopted on first reading ordinance 493, amending Chapter 7 Purchasing and Procurement, Title 5, Municipal Finance and Taxation, of the Huntingdon Municipal Code. The ordinance allows for amendment of purchasing and competitive bidding requirements for materials, supplies and equipment for the activities of the town in an efficient and economical manner.

The council granted public utility department supervisor Jerry Nolen approval to enter into agreement with Water Pro. to purchase SCADA computer programming technology, providing the town capability to monitor its water treatment plant and Purdy water tank via Internet connection. Nolan noted that the cost for installing the technology was estimated in price at $20, 625.78. Additional programming and screens to integrate existing tank levels and clearwell level into new systems was not included in the proposed project price estimate. Water Pro based in Jackson, is a division of Jackson Energy Authority.

The council awarded Ornamental Iron and Construction of Jackson the contract to install handrails and safety rails for the downtown streetscape project for the north side of the courtsquare in front of the Carroll News Leader. Two firms, Sullivan's Fabricating Company of Dyer and Xtreme Welding and Fabrication of McKenzie, declined to bid on the project.

Kelley awarded letters of commendation to Huntingdon Primary School's Wiser Miser Energy Team. He noted that it was the second year in a row that the council had recognized the very resourceful and talented group. He said, "It is tremendous regarding all that our school groups have done this summer." Group leader Connie Bond, an educator at Huntingdon Primary School, thanked the mayor and town council for honoring the team.

The mayor announced that Huntingdon Middle School was providing an appreciation luncheon for the town's employees Friday, July 28 at 11:30 a.m. He noted that he regretfully would not be able to attend due to having to be in Nashville for a meeting with the Tennessee Municipal League, of which he is a board member.

Kelley informed that the Dixie Carter Performing Arts and Academic Enrichment Center (DPAC) had recently received two generous donations; one from the Wright Charitable Trust for $250,000, and $50,000 from an anonymous donor.

On a related note, he informed that Southern Living Magazine journalist Susanne Mills would be in attendance for Ballet Memphis' opening performance of the Dixie's second season on Thursday, August 17. Kelley added that Mills would be producing an article for Southern Living on DCPAC, its history and the second season of performances. In addition, a Southern Living photographer is slated to arrive in Huntingdon on the first week of October to photograph the Dixie, businesses and restaurants. The article and photos are scheduled to appear in the popular magazine's February 2007 issue. Kelley stressed that such journalistic visits are important in the development of cultural tourism and arts appreciation to Huntingdon and Carroll County.

Kelley informed that a CDBG grant pre-construction meeting was scheduled for August 8. The town was awarded a $500,000 grant to perform much needed rehabilitation to the bypass lagoon and sewer lining repairs.

In conclusion, Kelley lauded the town and surrounding communities for "Once again making the South Carroll Relay for Life event a tremendous success."

Bruceton (July 31, 2006) Following nearly two hours of citizen input and deliberation, Bruceton's board of alderman, by a three to two vote, approved a fifty-cent increase in property taxes, raising the tax rate from $1.39 per $100 of assessed property to $1.89 per $100. The rate increase, noted City Recorder Tony Lancaster, would generate an additional $71,254 for the town's financially strapped General Fund, currently operating within the 2006-07 budgets at a shortfall of $82,805. He noted that the additional increase total was calculated by multiplying the approved $1.89 per $100 property tax by the town's approximate $14, 250,730 in estimated property values.

Lancaster stated, "The former property tax rate of $1.39 per $100 was bringing in $198,085.15 annually, far below what we needed to operate our police, fire, street, and parks and recreation departments maintained within the General Fund."

Prior to the decisive vote, Bruceton Mayor Robert T. Keeton addressed the board, stating, "Men, we've been here for over an hour and a half, having listened to views and recommendations of our citizens during the previous open hearing. We have all the needed information before us. We know what it takes to run this city... Someone needs to make a decision."

After a brief pause, Alderman Dan Young motioned for the fifty-cent property tax rate to be approved. In short order, Alderman Ernest Thorne seconded the motion. During roll call, Young, Thorne, and Alderman Bob Clark voted for the increase, with Aldermen Steve Pinkston and Joe Bishop voting against.

Moments after the vote, Bishop addressed the board stating, "I didn't want to raise all the money solely by raising the property tax. I wish there were another way to do this-a middle ground." Alderman Thorne voiced his immediate displeasure in voting in favor for the property tax increase, but acknowledged that he saw no other means available to adequately deal with the problem.

Lancaster stated that although the increase would not generate enough money alone to allow the General Fund to break even, he would work with the budget to find ways to decrease spending. "I'll tweak with the numbers and we'll make it work," he said.

After the vote, Lancaster informed the board that certification of the town's property tax was required to be performed annually, and any decision could be reviewed by the board and changed as necessary the next year.

Prior to the called meeting, Bruceton residents Jeff Mebane, John Higdon, William Morton and Bobby Boudlin questioned the mayor and board during public hearing in regard to the proposed property tax rate increase.

Mebane, former owner / operator of the Butcher Block restaurant and now employed by Proctor and Gamble Corporation in Jackson, stated his belief that the financial problems that had led to the need for a property tax rate were caused by inadequate planning and decision-making. He said, "You knew since 1995 that there was a need to resolve this financial problem. I wish we could have done this nickel by nickel instead of all at once." Mebane further stated that he believed the town would benefit by having future purchases and expenditures more closely scrutinized by the citizens of the community.

Mebane continued his questions by asking, "What impact has the Dollar General Store had on the town's tax problem?"

Keeton stated that the store was generating $10,000 a month in sales tax and had provided a tremendous boost. He added, "The town received $96,000 in tax money last year due to the store's operation."

Higdon, who resides on Chestnut Street, began his questions by stating, "We did away with (town employee) garbage collection. What have we added? How many more workers or vehicles do we have now?"

Keeton informed that the town had reduced its street department work force from eight maintenance workers to five and decreased the police staff by one person during his tenure as mayor. He added, "We are written up each year by the state due to not having enough employees working in the office." He continued, "Our employees are hard working and nobody lays down on the job. We do more with fewer people than ever before. Our employees are resourceful and save the town money on a regular basis." Lancaster added, "Years ago, this town was basically run single-handily by one person. That wouldn't work now. Times have changed, and things are a lot more complicated. The paperwork alone that I deal with is staggering."

Higdon concluded by stating, "We homeowners cut our expenses daily. The town should look for ways to cut its costs too. We (citizens) are looking to you to not look over those who live here who are on fixed incomes and have to cut purchases in food and medicine to make ends meet."

During his address, Morton asked the board if implementation of beer or liquor sales would benefit the town revenue-wise. He added, "I don't drink, but I don't have a problem with others who do."

Keeton informed, "The town of Hollow Rock has two beer package stores and takes in over $50,000 a year in beer sales tax. It is one of their largest sources of revenue. He added, "If beer and liquor sales were voted in and a package store was opened in Bruceton, much of this town's property tax problems would be eliminated." He added that the referendum regarding allowing package stores in-town would appear on the town's election form this fall. "The board has already passed it-it's up to the voters to approve it now."

Alderman Clark, in thanking the citizens for voicing their questions, concerns, and recommendations, said, "You brought forward many intelligent, thought-provoking questions, and we really appreciate your input. I hope we as a board can take your ideas and find ways to utilize them in the future."