By Linda Bolton linda@mckenziebanner.com

  

Six companies in Carroll and Henry counties will receive Incumbent Worker Grants totaling $107,590.00 from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Commissioner James Neeley presented the grants during a luncheon at the Paris Civic Center Friday, February 10.

Among those receiving awards in Carroll and Henry counties are: Windsor Republic Doors, McKenzie - $15,000; Dana Corporation - Plumley Division, McKenzie - $15,600; Norandal USA, Huntingdon - $49,352; Custom Tool and Die, Huntingdon - $8,600; Pepsi Mid America, Paris - $9,673; and PML, Inc, Paris - $9,365.

Incumbent Worker Training Grants help Tennessee companies avoid downsizing and keep jobs in the state. Close to $2 million in Incumbent Worker Training Grants was awarded in 2005 benefiting almost 10,000 Tennessee workers.

"The Incumbent Worker Training Grants are essential to help Tennessee's workers look to the future with job growth and stability," said Governor Bredesen. "This grant will help keep this company competitive and increase the skills of their talented employees."

The Incumbent Worker Training Program provides grant funding for customized training for existing businesses," said Neeley. "I am proud to award this grant money to keep area workers on the job."

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development administers the Incumbent Worker Training program. The program has been structured to be flexible to meet the businesses training objectives. The business may use public, private, or its own in-house training provider based on the nature of the training.

The following criteria must be met to qualify for the Incumbent Worker Training Program. Employers must be in operation in Tennessee for at least one year prior to application date. Employers must have at least five full-time employees, demonstrate financial viability and be current on all state tax obligations. Funding priority is given to businesses whose grant proposals represent a significant layoff avoidance strategy and represent a significant upgrade of skills.
 

  

McKenzie (February 9) - The citizens of McKenzie are invited to voice their opinions regarding voting wards in a public meeting scheduled for Thursday, March 2, at 7:00 p.m. The date was set during a regular session of the McKenzie Board of Mayor and Council on Thursday, February 9.

The meeting is to receive public input into whether to keep the present, six-ward system or abolish it in favor of a council-at-large system. All interested persons are invited to attend and comment.

Council member Jill Holland brought up the issue of voting wards in the January 26 regular session of the council, offering several reasons why she feels the system is outdated and discourages participation in city government. She said that, in a small town, council members should be responsive to the needs of the entire city and its citizens, not just a small geographic area; that persons interested in running for office are more likely to lose interest when waiting four years to run again, versus an at large system when they could run every two years; and that citizens would be more likely to run for a number of seats available rather than against a particular person, among other issues.

Holland was alone in her mission to amend the city's charter to abolish or reduce the city's wards. Other members of the council said the ward system ensures equal representation and discounted points made by Holland.

Holland is accustomed to being the single voice for change on the council, having previously pressed for council members to give up their free health insurance coverage and to serve on the council without remuneration. She refused health insurance and her $150 monthly stipend upon accepting her position in 2004.

Council member Darra Adkins before the meeting took issue with The McKenzie Banner's January 31 report that her phone number was unlisted, declaring she had contacted the telephone company to change that status but was informed it was too late to be published in the most recent edition of the telephone book. She said citizens calling the phone company would be provided with the number.

For more information about the issue of voting wards, see the January 31 issue of The McKenzie Banner or log on to www.mckenziebanner.com. Readers may access the article in the e-edition archives or on the regular site at http://www.mckenziebanner.com/2006/2006news/
news_jan31.htm.

FOURTH OF JULY FREEDOM FESTIVAL MEETING PLANNED

The city hopes to garner public support and input regarding its Fourth of July Freedom Festival celebration in a second public forum scheduled for Monday, February 27 at 7:00 p.m. Council members hope to interest clubs, organizations, and businesses in promoting an "old fashioned" celebration with events leading up to the main event: the annual, highly attended fireworks display. The council plans to appoint a committee of citizens and club representatives to plan and promote the event.

Holland suggested the city invite the YMCA to conduct games or walking and running events and local clubs to promote events such as a barbecue cook-off, water ballons and watermelon eating contests, and the like.
Vice-mayor Gene Hale suggested clubs might set up events in booths similar to Relay for Life events.

"If you are interested and would like to see the event progress, please make plans to attend this meeting," said Mayor Walter Winchester. "We need your participation and support to make this event more than the fireworks display."

Over the past several years, the city has attempted to incorporate music, concessions and a small carnival with the fireworks, with "mixed success." The celebration last year was held on the weekend in order to allow citizens to attend the Paris Landing display.

In other business the council:

* by roll-call vote approved unanimously a resolution authorizing application for a Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $588,235. The amount represents $500,000 in grant monies plus the city's 15 percent matching funds of $88,235, which Winchester said would be paid from Water and Sewer Department reserves;

* approved the low bid of $5,400 by Central Refrigeration of McKenzie for the purchase of a heating and cooling unit for City Hall. Other bids, ranging from $6,225.26 to $8,200 were received from Howe and Jordan Refrigeration of Huntingdon, C & C Sheet Metal of Huntingdon, and Quality Air Services of McKenzie;

* rejected bids on two flagpoles because only one bid was received, that from GSC Sign Company of McKenzie;

* approved committee chairman Jerry Arthur's recommendation to award to Clear View of Goodlettsville the bid for a waste oil burner for the Public Works Department. The company bid $9,800, allowing the city to purchase educational materials with the $1,000 balance, as mandated by the state grant under which the unit was purchased. Arthur acknowledged a second bid was essentially identical to the one chosen.

* Heard committee reports from Holland, Parks and Recreation liaison, and Hale, who presented an incident status report for the entire year of 2005 and January 1 through February 9, 2006. See related article, this issue.

The Water Board met in regular session just prior to the council meeting, with no agenda.

 

MHS Cheerleaders were honored for the fourth straight state TSSAA cheerleader championship.
 

HUNTINGDON - Carroll County commissioners applied for three grants, made a school board appointment, and honored the MHS cheerleaders and HHS Band during the Monday, February 13 meeting at the Carroll County Office Complex.

The county of Carroll and the town of Huntingdon jointly applied for a Local Parks and Recreation Funds grant in the amount of $500,000 to purchase land for the construction of the 1000-acre recreational watershed lake in the Leach community. If received, the local match of $500,000 will be provided in-kind by the value of land owned along Browning Highway known as the mitigation site. A separate resolution calls for Community Developmental Partners, LLC to assist in preparing and administering the grant.

In another grant application, the county will consider application for a $300,000 CDBG program grant for improvements to the county's fire department. If awarded, the county will match the grant with $33,000 in local funds.

In the third grant application, the county is seeking up to $500,000 in Local Parks and Recreation Funds to develop the Carroll County Shooting Complex in the Huntingdon Industrial Park-North. The value of the donated land will serve as the local match. No local out-of-pocket money will be spent. The facility would provide a venue to local, regional, and possibly state shooting contests. Competitive sport shooting teams from McKenzie and Carroll County currently compete in trap-shooting contests on the state level. McKenzie additional competes on the national level.

McKenzie High School Cheerleaders were honored for winning their fourth straight state cheerleader championship.

HHS Marching Band was honored for winning the championship in Division I Marching Band Competition in Murfreesboro.

Huntingdon High School Marching Mustangs was honored for winning the Division I Small Bands Competition in Murfreesboro in October 2005.

Tanya Young was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Amanda McMackin on the Carroll County Board of Education.

Notaries public approved were: Leona Longworth, Linda S. Radford, Antoinette L. Stokes, and Kathy Howell.

Commissioners Larry Spencer and T. Richard Goodwin were absent.