McKenzie - Three flags on the flagpole in front of McKenzie's municipal building turned out to be too much to bear after recent winds caused the pole to bow under the pressure. City officials on Thursday, January 12, meeting in regular session, voted to solicit bids for two new poles to be tiered alongside the center pole, which will fly the United States flag alone. The state and city flags will fly alongside at reduced height.

The council agreed on the specifications as two 30-foot poles with a five-inch base and 0.156 inch thickness, including installation. Vice-mayor Gene Hale said the specified poles bearing five-by-eight-foot flags would withstand wind of 80 miles per hour.

"I think we should at least solicit in town," said council member Jill Holland, in an effort to spend city money at home.

Council member Darra Adkins said she had noticed that one seam of the city flag at the hospital had frayed. Mayor Walter Winchester said the frayed seam was the result of normal wear and tear, noting the wind-whipped American flags along College Drive lasted only a few months before becoming tattered. Parks and Recreation Superintendent Ricky French agreed that flags with nylon stitching seemed to weather better than others.

Reynolds Electric Company of Dickson, as low bidder at $44,000, was awarded the contract to provide and install lighting at the girls softball field in City Park at the recommendation of a committee headed by Holland, Parks and Recreation Department liaison.

Winchester said approximately $32,000 remains of the grant monies slated to pay for the project with the balance to be paid from the city's surplus funds.

The heating and cooling system that controls the temperature of the council meeting room will be replaced at an approximate cost of $6,000. Officials chose to replace the 15-year-old system rather than repair the heat exchange unit at an approximate cost of $2,000.

"Being that old it needs to be replaced," said council member Willie Huffman.

Holland suggested that the thermostat in other parts of the building be moved rather than training employees to keep certain doors open or closed in order to maintain even temperature throughout the building.

Approved on second and final reading were two measures: the rezoning of the Lawrence Street/McKenzie shopping plaza region from planned business to highway business took place after a public hearing that elicited no comments and was unattended by constituents; and an ordinance limiting the drilling of wells within city limits.

SYKES FUNDRAISER

The McKenzie Police Department will host a fundraiser to benefit the family of School Resource Officer Jackie Sykes.

Grilled ribeye sandwiches with drinks will be sold for $5.00 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday, January 20, at city hall.

Sykes' daughter April remains hospitalized at The Med in Memphis after suffering severe burns in a November assault in which she was also stabbed. She sustained burns over 65 percent of her body, 45 percent of which was third degree. She has already lost one hand and will be fitted with a prosthesis. She is expected to remain hospitalized for the next two-to-four months.

PARK IMPROVEMENT NEEDS IDENTIFIED

Holland provided notes from a January 10 grant planning session to discuss needed improvements prior to proposed grant applications for the Greenway and Trails 80/20 grant or 50/50 municipal grants. The deadline for application is April 2006. Attending the meeting were members of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and city council.

Future needs were identified as playgrounds or pavilions with picnic areas at Mulberry Park, and at City Park in the T-ball and water tower regions; a new fishing pier at City Park; Additional ball fields, including two ASA girls fields, two T-ball fields, and one Little League/Babe Ruth field; concession stand upgrades; concessions, restroom, and parking facilities at Mulberry Park; electrical upgrades in concession stands, press boxes, and the T-ball field at City Park; fence improvements to prevent windshield damage at the senior Babe Ruth field; extended height and safety nets at the high school/senior Babe Ruth, Little League and Babe Ruth fields; parking at the T-ball field; new tennis courts; permanent soccer facilities; permanent flag football facilities; basketball courts; and a batting cage. Improvements that could better meet the needs of senior citizens were outlined as sidewalks, benches, picnic areas and pavilions.

It was suggested that detailed studies be completed to determine future needs prior to making major changes.

Land acquisition to provide fields for T-ball, ASA girls softball, Little League, high school, and other teams was mentioned. A possible remedy to ease crowding at city ball fields was a $1 lease agreement with the school board whereby land at the high school could be used by city teams, particularly the high school teams and the girls teams, which use one field for all age groups.

Fields could be added on street department property adjacent to Mulberry Park, however, also mentioned was ongoing destruction of restroom and basketball facilities at that park. VynAll Industries (the old pajama factory), located nearby, had reportedly offered parking on their property.

Also mentioned was the possibility of a joint venture with Bethel College to develop a walking trail from the school's tennis courts/soccer field, at the junction of College Drive and Liberty Lane, through the adjacent City Park. Primitive trails could be further developed with future use to include space for additional ball fields and picnic areas, it was noted in the document.

In other business the council approved payment of $2,808 to Southern Software, Inc. in renewal of support for the Police Department's computer program, identified by Winchester as a state system.

The mayor asked department heads and council liaisons to begin looking at next fiscal year's financial outlook in order to ensure finalization of the budget in June.

Hale said properties delinquent in taxes for five years were being readied to submit to the trustee to be sold in a routine effort to collect the funds.

Adkins reported 258 fire and rescue calls in 2005 and eight so far in January. She said last year's total was the highest in the recollection of the department.

TREZEVANT, Tuesday, January 10: The Trezevant Board of Aldermen agreed with a recommendation by Mayor David Bryant and approved the employment of Tony Curtis as their new water superintendent. Bryant told the board the extra time for applications had produced a couple of good applicants although one withdrew his application prior to the meeting. Alderman Lloyd Bateman abstained from the vote with the remainder of aldermen approving the recommendation unanimously.

City attorney Charles Trotter told board members that the HIS property was ready to be demolished, to be returned to the county for a tax sale or to leave as it presently stands for later determination. Trotter told the board members that the county could not possibly place the property on this month's tax sale list although Lenox property would be included in the January 27 sale. The town is not presently incurring any liability by taking its time in determining a course for the HIS property. Bryant suggested that someone might be willing to incur the costs of demolishing the structure for the materials which could be obtained. Presently, the taxes due on the structure stand at $4,823.08.

The Ellington property will be ready for the next tax sale and Trotter told board members to keep up with expenses in demolishing the structure.

Requisitions will not be required by all city employees before the purchase of materials or supplies. Bryant told board members that he or an alderman would have to approve all future purchases. It was noted that while the town is not presently in dire straights financially, without the use of requisitions, it might be in the future. Alderman Jim Moore made a second motion on the matter, with unanimous consent of the board. Any city employee who fails to obtain an approval will be suspended without pay for three days. A second infraction will be grounds for dismissal.

Alderman Bobby Blaylock told board members they needed to consider increasing the sanitation rate since Barker Brothers had already done so. The board did decide to forego a dumpster until June 1, saving $310 a month. It was noted by Bryant and several aldermen that the dumpster was not being used properly, with persons from other communities possibly using it for garbage, used furniture and dead animals.

Bruceton---Mayor Robert T. Keeton III informed board members that a contractual agreement with Verizon Wireless was nearing completion that would secure a transmission tower for the town. "It's almost a done deal", he noted.

Keeton explained that the proposed transmission tower would remedy dead area cell phone reception to the region by linking towers from Henry, Paris, Sugar Tree, Camden, Natchez Trace and Huntingdon to form a strong communication signal network. The Verizon tower will consist of a freestanding single pole that will rise to a height of 257 feet tall.

"Once town attorney Donald Parish and I resubmit our final changes to Verizon's proposal for their review and approval, they will send a survey crew to plat out a space to build the tower. The plat space dimensions will consist of a 100 x 100 foot square to be located in the new park between the water plant and the tee-ball field," he noted. Keeton added that the perimeter around the tower area would be fenced for safety purposes.

Keeton advised that Verizon's proposed contractual terms would provide monetary benefit to the town. "The contract is based on a five-year term that can be renewed a total of five times. Each renewable five-year increment will provide for a 15 percent usage fee. All I need now is for the board to approve the contract as it is currently written in order to allow me to enter into discussions with Verizon."

Board members unanimously approved the mayor's pursuance of the contract.

Town Public Works Supervisor Brian Edwards informed that the sewer renovation project was nearing completion. "All the sewer lines are tied in. we just need to do a little road paving to be completely finished."

Edwards informed that a start-up date had yet to be determined for the sidewalk project. He noted, "We need to lay a six-inch water main line between Sam Gately's residence and Hollow Rock Primitive Baptist Church and along the roadbed down to Frankie Turner's place before we put in the sidewalks." He continued, "There is only a one inch galvanized line supplying water to that area, and it's not big enough to provide for adequate water pressure for fire fighting purposes. To do this right, we will need 1,820 feet of pipe." Edwards stated that the current market price for six-inch pipe was $3.85 per one thousand foot purchased.

Mayor Keeton advised Edwards to monitor pipes prices and provide him with a job cost estimate.

The board was informed that all construction work had been completed in regard to the 2005 housing grant. Keeton stated that application for future housing grant funding had been submitted.

In other business, board members approved the reading of the minutes and financial statements from the previous month's meeting.

PARIS- (January 17) Henry County Commissioners vote tonight on a proposal known as the Tennessee River Resort District Act, which aids financially distressed counties through a sales tax sharing provision with the Tennessee Department of Revenue.

The county of Henry stands to gain $1 million annually by the state refunding 4.5925 percent of the sales tax with the caveat that at least half of that amount, approximately $500,000, would fund tourism efforts in the county. If the Act is approved, qualified clubs, hotels, and restaurants would be allowed to sell liquor by the drink if they are located within three miles of the nearest bank of the Tennessee River. The most affected area would be the area around Paris Landing State Park.

Henry County Mayor Brent Greer said, "Without question, the majority of the growth will occur in the lake area." He believes the entire county will benefit with new service jobs. Besides aiding places along the river, Greer said the antiquing and heritage tourism would also greatly benefit. Although the act reads within three miles of the Tennessee River bank, Greer believes the law was intended to read within three miles of the 375 level of the lake impoundment, which would include the shorelines along the West Sandy River impoundment. Greer has asked Representative Borchert to get a clarification on the boundaries.

The act is a revenue issue, which must be acted upon before June 2006, said Greer. The Legislature might rescind the act after determining the amount of revenue the state will refund to the communities, said Greer, who believes that if the county opts in, the state would not rescind the agreement with Henry County, even if the act is rescinded. If the state rescinds the act retroactively, Greer believes similar longstanding tax-sharing agreements with Gatlinburg would also come into question.

In November 2004, Henry County voters approved liquor by the drink countywide by a vote of 4,654 to 4,393. The state Attorney General set aside the referendum because the law requires a minimum of 1,000 citizens in a municipality before liquor can be served. The city of Paris had already approved liquor by the drink before the 2004 referendum. Greer said the Henry County portion of McKenzie might have qualified to sell liquor by the drink with its population of 5,400. The countywide referendum carried in the precincts of Henry, Mansfield, Oakland, Paris, Russwood, Springville, and Lakewood. It failed in Buchanan, Cottage Grove, and Puryear.

A significant portion of McKenzie's tax base is located in Henry County. Businesses and industries in Henry County include: Cobb's Corner, Hig's Restaurant, D&D Service Center, GSC Signs, Cutting Specialist, Inc., Windsor-Republic Builders, Customized Manufacturing, Inc., and Profile Metals.

Henry may the first of seven qualified counties (Benton, Decatur, Hardin, Henry, Houston, Meigs, and Wayne) to vote on the issue. According to the Tennessee Department of Revenue, Henry (including portions of McKenzie) would benefit by $1,026,577, Benton by $327,573, Decatur by $238,136, Hardin by $751,419, Houston by $87,277, Meigs by $147,446, and Wayne by $197,697.

If two-thirds of the 15 commissioners approve the act tonight, the county of Henry may place one-half, estimated at $500,000, of the new revenues in the General Fund for any use. The remaining $500,000 must be spent on tourism anywhere in the county. The county now spends about $30,000 annually on tourism.

Endorsements for its passage include: Paris-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, Paris-Henry County Industrial Committee, city of Paris, Northwest Tennessee Development District, and the Tennessee Rivers Trail District. According to one commissioner, many churches and their members have voiced opposition to the "back door" approach to bring in liquor by the drink around the lake area.

The Chamber said the collection of additional sales tax revenues will diversify the tax base and would not place the burden of funding county services on property taxes alone; tourism is a clean and renewable industry; and travelers generate secondary taxes with additional purchases beyond the defined area.

Henry County Commission meets at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Henry County Courthouse.