HUNTINGDON (September 12) - The Mayor and Council for the town of Huntingdon approved a significant increase in premiums of city-owned property. Property insurance premiums increased from $42,013 annually to a new rate of $56,495.

Mayor Dale Kelley said the premium increase reflects the addition of The Dixie, the log cabin, and the industrial "spec" building plus a 3.9 percent inflation rate.

The Council also approved an increase in the water/sewer tap fees and the charge for impounding stray dogs.

Newly approved water tap fees are as follows: 3/4" service line $400 (was $250); 1" $500 (was $350); 1-1/2" $750 (was $600); 2" $1,100 (was $800), and a 3/4" line for outside the city limits $650 (was $500). Minimum sewer tap fee is $700 (was $500). Kelley said the new fees are to cover the costs of installation, not to make money. The increased fees are in line with other cities of comparable size, said the mayor. The council approved the first of two readings on the tap fees.

In a water/sewer rate survey in Tennessee, Kelley said Huntingdon rates favorably at 46th of 456 utility districts. Huntingdon's water and sewer rates are "below average" said the mayor.

As recommended by the Public Safety Committee, the Council approved increased fees to impound stray dogs. The cost of apprehension and impoundment is $25.00 on the first pickup and $35 for the second. The owner will be cited into court on the third offense. The usual $2.00 daily boarding fee was deleted.

An agreement with WVHR-101FM radio was approved to rent a small office/broadcast office in The Dixie in exchange for broadcasting and promoting the monthly Huntingdon Hayride show. The lessee will pay $50 monthly for electricity and perform its own janitorial services. The contract also defines that the Hayride is the property of the Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center and has final approval of performances. Artists will be paid 50 percent of ticket sales, the master of ceremonies will be paid 25 percent of ticket sales less production costs. Any sponsorship of the Hayride sold by the radio station are the property of the station. WVHR assumed the broadcast of the show earlier this year from the local AM station, WDAP.

The 2005-2006 fiscal year budget was amended to reflect actual revenues and expenditures. The General Fund had $25,600 revenues over expenses; the Drug Fund exceeded revenues by $16,400; the Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center had revenues over expenditures of $255,450; the Utility Fund expenses exceeded revenues by $1,850; the Public Improvement Fund (new Post Office) expenses exceeded revenues by $150.

A problem with cloudy water has been remedied, said the mayor. While unsightly, the water was safe to drink. The mayor reported that sewer rehabilitation is progressing along Buena Vista Road and on Williams Street, near the former Wal-Mart location.

Councilpersons attending were: Jeff Bailey, Gary Hatch, Jeanie Newmon, Clarence Norman, Melissa Powell, and John Sanders. Absent was Tim Tucker.

HENRY (September 12, 2006) - The Henry Mayor and Board of Aldermen agreed to terminate the services of sewer system project engineer M & S Joint Venture during its lengthy September meeting.

Mayor Faye Lowery reported that work on the city sewer system project, which has been the subject of much public criticism and concern, has been temporarily halted due to "substandard work."

Lowery said a letter was sent on August 25 to Claunch Construction to shut construction down until further notice, and that she and a USDA Rural Development state engineer had toured the project area. She also said a meeting was held on September 1 between city and project officials.

"He told me that if we were to continue the project in its current state, we would spend all of the $2 million dollars already set aside for the project, and then in another year we would be going back to USDA to request an additional million dollars to repair all of the mistakes," Lowery told the board. She noted elevated pipes and exposed wiring as particular concerns.

The main problem, according to Lowery, is the lack of a daily inspector on the job, a requirement in M & S Joint Venture's contract. She said $60,500 had originally been budgeted for inspection, and $33,151 of that has been spent, leaving $27,348 for inspecting the remainder of the project.

"[M & S representatives] stood in a public meeting and said they refused to put a resident inspector on the job, and I feel like we are entitled to part of that money back," Lowery said, adding that legal counsel would be consulted on the matter. "And I think that a lot of these problems wouldn't have happened had there been an inspector there every day."

The board unanimously approved terminating the services of both M & S Joint Venture and engineering firm L.I. Smith & Associates for breach of contract, with Lowery stating that they had "lost confidence" in the engineers. "The engineering portion of the project is 100 percent paid, so we shouldn't need any more engineering services," Lowery noted.

The board also approved hiring WaterPro of Jackson Energy Authority in Jackson, Tenn. to complete daily inspection work for the rest of the project. WaterPro is a governmental entity, and as such can join with the City of Henry in an interlocal agreement.

Lowery said WaterPro's inspection fee would be $378 per day, for a total of approximately $27,348 to finish the project, which is slated to be completed December 31.

A resolution officially hiring WaterPro will be read at a called meeting to be announced later. Lowery added that all work not inspected at this point, besides work done in the future, would have to be inspected by WaterPro.

In addition, the board voted to request Claunch Construction resume work on the project with the understanding that they would cooperate with WaterPro's inspectors and would comply with all city, CDBG, USDA Rural Development, and legal requirements. Lowery noted that Claunch's contract states that they will work with an inspector, not necessarily one from M & S.

Lowery told the public to file written complaints with Public Works Director Ed Bush so that problem areas could be marked. "We all hate that it's come to this, but we're working hard to fix it," Lowery said.

In other business, the board also accepted the resignation of Police Chief Jim Sanders, who has accepted a deputy position with the Henry County Sheriff's Department. "It's definitely a move up for him, and we wish him the best of luck," said Lowery.

Sanders stated he had special permission from Henry County Sheriff Monte Belew to remain working part-time with the Henry Police Department to assist in the transition and help train his replacement.

"I will still be in the area and will always be available to the people of Henry," Sanders said.

Sanders suggested he and Officer Mark Herndon, who currently works part-time with the department, "flip-flop" positions: Herndon would become the full-time officer and Sanders the part-time officer.

"I think this is the smoothest way to transition," Sanders said.

Lowery agreed, noting that it "would be premature to add the title of chief to someone so new." She reported that Herndon met the criteria for full-time police employment under Tennessee Code Annotated and the city's standard operating procedures ordinance.

A heated discussion, for which both later apologized, followed between Lowery and Alderman George Owen, who disagreed with department hiring procedures.

"I have nothing against the police department, but if you hire one person with one set of rules, and another with a different set of rules, what have you accomplished?" Owen asked the board.

Lowery stated Owen had not opposed the hiring of other city officials, saying, "I fail to see the differences. Why don't you want a police department?"

Public comments were taken, and several people commented that they believed the city needed at least one full-time officer. "I personally have had to make several calls late at night, and it takes the county awhile to get out here," said Jerry Bierly.

Bush added, "The police help public works when we have to enforce our regulations and have dogs or violent customers."

Sanders asked the board to think of the best interest of Henry's citizens. "This change makes sure that the citizens of Henry receive proper police coverage, not selective coverage," he said. "Don't underestimate your police department."

The board unanimously confirmed Lowery's recommendation to promote Herndon to full-time officer. Herndon, who was present at the meeting, accepted the promotion.

In other police department business, Alderwoman Lisa Olive questioned the powers and limits of new police department volunteer Tammy Bell, who began working with the department in August.

"She does not have arrest or stopping powers, but she can call in a license plate that goes past her," said Lowery. Olive also inquired about limits on personal use of police vehicles, noting that Bell had been seen picking her son up from school in a police car.

"I know that a lot of times you don't have the time to run up to the school, go back and get the police car, and get to your spot," said Lowery. "I've done it before myself, and I bet she's going straight to the spot from the school." She added that the matter would be researched further.

Sanders stated that Bell had fulfilled all minimum requirements for an auxiliary volunteer police officer and had completed training for the position.

"We graciously accept her volunteering," Sanders said, and noted that it was especially helpful since two volunteers had moved out of the area.

Bell was sworn in by Sanders and Lowery last month. "We appreciate all that she's doing for us," Lowery said.

Finally, the board voted unanimously to not approve the sale of alcoholic beverages within the Henry city limits. The motion was voted down after a first motion to organize a committee to continue research on the subject died for lack of a second.

The board also:

• Approved the sale of two half-acre lots located on Vine Street near the bypass. "I've had no interest whatsoever in selling it as commercial property," Bush reported. "But I've had several requests to sell it as residential." He said the lot was actually zoned residential, and that it would be better put to use on the city's tax roll. "We don't collect any taxes on it until it's sold," he said. The board agreed to sell the lots at $3,000 each.
   
• Approved utilizing a Governor's Highway Safety grant, awarded to the Henry Police Department, to purchase a new computer for City Recorder Sonya Clayton. Sanders said the grant, which provides 100 percent funds and is free of charge to the city, would allow for the purchase since the city recorder was responsible for court reports, police statistics, and other police department paperwork. "The funds will be available October 1, so she could get the computer by the second week in October," Sanders told the board. Clayton's current computer will not accept the required yearly software upgrade. "It doesn't have enough memory or speed to take the upgrade," Clayton said. Sanders added that the old computer would be refurbished and given to Bush.
   
• Approved monthly financial reports with the exception of an approximate $72 payment to All-Temp Heating and Cooling for two units at Henry City Hall and Henry Civic Center. According to Clayton, the company charged the city for all work in advance, but was unable to complete work on the two units noted above due to disconnected water supply. The money will be paid upon completion of work, Lowery said.
   
• Instructed Bush to return four worn highway department tires, purchased sometime during the past year, to the supplier to see if a road warranty exists and can be honored. Bush reported that the tires, which are the second set on a truck with only 26,000 miles, needed to be replaced. "It appears to me that there must be a problem with either the tires or the truck," Lowery said.
   
• Approved two requests by Bush regarding water ordinances. The first request, to discontinue the practice of Water Department employees making direct contact with residents whose water service has been disconnected, was approved pending MTAS review. According to Bush, department officials deal with violent residents and animals and would prefer not to have to make physical contact at the door, as the water ordinance currently states. "I'd like to just be able to blow the horn and make contact from the road," he said. He added that the disconnection timeline is prominently displayed on citizens' water bills, with the bill being sent on the first, due on the 10th, and disconnected on the 15th of each month. Secondly, the board approved amending an ordinance to allow Bush to adjust a citizen's water bill once each 12-month period. "I wanted to make sure the board was aware, this is how its supposed to be but the wording doesn't say that," Bush said. The amendment will be taken for MTAS review before being returned to the board.
   
• Approved the installation of three new outside fire hydrants, the funding for which was already in the budget, Lowery said. The new hydrants replaced one damaged hydrant, one hydrant that leaked, and one old hydrant that had been disconnected.
  
  Present at the meeting were Lowery, Owen, Olive, and Vice Mayor Cindy Rainey. Alderman Bo Walker was absent.

 
Trezevant (September 12th) During the regularly scheduled meeting of the Trezevant city council, a much anticipated citywide zoning ordinance was approved. Mayor Wayne David Bryant spent little time expressing his opinion as to the necessity of passing the ordinance. He expressed his concern for what would become of the former H.I.S. building if the city did not take some action.

Of greatest concern to the city is controlling the land usage of the former H.I.S. property should it sell at a tax sale. However, zoning effects all properties located within the city. Once zoning is implement, the city's Planning Commission will decide allowable uses for land development.

The first year of zoning is expected to cost the city $4,500 for the services of the state's Local Planning Services, located in Jackson, The motion was approved by a vote of four to one, with James E. Moore, Jr., Bobby Blaylock, Joe Butler, and Lloyd Bateman voting for it, and Bobby McAlexander voting against by way of a voice vote.

Mayor Bryant also pleaded with the board to begin the process of increasing property taxes. The issue will be on the next month's agenda and will require two readings. He impressed upon them the importance of getting this done before the new board members take office in November. The discussion of city stickers (wheel tax) as a means of increasing city revenue was put on hold once again. The mayor stated that he has researched the issue and it was going to be more complex than what was first thought.

In other business:

• In an ongoing effort to save money, the board voted to eliminate the position of the school crossing guard. This action came after one of the two guards resigned. The school zone lights will be put on a timer.
  
  Bids will be accepted to replace the current West Carroll Medical Clinic, currently rented by McKenzie Regional Hospital and occupied by Physician Assistant Chris Blount. The action follows discussions between the city and the clinic officials concerning the facility's state of disrepair. Plans are to have a new building operational by winter.
   
• The account balances for the Town of Trezevant were reported as follows:
  
  General (Admin, Police, Fire, & Street) - $36,126.98 (+$7,978.31 from the last reporting); CD -$10,872.69 (unchanged); Sanitation - $5,462.06 (+$651.67); Street Aid - $4,472.97 (+$73.71); Drug - $12,419.39 (+$173.24); Water - $8,375.21 (+$255.18); Water Reserve - $36,926.05 (+$2,200.00).
  
  Prior to the city board meeting the Beer Board met. Michael David Chandler was granted a beer license. The license was requested due to the medical condition of his father, Paul Chandler. The permit that is in Paul Chandler's name will now become Michael Chandler's.