MCKENZIE (January 10) — McKenzie City Council may move to only one business meeting monthly instead of the current schedule of semi-monthly meetings. In a vote of three to one, council members approved on the first of two readings to meet the second Thursday of each month for a business meeting and the fourth Thursday for an informal planning meeting, in which no votes will be cast.

Mayor Walter Winchester recommended the change in schedule since many of the business meetings on the second and fourth Thursdays last only 10 to 15 minutes. He said the council can meet in special session as necessary.

Council members Gene Hale, Wade Allen, and Jill Holland voted for once monthly. Councilman Charles Ramey voted against. Absent were Darra Adkins, who is hospitalized, and Brad Davis.

The council approved a new flood plain map and ordinance, which allows property owners in the designated flood plain to purchase federal flood insurance. Only a small portion of McKenzie is designated as being in a flood plain. That area extends along Clark Street from McKenzie Feed and Grain to the new Mexican Restaurant on U.S. 79.

The council unanimously approved new pass-through limits for industrial users of the sanitary sewer system as prescribed by the state of Tennessee. Billy Wood said some effluent permissible discharge levels increased and others decreased. Mayor Winchester said the city monitors industrial output and imposes corrective actions if the industry is out of compliance.

A Sports Operating Procedure was unanimously approved to govern all city-operated sports activities. It includes a code of ethics, organizational meeting requirements, governing board requirements, and financial requirements are part of the new SOP.

Appointments were approved to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. New members include: Shawna Fowler, Missy Taylor, and Liz Gonzalez, and reappointments include Murray McCaleb and Debbie Broadbent, who serves as chairperson. All appointments are for three years.

The council also received a favorable financial audit report from John R. Poole, auditor. See a separate story concerning the audit.

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