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Trezevant Board Takes Oath of Office

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TREZEVANT (November 13) — A mayor and four board members were sworn in last Tuesday at the start of Trezevant’s monthly Board of Alderman meeting. Mayor Bobby Blaylock was elected as a write-in candidate to finish the term vacated by Dennis Mitchell who resigned in October. Pam Joyner was re-elected to a four-year term on the board while Teresa Goodrum and Joe Fowler agreed to remain as holdovers until the 2020 general election. The board has one new face in Eddie Granger who was elected as a certified write-in candidate and will serve a two-year term until the 2020 general election. Granger is married to Tameka Granger and has one child, Madison Granger.
The Board approved a suspension of the rules requested by Mayor Blaylock to take care of two immediate issues which were appointing a vice-mayor along with discussion and action on Christmas bonuses for city employees. After a brief discussion regarding the term of the potential vice-mayor which was agreed to be the same as Mayor Blaylock who will be in office until the next general election in 2020. Boardmember Pam Bryant nominated newly re-elected boardmember Pam Joyner to be vice-mayor which was unanimously approved.
Christmas bonuses were discussed and currently full-time employees get 150 dollars while part-time employees get 50 dollars. After some discussion about raising the bonuses since the city did have a little extra money available, a motion was made to increase both the full-time and part-time bonuses by $50 dollars to $200 for full-time employees and $100 for part-time employees and would be paid with the first paycheck in December.
The board approved the contract from A2H, Inc. to perform the engineering work for Park Street and determine a remedy for the hazard on that street which also involves the railroad crossing.
The board also voted to allow Mr. McRae to continue making progress cleaning up his property to the city’s satisfaction and make periodic reports to Kathy Edwards at City Hall rather than have to show up to board meetings. An update on the Grimes property was postponed until the next meeting. Board member Joe Fowler gave a brief report on the city’s insurance program and indicated Blue Cross Blue Shield would be their best bet and promised to have more details including numbers at the next meeting.

Teresa Goodrum updated the board on a community petition to Dollar General asking them to reconsider their recent decision not to put in the additional grocery and produce items that has been included in the makeovers done to several local stores including McKenzie. Goodrum said there were 450 signatures on the petition which went to Dollar General Corporate and was told it would be two-three months before a decision would be made.
Mayor Blaylock recommended a payraise for Tim Fullington, who has been filling in at the Water Department since Danny Connell’s resignation. He currently is paid $500 twice a month and uses his gas to drive back and forth to work and also is frequently on call. The board unanimously approved a raise to $750 twice a month for Fullington.
Board Member Eddie Granger brought up an issue with the board regarding the street between Dollar General and Centennial Bank being too narrow. Granger believes since it is part of the state right of way TDOT would come in and widen it and make it safer. No action was taken.
In other action, the board approved a motion to take applications for a part-time employee who can operate a backhoe and help with on-call situations during the winter months. The board also approved a recommendation to add Veterans Day to the list of city holidays. They approved motions to schedule the annual Christmas dinner for December 11 and have it catered.
It was announced the annual Christmas Parade is scheduled for December 10 at 7 p.m. Lineup is at 6 pm at the elementary school parking lot.

Trezevant, Oath, Office