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McKenzie Enforces Building Codes

City Votes to Condemn Three Houses

Posted

McKENZIE (November 14) — Four parcels of real estate with houses in disrepair were approved for condemnation during the November 14 meeting of the McKenzie Mayor and Council.
The properties were identified for condemnation by the building inspector, and Codes Enforcement Officer Phillip Morrissett said the city has worked with property owners for years for needed improvements to the property. In the final city action, the Council voted unanimously to authorize condemnation.
The properties were identified as: 276 Elm Street, owned by Bryce Gaston of Huntingdon; 44 Linden Street, owned by Kristy Adams of Humboldt; 80 Paris Street, owned by Keith Traywick of Dallas; and Hays Trailer Park, 924 Magnolia Avenue, owned by Richard Hays of McKenzie, in Weakley County.
Mayor Jill Holland said the court would rule on the cases. The city can then raze the building and assess a lien against the property.
In other business, the council approved a sealed bid of $24,950 from E&W Electrical Solutions of Paris to install a larger generator at City Hall. It was the lone bid submitted.
The generator, moved from the site of the former McKenzie hospital, will sit on a concrete pad built by city employees, who will also build a small building for the electrical transfer switch. The city purchased two generators from the former hospital at $20,000 each.
The Council approved the first of two reading for Ordinance 528 approving the budget for fiscal year 2019-2020, beginning July 1, 2019. The ordinance indicates public hearings will be on Thursday, July 11, 2019. This was obviously an overlooked ordinance necessary to approve the budget. The ordinance indicates the city has a total of $4,710,587 in General Fund revenues.
A previously unannounced public hearing was held concerning a grant for a sidewalk from downtown along South Main to serve E.W. James and other businesses in the area. No one spoke during the public hearing.

In financial matters, the Council approved invoices for the following: police, local government server $5,500; water department, Jones Electric - $13,000 for emergency repair of a well; and Street Department, $95,480 for the paving of Euclid Avenue.
Linda Howton was appointed to the McKenzie Regional Municipal Planning Commission to fill the vacancy of Ken Bean, who died recently.
In Department Head Reports, Street Superintendent Johnny Mercer said new signal lights were installed replacing those in poor repair. The project of replacing all street lights with new LED street lights is almost complete, said Mercer. He added, the crews are busy picking up leaves throughout the city.
Water Superintendent Billy Wood said the installation of new electronic water meters is approximately one week from completion. The rehabilitation project for dilapidated sewer lines is complete and paving crews will repair the cuts in the streets.
Fire Chief Brian Tucker said the department had 37 calls during October, including one significant fire of a 75-acre soybean field. He said the recently purchased rescue truck is in service.
Jeremy Allen with the Parks Department said the Christmas decorations are installed in the downtown area and staff members have mulched some of the city properties.
Police Chief Craig Moates said the department had 1,338 reports for October.
A proposal to borrow $150,000 to install lights at the intersection of State Route 22 and University Drive, U.S. 79 and State Route 22 near the overpass and lighting in the recreation parks was delayed until December.