Fire Receives $64,000 Grant

McKENZIE (September 10) — The McKenzie City Council met Thursday, September 10, with consideration of a Tennessee Volunteer Firefighter Equipment and Training Grant and two appointments to the McKenzie Planning Commission among the items on the agenda.

Under new business, the council approved the acceptance of a $64,000 Tennessee Volunteer Firefighter Equipment and Training Grant. The grant would fund the purchase of a fill station compressor from Arctic Compressor at a cost of $57,916.77.

Fill station compressors are heavy-duty, blast-resistant containment units designed to safely refill SCBA and SCUBA breathing air cylinders. The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance informed the McKenzie Fire Department that it could use the remaining grant funds for other department needs, but the state would need to be notified of how the remaining funds were spent.

The council also approved the appointment of Al Everett, replacing Sandi Roditis, and Brennan Smith, replacing AJ Maxwell, to three-year terms on the McKenzie Planning Commission.

The council approved two applications for businesses to lease space within theDepot, McKenzie›s downtown retail incubator.

Addison Dunn was approved to open a men›s and children›s boutique. The business is expected to open around the first of November.

Jill Taylor was approved to open an eatery offering sandwiches and soups in a grab-and-go atmosphere, with seating available for approximately 15 customers. The business is expected to open around the first of October.

Fire Chief Brian Tucker and Police Chief Ryan White also informed the council about a joint effort between their departments to purchase a refurbished Zoll X Series Defibrillator. The equipment cost $19,526.60 and was purchased at no expense to McKenzie taxpayers.

The city used funds from its Safe Streets account, which is funded by revenue generated through traffic cameras, to purchase the defibrillator.

More information about the Zoll X Series Defibrillator is available here. The next meeting of the McKenzie City Council is scheduled for October 8 at 6 p.m. at McKenzie City Hall.