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Payment for the former H.I.S. Cutting Room is presented by Tim and Michelle Kleptz to Clerk and Master Kenneth Todd. Left to right are Brad Hurley, president of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce; Tim and Michelle Kleptz, purchasers of the building; Clerk and Master Kenneth Todd; County Mayor Kenny McBride; and Bruceton Mayor Robert Keeton, III.

BRUCETON - An announcement of a new industry in Carroll County may be forthcoming within a few weeks after an Ohio couple purchased the former H.I.S. cutting room. The building, located on Rowland Mills Road, Bruceton, sold at a tax auction Friday, February 25. Kenneth Todd, Carroll County clerk and master, conducted the auction on behalf of the county of Carroll.

Tim and Michelle Kleptz of Dayton, Ohio paid $461,329, an amount equal to five years of delinquent taxes, for the 15-year-old 202,539 square-foot facility and 66 acres of property, once owned by the bankrupt and defunct Henry I Siegel company. Only one bid was presented. The property is appraised at $2,800,000.

At the appropriate time, Carroll County Chamber of Commerce President Brad Hurley will announce specifics of the planned industry, said Mr. Kleptz.

Hurley said the Kleptzs learned about the building through Michael Reid of Binswinger of Atlanta. That company represented and sold the American Lantern building in McKenzie to Cutting Specialist, Incorporated and the former Tennessee Metals building in Huntingdon to Behlen Country.

The couple inspected 65 buildings in seven states before deciding on the Bruceton site, which was selected because of the cooperation and incentives from the town of Bruceton, county of Carroll, and the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce. County Mayor Kenny McBride said special payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) incentives have been offered to Kleptz's company. The fanciers of quarter horses say they do not plan to move to Tennessee.

A check in the amount of $461,329.21 was presented to Todd immediately after the sale. The town of Bruceton will receive $107,534.84 with the remaining $353,794.39 being divided between the Hollow Rock-Bruceton Special School District and the county of Carroll on an approximate ratio of 65 to 35, with the school getting the larger portion.

According to state law, H.I.S. has a one year right of redemption on the property. To redeem the property, H.I.S. would have to pay the $461,329.21 plus 10 percent and reimburse the new owners for any improvements to the property.

A January 21, 2005 auction on the cutting room property produced no bidders so it was sold to the county of Carroll by default. Clerk and Master Kenneth Todd said the chancery court set aside that sale to permit the February 25 auction.

Three other H.I.S. buildings in Bruceton are also vacant and moving through the tax sale process. Those properties are generally referred to as the distribution center, main plant, and Carroll Street property. A H.I.S. building in Trezevant is moving through a condemnation process. The city of Trezevant plans to raze the building and take ownership of the property.

H.I.S., makers of the famous Chic jeans, headquartered its manufacturing operations in Bruceton. The company blamed the North American Free Trade Agreement's passage for its demise.

HUNTINGDON - Huntingdon school board members extended the employment contract of Director of Schools Lynn Twyman during a February 25 meeting. Twyman began his tenure as director on July 1, 2004. The board extended his contract until June 30, 2007 on a unanimously approved motion by Tony Tucker.

Board member Paul Ward, Jr.'s motion to extend Twyman's contract to June 30, 2008 failed after other board members indicated the school system should not fiscally bind the school system nor the next constituted board for that length of time. School board elections occur each two years providing a possibility for a change in membership on the board.

The director's contract is reviewed each January with the board deciding whether or not to extend the contract.

Administrative personnel were also honored. Those included: Primary School Principal Leanne Bailey; Middle School Principal Pat Dillahunty; High School Principal Mike Henson; Food Service Supervisor Carlene Kelley; Supervisor of Federal Projects and Attendance Dr. Steve Peery; and Supervisor of Instruction and Special Education Angie Bunn.

Student trips approved include: Competition and Leadership Conference in Nashville on March 6-9; Huntingdon Middle School TSA Chapter to Chattanooga on March 12-16; Huntingdon Middle School Math Contest at U.T. Martin on April 5.

The board approved the establishment of an occupational safety and health program for school staff and faculty. The program will require that associates of the school undergo training concerning workplace hazards and for the school to provide adequate safety equipment.

A proposal was not approved to require a minimum insurance coverage for all volunteer parent drivers for school functions. The proposal would have required a minimum liability combination of $100,000/$300,000/$50,000. Board member Jerry Morris suggested the school purchase vans to transport the students.

Board members delayed a proposal would restrict their individual service on county legislative or governmental bodies. Current policy restricts them from serving on local legislative and governmental bodies. Tucker said the board wants "education-minded people" to serve on the board, not someone elected on other issues.

Following the 8:00 a.m. meeting, the board toured each of the school buildings to hear from building administrators and teachers.