With no member of the planning commission on hand to present the revamped "Sign Regulations" portion of McKenzie's zoning ordinance, council members and city staffers muddled through its provisions before the change was approved on first reading Thursday, April 13, in regular session of the McKenzie Board of Mayor and Council, following a public hearing at which only council members remarked.

"I read this again and I just kind of get bogged down," said council member Jill Holland, who was among members calling for the planning commission to simplify the proposed regulations. The council had approved the ordinance on first reading on July 14 last year but, after two called meetings to review its conditions, returned the bill to the commission.

Mayor Walter Winchester called attention to a table that identifies by sign type and zoning district what signage is allowed. "The verbiage after that is an amplification of that," he said, noting the planning commission had spent several months in reworking the ordinance. He said the ordinance was originally pursued to create a basis for the removal of signs that were unsightly or dangerous.

Under the regulations, which will require a second reading before becoming official, portable signs will be allowed by permit only in the B-2 (highway business) district. Signs must be maintained and comply with placement standards set by the city. Codes Officer Ray Berryman is charged with determining which signs comply with the regulations.

Temporary signs are defined in the ordinance as "a sign intended to display either commercial or non-commercial messages of a transitory or temporary nature. Portable signs or any sign not permanently embedded in the ground, or not permanently affixed to a building or sign structure that is permanently embedded in the ground, are considered temporary signs."

The council tabled the issue of hiring a CPA firm to keep its financial books after Mark Downing of Alexander, Thompson and Arnold, PLLC (previously Dunn Creswell Sparks Smith Horne & Downing, PLLC) noted the firm had enacted a policy to avoid overlapping functions for government offices.

In past years, he said, his firm has had to make approximately 100 journal entries to reconcile the city accounts before beginning the audit.

"We were auditing our own numbers," he said. "We had to give one of those up, it's just not ethical."

He agreed to speak with his partners after being advised by city clerk Charlie Beal that the comptroller's office approved same-firm bookkeeping and audits provided the persons filling those roles worked at separate locations under different supervisors.

Fewer CPA firms are performing government audits following restrictive requirements enacted by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.

In other business the council agreed to contact the office of United States Representative John Tanner for grant assistance in purchasing additional warning sirens following recent deadly tornadoes in the region.

Council members commended police officers for patrolling the city with sirens blaring during the tornado warnings while acknowledging the sound of the city's stationary siren, located at city hall, is insufficient to alert all residents of imminent danger.

Vice-mayor Gene Hale, said he could hear the siren from his residence at 38 Hazel Avenue, 1.8 miles from city hall, if the wind was blowing in the right direction.

Winchester estimated it would take three sirens with overlapping, 1.5 mile ranges, to sufficiently cover the city at a cost of $10,000 each.

City Park could become six to nine acres larger following an offer by Sue Lawrence to sell adjoining land to the city. Land acquisition was among items the Park and Recreation Advisory Committee outlined in the five-year plan recently submitted to and approved by the council.

The council consented to allow the mayor and vice-mayor to enter into negotiations with Lawrence regarding the possible purchase.

The month of May was designated as "clean-up, fix-up month". Winchester said Barker Brothers waste disposal company typically announces a Saturday during which residents may dispose of household trash free of charge.

Other items approved by the council included:

* a resolution honoring the memory of the late Ludie Gaines, the wife of McKenzie industrialist Ben Gaines Sr., who preceded her in death. The resolution will be presented to the family in a later meeting to be announced;

* a policy regarding the use of city-provided and personal cell phone use by city employees;

* a possible contract with Melrose fireworks company for the Freedom Festival fireworks display. The city was contacted by Central States Fireworks in Big Sandy retracting its offer to provide fireworks due to a full schedule. The company had submitted its proposal by letter dated March 24, 2006. Council members asked Winchester to contact Melrose, who has previously provided the display, in hopes of securing a contract for the festival;

* the low bid of $7,692.59, made by Arnolds in McKenzie, for carpeting the council room and office area of city hall. The Color Shop in Martin bid $9,359.24. The bids included specific weight carpet, installation, disposal and labor;

* an award of $100 to JACOA (Jackson Area Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse);

Police car bids were opened and referred to Hale and Police Chief Harry Cooper for review. Results will be presented at the April 27 council meeting. Tri-County Motor Co. of McKenzie bid $24,198.28 each for three 2006 Ford Crown Victoria police cruisers on a three-year lease option that the mayor said would be amount to the purchase of one car per year over three years. Alexander Lincoln Mercury-Ford in Murfreesboro submitted two bids, with price depending on options selected, for a 2006 Crown Victoria. With seven options, the per-vehicle cost was quoted at $22,179 and, with four options, $21,532.

Park and Rec liaison Jill Holland reported her recent attendance at a national convention in Louisville. She said the focus in Parks and Recreation is moving from traditional sports to a wellness agenda with fitness programs, walking trails and the like for people of all ages.

Winchester called attention to the framed flag mosaic which he accepted from Alpha Company soldiers Sunday afternoon, April 9, during a ceremony honoring soldiers and supports of the 230th Engineer Battalion who returned home from Iraq in December after more than a year on active duty.

"I was very honored to receive it on behalf of the city," said Winchester.

He said handicapped parking spaces will be designated at each access ramp when city crews have completed sidewalk construction downtown.

Fire Department liaison Darra Adkins reported 56 calls through March 31 and said several brush fires were under investigation. She commended Fire Chief Brian Tucker and Assistant Chief Roger Christian for saving the city $1500-1800 dollars by installing a $700 clutch into the tanker-pumper unit. She said the job would have cost between $2,000 and $3,000 had a mechanic been hired to perform the job.

Hale reported a total of 272 driving citations for the year.

In a meeting of the McKenzie Board of Water Commissioners held just prior to the city council meeting, members discussed the lease or purchase of a sludge belt press.

Winchester said the Water/Sewer Department has leased a similar machine for a two-week period over the past two years to clean out the sludge holders when wet weather prevented sludge pouring into drying beds in sufficient amounts to keep the system clean. More than 200 tons was processed in the last lease period in March, he said.
 

Huntingdon is looking for property suitable to house the offices of soon-to-be Circuit Judge Donald Parish, who is running unopposed in the August 3 elections. The city would lease the property during the judge's eight-year term of office.

Mayor Dale Kelley received permission from the Huntingdon Town Council Tuesday, April 11, to negotiate the purchase. He advised council members proposed purchases would be brought before them for consideration.

The proposal, suggested by Parish according to the mayor, mirrors one currently underway at the former post office building downtown, which accommodates the office of the 24th Judicial District Child Support Enforcement division, an arm of the District Attorney General.

Kelley said he had been assured accommodations for the District Attorney General would remain in Huntingdon. Running for that office in the August 3 elections are Hansel McCadams (D-Paris) and John Overton (I-Savannah). Robert "Gus" Radford is not seeking re-election.

In other business, the town hopes to sell the wood chipper for at least $6500. The item became obsolete when a knuckleboom truck, purchased in late 2003, came into use in January 2004, according to Kelley, who said the wood chipper had not been used in some time. Sealed bids for the purchase of the wood chipper will be sought.

Other items approved included:

* the solicitation of quotes for concrete relative to the downtown streetscape project;

* on first reading, an ordinance to amend the zoning ordinance to allow additional business services in the B-2 (general business) district, following approval of the planning commission's recommendation at last session;

* on first reading, an ordinance to delete provisions in the zoning ordinance allowing commercial mobile home structures on a permanent basis and requiring site plan approval of permanent structures prior to the issuance of a temporary building permit; also approved in principle at last session; and

* on second and final reading, an ordinance to amend the FY 2005-06 budgets to provide for routine mid-year fiscal reviews. No persons were in attendance to address a public hearing held prior to approval.

Kelley expressed deep sorrow at the death of Huntingdon High School standout Brandon Snyder, who he and Vice-Mayor Tim Tucker reflected upon as an outstanding young man as well as a gifted athlete.

"His death was a tragedy for our community," said Kelley. "We will keep his family in our thoughts."

He also expressed condolences for the family of former Trezevant Mayor Janice McClain, citing her many accomplishments.

Tucker lauded Kelley's appointment to the board of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. Kelley, a Republican, was nominated for the position by Democratic state Representative Mark Maddox. Kelley will fill the position vacated by Mr. Allie Prescott III. The term ends February 28, 2007.

Kelley, humbled, said, "I am appreciative of Speaker Naiffeh's appointment," noting the governor has eight appointments to the position, the speaker of the House has eight, and the Senate has eight.

"I think we're all in agreement you're a good choice," said council member Melissa Powell. A lifelong sportsman, Kelley was himself inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. He is also a member of the Carroll County and Bethel College sports halls of fame.
 

 
PARIS - The fifty-third World's Biggest Fish Fry activities begins next week Paris.

Monday and Tuesday activities will include dances at the fairgrounds. A street dance will begin at 8 p.m. Monday and a country dance will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The traditional tossing of the first hushpuppy by the Hostess Princess is Wednesday, April 26 at 5:00 p.m. at the FirstBank Fish Tent at the fairgrounds. $8.00 buys all the catfish and trimmings you can eat on Wednesday from 5:00 till 9:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. till 9:00 p.m. On Thursday from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. diners enjoy Fillet Night featuring the signature trimmings with all-you-can-eat fillets for only $9.00.

Rides, games and funnel cakes await visitors as the carnival opens Tuesday afternoon through Saturday evening at the fairgrounds. The carnival will be open Tuesday through Thursday from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday beginning at 11 a.m.

For rodeo fans the fairgrounds is also the location of the Bone & Joint Specialist Rodeo. This IRPA sanctioned event begins at 8:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday night.

The Grand Parade begins at 10:00 a.m. Friday, April 28. Get your spot early for this event, which is enjoyed by more than 75,000 spectators. Members of the Paris-Henry County Rescue Squad are the 2006 Grand Marshals.

On Saturday, the activities move to downtown Paris where little ones take the spotlight during the Small Fry Parade at 10:00 a.m. Participants in the Catfish Races rev up their fish on the court house lawn at 10:30. At noon, young anglers cast for the biggest fish during the Junior Fishing Rodeo on Williams Lake.

For more information call the Fish Fry Headquarters at 731-644-1143, go to www.WorldsBiggestFishFry.com or visit www.paris.tn.org on web and click on Calendar of Events.