McKenzie Industrial Board Director Billy Barksdale addresses members of the McKenzie Board of Mayor and Council.

The report and subsequent question and answer session comprised 30 minutes of the hour and 20-minute meeting. Barksdale said it was essential, in order to attract industry, that the population of the city be increased upward of 8,000 people. He identified other issues as a lack of racial and cultural diversity and a shortage of local benefits and attractions.

Other items discussed at length were a prioritization of items in the Park and Recreation Advisory Board's "five year plan" and a briefing by CPA Mark Downing, of Alexander, Thompson and Arnold PLLC, regarding the city's 2004-2005 audit report.

Mayor Walter Winchester, Streets Superintendent Joe Curtis and department liaison Jerry Arthur requested and received permission for the entire downtown region to be upgraded this spring with fresh asphalt and new or refurbished walkways and curbs. Winchester said the work would commence quickly in order to take advantage of current asphalt prices, as costs are expected to rise with the new fiscal year in June.

Curtis said the upgrade would entail "milling" the streets, which Arthur elaborated was the removal surface layers of asphalt. Drainage systems will be repaired simultaneously, with cost estimates already being sought.

Arthur said handicap access would be built into sidewalks and the downtown square, but that individual businesses would remain responsible for continuing the access into their establishments.

"We're going to make possibly every corner of the park accessible and one more entry into the park itself instead of one," said Arthur, also stating sidewalk construction will begin the week of February 26 as city workers will provide labor for that portion of the project. He said sidewalks must be completed before the asphalt work can begin.

INDUSTRY

Barksdale said the WTIA (West Tennessee Industrial Association) reported that in 2005 18 companies visited 58 communities in West Tennessee. Twelve of those visited McKenzie, among other communities, he said, noting that by the time industrial prospectors decide to visit the town, they know all there is to know about it, having been provided by the IDB with extensive data according to requests received.

Barksdale said he assembles a team composed of members requested by the interested party, often including the school superintendent, technical center director, hospital administrator and sometimes the mayor and county mayor, as well as others. Visits are also scheduled with the human relations officials of existing plants and real estate pamphlets are provided as well as information regarding the average costs of homes and taxes.

"I usually follow their agenda in bringing to the table what they request," said Barksdale. He generally meets industrial prospectors at the Carroll County Airport and transports them along a select route past the high school, technical center, downtown square, city hall, Bethel College, and College Drive. He said most prospects don't take the time to provide feedback after leaving town, should they choose another location over McKenzie, but that some do voice their opinions during the tour.

"It gets right down to the labor force," he said. "What the community can offer and what neighboring communities and states can offer." He said it is easier to compete with other West Tennessee communities than neighboring states.

Holland asked whether workers compensation was involved in decisions to locate in other states, however, Barksdale suggested that more often other issues come into play.

"If they are going to transfer people it's much harder for me," he said. "Many times they come from larger communities that have more to offer."

He said he tries to impress upon visitors the relative proximity to Jackson and other larger cities, informing the sports-minded, for instance, that in a specified amount of time they can be in Nashville's stadium watching the Titans play.

He stressed the importance of growing the population in order to be competitive, saying, "I'm not trying to make McKenzie a super-growth area because we may lose our way and standard of living, but we've got to get just a bit bigger to get over the hump."

He said McKenzie was on the lower end of the population of communities many industries examine, ranging between 5,000 to 8,000 persons.

Holland asked if he provided the city population or the special school district population. Several major subdivisions and other housing developments lie outside city limits.

He said he offers a breakdown of McKenzie's population, the county, and a 50-mile radius and, if necessary, a 125-mile radius.

Questions sometimes asked include the nearest proximity to Japanese schools and a breakdown of population including Hispanic, Japanese and Chinese and cultural offerings. "The list goes on and on, it's just amazing what they want to know and what they will know before they come," he said.

Council member Willie Huffman, noting Paris approaches the high end of the population quoted by Barksdale, asked for a comparison of the number of industrial visits between the two towns. Barksdale said McKenzie had as many prospects as Henry County and added that McKenzie belongs to the Henry Chamber of Commerce as part of the city falls within Henry County. Therefore, he said, "When they (industrial prospects) look at Henry County, the McKenzie Industrial Board pops up."

Barksdale said he hears complaints from existing plants that they can't take more orders because they can't get employees to work and that it has also been brought up to him that that there are a lot of plants in McKenzie but that they won't pay anything. He cited the average wage for workers in manufacturing plants, not including management, as $10.60 per hour.

Council member Darra Adkins asked whether the absence of liquor in McKenzie was a major stumbling block in attracting new industry. Barksdale conceded it is sometimes an issue in which case he takes those prospects to the Country Club, which serves alcohol. The V.F.W. in McKenzie is another source of liquor by the drink.

He said the IDB adopted the Park Theatre as a project in order to eliminate the former eyesore the building had become and eliminate the likelihood that the building would continue to deteriorate. He recalled distastefully the necessity of driving past the relic with industrial prospects. The exterior, lobby area, and roof were refurbished by the IDB with grant monies that proved insufficient to complete the entire restoration. Barksdale said he welcomes the prospect of a joint venture with the city.

While the IDB expended some of its own money in the effort, he said, "We've got to spend our money where we can get people out there and involved in jobs."

Other issues Barksdale reported included:

* Bethel College's $1.5 million loan, executed through the IDB with no liability to the board, for the purchase of the former McKenzie Apartments;

* site certification of two properties in McKenzie: Airport Park and the Wrinkle farm property which has been marketed on the Internet over the past year, according to Barksdale. He said certification required a site to be more than 50 acres and meet the state's 100 critical requirements.

"Carroll County was the only county with three sites and two of those were in McKenzie," he said. Huntingdon's new Industrial Park South spec building comprised the third site. The sites will be marketed throughout the United States, Canada and some other countries, according to Barksdale.

* the purchase of the Murray building by Hollingsworth Companies and subsequent plans for near $1 million improvements to the building and grounds. Barksdale said the building was originally purchased by Heinz Industries as it was part and parcel of Murray holdings that included the corporate office in the Franklin area. Regarding industrial prospects for the building, he said, "We've got a couple of prospects but no done deal on that facility at this time."

* four inquiries were elicited from the IDB Web site, www.mckenzietn4u.com, which is advertised in Chicago, New York and other states as a promotion to living in McKenzie. He said persons visiting with the objective of a potential move to the town were offered discounts on lodging and meals during a visit of more than a few hours, in order that they may "get involved in what McKenzie has to offer.

"We're small but we do have a lot to offer," he said, later stating, "We're hustling McKenzie pretty hard, I'll tell you that."

* the IDB's year-end audit, conducted by ATA, showed total assets of $2,181,272 in land, cash, and receivables on buildings owned or financed by the board, most of which, Barksdale said, are under lease option purchases. He said the IDB has been involved in assisting in bond issuance or financing on 14 buildings.

PARKS AND RECREATION

The council agreed to postpone action of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board's five-year plan pending further public input and prioritization after board Chairman Debbie Broadbent asked that a McKenzie Banner poll be repeated to garner expanded information.

The poll of 138 responses showed 43 percent of responses for walking trails, 41 percent for more fields, 24 percent for soccer fields, 22 percent for pavilions, 19 percent for tennis courts, and 15 percent for building improvements.

The Banner agreed to build a new poll with expanded choices which will be accessed at the city of McKenzie Web site, www.mckenzietn.com. Adkins noted, however, that she and many other people do not have access to computer or Internet and said constituents could call her or other council members to voice their opinions. Her phone number is 352-4886.

Broadbent outlined the "five-year plan" projects as: fencing for the Senior Babe Ruth field extending to the dugouts; permanent soccer facilities; walking trails; a picnic area at the water tower; T-ball picnic areas; property acquisition by purchase or donation; concession stand at Mulberry Park; and pavilion at Mulberry Park.

She said grant applications for trail construction have a better chance of success when they "lead to something" such as the water tower region.

She further cited the need to "look ahead" because of the "every-two-year" nature of the grants and said labor can count toward the city's matching funds. She said all the summer sports leagues are growing.

Adkins asked whether the city had enough land on Liberty Lane near its intersection with College Drive to create new park areas, but was advised that land belongs to Bethel College. Bethel last year completed construction on tennis courts and a soccer field at the intersection of the two roads.

Prompted by Hale's comment that it would be best, due to financial constraints, if land were donated to the city for the expansion of the park system, Broadbent said, "We'd like to have some land donated to City Park or Mulberry Park." She said the board has sought land donation for two years.

The board will present a prioritized plan to the council at their next regular meeting on March 9, however, Broadbent stressed it may be necessary to bypass priorities depending upon circumstance and availability of grants types.

AUDIT

The 2004-2005 audit revealed total general fund assets of $3,477,322 (down $97,337 from last year), liabilities of $1,000,654 (up $25,475 from last year) and unreserved fund balances of $2,476,668 (down $122,812 from last year.)

The Water and Sewer Fund reflected an increase of $212,729 in total net assets in the first full year since water rates were increased.

Downing further noted that five findings from previous years had been corrected, with one added. Corrected were two 2004 findings: Water Department Christmas party expenditures and misappropriation of police funds; one 2001-2004 finding: timely deposit of receipts; one 1999-2004 finding: purchasing procedures; and one 1997-2004 finding: filing of delinquent property taxes.

Reissued findings included three on the books since 1995: reconciliation of accounts, segregation of duties, and excess expenditures over budget. New in 2005 was a deficit fund balance in the solid waste fund caused by a net loss for the year of $15,119.

Adkins, whose father was a certified public accountant and former mayor of Martin, noted and Downing agreed that the reconciliation of accounts finding could be eliminated by the employment of a CPA for routine reconciliation to the general ledger of subsidiary accounts. He said city officials have discussed with his firm an option of using ATA or another CPA to perform the function. He said a CPA's service would likely also eliminate the excess expenditures over budget item but that the segregation of duties shortcoming would "always be there" because the small staff size does not allow full segregation of record-keeping, custodial, and authorization functions of internal accounting controls.

In other business the council:

* Approved the fire department's request to seek bids on four 30-minute self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs) with mask-mounted regulators and four reserve cylinders. Adkins, who serves as liaison for the department, asked that only MSA (Mine Safety Appliances) brand devices be sought as the department's inventory of SCBAs consists of MSA units and the need to maintain replacement parts compatibility. The bids will be opened in the March 9 meeting, which Adkins noted would give two weeks for advertisement. She said the purchase was provided for in the department's budget. She said the MSA SCBAs were originally purchased under a National Fire Protection Association Grant and that the department is attempting to gradually replace older units, some of which are already obsolete.

* Opened bids for a flashing beacon to be placed at the intersection of Highway 124 (Old McKenzie Road) and Highway 22. Bids were received from Jack Hornsby Electric Co. in Jackson ($18,980), Wade Electric Co. in Jackson ($11,925), and Shelby Electric Co. in Memphis ($7,988). Winchester reported the bids must be sent to the state Department of Transportation for approval of specifications and selection, with 100 percent of the costs funded by the state.

* Approved the appointment of a commit to study the need for municipal building repair and maintenance. Committee members include Huffman, who serves as General Office liaison, Willie Huffman, Hale, and Adkins. The committee will report back to the council by the March 23 regular meeting.

* Received the complete 2005 fire and rescue incident report showing total time in-service as 197 hours and 48 minutes and the January 2006 incident and training reports showing 7 hours and 40 minutes in service on 19 calls including four commercial alarms, one residential alarm, four residential fires, two smoke investigations, four brush fires (three at the sewer plant on three separate occasions) one vehicle fire, one police assist, one aircraft standby, and one motor vehicle accident.

Adkins reported department Chaplain Adam Cooper will be attending the chaplain's academy March 3-5 after which he would attend CISD (Critical Incident Stress Debriefing) training in order to be prepared to support peers following incidents in which lives are lost. Adkins stressed the psychological trauma endured by fire and rescue personnel when dealing with loss of life, especially in cases of severe burning.

a d v e r t i s e m e n t

 

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