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McKenzie Votes to Change Charter

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McKENZIE (November 8) — During the regular monthly meeting of the McKenzie Board of Mayor and Council, Vice-Mayor Gene Hale and Councilperson Cassie Allen were recognized for their service on the city council. Hale had served on the council since 1988 and Allen since 2014. Both members did not seek reelection.
Following a motion by Councilperson Jason Martin, the council approved resolution 19-009 to amend Sections 5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13 and 18 of Chapter 128 of the Private Acts of 1990. The resolution covers changes and amendments to the city’s charter. A large portion of the proposed changes are cleaning up of some language allowing the charter to better coincide with the laws of the State of Tennessee such as fines can not exceed $50 unless authorized by general law.
A point of interest occurs with the recommendation of adding wording to the charter allowing the city to move towards creating the position of a City Administrator. The purposed amendment states:
The Council may, by 2/3 majority vote, appoint a City Administrator who shall be under the control and direction of the Council. The City Administrator shall report and be responsible to the Council.
An additional charter change will make the city in compliance with the State as an employment at-will municipality. The wording will read:
...the Mayor shall have authority to make appointments, promotions, and transfers, and to make demotions, suspensions and removals of officers and employees for reasonable cause.
The wording removed allowed for a terminated employee to request an appeal before the City Council within a ten-day period.
In other business, in the first reading the council voted in favor of amending the text for Ordinance 526, Chapter 2, section 8-211 to expand potential business opportunities in the B-3 and B-2 Zones. Mayor Jill Holland explained that in most city business districts there was a “0” distance for the sale of beer. The currently distance is 200 feet.
Also under new business, Resolution 18-012 was approved. The resolution authorizes the incurrence of indebtedness for sewer improvements. Within the wording it states, the loan with USDA which was not to exceed $1,050,000.
A bid from NAFCO was accepted for the purchase Fire Department turnout gear. The bid was $10,830.25. Fire Chief Brian Tucker said that he had been pleased with them in the past, and the purchase would keep everyone in the same type gear.

Under department head reports, Public Works Director Johnny Mercer reported the continuance of household and brush pickup. Leaf pick up began November 6. Christmas lights in the downtown area were up and ready the upcoming Open Houses. Asphalt paving has begun on some streets, with University Drive coming up.
Parks and Recreation Director Mike Beasley was working on winterizing the parks and have finished at Mulberry and at the Splash Pad. He noted a duck was killed at the city park with a bow and arrow.
Water Superintendent Billy Wood reported that the project in the Cherry St., Bailey and Stonewall area are near completion. The company had completed their testing, cut the PVC down to ground level, seeded and strawed lawns, and were in the process of paving the water cuts now.
Police Chief Craig Moates informed the council the Police Department had a total of 1241 calls for the month of October.
Fire Chief Tucker reported there had been 25 incidents for the month of October. Ten of the incidents were motor vehicles accidents. He added the month of October had been very busy with fire prevention talks and visits with over 1,000 children.
City Recorder Jennifer Waldrup gave an update on the upcoming Christmas event “A Mistletoe Christmas” beginning November 26 – December 8.
Prior to adjournment, Mayor Holland announced to the audience that 2019 would be the 150th birthday for the City of McKenzie. Councilperson Martin and the McKenzie Banner graciously volunteered to head up the festivities. Councilperson Martin serving as the McKenzie Sesquicentennial Chairmen gave a tentative outline of the events presented monthly during 2019.
The council was informed by City Attorney Laura Keeton the lawsuit by former Parks and Recreation Director Ricky French had been dropped. French was suing the Board of Mayor and City Council for violating Tennessee’s Open Meeting Act (Sunshine Law) and asked the Carroll County Circuit Court to set aside a public meeting in which the Council affirmed Mayor Jill Holland’s decision to terminate the employment of French.
The lawsuit was filed by French on August 21, following the August 16 two-hour public hearing in which three of the six council members voted to reinstate French – falling short one vote of the required four votes to overturn the mayor’s decision.
The December meeting of the McKenzie Board of Mayor and Council will be December 13 at 6 p.m. at McKenzie City Hall.