City Council Approves First Depot Entrepreneurs

​The McKenzie City Council met on April 9 with a three-item agenda. These included an agreement with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) for a J-Turn at the intersection of Highway 22 and SR-423; the approval / recommendation of three vendors to the Depot Entrepreneur Project; and the approval of Ordinance #578 to amend the Zoning Map on Highland Drive.

​The agreement with TDOT was brought back for discussion from the March 12 meeting after confusion arose regarding wording that mentioned SR-124. The approval of the J-Turn at the intersection of Highway 22 and SR-423 is a safety initiative aimed at preventing wrecks at the intersection. On March 9, the Carroll County Commission agreed to a J-Turn at the intersection of SR-124 and Highway 22.

​Three applications were approved for the Depot Entrepreneur Project. Those approved were a sweet treat confectionery, a boutique operated by Carli Beeler, and Big Buck Beef Chips, a beef jerky retailer. The depot is divided into four rooms — each with its own outdoor entrance. The rooms each have an attached private restroom, and one has an attached kitchen area. They each have their own air conditioner and meter. Three rooms are approximately 500 square feet, and one is about 700 square feet.

​The last item on the agenda, Ordinance #578, rezoning the property owned by the Perkins Corporation along Highland Drive that comprises Dollar General, Factory Connection, and Subway. At the request of Ed Perkins, who has a possible buyer for the property, the property is to be zoned as B-2 (Highway Business) instead of being split into B-2 and R-3 (High Density Residential).

​The ordinance was approved on the first reading and will go before the council for a second reading in May, along with a public hearing.

​The next regular meeting of the McKenzie City Council is May 14 at 6 p.m.