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McKenzie Infrastructure to Undergo Upgrades

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McKENZIE (March 15) — During the March meeting of the McKenzie Board of Mayor and Council, city officials and department heads discussed current and future expenses to the city’s infrastructure.

The Water Department was granted an emergency repair for a 750 gallon well located behind the department’s water plant. The estimate provided by Campbell Well Service was for $25,558. This includes a new pump, shafts and spiders along with the labor to pull the old well and install the replacement apparatuses. Campbell stated it would take roughly seven to ten days to make the repairs.

After workshops and continued discussion between the Council, department heads and Enterprise Fleet Management Service, the Council approved for the City to contract with the service. The department heads will work with Mayor Jill Holland to develop a plan to replace the City’s oldest vehicles. The mayor would have final approval on the program’s usage, as it would not be a city-wide program and leasing would depend on a department’s budget.

Public Works Director Johnny Mercer requested the Council’s approval to purchase and replace the signal light connection box at the intersection of Highway 79 and Cedar Street. Mercer explained it has been many years since it has been replaced and the box and contents have to be replaced. The wires are so bad that when there is an issue it puts the light into caution mode.

Mayor Holland requested a motion be made for Mercer and the City to accept the lowest bid when the vendors are submitted. The motion was provided and passed unanimously.

The McKenzie Station Splash Pad may have additional fencing soon as the Council was informed of several incidents of children running out onto Waldren Street. The fence would extend along Waldren Street from the Farmers Market to the caboose. The gate would be at the wooden bridge. According to Park Director Billy Hollowell, the fence bids need to be for a four-foot aluminum fence similar to the black fencing on the Stonewall Street side of the pad. A rough estimate of the cost is between $9,000 and $10,000.

Two public hearings were held before the meeting. The first hearing was for Ordinance 542 to amend the current zoning map. The amendment, which was passed on its second reading after the hearing, rezoned tax parcels 40.03, 40.05, and 88.02, Carroll County Tax Map 011 located on Hospital Drive from H-M (Hospital-Medical) to M-1 (Light Industrial). Tax parcel 88.00 (Portion), Carroll County Tax Map 011 will be rezoned from P-B (Planned -Business) to R-1 (Low-Density Residential), while tax parcels 88.00 (Portion), 88.23, and 88.24 are to be rezoned from P-13 (Planned Business) to B-2 (Highway Business).

The rezoning amendments were previously agreed upon and recommended to be forwarded to the Council by the McKenzie Regional Planning Commission.

The second hearing addressed Ordinance 543 which is the “protection of citizens against vicious dogs.” Two citizens addressed council members. Veronica Giaino Davis provided pictures to the Council of her dog who was “torn apart by a vicious dog” next door. Nicole Brown spoke to the council concerning her neighbor’s dog who had attacked her dog twice. The ordinance was passed unanimously.

A third ordinance was approved during the meeting. Ordinance 544, was the City’s adoption of the State’s statute-failure to appear in court. In adopting the State of Tennessee’s statute on an accused individual not appearing before the Judge of the City Court, the accused can be held in contempt of court resulting in an additional $50 fine.

Mayor Holland explained the City’s updated water service policy. The changes to policy came at the recommendation of the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts and the policies drafted by other utility services near the area. The updated policy will be given to water customers.

The next regular meeting of the McKenzie City Council is April 14 at 6 p.m. at the City of McKenzie Municipal Building.