McKenzie Council Amends Nepotism Policy

The McKenzie Mayor and City Council met Thursday night with several agenda items to consider, including a revision of the city's Nepotism policy.

The McKenzie Police Department has had to turn away several applicants due to the city's current policy on nepotism, which prohibits the city from employing immediate relatives in the same department.

Mayor Ryan Griffin proposed an amendment that would declare family members could work within the same department as long as one relative is not under the direct supervision of another. The prohibition does not apply to department heads and their relatives, as long as the relative has an immediate supervisor other than the department head.

City Attorney Beau Pemberton confirmed the amendment was permissible by state law.

The policy amendment passed in a unanimous vote.

The council also approved a proclamation that declares February 12, 2026, as McKenzie High School Cross-Country Team Day. Mayor Griffin presented this proclamation to several cross-country team members who were in attendance.

The McKenzie Police Department requested the council's approval to purchase a 2026 Tahoe from Wilson County Motors, priced at $54,320.20. Chief Ryan White assured the council that the vehicle will be paid for purely through department funds — not taxpayer dollars. The department will use $48,550.03 from its DUI fund, and the remaining payment will come from sales of other department vehicles. The new vehicle replaces another Tahoe already in the department's fleet, which has a transmission issue, along with other complications.

The council approved the department's request to purchase the vehicle.

The council revisited an agenda item from last month's meeting, voting to pass Ordinance #576: Providing a Municipal Zoning Plan for Annexed Property. This ordinance grants Samuel Davis' request to annex his property, which consisted of approximately 1.4 acres outside of McKenzie's corporate limits. The property is along Old Highway 22 and the Tower Road Subdivision.

City department directors and chiefs each reported a hectic end to January.

The Water, Waste and Garbage Department has been trying to recoup in recent weeks, according to Earnest Umstead, following many line breaks and frozen pipes from Winter Storm Fern.

The Public Works Department spent nine days clearing ice from city streets, using 9,800 pounds of salt.

"We did the best we could," said Public Works Director Johnny Mercer. He compared the ice on the roads to super glue.

The McKenzie Police Department received 1,299 calls in January, reported Chief White.

The McKenzie Fire Department responded to 91 calls in January, reported Fire Chief Brian Tucker. Many of those calls were medical calls.

The McKenzie Fire Department has already responded to 45 calls since February 1, answering 35 calls in the span of one week.

The Insurance Services Office (ISO) visited the McKenzie Fire Department in recent days. It will take approximately six months for the department to see its final results, but Chief Tucker aims to maintain a desirable Level 3 rating. The department's rating is based on personnel, water supply, emergency communications and general preparedness. The scale goes from 1-10, with a Level 1 rating being the most desirable. Lower ratings generally lower home insurance rates.

The Parks department is almost finished installing playground equipment at the McKenzie Splash Pad. Parks employees also replaced boards and painted all of the benches at McKenzie City Park, and they prepared the park's baseball and softball fields in time for the McKenzie Middle School baseball team's opening game. Parks employees also helped with snow and ice removal from city sidewalks and streets.

City Hall stayed busy in January, according to City Recorder Jennifer Waldrup, with many people coming in to pay their property taxes. Waldrup also reported a successful Chocolate Tour on February 7, with almost 100 tickets sold and 18 businesses participating.

The Codes Department wants to minimize the city's number of abandoned houses this year, with employees personally reaching out to property owners about their options.

Codes officers have taken in eight stray dogs in 2026. Seven of the eight dogs have been rehomed or returned to their owners.

The City Council commended department directors and their employees for their hard work during January's winter storm and in the two weeks following.

The McKenzie City Council's next meeting is Thursday, March 12, at 6 p.m.