• Only adults should handle fireworks. Tell children that they should leave the area immediately if their friends are using fireworks and keep a bucket of water handy.
• Discuss safety procedure with children. Teach children to "stop, drop and roll" if their clothes catch fire. Make sure they know how to call 9-1-1. Show them how to put out fireworks by using water or a fire extinguisher.
• Read labels and carefully follow directions.
• Never use fireworks indoors.
• Be sure spectators are out of range before lighting fireworks.
• Never aim or throw fireworks at another person.
• Never place your face or any other body part over fireworks.
• Never try to re-ignite fireworks that malfunction.
• Never carry fireworks in your pocket.
• Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from the house, dry leaves and flammable materials.

Following these important guidelines can help keep your fireworks activities enjoyable and safe. Don't let dangerous sparks stand between your family and a wonderful Fourth of July celebration!
 

Members of the McKenzie Planning Commission met in a called meeting on Wednesday, June 19, following a failed meeting the previous Tuesday. The Planning Commission has been rife with non-attendance, with Mayor Patty Edwards noting a quorum was met in only one of the last four months. Absent from the Wednesday meeting was Chairman Reggie Lawrence and Commissioner Virginia Claire Edwards.

In regular business, commissioners approved the proposal of Nicky Joe Stafford to subdivide the lot adjacent to Tommy's Carpet into three parcels intersected by a 20 ft. roadway, with water and sewage service supplied along existing lines on Forest Avenue.

During discussion of the various provisions for the plan, Commissioner Buddy Edwards stated, "I'd like to wait for Richard...I'd love to hear what Richard has to say about it." Richard O'Brien is the community planner assigned to assist the McKenzie Planning Commission through contract with the Department of Economic and Community Development's Local Planning Assistance Office.

Mayor Edwards stated, "There's no reason why we can't approve it without Richard."

Mr. Stafford stated the road, when completed, would be called Henderson Street in remembrance of the Henderson family that owned the property over at least three generations.

Concerning the issue of non-attendance, Mayor Edwards stated, "I want to change that; we're going to have to meet more often or somebody is going to have to get off the board if they can't come."

Immediately following the statement, however, Mayor Edwards suggested the board no longer meet on the second Tuesday each month, instead meeting in called sessions only when there is business to be considered. This plan was approved unanimously by commissioners in attendance.

Mayor Edwards also requested the informal approval of members to discontinue the services of the Department of Economic and Community Development's Local Planning Assistance Office, which costs the city $8000 in the current fiscal year. Community Planner Richard O'Brien was not notified of the called meeting.

Mr. O'Brien was unable to guide the Commission through two topics of discussion set out at the beginning of the 2002 fiscal year: updating the city's zoning regulations and review and revision of subdivision regulations. With non-attendance hampering progress, Mr. O'Brien had hoped to conclude rezoning efforts by the close of the fiscal year with the subdivision topic to be continued into fiscal year 2003.

Immediately following the meeting of the Planning Commission, members of the Water Commission met to approve the water and sewer service plan for the subdivided property.
 

 
Persons wishing to vote in the August 1 state primaries and local general elections must be registered by July 2.

Early voting begins on July 12 for the August 1 Democratic and Republican parties' primaries, county general elections, and school board elections for Carroll County, Hollow Rock-Bruceton, Huntingdon, McKenzie, South Carroll, and West Carroll. Included in the local elections are the positions of county executive, county trustee, sheriff, circuit court clerk, register, assessor of property, county commissioners, road supervisors, and school board members.

Voters will also elect all state representatives, U.S. congressmen, U.S. senator, governor, and state executive committeemen and committeewomen for the respective parties.

For more information, refer to the Election 2002 tabloid in the June 19 edition of The McKenzie Banner.
 

The city charter of Trezevant has officially been amended. Trezevant Mayor and Aldermen approved changes that specifically establish six city departments and designates the mayor as the chief fiscal officer for the city.

The city board approved the changes during the June 13 meeting after the Tennessee General Assembly had approved the legislation. House Bill 3230 and Senate Bill 3180, designating the private act for the City of Trezevant, establishing the departments of finance, police, fire, water and sewer, sanitation and beautification, and streets. Those changes shall become effective on the second Tuesday of March 2004. The legislation designates the mayor as the supervisor of the finance department. Each of the other departments shall be under the supervision of an alderman to be appointed by the mayor at the first board meeting after the municipal election.

The alderman in charge of each department shall be responsible for seeing that such department is operated according to the policies of the board and shall keep the board advised as to the work and needs of the department

Regular municipal elections for the mayor and two aldermen shall be held on the first Tuesday in March for the year 2000 for four-year terms and three aldermen for two-year terms. The three aldermen elected to two-year terms in the year 2000 shall have an election on the first Tuesday in March 2002 for four-year terms. Thereafter, a municipal election will take place on the first Tuesday of March in every even-numbered year for the respective four-year terms. The newly elected officials shall take office on the second Tuesday in March of even-numbered years and serve their respective terms.

Persons eligible to vote in the Trezevant municipal elections must have been a resident or owned real property within the corporate limits of Trezevant for 30 days preceding the election. All candidates run at-large. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes for mayor and the candidates receiving the highest number of votes for aldermen shall be declared to be elected to the number of offices open for election. In the event of a tie vote for any office, the remaining members of the newly elected board of mayor and aldermen shall choose for the tied candidates and declare the choice elected.

In the event of a vacancy in the office of mayor or aldermen, the board shall have the authority to fill such vacancy for the unexpired term. At the first meeting after the municipal election, and as its first order of business, the newly elected board shall, after taking the oath of office, choose one person from among themselves to serve a two-year term as vice-mayor, who serves as mayor in the temporary absence of the mayor.

No person shall be eligible for office of mayor or aldermen unless such person has been a resident citizen and qualified voter of the town for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the election.

Phone (731) 352-3323 or Fax (731) 352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com