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TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2002
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Commissioners Revoke Own Insurance Co-Pay |
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By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
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Health insurance benefits for Carroll County Commissioners
will no longer be paid by the citizens. Effective January
1, 2003, all commissioners will have to pay their own
major medical and life insurance. Commissioners voted
unanimously (19-0) Monday to eliminate the perk to save
the county some $51,000 annually for the six commissioners
who participate in the county health plans. Commissioners
Roger Hollowell and Larry Spencer were absent.
For many years, county commissioners have been eligible
for 75 percent co-pay on the major medical on individual
and family health insurance. The recent spike in insurance
premiums forced commissioners to review the cost to the
taxpayers to provide this benefit. In January,
commissioners must pay 100 percent of the premium if they
wish to continue the insurance coverage.
Monday's vote reverses the outcome of a vote that preceded
the August election. At that time, commissioners voted to
retain the benefit, causing a backlash by the voters
against some of commissioners who supported the benefit.
In September, eight new commissioners took office.
Inmates at the Carroll County Jail will soon be able to
purchase toiletries, over the counter medications, socks,
undergarments, and certain foods from a commissary.
Commissioners unanimously approved Sheriff Bendell
Bartholomew's request to establish the commissary. Inmates
can establish a trade account with family and/or
acquaintances adding funds for the account. The items will
arrive by UPS in a sealed package, which will be opened by
the inmate in the presence of a guard. The inmate will
then sign for the package. Bartholomew said the county's
general fund will receive 25.5 percent of the receipts.
However, Bartholomew asked the commissioners to allow the
sheriff's department to purchase jail uniforms for inmates
with a portion of the money. He said the commissary
coupled with the uniforms will reduce the introduction of
contraband into the jail. With the commissary, inmates
will pay for many items that the taxpayers are now
providing, said Bartholomew.
Carroll County Highway Department wants to purchase a
paving machine, distribution truck, two tractors and
bushhogs, and a backhoe. Commissioners unanimously
approved the issuance of capital outlay notes up to
$350,000 to purchase the items. |
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Mayoral Debate to Feature Two McKenzie Candidates |
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Two of three candidates for the office of McKenzie mayor
will debate Thursday evening. Walter Winchester and Billy
Barksdale have agreed to participate in The McKenzie
Banner's debate while incumbent Mayor Patty Edwards has
declined the invitation to participate.
"I must decline with deep regret the invitation from The
McKenzie Banner to participate in a debate on October 17
with the other mayoral candidates," said Mayor Edwards.
"Since my recent illness has left me hoarse, I feel I
cannot present my views as well as I would like to at this
time in this type of forum." She continued by saying that
her "record for the last four years stands on its own."
(see advertisement in this edition for her complete
statement).
The public debate will be held at the new First Cumberland
Presbyterian Church at 7:00 p.m. Members of the audience
can address their written questions to the candidates at
that time. The questions may be submitted anonymously.
Each question will be reviewed by three panelists - one
representing each of the participating candidates and one
from the newspaper - before being forwarded to the
moderator. No single panelist can prevent the question
from going forward. Questions can be addressed to one or
both candidates. Candidates will make opening and closing
remarks up to three minutes in length with two minutes to
address individual questions. No political signage will be
allowed to be displayed during the debate.
The public is encouraged to attend the debate.
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Council Approves Water/Sewer Line Design |
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Mr. Eddie Freeman gave a thumbs up sign as Council members
approved a plan of action that will relocate water and
sewer lines along Highway 22 adjacent to Carroll Lake Road
with negligible interruption of service to customers at
the nearby Industrial Park.
The relocation of the lines will take place during the
leveling of a hill through which the lines currently run
as development of a convenience store commences at the
location.
The city approved the plan pending the further approval of
the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the
Tennessee Department of Energy and Conservation.
In other matters, the Council approved the creation of two
additional handicap parking spaces in the Methodist Church
parking lot on McTyere Street and two additional handicap
spaces along the street. The city will bill the church for
the completed work.
At the request of the McKenzie National Guard Unit that
performed much of the roadwork on College Drive and the
adjacent road leading into the side of the Como Street
Recreational Park, the Council approved the renaming of
the side road to Liberty Street, with the prior approval
of 911 authorities. The Unit had originally requested the
name "Liberty Lane", however the name was denied as "lane"
denotes a dead-end road. As Councilmember Gene Hale
suggested city officials contact the National Guard Unit
to determine whether members might prefer the name
"Liberty Drive" rather than "Street", the previous
approval of the Council regarding the name was held in
abeyance pending the communication.
Henderson Drive, the street recently developed in
conjunction with the business subdivision of which the new
Mr. Market is a part, was dedicated to the city by
developers Nicky Joe and Diane Stafford.
A request by Carroll Academy for a donation to their
sports program was denied in accordance with the
recommendation of a committee headed by Councilmember Gene
Hale, who stated the committee had elected not to set a
precedent in donating to the cause which was not currently
listed among the city's budgeted donations.
Bills approved in the total amount of $39, 158.36
included: Barge Waggoner - $2,443.19; D&H Electric -
$1,100; Office Outfitters - $612.45; M&M Micro Systems -
$2,000; Barker Brothers Waste- $17,190.49; Super Drugs -
$969; Vulcan Materials - $896.95; The Commercial Appeal -
$754.94; Modern Telephone Systems - $720; Office Concepts
- $1,103.27; McKenzie Auto Parts - $669.42; Camden Gravel
- $940.94; Petroleum Traders - $7,859.16; Tri-County
Motors - $1,176.32; Jeff's Lawnmower Service - $722.23. |
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Community Block Grant To Provide Sewer Service To
Clarksburg School |
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By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
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The City of Clarksburg has been awarded a $500,000
Community Development Block Grant to assist with
providing appropriate sewage treatment for Clarksburg’s
only school. Funding for the $915,594 project will
include $415,594 in local funds.
The funds were provided by the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development and were allocated under a
procedure authorized by the Tennessee General Assembly.
Allocation of CDBG funds is based on local-level
priorities set by local communities.
Clarksburg City Recorder Terry McCoy said the sewer
project will be completed in two phases, with this block
grant to fund Phase I of the project. According to the
plan, sewer lines will be installed from Clarksburg
School to the city of Huntingdon. Clarksburg will first
work to obtain property easements, followed by
engineering the plan, with actual physical work expected
to begin in the spring of 2003.
The City of Clarksburg will own the system and the City
of Huntingdon will provide maintenance to the system,
noted Ms. McCoy.
TLM Associates of Jackson will engineer the project.
Working directly with Clarksburg officials on the
project will be Civil Engineer Randy McKinnon and Civil
Engineer and Vice-President Terry Drumwright.
The grant was approved following an application by the
City of Clarksburg with the support of Mayor Jeff Reed,
Sen. Bobby Carter (R-Jackson) and Rep. Mark Maddox
(D-Dresden.) Sen Bill Frist, Sen Fred Thompson and
Congressman John Tanner aided in securing the funds.
When Phase I of the project is completed in
approximately one and one-half years, the city will
apply for a grant to fund Phase II, which will include
providing sewer to the remainder of the town, which
currently has no sewer system.
The entire project, including both Phase I and II, is
expected to take up to five years to complete.
The CDBG program is administered in Tennessee by the
Department of Economic and Community Development.
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or Fax (731)
352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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