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TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2003
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Carroll, Henry Counties to Receive $2.1 in Grant Monies
New Health Department Slated for Carroll |
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By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
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Carroll and Henry counties will receive $2.1 million in
state grants for infrastructure improvements, according to
an announcement by Governor Phil Bredesen and Economic and
Community Development Commissioner Matthew Kisber.
Community Development grants were awarded as follows:
$300,000 to Carroll County, $313,900 to the Town of
Trezevant, $500,000 to the Town of Huntingdon, $500,000 to
the Town of Bruceton, and $500,000 to the City of Paris.
County Mayor Kenny McBride said the new health department
will be constructed at 625 High Street on property the
county currently owns between the Carroll County Office
Complex and Huntingdon School Board office. The 7,000
square foot brick building will be constructed at an
approximate cost of $724,000. The good news, however, is
that the project will be completed without any debt to the
county.
Mayor McBride explained that the state had approached him
approximately two years ago concerning building a new
health department with a $300,000 grant, provided the
county would expend $350,000 on the project.
"I told them that was not feasible for our county at that
time," said Mayor McBride.
Approximately one year ago, McBride said he attended a
meeting in Jackson and was presented a $375,000 special
needs check, which he could accept with the stipulation
that he would apply for a CDB Grant. The $375,000 could be
used only if the grant was awarded to the county. The
county accepted the check and applied for the grant just
received.
Mayor McBride noted the state also owes an additional
$55,000 to Carroll County for money the county spends to
supplement operations of the Carroll County Health
Department. Any money that is not expended during the year
is placed in a reserve fund and goes back to the county.
Currently, there is $55,000 in the fund for Carroll
County.
The CDB grant just received is designed to be matched by
10 percent funding, or $30,000, by the county. However,
with the $375,000 special needs fund, the $300,000 CDB
grant and the $55,000 that is owed the county, Mayor
McBride said the health department will be built without
any additional money expended by the county.
"Hopefully construction will begin just after the first of
the year," said the county mayor.
There is also plans in the works for several other
property transfers within the county.
The town of Huntingdon has expressed an interest in the
current health department building at 126 West Paris
Street to relocate the Huntingdon Police Department to
that site.
"If that plan comes together, then the Carroll County
Electric Department has expressed interest in acquiring
the current Carroll County Highway Department building,
which is a county owned building" said Mayor McBride.
McBride further explained that plans call for selling both
properties and then constructing a new highway department
building at the central fuel site on Highway 22, where the
county already owns 53 acres of land. Proceeds from the
sale of both buildings should more than fund the new
highway department, he said.
"We have been working on this plan for awhile and we are
delighted that it is all coming together," said McBride.
A new highway department building is expected to cost
approximately $350,000. Coupled with the $724,000 cost of
the new Carroll County Health Department, the county could
accomplish acquiring just over $1 million in new property
without any money expended from the county general fund
and without any debt.
CITY GRANTS
All of the towns in Carroll County will require matching
funds ranging from 14 to 16 percent of their total grant
award, officials said. Actual work is expected to begin on
each of the city projects in the Spring of 2004.
Town of Trezevant
The $313,900 grant awarded to Town of Trezevant will be
used to alleviate water leaks in the city's water
distribution system. Construction will include replacing
8,800 linear feet of water lines, 400 meters, and 16 fire
hydrants.
"We are thrilled. This will greatly enhance our water
system," said Mayor James Gilliam, "This is probably the
single biggest factor that has happened during my
administration and it will greatly benefit all the
citizens of Trezevant."
The mayor said Trezevant's initial water system was
installed in late 1970. With deterioration that has
occurred throughout the years, the system is currently
experiencing a loss of 41 percent of metered water, he
said.
"That put us in a high category to receive the grant,"
said Gilliam, who noted. that Shannon Danner of Danner
Consulting LLC is the grants writer for the project.
The actual work is not expected to begin until the spring
of 2004. Once completed, the mayor said the city would be
able to supply water at less cost because water loss will
no longer be a factor.
Town of Huntingdon
The $500,000 awarded to the Town of Huntingdon will be
used to rehabilitate the sewer collection system and will
reduce environmental pollution in the area.
Public Works Director Jerry Nolen said the funds will be
used to conduct "pipe bursting" of the sewer lines, a
procedure that involves placing a camera through all the
main lines to find deteriorated service lines. The old
lines will then be pulled out and new ones will be put in,
he said.
"We received a $500,000 grant last year and that did part
of the system," said Nolen. Combined with this year's
grant, rehabilitation should be completed in about half
the system he said.
"If we can get another grant or possibly two, we should be
in great shape with our system," he added.
Nolen said Betsy Wiggleton of Community Development
Partners in Nashville is the grants writer for the
project. He noted that the city will be required to match
15 percent of the project cost, which would be $75,000 for
the city's share. Actual work is expected to begin in the
spring of 2004.
Town of Bruceton
Bruceton's Director of Public Service Brian Edwards said
grant funds will be used to assist in rehabilitation of
the town's sewer collection system.
"I am glad to see it," said Edwards. "We do have some
inflow problems when it rains. This will help our
wastewater plant and cut down on the flow that it treats."
"The first phase will involve TV camera inspection of the
sewer lines to detect cracks and deterioration. Then we
will engineer to replace as much footage as possible,"
said Edwards.
Lynn Manning and Mattie Cushman of Community Development
Partners in Nashville are the grant writers for the
Bruceton project.
City of Paris
Grant money received by the City of Paris will be used to
assist in the housing rehabilitation project of nine
homes, voluntary relocation of four families to new
dwellings and the demolition of two dilapidated
structures.
"Through these grants, we are providing communities with
the tools they need to make needed improvements," Bredesen
said. "It will allow them to become more competitive in
recruiting business, which will in turn improve the
overall quality of life of its citizens."
In total this year, the Governor is awarding $30 million
in Community Block Grants to communities across the state.
Each grant application is scored based on community need.
Grants typically cover community improvement projects such
as housing rehabilitation, sewer and water systems and
fire protection.
U.S. Senators Bill Frist and Lamar Alexander and
Congressman John Tanner aided in securing the funds for
Tennessee communities. These grant applications also
received strong support from Carroll County Mayor Kenny
McBride, Trezevant Mayor James Gilliam, Huntingdon Mayor
Dale Kelley, Bruceton Mayor Robert Keeton III, Paris Mayor
Larry Crawford, State Sen. Don McLeary, State
Representatives Mark Maddox and Chris Crider, State
Senator Roy Herron and State Representive Willie "Butch"
Borchert. |
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County to Farm Out Liability Insurance |
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By Jim Steele
steele@mckenziebanner.com |
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Short, sweet, simple and in the end it was a happy
occasion for a large contingent in the gallery.That
pretty much sums up the October session of the Carroll
County Commission, which met Monday night.
The commissioners essentially took care of some
routine housecleaning and proclaimed, henceforth, Sept.
22 as American Indian Day in Carroll County. One
particular measure altered the way the county insures
itself against liability.
In the past, the county had always insured itself
against, but opted, with full consent of the panel
Monday night, to purchase liability insurance through a
private provider. County Mayor Kenny McBride said that
insurance from an outside source would offer wider
benefits.
"We'd have quite a bit more coverage," he said. "It
covers civil rights, sexual harassment and things like
that."
The matter had been discussed for the past two years,
McBride said, and passed the insurance committee's
muster unanimously.
Relative to that, the commission amended the budget for
solid waste so that it, too, could be provided liability
coverage. The policies will carry a $2,500 deductible.
As the meeting drew to a close, the commission passed
a resolution proclaiming Sept. 22 as American Indian Day
in Carroll County. Each Sept. 22 will be so observed.
This measure comes in conjunction with the 22nd
anniversary of the Cherokee Wolf Clan going on this
year.
Joseph Manycoats Walters, Chief of the Cherokee Wolf
Clan, and Ann Snowdove Shields, accepted the
proclamation from McBride to the delight of many of the
Cherokee tribe in the gallery.
In other action:
* The commission accepted a proposed state and
federal project to upgrade a bridge over the Big Sandy
River on State Road 114 in Carroll County. McBride said
he was uncertain how long it would take to complete the
project.
* Implemented a deferred compensation plan with
Hartford Life Insurance for Carroll County.
* Nine new notaries public were elected. They are
Charlotte Chadwick and Kenneth Butler from the fourth
district; Patricia B. Rich, Alacia D. Mitchell, Darrylin
T. Parker, Gail Edwards and Lorine Dunn from the 11th
district; David Walker and Janice Moon from the 24th
district.
* Appointed Jane Williams to the Carroll County
Indigent Care Board. Her term will end in Oct. 2006.
* Amended a capitalization accounting policy for the
county's board of education and highway departments.
There were no dissenting votes during the
proceedings. |
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McKenzie City Council - Indigency Care Fund In Limbo |
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The future of the million dollar indigency care fund put
in place when the city owned McKenzie Memorial Hospital
was sold to the Methodist Healthcare System in the early
1980's was debated Thursday evening during the regular
meeting of the McKenzie City Council.
Concern regarding the fund arose from the fact that the
hospital is no longer a non-profit organization but is a
for-profit enterprise under current owners Community
Health Systems of Brentwood, Tennessee.
The issue was tabled at the suggestion of the mayor and
on the motion and second of Council members Jerry Arthur
and Willie Huffman in order to give the Council more
time to consider and study the issues involved.
Mayor Winchester advised council members Thursday the
last payment from the fund was made in October 2002.
Payments are generally made from the interest earned on
the million dollar principal, however, the mayor stated
in an October 10 phone interview that he does not
believe sufficient interest exists in the fund, since
interest rates have fallen, to pay the bills currently
submitted for consideration of payment.
He further stated there is "probably still a need" for
the fund and that the county of Carroll also has an
indigent care fund for indigent patients of the
Huntingdon hospital, which is currently owned by the
Baptist Health Care System on a non-profit basis.
In addressing the issue of whether the fund serves the
people or the hospital, Mayor Winchester stated, "The
hospital provides a service to people; if people can't
pay the hospital, they either have to eat that cost or
somebody has to pay it."
Mayor Winchester further stated he has not yet
accumulated enough information regarding the issue to
"satisfy (his) own curiosity." He replied with a
definitive "no", however, when asked if the fund had
been brought up or discussed as a possible source of
revenue to fund the infrastructure for annexation.
The city is currently investigating funding sources to
provide monies for Phase I of an annexation program with
a projected cost of almost $2 million.
McKenzie Regional Hospital CEO Robert "Scooter" Miller
in a later interview stated, "We're going to treat
patients like we've always treated them." Miller was
also administrator of the hospital under the Methodist
Healthcare System.
He stated that the provider medically screens any
patient that comes into the emergency room before the
patient is even approached about insurance or ability to
pay.
"By policy and by law we can't turn anybody away in the
emergency room," he stated.
He further explained that all patients are asked to pay
what they can at the time of service, with insured
patients asked to pay their co-pay and deductible up
front if possible.
People who are uninsured or unable to pay are first
considered for the hospital's in-house charity care
program, he said. To be eligible for the program,
persons must be at or below 50% of the federal poverty
guidelines. |
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From Our Archives.... |
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10 YEARS AGO - The state opposed a change of venue for
three persons accused in the July 30, 1993 murder of
Dennis Brooks Jr. District Attorney Gus Radford took the
position that no proof existed that such a change was
necessary. The D.A. noted the diversity of the
municipalities of the county and stated that only once
in the history of the court had such a change been
granted.
* A report of low levels of contaminants in private
wells near the city-owned landfill produced mix results
in subsequent testing. A report issued by the State of
Tennessee Environmental Lab revealed that contaminants
found in the monitoring well on the landfill were well
within tolerances and indicated no cause for alarm.
However, three private wells near the landfill still
reported higher than normal levels of contaminants.
Mayor Robert Putman was pleased the well at the landfill
came up "clean," but noted the source of contaminants in
the private wells would still have to be located. The
city approved the installation of three additional
stainless steel lined monitoring wells at the closed
landfill.
20 YEARS AGO - Carroll County ended months of
negotiations with Baptist Hospitals in the purchase of
the business of Carroll County General Hospital and the
lease of the hospital building. Commissioners voted to
accept $1,003,890 for the current assets of the hospital
as audited by Baptist auditors and the auditor hired by
the county. Carroll County was obligated to place the
lease money for the period of three years - $500,000 -
first year, $600,000 - second year, and $700,000 - third
year) in the indigent care fund. Baptist announced plans
to construct an entire new facility within three years.
* At the request of Mayor Joe Morris of McKenzie, Mrs.
Peggy Ball, Director of the Carroll County RSVP
appointed a committee to search for a location for a
Senior Citizen's Center in McKenzie. The committee was
considering several sites for such a center.
50 YEARS AGO - McKenzie's new 300-gallon pump truck
arrived just in time to be in a parade to set off fire
prevention week.
* Officers in the Northwest Tennessee and Southwest
Kentucky began a search for two men who held up a Henry
county farmer on the Tenn-Ky state line near Hazel. J.M.
Vaughn, an elderly Cottage Grove farmer, said he was
returning from Hazel where he had just sold a load of
popcorn, when a car pulled in front of him at a stop
sign. Two men, whom Mr. Vaughn described as "well
dressed," jumped from the car and demanded his money at
gunpoint. Mr. Vaughn was carrying between $175 and $180
in cash and a check for $39.50. One of the men stood in
front of the license plate on the car, preventing him
from getting a license number, while the other kept the
gun pointed at Mr. Vaughn.
* Carroll County farmers adopted policies on several
phases of an agricultural program at the Farm Bureau
Building. The group endorsed the principles of price
supports for the six basic commodities at 90 per cent of
parity. Included was a recommendation that the TVA
program be continued as it is, and that an effort be
made to define its scope and area of activities. The
group went on record as opposing the two-price system,
classed as basically unsound, and endorsed the
agricultural conservation program, termed basically
sound.
* McKenzie PTA made plans for its annual Halloween
Carnival. Mrs. Harold Crawford was named general
chairman. |
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These
stories and more exclusively in the
print edition: |
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- Traffic Stop Nets Large Drug Bust
- Highway 79 Construction Plans Updated
- McKenzie Planning Commission Reviews Progress on
Annexation Initiative
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or Fax (731)
352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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