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TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2003
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Industrial Site is Clear of Contaminants
Industrial Board Ready to Purchase Old Gaines Building |
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By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
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The former Gaines Manufacturing site on U.S. 79 in
McKenzie has been "thoroughly investigated and all
contaminated materials have been removed and disposed at
approved facilities," according to the Tennessee
Department of Environment and Conservation. During a
public hearing on Tuesday, September 23, three
representatives from TDEC said the site is recommended for
"delisting" as a hazardous waste site.
The proposed delisting, which will formerly be approved by
the state's Solid Waste Control Board on December 2, 2003,
will clear the way for the McKenzie Industrial Development
Corporation, i.e. The Industrial Board, to purchase the
property and lease it to a prospective industry.
The search for hazardous waste started after the state
agency received an anonymous tip that hazardous materials
might be buried on the site of the former furniture
manufacturing company. After conducting an electromagnetic
survey, 12 drums were discovered in a concrete lined pit,
approximately 15 feet deep. The pit was completely intact,
said Ron Sells of the TDEC. All drums of chemicals - waste
oil and possible paint waste - were removed from the site
and disposed in an approved site in Emelle Alabama. Soil
samples were taken and any contaminants were removed with
clean fill material replacing the removed soil. A
neighbor's water well was tested and proved to have no
contamination.
Billy Barksdale, executive director of the McKenzie
Industrial Board, said the delisting is another step
toward putting people back to work in the massive
industrial building, where more than 600 folk worked
during the 1980s at Gaines Manufacturing Company. Gaines
sold to River Oaks Furniture Company of Mississippi on
August 2, 1994 and led a steady decline until the company
filed for bankruptcy in 1999, vacating the building and
leaving a legal mess which all but prevented any new
company from purchasing the building. Brownstone
Manufacturing leased the building in 1999 for four months
and then IDS Manufacturing followed for less than a year,
closing in 2000. Since that time, the building has fell in
disrepair and the weeds took over the lawn and parking
lots. The Bankruptcy Court sold off anything of value in
the building including electrical conduit, air
conditioners, and equipment. In the wake, local
governmental entities were left with some $240,000 in
unpaid county, city, and school taxes and hundreds of
local citizens were left unemployed.
Barksdale said the local industrial board has developed a
plan, in cooperation with a prospective industry, to once
again occupy the building, put people back to work, and
incrementally pay all the overdue taxes. Another $200,000
will required to raze damaged portions of the building,
including a section damaged by the 1999 tornado. In fact,
a local company, New Generations Furniture Company, a
manufacturer of upholstered furniture, has leased the
property for three months and has already made noticeable
improvements to the exterior esthetics.
One stumbling block is a $108,796 lien against the
building's title for the cost of the clean-up work
completed by the TDEC. Barksdale said the lien was an
unexpected high cost for the removal of 12 barrels. Robert
Powell, with the Enforcement and Cost Recovery office of
TDEC said the price might be negotiable with the
department director in Nashville.
Barksdale said the full charge would be a "deal killer"
with the prospective industry. He began negotiations with
TDEC on Wednesday, September 24 in hopes of reducing the
cost of the lien.
A farm in the Mixie community also had waste drums from
the former manufacturing plant. Those drums were properly
disposed in the year 1995 with the cost being funded by a
private party.
Sells said the average Superfund site requires an average
of seven years to be delisted. The Gaines Manufacturing
site clean-up process required only 1.5 years. |
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Prison Going to Morgan County |
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Governor Phil Bredesen today announced that Morgan
County has been selected as the site for Tennessee's
newest prison. Weakley County had two of five sites
considered in the final selection. Bredesen's decision
was based on input provided by Department of Correction
Commissioner Quenton White, along with information from
a feasibility study conducted by the engineering firm
Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon.
"There is a critical need for additional prison beds
in the eastern region of our state, and it's something
that simply cannot be ignored," Bredesen said. "When you
combine that with the stable workforce in Morgan County,
the opportunity to save the state millions by closing
our oldest and most expensive prison, and the ability to
create space for an additional 838 inmates, it's a very
attractive opportunity."
The Department of Correction said the closure of
Brushy Mountain Prison will save the state $13 million
annually in operating costs, and will eliminate the need
for an estimated $20 million in capital improvements
required to keep the aging facility in operation. Morgan
County also has the lowest employee turnover rate in the
state, which will allow the Department of Correction to
maintain staffing at the levels needed.
"My staff and I have worked feverishly over the past
six months to determine the most responsible way to make
room for more inmates," said White. "We're thrilled with
the Governor's decision, and feel that it's in the best
interest of Tennessee taxpayers."
Construction on the new prison will begin next fall.
Once construction is complete, staff and inmates at the
historic Brushy Mountain site will be transferred to the
new prison.
With the need for more than 4,000 additional beds to
be created over the next decade, the department expects
to make additional announcements in coming months. |
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Unemployment Declines in Tri-Counties |
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By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
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Carroll, Henry, and Weakley counties each reported
decreases in unemployment rates in August, according to
latest statistics released this week by the Tennessee
Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Employment increases in all three counties were
primarily attributed to manufacturing facilities
returning to work after temporary vacation shutdowns, as
well as government increases because of the reopening of
schools.
Carroll County's unemployment rate for August is 10.5
percent, down from 12.5 in July. From a labor force of
11,960, a total of 10,700 were employed, leaving 1,260
unemployed.
Henry County's jobless rate is 8.6 percent, down
nine-tenths of a percentage point from July. From a
labor force of 14,590, a total of 13,330 were employed,
leaving 1,260 jobless.
Weakley County unemployment rate dropped to 8.1 percent
in August, down from 9.7 percent in July. From a labor
force of 17,720, a total of 16,280 were employed leaving
1,440 unemployed.
Tennessee's unemployment rate for the month of August is
5.0 percent, the same as the seasonally adjusted July
rate, according to Commissioner of Labor & Workforce
Development James Neeley. The state rate remains below
the August national rate of 6.1 percent.
"The number of Tennessee nonfarm jobs in August is
essentially unchanged from last year. Although we have
seen a decline in manufacturing, it has been offset by
increases in health care-social assistance and food
services/drinking places," said Commissioner Neeley.
"This month, we have schools opening and some employees
returning to work in the manufacturing industry,
especially in durable goods."
The July-to-August figures show increases in local
government educational services jobs, up by 10,000.
Manufacturing increased by 3,700, and the
administrative/support/waste management industry rose by
2,000 jobs. Month-to-month decreases took place in other
services, down 1,100; financial activities, down 600;
and federal government, down 600 jobs.
From August 2002 to August 2003, health care and social
assistance jobs increased by 7,600. There were
employment increases in food service/drinking places, up
by 3,200, and in local government jobs, increasing by
4,300. Decreases took place in manufacturing, down by
11,200. Construction jobs decreased by 4,700.
Transportation and warehousing jobs declined by 4,000.
Throughout the state, 67 county rates decreased, 20
counties increased, and eight county rates remained the
same. |
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Dresden Man Sustains Serious
Injuries in Friday Accident |
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A 39-nine-old Weakley County man was seriously injured
in an accident involving a small pickup truck and two
tractor-trailer trucks at 5:15 a.m. Friday on U.S. 79
South, three-tenths of a mile south of Mile Post 8.
Ricky A. Boyd, of 340 D & C Subdivision Road, Dresden
was transported by ambulance to Jackson-Madison County
General Hospital, where he reportedly underwent surgery
Saturday. Officers attempted to summon Air Evac to the
wreck scene to airlift the victim. However, the air
ambulance was unable to respond because of heavy fog in
the area. The decision was then made to transport the
victim by ground ambulance.
According to a report filed by Sgt. Garry L. Thedford of
the Tennessee Highway Patrol, a 2000 Freightliner
conversion truck, driven by Jesse V. Lomax, 48 of 22
Jacob Street Jackson and a second Freightliner
conversion truck, driven by Paul E. Estis, 33 of 50133
Boyd Lane, Greenwood Springs, Mississippi, were both
traveling north on U.S. Highway 79 and Mr. Boyd was
traveling south. Mr. Boyd reportedly crossed the center
line in his 2000 Ford Ranger and sideswiped the Lomax
vehicle. The impact caused the left front tire on the
Lomax vehicle to dislodge and the truck then sped
head-on into the Estis vehicle in the northbound lane.
The Estis vehicle reportedly pushed the Boyd vehicle
toward the center where both vehicles came to a stop.
The Lomax vehicle came to a controlled stop. The Estis
and Lomax vehicles were towed by D&D Service Center.
McKenzie Fire Rescue Team and Carroll County Rescue
Squad responded to the scene and used the Jaws of Life
tool to extricate Mr. Boyd from his pickup truck.
Other personnel responding to the scene in addition to
Tennessee Highway Patrol were McKenzie Police
Department, Trezevant Fire Department, and Commercial
Vehicle Enforcement Agency. |
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These
stories and more exclusively in the
print edition: |
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- Annexation Strategy Approved by McKenzie Council
- For the Love of Alex - A Community Celebration of
Love and Faith Over Leukemia
- Dealings with Dixie - Dixie Carter's Rummage Sale
- Habitat Groundbreaking Celebrates New Beginnings for
Clevetta Hutcherson and Family
- and much more!
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or Fax (731)
352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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