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TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2003
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Flags Memorialize 9-11 Dead |
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By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
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J.T. Lindsey assists Cheyenne and
Zakkary Geyer insert American flags in the front lawn of
the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in McKenzie.
Approximatley 3,000 flags were placed on the lawn of the
church to memorialize the September 11, 2001 victims of
terrorism.
Thousands of American flags form the shape of a giant
cross on the front lawn of First Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in McKenzie. The flags were placed there in memory
of the 2,998 persons who lost their lives during terrorist
attacks on September 11, 2001. The flags represent an
outwardly visible sign of the church's memory for those
innocent folk who lost their lives and of Christ, who died
on the cross for man's sins. In total, 3,000 flags were
placed on the church lawn as a project by the C.P. Youth.
During a memorial service that followed, the names of each
victim was read simutanously by several members of the
youth group as Erica Taylor performed "America the
Beautiful." The recitation of the names produced an
indecipherable collusion of voices leading one to remember
that losses were great in number. Each name was
indistinguishable, yet important.
"We came tonight to remember and never forget that
tragedy," said Dr. Tony Janner, pastor. Janner read
from Chapter 8 of Romans and said that the 2998 people who
lost their lives were victims of evil. "It was a sad
day because someone took it upon themselves to kill,"
said the minister, who asked each person pray for the
victims, their families and the terrorist and to purge the
hatred from their hearts.
Daniel Thomas sang Alan Jackson's song "Where Were
You (When the World Stopped Turning)" for the
congregation.
A cache of newspapers and magazines were displayed in the
lobby of the church to memorialize the events of 9-11-01.
The front pages brought back the haunting memories of that
day and how it collectively and individually affected
Americans and people around the world.
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McKenzie City Council
Personnel Changes Dominate Agenda -
Sinkhole Threatens Acres-wide Drainage System |
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Appointments to various City boards and the appointment of
a committee to study candidates who have applied for the
position of City Finance Director topped the agenda of the
regular meeting of the McKenzie City Council on September
11, a day of both infamy and unity in America.
First Baptist Pastor Dennis Trull read a 9-11 prayer by
Max Lucado prior to offering his own prayer for the
benefits of the city and country. "The enemy sought
to bring us to our knees and succeeded," he read.
"He had no idea, however, that we would kneel before
you."
APPOINTMENTS
Council members approved Mayor Walter Winchester's
appointment of Dean Robb to fill the vacancy on the
McKenzie Planning Commission that was created when
prior-Chairman Reggie Lawrence resigned after moving to
Huntingdon.
Mr. Robb, a resident of 1740 Stonewall Street, recently
retired from Republic Builders.
Mayor Winchester postponed a planned appointment to the
Board of Zoning Appeals, a vacancy also created by the
resignation of Mr. Lawrence, due to an unnamed setback in
his selection.
Mr. Bobby Purtteman was approved to replace Mr. Jackie
Hall on the Water Commission by a vote of five to one
after Councilmember James Knolton interrupted Mayor
Winchester's nomination with a request to table the
appointment until the next meeting. Mr. Hall recently
moved out of the area.
"I had somebody interested that I would like to
nominate," Mr. Knolton said. "I'd like to table
this until next meeting for more names (to be
considered.)"
When Mayor Winchester countered that the appointment
belonged to the mayor, Mr. Knolton said, "With the
approval of the council."
The motion died for lack of a second, however, Mr. Knolton
was allowed to nominate Mr. Murray McCaleb to the
position.
"He used to work for the City and was a department
head, I believe," said Mr. Knolton, who stated Mr.
McCaleb approached him about a year ago expressing
interest in the position.
With no discussion, with the exception of Mr. Knolton,
council members approved the mayor's appointment. Mr.
Purtteman is the owner of the Sonic Restaurant.
MIDWAY MATERIALS OWNER DENIES RESPONSIBILITY IN CITY DRAIN
PROBLEM
Midway Materials Owner Butch Dobson stated he did not
believe he should have to pay for materials to repair a
damaged drainage system located at the back of his
property at 24 Oak Street.
The storm drain that is located at the bottom of a
sinkhole some 34 feet deep drains "quite a few
acres" above Midway Materials including
"everything off South Main Street and up around the
VFW (which is located on Cherrywood Road)."
The sinkhole developed after recent heavy rains were
unable to be adequately handled by the damaged system.
Mr. Dobson stated Street Supervisor Joe Curtis had offered
to provide City labor for the reconstruction of the
drainway, however, he said he does not feel he should have
to purchase the materials for the project because drainage
from his business is prohibited by the Environmental
Protection Agency standards from allowing wastewaters to
enter city drainage systems. Run-off from processes
related to the production of concrete must be collected
onsite and allowed to filter through the ground without
otherwise leaving the premises. Sludge is collected and
allowed to dry after which it is sold as fill material.
Concrete pollutes environments by altering the pH level
and through non-filterable residues in concrete waste.
Mr. Curtis stated that years ago the area was a big, open
drainage ditch and that whoever owned it put in drainage
pipes with boxes, which collapsed, creating the sinkhole.
He stated repair would entail the placement of 30 to 40
feet of pipe and one connector box since the pipes would
be entering from different angles.
"It's a major job now; there's going to have to be a
lot of excavation done," he said, indicating the City
was "ready to go" on the project.
"We don't have time to wait," he said, "One
more major rain and it's going to be completely stopped
up."
Mr. Dobson insisted, however, that Midway Materials would
be better off with a hole. "If it had something to do
with our property I'd be proud to get labor free but if it
has nothing to do with Midway Materials I don't see why (I
should have to pay for materials.)"
Mayor Winchester countered that some of the problem over
the years has been excess material dumped into the ditch
over the catch basin.
"If we could see the leak we could fix it," he
said. "When we dig down 20 feet we were still digging
up residue, bricks and old concrete blocks."
Mayor Winchester appointed a committee consisting of Mr.
Curtis, Councilmember Jerry Arthur and himself to consult
with Barger Construction regarding the issue.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL BID CITY CLERK DANA DEEM FAREWELL
Mayor Winchester lauded City Clerk Dana Deem at his final
City Council meeting, which took place the evening before
his last workday. Mr. Deem recently accepted employment as
Financial Director for the McKenzie Special School
District.
"I'd like to take this opportunity to thank (Mr.
Deem) for his work here," said the mayor. "He's
done a magnificent job. He took a lot of heat from some
problems that arose without letting it filter back to me.
I wish him well in his (new) job."
He advised council members Mr. Deem will continue to be
available during the transition period to a new City
Clerk/Financial Director.
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Annexation
Tower Road, Hansen Meadows, Highway 79 Slated for Phase I
of Two-Step Project |
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By a vote of five-to-one, the McKenzie Planning Commission
on Tuesday, September 9 approved a recommendation to the
City Council for the annexation of the Tower Road area,
Hansen Meadows area, and Highway 79 to the Henry County
Line in Phase I of a two-step program proposed by
Community Planner Jack Brown.
The Holly Hills area, properties adjacent to the Tower
Road area, and the area along and between Old McKenzie
Highway (now State Route 124 east of McKenzie) and the
Highway 22 By-pass (including Everett Road) would be
considered in a second phase with a tentative time frame
for annexation of three to five years.
"These areas are developed and have a tremendous
potential for further development," Mr. Brown advised
commissioners. "Upper-end new residential development
occurring right outside the city limits has to be captured
at some point in time or the city begins to lose its tax
base."
Planning Commissioner Larry Webb cast the dissenting vote.
"Phase I" includes 77 households with an
estimated population of 188. Estimated annual revenue from
the annexation would total $40,036.00 including $22,433.00
in property taxes and $17,603.00 in state shared revenues.
As no businesses exist within the area, no sales tax
revenues would be realized.
With fire and police protection and ready access to city
amenities already in place for the residents, Mr. Brown
stated, "The primary cost for serving (the proposed
area) is the extension of water and sewer lines and this
is substantial."
The re-estimated cost of Phase I infrastructure
development, which more closely considered the additional
costs of easements, engineering, legal fees and
administrative fees, is $1,944,625.00, almost $400,000.00
more than previously estimated.
Phase II implementation would cost approximately
$1,328,625.00, including $711,125.00 for the balance of
the Tower Road area plus the Holly Hills area, and
$617,500.00 for the Everett Road/Old Highway 22 area.
Asked by Mr. Webb how long it would take the city to
recoup the estimated $2 million to fund Phase I of the
project, Mr. Brown advised revenues realized from
annexation in the form of taxes and state shared funds
could not be used specifically to pay off the debt of
water and sewer implementation. The debt must be funded
through the water and sewer fund with expenditures
recaptured through revenues paid in for those services.
He stated the City of McKenzie has a sewer use ordinance
that requires any resident or business within the service
area to connect to the public sewer system at the property
owners' expense.
Mr. Webb, who does not live within the regions proposed
for annexation, hypothetically objected to being
"forced to hook up to city sewer at my expense."
In response to Commissioner Virginia Claire Edward's
question as to the average cost to a homeowner, Mayor
Winchester stated a normal sewer tap is $700, however, if
the tap is installed within 90 days of when city lines are
provided, the fee is reduced to $350. The mayor estimated
total costs to be around "a couple thousand
dollars."
Donald Tolbert of Tolbert Plumbing and Electricity on
Friday stated, "$1200.00 would probably be a safe
figure." That cost does not include the tap fee.
"We're beginning to get into an issue of enforcing
our ordinances," Planning Commission Chairman Mark
Warren said, advising the Water Board, Mayor, and City
Council would study the feasibility of the proposal
including the availability of loans and grants for the
project and the impact upon property owners.
Commissioner Deborah Turner stated homeowners would have
expenses regardless of whether annexation occurs, quoting
a resident who advised road repairs and other joint
expenses would occur in outlying neighborhoods requiring
the pooled resources of homeowners, some of whom possibly
would not or could not contribute.
"Without annexation the inner city dies," she
stated, indicating homes on the periphery of the city are
more affluent than those within the current city limits
and that homeowners using city resources should help pay
for that privilege.
Mr. Webb stated Hansen Meadows is "definitely on the
lower end of the scale" compared to the Tower Road
and Holly Hills districts. "How many can really
afford to hook up?" he asked.
Mr. Brown reiterated that those details would be worked
out by other city boards and individuals. He advised
commissioners to approve the recommendation in order that
the will of the Council could be discerned before drawing
up a plan of service for each area.
Ms. Edwards summarized the function of the Planning
Commission, saying, "Somebody has to do long term
planning and strategy and that is our job, to look at
long-term growth."
Chairman Warren stated, "This would be a first step
on annexation and it would begin here and that can be a
hard decision. That's why we serve on this
commission."
NEW ZONING DISTRICT CONSIDERED
Mr. Jack Brown presented a proposed first draft of an
Office-Residential District which would create a buffer
zone between existing neighborhoods and commercial
districts.
"This district is intended primarily to provide
locations for offices and service commercial uses and may
include existing or new residential uses," the
description of the proposed zone reads.
Uses permitted would include single and two-family
residential dwellings not to include mobile homes;
professional offices such as medical, legal, accounting,
engineering, planning, architecture, real estate,
insurance, business and management consultant services and
travel agencies; business services such as advertising,
stenographic and copying services; personal services such
as beauty or barber shops, and retail sales limited to
those that are incidental to the office, business services
and personal uses permitted.
"No restaurants or convenience stores would be
permitted," explained Mr. Brown. "Safeguards are
provided, one of which is landscaping requirements between
residential zones and (mandatory) site plan review
requirements."
The draft indicates a landscape area of at least ten feet
in width will be required along all street frontages and
that where this district adjoins a residential district a
landscaped buffer area no smaller than 15 feet is required
and a fence with a minimum height of six feet of a type
and design that would be approved by the Planning
Commission as a part of the plan review process.
Billboards and signs advertising off-site services will
not be permitted.
"This is a type of zoning I think might be
useful," said Mr. Brown.
Ms. Edwards agreed, "I think this is a real good idea
instead of waiting until the last minute when someone
wants something - this is long range planning."
Mr. Larry Kee, who appeared along with other concerned
residents John Doub and Al Wainscott - all residents of
Highway 22 North, asked if the zone was being established
particularly for the Jehovah's Witness property which has
twice been the subject of a rezoning request from
residential to business following difficulty of the owners
in selling the property.
Mr. Brown stated, "The decision not to rezone that
(property) has been made twice in the last year," and
indicated further that the commission had decided the
church property was a part of the subdivision and would
remain residential.
Chairman Warren stated that although the new zone was
requested as a part of the discussion surrounding the
church property, no specific area had been targeted for
its use.
"My opinion is we've done that twice and I'm not
interested in revisiting the issue," he said.
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Carroll County Pilots Association
Aviation Day Fly-In is Saturday |
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The public is invited to attend the Aviation Day
Fly-In at the Carroll County Airport this Saturday,
September 20, for a full day of fun on the tarmac. The
popular event, sponsored yearly by the Carroll County
Pilots Association, draws spectators of all ages who
enjoy the close-up viewing of a variety of aircraft and
"plane talk".
Aircraft typically on display includes war-era fighting
machines, helicopters, ultra lights, home built aircraft
and experimental models.
Concessions, including grilled hamburgers and hot dogs,
will be available.
Children aged 7 to 17 can take a free plane ride with a
parent's signature from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Noon drawings will award savings bonds for children and
cases of 15W50 oil for pilots.
The Carroll County Airport is located on Highway 22
between McKenzie and Huntingdon. Information for pilots
is: FAA Identifier HZD, UNICOM 122.8, AWOS 133.275, NDB
217.
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These
stories and more exclusively in the
print edition: |
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- Substitute Teachers Receive Pay Raise
- Fire Damages Downtown Building
- Tractor Incident has Happy Ending
- Boardwalk Added at Huntingdon Welcome Center
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or Fax (731)
352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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