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TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2004
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Water Board Mulls City Sewer Service to Annexed Resident |
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Members of the McKenzie Board of Water Commissions were
hesitant Thursday to approve the request of Ozell Jones
300 Highway 423 (Shiloh Road) for city sewer services.
Jones was said to have to have his septic tank pumped
out several times a year. Protocol provides that when
septic tanks within the city limits become
dysfunctional, residents are required to connect to city
services when available.
Board Chairman Kenneth Hopper stated he and Water
Department Superintendent Tim Waldrup had visited the
site and that "there is no way to get a gravity flow
going to Plantation Cove" which was stated to be the
nearest manhole. He further stated it could be possible
to have a gravity flow in the opposite direction but
that the system could be overwhelmed when the nearby
Church of Christ building is in use by large numbers.
Hopper further advised a pump might be necessary to
force wastes to the closest manhole.
Mr. Jones' property is located approximately 0.25 mile
past the new Robertson's Decorating Center (currently
under construction and across the street from the Church
of Christ building) and about 0.3 mile from the manhole
at Plantation Cove subdivision. The property is about
one mile from Holly Hills Subdivision, an area in which
the city recently expressed interest in annexing.
Mayor Walter Winchester stated he did not think costs
would exceed $50,000 to run the necessary lines and
equipment to Plantation Cove or the church.
Waldrup advised the city has provided service to " a
couple" of sites in the vicinity, most recently
Robertson's Decorating Center, who provided their own
pump.
"We can't keep doing that," stated Waldrup, stating the
city would at some point need to make the decision to
run sewer services to the area where "everybody that
wants to hook up to it can."
"It's going to be very expensive to run, probably, in
that situation," he continued, adding that a lift
station would likely be required, which alone could cost
$50,000. "It's a very expensive proposition for one
house."
Hopper expounded that if a subdivision was going through
there it might "be feasible but we're looking at one
house."
Three residences exist between Robertson's Decorating
Center and the Jones property. A new home currently in
construction by Doug Hilliard lies 0.1 mile past the
Jones home.
Mrs. Doug Hilliard on Friday stated her husband was told
by city authorities sewer services would not be provided
to their new home due to the expense. The family has
since made arrangements to have a septic tank installed.
The area in which the properties lie was annexed by the
city in 1997. Areas brought into the city by annexation
typically expect city services to be provided within
five years of annexation. The plan of services, a
document which describes the timeframe for the provision
of services to the area, was not available Friday.
Commissioner Gene Hale asked how much it would cost to
run the line alone, notwithstanding a lift station or
pump.
"I have no idea," answered Waldrup, who again stated a
pump purchased by Jones was "really not the way to go."
He also said Jones' house is so far away from the
property line it could be more expensive for him to
connect to the line, if run, than to put in a new septic
tank. A sewer tap to a city line is $700.
After further discussion, Hale made a motion to defer
the issue until such time as someone could talk to Jones
regarding the options. Waldrup stated he would discuss
the situation with Jones and that if Jones were not
satisfied would advise him to present the matter to the
board. The motion was unanimously approved.
In another matter, Revell Construction Company was
awarded the bid for work to be performed on the water
tank located at the City Park on Como Road. The low bid
of $41,900 provided the bidder would assemble the
booster pump station from component parts meeting
technical specifications. Revell's bid using a
preassembled unit was $59,800. Barsto Construction on
Huntingdon bid $59,327 for the project with no
alternative for bidder assembly. Arnco Construction,
Inc. of Trenton bid $61,211 using a preassembled unit
and $52,322 for bidder assembly.
Revell was awarded the bid following assurances to
Commissioner Willie Mae Anderson that the components
used would definitely meet quality standards and were
not used parts.
Hale noted earlier estimates for the job were in the
neighborhood of $79,000. Waldrup advised costs were
reduced when work that could be performed by Water
Department employees was deleted from the bid
specifications, including a $6,000 enclosure designed to
protect the tank from freezing temperatures. Hopper
advised materials for a city-built enclosure that has
functioned well for several years cost around $300.
Responding to Hopper's request for an update on the
water well located near the ManPower office (the old
depot building), Waldrup stated the well is not yet
functional and that Mr. Keith Campbell, of Campbell Well
Drilling Inc. of McKenzie, had advised going down one
more section of casing (20 ft.) would provide another
100 gallons of water per minute to the city's water
supply. Waldrup stated the improvement would incur no
extra cost to the city.
A new motor is being installed in the well subsequent to
damage sustained on the old well when another company
was installing a generator that will take the place of
the defunct water tower located behind City Hall. Once
installation is complete, the generator will run
continuously in the case of power failure to provide
water to the city, thereby meeting state requirements
for water supply during periods of crisis. |
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McKenzie Library Supporters Question Fair Tax Share
Hollands Seek 25,000 Plus $2000/Year |
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About a dozen supporters of the McKenzie Memorial
Library attended the regular meeting of the McKenzie
City Council on Thursday, February 12. Among them were
Reelfoot Regional Library Director Susan Rogers, members
of the library board and member of the library's
supporting organization, BPW (Business and Professional
Women's Club).
The Council voted unanimously (with the exception of
Willie Huffman, who was absent) to approve the
additional $1,000 donation required to fulfill the
maintenance of effort agreement with the regional
library system.
Councilmember Darra Adkins expressed appreciation to
Mayor Walter Winchester for obtaining statistics
regarding the library's use, with both she and
Councilmember James Knolton stating they had no idea the
library was used by so many people.
Mrs. Ruth Morris beseeched library supporters to contact
county commissioners concerning the discrepancy in the
county's support between the county library and the
McKenzie library. The county paid $64,000 in full
management of the county library in the current year
while cutting their donation to the McKenzie library
from $8,000 to $7,000. Mrs. Morris stated McKenzie pays
24% of taxes in the county.
"We furnish as many people (as the county library
does)," she said, referring to library customers. "I
don't care about having the courthouse over here but we
ought to have our share of the tax money back for our
town."
"And we do not want to be a branch of their library,"
added Mrs. Sybil King.
Ms. Rogers recited the benefits of being a part of the
regional library system, including processing books,
providing inservice training opportunities,
technological troubleshooting for the five computers in
the McKenzie library, bookmobile services and
consultations by phone, e-mail or onsite in day-to-day
issues affecting the library. She further advised there
are 12 bookmobile stations in the county which are
visited once each quarter where books are deposited for
use by readers who are not close to a library.
Mrs. King also asked for suggestions on how to alleviate
the library's "pigeon problem", stating it was
impossible for patrons to enter the library without
bringing in their droppings.
"Do they use the computers or not?" quipped the mayor to
a round of laughter.
Adkins advised she would like to see the library be made
handicapped accessible, advising Codes Inspector Ray
Berryman had arranged for workers to come by the library
the following week to check on the possibility of
installing a ramp at the facility.
(more in the print edition of The Banner.) |
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Insurance Cost Packs Wallop to Huntingdon Budget |
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The town of Huntingdon will split $20,098 in increased
insurance premiums into two installments with roughly
$10,000 being paid in the current fiscal year and
$10,000 being applied to the 2004-2005 budget. Mayor
Dale Kelley stated cutbacks in other areas will help
absorb the increased cost.
The TML (Tennessee Municipal League) insurance premium
in 2003 was $57,870 minus a member dividend credit of
$25,646 for a net invoice of $32,224. This year, the
premium was $64,009 (an increase of $6,139) while the
dividend credit was only $11,687 (a difference of
$13,959) for a net invoice of $52,322.
Kelly stated a portion of the increase is due to
additional liability coverage.
In other business, an ordinance to amend the general
fund, drug fund, solid waste collection fund, and public
improvement fund for FY 2003-2004 in routine fiscal
mid-year review was approved on second and final reading
following a public hearing in which no one appeared to
voice comment on the issue.
PRE-BID CONFERENCE ON DIXIE CARTER PERFORMING ARTS
CENTER SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 18
Kelly advised the council bid packages have been
prepared and a pre-bid conference is scheduled for
February 18 regarding the Dixie Carter Performing Arts
Center project. Bids will be opened on February 27.
"The project is moving along," he said.
The council approved two non-agenda items related to the
arts center:
Centerstage Acting, which uses the Dixie Carter Center
building for acting classes, has scheduled three
professional performances of "A Lost Art" to take place
between May 13 and 17 with 10 percent of profits
benefiting the Dixie Carter Center fund. Another 10
percent will go toward future performances with the
balance of the profit paying the salaries of the actors,
director and technical staff. Local business
sponsorships will cover the cost of publicity including
posters, tickets, ads and programs.
"A Lost Art" is an original work featuring the talents
of four actors: Kim Easley, Renee Brooks, Esther Gray
and Sharon Dunn. The show portrays the comedies and
tragedies in the lives of women as they search for their
places in the world.
Secondly, Esther Gray will conduct Iyengar style yoga
classes at the Dixie Carter Center building on Tuesdays
from 7:30 until 8:30 p.m. beginning February 24. The
center will receive 30 percent of all class proceeds
with no overhead costs.
Gray holds a 1,000-hour national certification from the
Southern Institute of Yoga. Defining yoga as an ancient
art form and holistic program of simple exercises,
breathing techniques and relaxation to maintain or
regain health and well-being, she cites the following
health benefits: increased mobility, circulation and
respiratory strength; improved digestion; better weight
control, coordination and balance; reduced anxiety;
greater confidence; and more energy and zest for life.
The eight-week session is $64 ($8.00 per class) or the
walk-in rate is $10.00 per class. |
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These stories and more exclusively
in the print edition: |
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- Technology Center Hosts Legislators
- Chamber of Commerce Produces New Roadmap
- Tax Sale of H.I.S. Property Highlights Bruceton
Board Meeting
- Trezevant to Opt Out of H.I.S. Tax Suit
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or Fax (731)
352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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