McKenzie water customers will soon receive a survey to
which city officials hope they will respond. The
survey deals with demographic and income questions
that are essential in proving need for a CDBG
(Community Development Block Grant) program that would
fund 80 percent of costs of much-needed sewer system
repairs in McKenzie.
"This is going to require a bit of work," said Mayor
Walter Winchester during the Thursday, August 26
meeting at which the council unanimously approved
pursuit of the grant. He explained a portion of the
area served must be below the national poverty level
in order to obtain needed funds and that the need is
so extensive that it was not feasible to target
smaller areas of the community.
In question was whether to mail the surveys, conduct
door-to-door visits, or perform telephone interviews.
"Or if the council members want to be really involved
they can serve their own districts," said the mayor in
setting out options.
"After the election," quipped Councilmember James
Knolton, Ward 4 representative, who is one of three
members whose seat is up for election in November.
Also running for re-election are Darra Adkins in Ward
6 and Wade Allen in Ward 1.
Councilmember Jerry Arthur volunteered to stuff and
address envelopes for a mail-out, an offer echoed by
Adkins.
Vice-mayor Gene Hale indicated he thought people would
be glad to help by answering the questionnaire if they
were aware of the dire state of the "antiquated" sewer
system, as well as the enormous costs of repairs.
Council members also approved unanimously the pursuit
of a Transportation Enhancement Grant to complete
sidewalk construction down College Drive all the way
to the City Park via Liberty Lane. The grant would
fund 80 percent of the costs of the project.
In neither case did council members address actual
costs or dollar amounts of grants sought.
"We're going to apply for all we can get," said Hale
after the meeting.
Repair of Damaged Drain to Stem Flooding on Main
Street before Winter
Winchester, in requesting permission to seek bids for
repair of the damaged drain system behind Midway
Materials, stated an amended plan had reduced the cost
of repairs originally estimated at $250,000.
Previously, plans called for boring beneath railroad
tracks located nearby to enhance storm drainage.
Public Works Superintendent Joe Curtis explained later
that current plans call for repair of the portion of
the system that lies at the bottom of a 30 ft. deep
hole. The system consists of several pipes emptying
into a concrete box, which has collapsed. Also planned
is repair of 110 feet of pipe which, if not already
rusted through, is suspected to have seriously
deteriorated. Curtis stated repair would take place by
means of a "sleeve", or pipe of smaller dimensions,
run through the existing pipe after which both ends
would be sealed.
"Hopefully we can get started sometime in October," he
said, anticipating the job would be finished before
winter rains.
A bid notice was published in The McKenzie Banner in
the edition just prior to the meeting in which the
solicitation of bids was unanimously approved. The
notice called for bids to be opened at 2:00 p.m. on
September 9.
Also approved unanimously was the solicitation of bids
for fence construction between the City Park and
Shomaker Lumber Company. Winchester announced an
agreement with the company whereby the company would
confer less than one acre of ground to the city in
exchange for the construction of a fence that would
meet the requirements of their insurance company.
The issue arose due to injuries incurred by youth
visiting the park who decided to play on mulch piles
at the nearby lumber yard.
Specifications call for a ten feet tall chain-link
fence topped by two smooth wires. The fence will be
some 935 feet long.
In another matter, Hale noted he and Adkins had
received multiple complaints regarding the dwelling
located at the corner of Woodrow and Stonewall.
"It's in pretty bad shape and the grass is knee high
right now," he said. "It's gotten to be a pretty bad
situation; there needs to be something done."
Adkins advocated tearing the structure down while Hale
said the building could be condemned.
Winchester advised Codes Officer Ray Berryman would
look into the issue.
Keith Dover, a citizen of Oaklawn Street, advised from
the audience that despite communications with the
Winchester, Hale and Police Chief Harry Cooper, he and
his family continued to experience trouble with
traffic on Oaklawn.
"My wife and two-month-old daughter liked to have got
hit by a car," he said, advising the incident took
place after prior conversations with city officials.
Winchester advised extra patrols were being carried
out in the area, an assertion disputed by Dover who
said he saw no police cruisers over a ten-hour period
of observance. He purported to have video evidence to
support his allegations and said, "If things don't get
stopped we'll have to go about this another way."
He stated he had also complained about the music in
the area.
Advised by the mayor, when Dover asked how long it
took for patrols to get around to his neighborhood,
that two to three officers were on duty per shift,
that officers had more to do than patrol and that the
city would look into the issue again, Dover stated,
"Who said I was done?"
Dover soon added, "If there's anything I can do, I'll
help you."
Knolton commended McKenzie firefighters participation
in the funeral of Vince Gray who was a member of the
State Guard as well as a firefighter, first responder
and member of the Carroll County Rescue Squad, stating
it was "a very impressive funeral."
"I'd like to thank Brian and members of the Fire
Department for being there," he said. Knolton and
other members of the State Guard also participated in
the service.
In other matters the council:
Presented to family members of the late Dr. T.H. Smith
a copy of a resolution memorializing his valuable
contributions to the community. See separate article
in this edition;
Deferred presentation of other honors regarding local
trapshooting teams that the mayor reported had
advanced to national competition, winning additional
honors; and,
Approved bills in the total amount of $18,983.58 as
follows: Barge, Waggoner Sumner and Cannon (Oak Street
project) - $6,450.00; Weakley County Gas and Oil
(3,957 gal. of gasoline @ $1.469 per gallon) -
$5,812.83; Southern Software Inc. - $4,545.00; D&H
Electric - $1,634.00; and Old Dominion Brush -
$541.75.
