Although there was little discussion of the matter during Monday night’s meeting of the Dresden Board of Mayor and Aldermen, one of the more important projects to be planned for the city and the county in many years was announced by Mayor Danny Forrester who said, “The Weakley County Economic Development Board on Friday, passed the initial phase of a 100,000 square foot spec building in the Dresden Industrial Park, which should be started within the next six months.” County and city officials hope that the construction of the building will attract new industry to the area. (See related page 1 article “WCED Oks spec building, industrial site evaluations, etc.”)
     Under communications from Dresden Mayor Danny Forrester, the mayor stated that the city would be taking applications for the position of public works director (following the disciplinary demotion of Gale Davidson, who recently held that position). Forrester stated that applications would be accepted until noon of August 19.
     “Kerry Cooper will be working with me on the day-to-day activities of public works, until the position is filled,” said Forrester.
     “May I ask why the public works director is no longer there and put back to a lesser position?” asked Alderwoman Joyce Hurt.
     “Because of disciplinary action,” answered Mayor Forrester.
     “Like what?” inquired Hurt.
     “I don’t feel like it’s appropriate to discuss disciplinary action in public, unless the city attorney advises me too,” replied Forrester.
     “After 20 years of working for the city of Dresden, I think there needs to be an answer as to why he was demoted, and money taken away that’s going to hurt his retirement,” said Hurt. “It seems to me like all of the board members know about this except me. I just found out this afternoon, and I’m very upset about it. We’re having too many meetings and phone calls, and I’m being left out.” She mentioned that this was a violation of the Sunshine Law. “I think somewhere down the road, we need to find out why Gale Davidson has been removed from his job.” She added that she has known Davidson over the years, including during her term as mayor, and he has been a very good person to work with. “All of a sudden, over the past two and a half years, he’s had nothing but problems. There’s something wrong somewhere.”
     “The action was taken according to the charter, which grants the mayor (the authority) to make promotions and demotions, or disciplinary actions,” said Forrester.
     “I’m on this board, and I think I’m entitled to something besides that,” said Hurt.
     “I think the best way to answer that question is we all know personnel files of employees are public record, except for medical (information) and unlisted phone numbers,” said Forrester.
     In a related matter, the board discussed the status of the Linden Street water and sewer project. “Alderman Danny Roberts and myself had a meeting with Ed Hargrave (city engineer) and the public works (department),” said Forrester. He said that Hargrave stated “His firm would be more than happy to continue engineering the Linden Street project. However, with the attitude of the Public Works Department concerning this project (referring to Gale Davidson), he would not be able to oversee or supervise this project.”
     “My understanding is that there’s a gentleman who wants to apply for that job (public works director), and the position is being made clear for him,” charged Hurt. “This is sad when I have to hear all of this out on the street. After all, I am a board member, and I’d like to get a phone call now and then.”
     Alderman Mike Forchione said Davidson’s personnel file reveals he has had adequate warnings.
“I would like to know how the board would like to proceed with the Linden Street water and sewer project?” asked Mayor Forrester. “We have spoken to Lynn Moore, the person who submitted the lowest bid on the project, and he is willing to honor his previous bid on the project amounting to $67,951.” He added that Moore would be able to start the project in September.
     Alderman Roberts made a motion to hire Moore’s firm to do the project, which was seconded by Alderman Forchione.
     Alderman Mike Youngblood said the board previously voted to have the job done by city employees “in order to save taxpayer dollars.”
     “With the current state of affairs in public works, I think if we should let the Lynn Moore company go ahead and do this project, and maybe that will free up Kerry (Cooper) and them to go ahead and do the Alford project, and take both of those off the table in an expedient time,” said Mayor Forrester. The Alford project he referenced involves a drainage problem behind E.T. Reavis & Son Department Store in downtown Dresden. “They need to be taken care of. These projects have been going on now nearly eight or nine months, and it’s time to get them moving.”
     “I’m not going to say anything that’s going to put any blame on anybody on any of this,” said Kerry Cooper. “All I’m going to say on these projects is we don’t have the manpower to do a lot of these big projects. There’s a whole lot of maintenance work that we’re fighting every day. When are we going to have time to go and put in 1,200 foot of sewer line? Are we going to let people’s waters and sewers go while we’re doing it?”
     “I think that’s the root of the whole problem,” said Forchione, who added the previous vote to have the city do the job itself was based on Davidson’s statements at that time that the city had the manpower, the training, and the equipment to do the job, but this has since proved not to be the case. He said that the decision was in error because the information the board received was false.
     After deciding that the city does not have the ability to do the work itself, the board Lynn Moore’s contract at a cost of $67,951. The measure passed by a vote of 4 “for” and 2 “against.” Those voting against hiring the work done, instead of the city doing it, were Alderwoman Hurt and Alderman Mike Youngblood.
     Mayor Forrester gave the board an update on the flow meters, saying that they are installed and the city should be getting reports on the water flow as soon as it comes a good rain, which will tend to increase infiltration.

     Forrester said, “The Civic Center landscaping is being done, and should be finished in a very short time - hopefully before school starts.”
     As for the problems with the traffic light at the intersection of highways 22 and 89, Mayor Forrester stated that the settings on the light have been adjusted and that “everything should be working properly now.”
     Under input from citizens, Robin Ricketts, a Red Cross volunteer, pleaded her case for donations from the city in hopes of keeping the Red Cross in Weakley County. She explained that the local Red Cross chapter has had significant funding cut from their budget when United Way only allocated $6,000, instead of the requested $27,000. She said that the local Red Cross Chapter might get another $6,000 from United Way. She stated that the cut was made, due to a paperwork foul-up and a misunderstanding about the distribution of their funding, as well as what services they offer. Records indicated that Weakley County Red Cross received $25,000 from United Way in 2003-2004, $15,000 in 2004-2005, and $6,000 for 2005-2006. It has assisted 20 single-family fires during 2004-2005, and averages providing military family assistance to 21 families annually.
     “In single-family fires, we meet the immediate needs - on a case-by-case basis,” said Ricketts. She said that the local Red Cross director Cindy Young, is on call 24 hours per day, seven days a week. She said if the families who have lost their home in a fire don’t have anyone to stay with, the Red Cross could provide temporary housing in a local hotel, as well as clothing, food, etc.
     Mayor Forrester said, “The board will take it under advisement.”
     Under employee’s reports, the board heard Dresden Finance Director Melanie Bynum state that the total cost for the basketball court project amounts to $101,381.50. She said that the board has authorized 80 percent of the cost to be financed and the remaining 20 percent to come out of the city’s budget. So, the city borrowed $81,000, and paid the remaining $21,381.50 out of the 2005 budget. “They’re not quite finished with it, so we haven’t written a check yet, but the money is in place,” said Bynum.
     “The basketball courts look good,” said Mayor Forrester. “But they have a little dirt work to do around the side. Kids are already beginning to play on them, so they’re up and running.”
     Dresden Police Chief announced that his department received delivery of a new patrol car on Thursday.
     Dresden Parks and Recreation Director Corry Essary stated that the final dirt work on the basketball court project should be completed this week, and then he will be installing the new playground equipment.
     Dresden Water Department Director Jeff Pierpoint informed the board his department needs a new commercial grade lawn mower. He stated that he could get a 25-horsepower 757 John Deere mower on state bid for $5,515 (regularly priced around $8,000 plus tax) that has a five-foot diameter deck and zero-turning radius and will greatly speed up the lawn maintenance around the water plant, water tanks, and old city shop. He said that the tractor-pulled mower the city has been using is “okay for the big stuff,” but leaves a lot to be trimmed with a weed trimmer, which is very labor intensive and time consuming, costing many man-hours. “It takes about three days a week, just to keep caught up on that,” said. Pierpoint. The board unanimously approved the mower purchase.
     Pierpoint also gave the board an update on the proposed painting of the city’s water tank. , he said that he got quotes on the cost for the project at the end of last year, with the low bid being $15,500. He said since it was just surface rust, that he could do a touch-up job himself this fall and save the city some money on the project. Pierpoint said he could take some money out of repair and maintenance to rent a lift to reach the areas needing paint.
     Under unfinished business, the board heard from Alderwoman Hurt concerning the dog pound issues that were raised during a previous meeting. Hurt stated that the city only has four doghouses and sometimes has as many as 11 dogs, so more are needed. After calling around to other local municipalities to see how they are handling the problem, she recommended giving the citizens of Dresden a warning ticket for the first offense and then charge $25 for the first day and $10 for each additional day the dog is kept by the city. Hurt said that Billy Ray and Faye Butts would pay for the pouring of a concrete slab for the new doghouses, which will cost approximately $199.25.
     Other board members agreed that new doghouses need to be installed and fenced around, but disagreed with changing the fining system, due to the expense of operating the dog pound. They said that the city is keeping dogs 14 days instead of the state mandated minimum requirement of five days, and to cut fines would mean reducing the number of days before dogs are euthanized.
     Mayor Forrester stated the donation for the concrete needs to be received before the concrete could be poured.
     In announcements, Mayor Forrester stated that there would be a city auction on August 25, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the old city shop. With no more business to conduct the meeting adjourned.

     The McKenzie community is grieving with the family and friends of Tennessee National Guardsman James Dustin “Dusty” Carroll, 23, of McKenzie, who was killed while on active duty Sunday morning south of Baghdad, Iraq.
Major General Gus Hargett, Tennessee Adjutant General, confirmed Monday that Specialist Carroll died when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated near the vehicle in which he was riding.
     Three other soldiers in the vehicle received injuries, according to family members and unofficial sources. They included Specialist Robert Gulledge and Specialist Timmy Dyal, both of McKenzie, and Specialist Chris Lewis, who is a member of the Milan Guard unit.
     The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 31, 20 miles south of Baghdad, said Hargett. Carroll was a member of McKenzie’s Company A, 230th Engineer Battalion. He had been a member of his hometown National Guard unit since September 15, 2001.
     Special Carroll was a passenger in one of the vehicles performing a convoy clearance mission, Hargett confirmed.
Carroll’s funeral arrangements were incomplete at press time. His remains are expected to arrive at Dover, Delaware, in approximately 10 days, prior to being flown to Memphis International Airport before beginning his final journey home.
     Dusty’s mother, Debra Carroll of McKenzie, was informed of her son’s death when an Army chaplain and another member of the National Guard delivered the devastating news to her and her husband, John Brimm, at their home at 27 Locust Avenue.

(Read the rest of this story in this week's print edition of the Dresden Enterprise.)