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McMinn County mayor announces Adient WARA notice, SETHRA capacity limits and asks racetrack for schedule cooperation
Summary
County Mayor John M. Gentry told commissioners he received a WARA notice from Adient signaling likely layoffs; he said the county will coordinate job fairs and workforce support. SETHRAexecutive director Rachel Hackworth outlined local services and capacity limits; racetrack owner Nhoylyn Ennaco explained an April race that ran later than practice-night limits and agreed to provide next season's schedule in advance.
County Mayor John M. Gentry told the McMinn County Commission on April 20 that he had received a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act (WARA) notice from employer Adient indicating an upcoming closure or workforce reduction. He said the formal notice lists a June date but the mayor expects impacts could extend through December and that county staff will coordinate with the Department of Labor to hold on-site job fairs and other re-employment services.
"We will be working with our friends at the Department of Labor. We will be doing on-site job fairs at the location to help those individuals," Gentry said, adding the county would work with Adient as permitted to market the facility for new employers.
Gentry framed the announcement as a difficult development for employees and urged commissioners to support efforts to find new jobs for affected workers.
The meeting also included a presentation by Rachel Hackworth, executive director of SETHRA (Southeast Tennessee Human Resource Agency). Hackworth said SETHRA serves roughly 50,000 people across nine counties and employs about 215 people, 20 of whom live in McMinn County. She said the agency combines transportation, community services, housing assistance and other programs and that McMinn County still has unmet demand for rides and other supports.
"If you know someone who is needing help, whether it be with housing, utilities, they're having issues with need emergency repairs on their home or weatherization and they're low income ... call us, reach out to us," Hackworth said.
Mayor Gentry asked the owner of the I-75 Raceway, Nhoylyn Ennaco, to explain an April 2 event that exceeded the county's usual 9 p.m. practice-night end time. Ennaco said the April 2 event was not a practice but an annual "super race" that has run on Thursdays since the track opened; she said she canceled the Saturday event that weekend to reduce community disturbance.
Gentry asked the racetrack to present its next season schedule in advance and requested commission approval for any variances, so the county can provide advance notice and avoid surprise complaints. Ennaco agreed to present the schedule before next season.
Gentry also reminded the commission of a county tire-recycling event and encouraged attendance at a Riceville Utility District appreciation day; he said solar farm agreement work was nearly complete and the Public Safety committee would review the draft.
