MADISONVILLE-Monroe County Director of Economic Development Shan Harris spoke to the Monroe County Board of Education on Thursday night about a request from someone asking to amend the covenants for Niles Ferry Industrial Park.

Vonore Middle School sits right by the park.

Scott Mason met with the Niles Ferry Design Review Committee in October to discuss his business, Mason Recycling, and its presence in the park. However, the park's covenants specifically prohibit lots within the property be used for "wreck, junk or salvage yards and similar activities."

"We can't just take things out," explained Harris. "We have to do what the covenants say."

Mason sent letters to all 19 property owners in the park to request they sign a petition to amend the covenant so that it will include the type of work his business wants to perform.

The industrial park's covenants were created on Feb. 29, 1980, and were updated and approved by all property owners in 2010, to ensure proper use and appropriate development and improvement of the property within each lot.

"I'm not trying to keep jobs from coming to Monroe County," said Harris. "My job is to make jobs."

See full story in the Sunday, Jan. 13, edition of The Advocate & Democrat.