Land Acquisition Efforts for City Airport Parallel Taxiway Hits Snag

October 2, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

The City of Smithville has a chance to get a federal grant up to $4.6 million for the development of a parallel taxiway at the airport but a snag has developed in efforts to acquire property needed for the project.

IMG_1616 from dwayne page on Vimeo.

According to Airport Manager Joe Johnson, the city has been in negotiations with Aaron Tippin, Ronnie Mack Davis, and Eugene Minnear to purchase properties adjacent to the airport. Both Tippin and Davis have agreed to sell but Minnear wants more than four times as much as the appraised value for his land.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, Johnson informed the mayor and aldermen that Minnear has been offered $35,150 (appraised value) for his property, 4.37 acres but Minnear rejected it and made a counter offer of $152, 950. According to Johnson Minnear’s property is an overgrowth area that only has an old barn on it. Tippin has agreed to accept the city’s offer of $38,025 for his property ( parts of four lots) and Davis will get $1,050 for his land (part of one lot).

The city has already secured grants with a 5% local match for appraisals, survey, and environmental work and to purchase the properties. But in order to receive the $4.6 million federal grant to build the parallel taxiway, the city must have ownership of all the properties where it is to be located. If all the land is not acquired soon, the city may miss deadlines for obtaining the grant and could have to wait another year before making application.

The aldermen voted to ask Johnson and City Attorney Vester Parsley to meet with Minnear. Their hope is they can persuade Minnear to accept the city’s offer of $35,150 for his property. If not, the aldermen have instructed Parsley to file a land condemnation (eminent domain) lawsuit against Minnear under which the city could acquire the property. Minnear  would be compensated but at an amount ordered by the court.

Johnson said if the city were to receive the $4.6 million federal grant there would be no local match other than 5% of the engineering costs which should not be more than $15,000 to the city.

The FAA awards airport improvement program discretionary grant funds across the country to primary and non-primary airports for infrastructure projects such as runways, taxiways, aprons and terminals.

Johnson said a parallel taxiway will make the airport much safer and enhance economic opportunity for the city making it more appealing to potential new industry.

“A parallel taxiway will make it where planes don’t have to back taxi down the main runaway. When you come in to land, you have to turn around and taxi all the way back before you can get off the runaway. If another plane comes in to land when that is happening you could be in trouble and we have had several close calls. Its like driving down the interstate and then having to turn around in the road to come back and get off an exit ramp. The state wants us to have a parallel taxiway but right now we can’t afford it without this grant,” said Johnson.

October 2, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

A speed zone is being established for subdivisions in the City of Smithville not already posted.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the Aldermen voted to post the speed limit at 20 miles per hour in the three or four subdivisions which have no posted signs. The estimated cost to post the signs is expected to be no more than $1,000.

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Police Chief Mark Collins addressed the Mayor and Aldermen requesting specifically that the 20 mile per hour speed zone be established for Greenwood Drive Subdivision on Short Mountain Highway based on citizen complaints of speeding there. But Chief Collins added that speed zones in other subdivisions should also be posted.

“I have had a lot of people calling in and a lot of complaints about speeding (Greenwood Drive). I sent my guys out there. Every once in a while there is one (motorist) that comes through in excess. But Greenwood Drive is not posted. There is no speed limit actually on it other than going back to the state (speed limit on non-posted streets) which is 30 miles per hour. In my opinion even though people are traveling 30 to 35 miles per hour it is still too fast for Greenwood Drive,” said Chief Collins.

“I would love to get a speed limit posted for Greenwood Drive at 20 miles per hour. I think that would be a good speed limit for that area. The people I have talked to (residents there) also thought that was fair and reasonable. While we are doing this there are some other subdivisions throughout the city in the same boat. I have not had complaints from these subdivisions but there are no posted speed limits there either. I would like to ask that the board consider making the speed limit 20 miles per hour for all the subdivisions,” he continued.

Chief Collins said a posted speed of 20 miles per hour would make those subdivisions safer.

“In a subdivision you have turnarounds and houses close together. People are walking in the afternoon and kids are riding their bikes. If we leave it the way it is, non posted the speed limit is 30 miles per hour  (under state law) and there is really nothing we can do to anyone traveling 30 miles per hour. I feel 30 miles per hour is too fast so if we change one I thought maybe we could look at changing them all to 20 miles per hour,” added Chief Collins.

The aldermen adopted Chief Collins’ request.

October 1, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

An 18 year old senior at DeKalb County High School has been charged with sexual battery after he allegedly grabbed the butt of a female student and slid his hand up her shirt at school.

18 year old Billy Ray Young of Green Hill Road, Smithville is under a $5,000 bond and he will make a court appearance on October 11.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Thursday, September 27 the School Resource Officer at DCHS was notified by two high school students that Young had grabbed the butt of a female juvenile without her consent. The SRO officer spoke with the girl who confirmed that the incident had occurred. According to the girl, Young came up behind her in the cafeteria and asked if he made her feel uncomfortable.  When she declined to respond Young allegedly grabbed her butt and slid his hand up her shirt.

The SRO reviewed the school’s video surveillance and confirmed that the incident had taken place.

Young was placed under arrest at school and taken to the jail.

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