Assessor Sending “Change of Assessment” Notices to Landowners

May 2, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Many DeKalb County land and business owners may see a change in their property assessments this year.

Assessor of Property Shannon Cantrell said “Change of Assessment” letters are being sent to those affected.

“Change of assessment letters are going out in May because the assessment on your property, whether it be real property or personal property, has either gone up or down. There has been a change so you will get a “change of assessment” notice,” Cantrell said.

If you don’t agree with your property assessments, Cantrell said you should not wait until you get your tax bill in the fall to try and do something about it. The time to raise concerns is when the DeKalb County Board of Equalization meets in June. Cantrell will be taking appointments for those appeals starting May 20. The Board of Equalization will meet starting Monday, June 3 from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. in the conference room of the Assessor of Property Office at the county complex building.

“Remember once the county board has met then you can no longer appeal locally for the 2019 taxes. I think that’s what catches a lot of people by surprise. They get their tax notice October 1 and that’s what really gets their attention if their taxes have gone up. Then they want to appeal it. But by that time the appeal for 2019 has already passed. We’re in the appeal season now,” said Cantrell.

“What is important to remember is that the county board of equalization normally meets the first week in June and if you would like to appeal your assessment now is the time to do that. Beginning May 20 call our office and make an appointment to meet with the county board of equalization to discuss the assessment on your appraisal,” Cantrell continued.

“It doesn’t have to be that you had a change of assessment this spring. Maybe nothing changed from last year but maybe you weren’t pleased with your assessment last year. Anybody can come and see the county board of equalization,” Cantrell added.

The county commission recently appointed Russell Watson, Jimmy Midgett, Doyle Evans, Joel Hooker, and Jim Davies to serve on the five member board and Jimmy Goad will be an alternate.

County equalization boards across the state are to meet each year on June 1 (or the next business day if the 1st falls on Saturday or Sunday). The county board is authorized by law to receive and hear appeals of current year property tax assessments as fixed by the county assessor of property. Generally an assessment must be appealed to the county board of equalization to preserve the taxpayer’s right to further appeal.

May 2, 2019
By:

Are you a beginning farmer looking to diversify your operation? Maybe you’d like to get started in agriculture but don’t know where to start. Perhaps you’ve bought some property and want to learn how you can make money off of it.

If any of these describes you, I’d invite you to consider participating in the inaugural Upper Cumberland Beginning Farmer Short Course. The Upper Cumberland Beginning Farmer Short Course is a five-month certificate program designed for those with an interest in becoming agricultural entrepreneurs, or diversifying their current venture.

The five sessions will be held monthly from May – October at different locations around the Upper Cumberland. A portion of each session will be dedicated to helping you establish and/or maintain a productive and efficient operation by covering topics such as soil health, livestock production, fruit and vegetable production, beekeeping, irrigation strategies, hemp production, greenhouse management, and hydroponics.

In addition to classroom instruction, the course provides farm tours and hands-on experiential sessions on issues including fruit tree pruning and maintenance, drip irrigation and plasticulture, fencing installation and repair, sprayer calibration, and equipment operation/safety.

The registration fee for the Upper Cumberland Beginning Farmer Short Course is $100 per person, or $125 per couple. This includes lunch at each of the 5 sessions as well as handouts and other valuable material.

For more information, including a complete list of topics, dates, and locations, contact Johnny Barnes at jbarnes1@utk.edu, 615-597-4945, or visit us at 722 S. Congress Blvd., Smithville. The DeKalb County UT-TSU Extension Office is right in the middle of the DeKalb Community Complex Building. Please register for the class by Friday, May 24.

Programs in agriculture and natural resources, 4-H youth development, family and consumer sciences and resource development. University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, US Dept. of Agriculture, and county governments cooperating. UT Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.

May 1, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A burglar caught by a deputy at the scene of the crime in January was sentenced Wednesday, May 1 in DeKalb County Criminal Court.

30 year old Jeremy Wayne Cox entered a plea to aggravated burglary and received a sentence of 3 years on TDOC probation. The sentence is to run consecutively with a Warren County case against him. He was given jail credit of 107 days.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Sunday, January 13 a deputy was dispatched to Jefferson Road due to a possible break in. Upon arrival the officer discovered that the basement door had been kicked in from the outside and Cox was inside the home. The deputy contacted the owner of the home by phone and she reported that no one was supposed to be in the residence. Cox was taken into custody.

Meanwhile, 42 year old Chad Wilson Johnson entered a plea to sale of a schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine) over 0.5 grams and received a 10 year TDOC sentence suspended to supervised probation. He must make restitution of $370 to the sheriff’s department. Johnson was indicted last year after an undercover drug investigation by the sheriff’s department.

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