City Golf Course Manager Gets Double Pay for Double Duties

September 11, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

The manager of the Smithville Golf Course, Swimming Pool, and Tennis Court is getting a pay raise now that he has taken on the sole responsibility for overseeing the operation of the facilities.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the aldermen voted to double the pay of Ken Lacy from $1,000 to $2,000 per month and to make it retroactive to the date when his co-manager, Pete Ferguson resigned in July.

Alderman Gayla Hendrix made the motion and Alderman Danny Washer offered a second to the motion. Aldermen Shawn Jacobs and Brandon Cox joined them in voting for it.

In March, the aldermen hired both Lacy and Ferguson to manage the operation of the golf course, swimming pool, and tennis courts. The city budgeted their pay at $1,000 per month each and both were provided the city’s healthcare insurance package, a $7,000 benefit to each of them.

Lacy has been the sole manager of the facilities since Ferguson left.

“As far as work hours, did he (Ferguson) work over there any during July?” asked Alderman Gayla Hendrix.

“No” replied City Administrator Hunter Hendrixson

“Did we pay him in July?” asked Alderman Hendrix

“Yes” answered Hendrixson

“When did we stop paying him?” asked Hendrix

“In July and his insurance terminated at the end of July. He was paid in July because we really weren’t for sure. He didn’t officially turn in his resignation until about the middle of July. He hadn’t been there probably for several weeks,” responded Hendrixson.

“If it (salary) was taken under false pretenses do we not have recourse?” asked Alderman Jacobs

“Are you saying did we pay somebody for work that wasn’t done?” asked Alderman Washer

“Yes” replied Alderman Jacobs

“I wasn’t sure how long he had been over there in July,” said City Administrator Hendrixson

“He (Ferguson) was for sure though” answered Alderman Jacobs

“Did we actually get a notice saying I quit?,” asked Alderman Washer

“Verbal in person” replied City Administrator Hendrixson.

Meanwhile the mayor and aldermen are planning to create a parks and recreation advisory board and eventually hire a parks director. Such a move would put the city in a better position to apply for and obtain parks and recreation grants

Meanwhile, the aldermen voted to hire Angela Wilkerson to fill in at the Animal Shelter while Director Megan Moore is on maternity leave. Wilkerson will be paid $12.00 per hour and fill the vacancy until Moore returns in about three months. Moore will not get paid while she is on maternity leave. A temporary employee, Wilkerson will not be entitled to city benefits. The city funds two full time positions at the animal shelter.

September 11, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

Three members of the DTC Communications Board of Directors will be elected Saturday during the annual meeting held at the DeKalb County Fairgrounds in Alexandria.

Bennie “Buck” Curtis of the Alexandria Exchange, Randy Campbell of the Liberty Exchange, and Ronnie Garrison of the Smithville Exchange are unopposed for new three year terms.

The meeting will be Saturday, September 15.  Voting will be by machine and the polling place will be open for voting from noon until 3 p.m. or until the last person in line at 3 p.m. has voted.

September 11, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

The Smithville Municipal Airport recently passed a state inspection with flying colors.

During Monday night’s monthly meeting, Airport Manager Joe Johnson reported to the mayor and alderman that the airport’s operation license has been renewed through December 31, 2019.

According to Johnson, a recent airport inspection by the Tennessee Department of Transportation found no violations at the airport.

“We got an airport inspection in August and I received on September 5^th our state airport license. I am proud of what we have done at the airport. We had no violations or state required corrections. I looked back at all of our old inspections and this is the first time out of all the old records that I could find where we didn’t have something (violations) that required corrections,” said Johnson.

The inspection report did note recommendations for painting the Beacon tower and replacing the wind sock which are slightly faded. Trees are also penetrating 34:1 approaches on runways 6 and 24.

Johnson said plans are underway to apply for grants to paint the Beacon tower and to remove obstructions in the glide paths. He said the wind sock has already been replaced.

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