Liberty Aldermen Deny Request to Place Public Safety Radio Tower Near Fire Station

November 6, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A new state funded public safety communications tower planned for the Liberty area will have to be erected somewhere else other than the proposed location at the Liberty Fire Station.

During a meeting Monday night, members of the Liberty town council voted against allowing the tower to be placed on the grounds of the Liberty Fire Station, which is jointly owned by both the towns of Liberty and Dowelltown but under a long-term lease with the county for use by the fire department and EMS. The tower was intended to improve currently unreliable emergency radio communication at no cost to either the county or city governments.

Although county officials say this particular site is not in the actual city limits of either Liberty or Dowelltown and not subject to city ordinances or restrictions, they sought the blessing of both city governments to move forward with this project. The Dowelltown Mayor and Aldermen reportedly had already met and given their approval.

Liberty Aldermen J.D Bratten, Ryan Dodd, Kevin Mullinax, Howard Reynolds Jr., and Kendra Stanford all voted no on the proposed tower location and with the request having been rejected, another suitable location will be sought out, even if it means perhaps the state working out a deal with a landowner on privately owned property in the Liberty area.

The Liberty mayor and members of the town council held a public meeting Saturday morning, October 19 to give residents a chance to learn more and speak out about the proposed tower.

Among those at the October 19 meeting to explain why the tower was needed were DeKalb 911 Director Brad Mullinax: Jeff Gray, Director of the Tennessee Advanced Communication Network, and County Mayor Matt Adcock. County Fire Chief Donny Green and EMS Director Trent Phipps were also at the meeting in support.

Gray explained that this proposal was not for a privately owned cell tower. Its strictly for public safety and was being proposed and to be funded and maintained by the Tennessee Advanced Communications (TACN) network intended to provide first responders the ability to better communicate locally and have additional coverage to talk on the radio with surrounding state communication towers during major events and disasters. In recent months the county began funding upgrades from its old analogue system to new state of the art portable, mobile and fixed radio transmission technology and it joined the Tennessee Advanced Communications Network (TACN) to eventually make the transition complete.

According to Gray, the state looks to place its towers on property already owned by either state or local governments and it tries to avoid making deals with private landowners or cell phone companies mainly due to unforeseen future costs.

“The first place we look at is state owned property and then county owned properties with a long-term lease and then private property but that comes with a challenge in potential ownership changes or cell tower compatibility. With an initial $2 million dollar investment per tower site, Gray explained that exploring other alternatives for tower location privately could become cost prohibitive over time.

“If Liberty says no we will have to look for another spot,” said Gray. “The challenge is we will have to find another spot with an equal height that allows us to look over the topography,” said Gray.

“We have never had good radio coverage in Liberty and Dowelltown so we started looking at ways to fix that with the TACN system,” said 911 Director Brad Mullinax. “ It is very important that we get a good public safety radio system. I am just asking for your consideration to approve this. It is much needed,” said Mullinax.

A few residents at the October 19 meeting, while acknowledging that better emergency radio communication is needed, said there should be more than one option to locate this tower.

“I think everybody here is in agreement that we need it. Its just where it goes. There is only one option on the table and that doesn’t make sense to me,” said one Liberty resident.

“I understand there is a need, but I would like to see what the other options are,” said another resident who lives near the proposed tower site. “Yes, its an eyesore. A 300-foot tower is huge. I already have one in my back yard and now I could have one in my front yard. I’ll be sandwiched in between the two towers. As an investment, a lot of people now don’t like seeing a (tower close by) and you can’t give property away with two towers setting like this, but I know lives are more important,” he said.

“We are for the tower but if you built a house on this property and a tower goes up next to it that’s not what you expected futuristically down the road, you have questions and we have lived in Liberty our whole life,” added another concerned resident.

One woman, who lives near the Liberty Fire Station, said she had no problem with a new tower being erected close to her home.

“I live right in front of the fire department and have lived here for almost 43 years. I don’t understand what the big deal is about the tower. It is needed. The communication down here has been sorry for years. This tower is going to go in my front door. I’m for the change. If that tower is going to change things for your emergency people, they need it,” she said.

November 6, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Former President Donald Trump is returning to the White House, the second president in U.S. history to serve non-consecutive terms. The first was Grover Cleveland, who did two stints in the White House from 1885-1889 and 1893-1897.

In the election on Tuesday, Trump, a Republican, swept all 12 precincts in DeKalb County and had a majority of the early votes and absentees over his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris. Trump carried DeKalb County 7,599 (80.70%) to 1,706 for Harris (18.12%).

The DeKalb County turnout in this election was a record breaker at 9,483 out of 14,085 registered voters. A total of 3,058 voted on election day, 6,111 cast ballots during early voting and there were 314 paper absentees.

Meanwhile the Republican incumbents on the ballot were re-elected including US Senator Marsha Blackburn, 6th District Congressman John Rose, 16th District State Senator Janice Bowling, and 40th District State Representative Michael Hale.

In DeKalb County Blackburn defeated Democrat Gloria Johnson 7,137 (78.92%) to 1,707 (18.88%). Blackburn carried all 12 precincts and had a majority of the early votes and absentees. Statewide Blackburn was re-elected with 1,913,691 votes to Johnson’s 1, 019,805 votes.

Congressman John Rose beat Democrat Lore Bergman in DeKalb County 7,001 (82.24%) to 1,505 (17.68%). Rose swept all 12 precincts and had a majority of the early voting and absentees. In the 6th district Rose was re-elected with 225,430 votes to 106,050 for Bergman.

State Senator Janice Bowling was re-elected in the 16th district beating Democrat Wayne Steele and Independent Scott Bean. District-wide Bowling had 66, 312 to Steele’s 15,909 and Bean received 5,098 votes. In DeKalb County Bowling won with 6,614 (80.13%) to 1,421 (17.22%) for Steele and 218 (2.84%) for Bean. Bowling won all 12 precincts in DeKalb County and had a majority of the early votes and absentees.

State Representative Michael Hale won a second term beating Daniel Hawthorne district-wide 25,270 to 4,907. In DeKalb County, Hale received 7,462 votes (84.86%) to Hawthorne’s 1,316 (14.97%). Hale swept all 12 precincts locally and had a majority of the early votes and absentees.

November 5, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County voters soundly defeated two referendums on the ballot in Tuesday’s election regarding a proposed $50 wheel tax and the issuance of general obligation bonds not to exceed $65 million for a judicial center/jail.

On the wheel tax question, the total vote was 1,477 in favor (16.29%) and 7,591 against (83.71%). The wheel tax was rejected by a majority of voters in all twelve precincts as well as in the absentee/early voting numbers.

The referendum on the issuance of bonds failed with 1,314 in favor (14.99%) and 7,451 against (85.01%). Again, a majority of voters in all 12 precincts were opposed along with the absentee/early voting numbers.

Had it been approved, the revenue raised from the wheel tax would have offset somewhat the 51-cent tax increase for debt service (in support of the judicial center/jail) and brought the property tax hike for debt service next year (2025-26) down from 51 cents to 33 cents.

County Mayor Matt Adcock told WJLE Tuesday night after the results were announced that the jail committee of the county commission will convene Thursday night, November 7 at 6 p.m. in the history room of the county complex to discuss options going forward in addressing issues with the jail while maintaining a plan of action to keep the jail certified.

“Now that we know the results and what the people want we are going back to the drawing board. We have already anticipated needing another meeting and we have scheduled that on Thursday night. Deputy Director Bob Bass from the Tennessee Corrections Institute will be there to guide us as we try to come up with a new set of plans or something that could still work for DeKalb County. I know there were several other options that were on the table before going with a 190-bed justice center. Maybe we can step back and look at that and if there are any new ideas a commissioner brings up we could look at that also so we will be discussing that in this meeting,” said County Mayor Adcock.

For months, DeKalb County has been under a plan of action with TCI to keep the jail certified as it works toward a solution with some type of building program. In August, 2023, TCI informed Sheriff Patrick Ray that the number of state certifiable beds at the jail was being reduced from 102 to 52. Since then, Sheriff Ray has been housing inmates in other jails which has become costly to the county.

In June the county commission adopted a resolution for the issuance of bonds not to exceed $65 million for construction of a 190-bed judicial center/jail although it did not settle on a proposed location for such construction.

Following passage of the bond resolution, a successful petition drive was organized under the name DeKalb Citizens for Responsible Taxation forcing a public referendum.

Dennis Stanley, treasurer for DCRT, issued a statement after the vote on Tuesday.

“We want to thank the voters for expressing their opinions on the General Obligation Bond for a Justice Center and Jail. You let your voices be heard loud and clear and your participation was vital,” said Stanley.

“While we hope your decision resonates with the county commission, the battle isn’t over and it remains imperative you continue to attend government meetings, continue to voice your thoughts to your county commissioners, and keep a close eye on the actions of the commission”.

“Tennessee law allows voters to force general obligation bonds to a referendum. You did that. As a result, the Tennessee Corrections Institute (TCI) should not punish the DeKalb County Government for its citizens following a state law. Instead, TCI should give the county government a reasonable extension to come up with a new plan to solve jail deficiencies. And remember, there is a difference between solving the jail problem and building a justice center. TCI does not require a justice center it only requires a jail meet certain standards. If TCI wants to take the step of de-certifying our county jail, that does not mean DeKalb County has to build a justice center,” said Stanley.

“We are prepared to continue this fight, if necessary, for fair taxation and accountable spending”.

“Again, we ask you to help us keep up the fight and maintain open dialogue with your county leaders,” added Stanley.

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