County may spend state grant funds for repaving parking lots

February 25, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County plans to put its share of state direct appropriation grant money to good use.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the county commission will consider adopting a budget amendment to appropriate a portion of the county’s grant of $343,764 already received toward repaving the parking lots of the county complex, central dispatch/911 center, EMS, the county fire department’s main station, and repaving and repairing fences at county garbage collection convenience sites subject to funding. Based on estimates already received, the cost to repave the county complex parking lot could be $151,042 and $29,957 for the EMS parking lot under state bid pricing. Estimates will be received for the other identified projects.

Separate from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) funding, counties and cities across the state have received a direct state appropriation grant award for 2021-22 which allows the local governing bodies to determine the needs of that city or county that most need to be met. Expenditures should be non-recurring in nature, can potentially replace lost revenue, and do not have to be related to COVID-19. Funds are subject to review by the Comptroller of the Treasury.

During a committee of the whole meeting of the county commission Thursday night, County Mayor Tim Stribling said while it was first thought that there was no statutory deadline for spending the grant funds, he has learned that the grant awards must actually be claimed or committed to projects no later than June 30, 2022. Otherwise, any unspent balance of said appropriation shall revert to the state general fund.

State direct appropriation grant awards to the cities are as follows:
City of Smithville: $68,457
City of Alexandria: $26,072
City of Liberty: $18,610
City of Dowelltown: $19,398

February 24, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A man trapped in his pickup truck near Dowelltown due to rising flood waters from Smith Fork Creek has the DeKalb County Swiftwater Rescue Task Force to thank for coming to his aid Thursday afternoon.

The man apparently tried to drive his pickup truck through the swift water on Alexandria to Dismal Road at the bridge over Smith Fork Creek, but it was swept off the road and into a ditch. After receiving the call for help, members of the DeKalb County Swiftwater Rescue Task Force responded along with others including the Sheriff’s Department and DeKalb EMS.

According to Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad Captain Dusty Johnson, he and other members of the Swiftwater Rescue Task Force formed a human wedge as they walked through the flood waters to get to the man who was then carried from his truck to safety. Although not seriously injured, the man was transported by DeKalb EMS to the hospital.

Aside from training excises, Captain Johnson said this was the first actual emergency call for the Swiftwater Rescue Task Force since it was formed last year.

The task force, led by the Rescue Squad, also includes volunteers from the DeKalb County, Smithville and Alexandria Volunteer Fire Departments and others who are specially trained and equipped for swiftwater rescues.

February 24, 2022
By:

Fourteen members of the Tennessee House of Representatives got a glimpse of what life in a wheelchair is like firsthand as part of the Team ALeX “Spend a Day in My Wheels” challenge on Wednesday, Feb. 23.

The event, organized by State Rep. Clark Boyd, R-Lebanon, challenged the bipartisan group of lawmakers to spend their workday in a wheelchair. The goal was to help make the world more inclusive by raising awareness about the difficulties that individuals who use assistive mobility devices regularly face.

“This experience has given me a better understanding of the challenges that individuals with disabilities have to overcome every day,” Boyd said. “Everything from opening doors to navigating around my office became more difficult when I was in a wheelchair. I appreciate my colleagues for participating in this effort to raise awareness about the importance of accessibility for everyone.”

“Spend a Day in My Wheels” was the idea of 16-year-old Alex Johnson, a tenth grader at Friendship Christian School in Lebanon, who approached Boyd about hosting the challenge with some of his colleagues in the General Assembly. The first event was held on Capitol Hill in 2020, but was cancelled in 2021 due to the pandemic.

A rare skeletal disorder left Johnson dependent on a walker before later confining him to a wheelchair in elementary school. He developed the idea for the challenge while in fifth grade as a way to help his classmates experience the world from his perspective.

“Until you’re in this situation, you don’t really think about counters being just too high or hallways being narrow or bathrooms not really being accessible even though they are labeled as that,” Johnson said. “I hope that those who participated see that change needs to happen and hopefully help that go through.”

The Permobil Foundation in Lebanon partnered with Team ALeX to provide wheelchairs for the challenge.

Members of the Tennessee House of Representatives who participated in the event included: State Rep. Clark Boyd, R-Lebanon, House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, State Rep. Rebecca Alexander, R-Jonesborough, State Rep. Rush Bricken, R-Tullahoma, State Rep. Michele Carringer, R-Knoxville, State Rep. Jesse Chism, D-Memphis, State Rep. Tandy Darby, R-Greenfield, State Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Nashville, State Rep. Rusty Grills, R-Newbern, State Rep. Dan Howell, R-Cleveland, State Rep. Chris Hurt, R-Halls, State Rep. London Lamar, D-Memphis, State Rep. Chris Todd, R-Madison County and State Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville.

Clark Boyd represents House District 46 which includes all of Cannon and part of Wilson and DeKalb counties. He serves as chairman of the Business and Utilities Subcommittee and is also a member of the Banking and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee, Commerce Committee, Health Committee and Subcommittee, Transportation Committee and Subcommittee and the Joint Fiscal Review Committee.

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