Groundbreaking held for Police Department Construction Project

September 4, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Let the construction begin!

Following Friday evening’s meeting, the Smithville Mayor and Aldermen along with members of the Police Department and others held a groundbreaking for construction of a new police department building located on Don Cantrell Street across from city hall.

“This all started about two years ago when Matt Holmes (former police Lieutenant Detective) brought me a design. I liked it and took it before the City Council. They liked it and here we are,” said Mayor Josh Miller.

“This has been a long process but I want to say thanks for all the support of the mayor, council, and the community. This is long overdue for the City of Smithville. It’s a great compliment to our city. We have some fine officers. They want to work here. They are proud to live and work here and I am proud of them. They will also be proud of this building,” said Police Chief Mark Collins.

Before the groundbreaking, Police Chaplain Dwayne Cornelius offered a prayer.

“The construction now begins. It will start on or before September 15. Completion is 300 calendar days so that puts it at July 12, 2021. Hopefully they can get in it before the Fiddlers Jamboree starts next year,” said Wayne Oakley, owner of Studio Oakley Architects, LLC of Lebanon, the architect for the project.

“We’re excited to work with the City of Smithville and are hoping for a successful project,” said Mike Boyce, co-owner of Boyce Ballard Construction of Murfreesboro, the contractor. “We’re going to start doing some layout next week and get some erosion control measures in then we’ll be breaking ground and getting ready to start putting some foundations in,” said Ballard.

The facility will have a total roofed area of 12,800 square feet which includes a 1,400 square foot sally port. It is to encompass a front lobby, records clerk office, hallways, three holding cells, armory, conference and training rooms, offices for the chief, captain, detectives, and other officers, rooms for records, evidence, investigations, filing reports, locker room, electrical room, closets, restrooms, and break room.

Bonds have been issued for the project not to exceed $2.5 million.

The aldermen have authorized the mayor and city administrator to approve any change orders needed up to $10,000. Any change orders over that amount must receive approval by the Board of Aldermen.

September 4, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Local attorney Gayla Hendrix has been appointed by the Smithville Aldermen to succeed retiring Municipal Judge Hilton Conger. The term is for two years.

The appointment came during a meeting of the Mayor and Aldermen Friday evening at city hall. Aldermen Danny Washer, Jessica Higgins, and Shawn Jacobs voted in favor of Hendrix. Alderman Brandon Cox voted no. Alderman Jacobs could not attend but participated in the meeting via conference call.

Hendrix, an Aldermen herself at the time, had to abstain from voting on her own appointment. At the end of the meeting, Hendrix announced her resignation as Alderman. The only other candidate for the city judge position was local attorney Mingy Bryant-Ball. Both Hendrix and Ball had submitted resumes expressing an interest in the judgeship.

Retiring Smithville Municipal Judge Hilton Conger swears in his successor Gayla Hendrix from dwayne page on Vimeo.

After Mayor Josh Miller brought up the matter for discussion, Alderman Cox expressed concerns.

“We’re being asked, the sitting members of this board, to vote for or against a sitting member of the board for a position which that person may or may not be on the board anymore. Personally I don’t have anything against Ms Hendrix or Ms. Ball. I think both of them are great individuals and great attorneys and would do great in this position. I am really concerned about the appearance of fairness in this matter. The situation I just said out loud is not the hallmark of fairness. I understand we are working and proceeding under some advice on whether that is a conflict of interest or not. The response we got from that does not quell my concern about a conflict. I believe whether it be me or any other member of this board for a position like this that the most fair thing to do would be to resign before the vote or at the time of making the application. This has nothing to do with Ms. Hendrix. I respect her and I think she would do a great job and Ms Ball would do a great job. I just want to make sure my position is clear on what this is like. Personally its not a terribly comfortable position to be in when you are voting for or against a sitting member of this board,” said Alderman Cox.

After Cox’s comments, Alderman Washer moved that Hendrix be appointed City Judge. Alderman Higgins offered a second to the motion. During the roll call vote, Alderman Jacobs commented on his decision to vote for Hendrix.

“I just want everybody to know that I am personally and I think the board in general is taking this issue very seriously. It certainly is a very awkward position to be in. I feel both candidates are certainly qualified. I have known Gayla all my life. I graduated with her brother. I don’t know Mingy quite as well but her in-laws are as close to me as family almost. I am certainly very torn between these individuals and its extremely difficult for me to make a decision. This may be one of the two toughest decisions I have ever made as alderman so I want that to be clear. I also want it to be clear that this is a non partisan vote. It has nothing to do with Democrat or Republican and parties. Just as the city council is non partisan so is the city judge position. The one issue that bothers me and we have gotten a legal opinion on this from both MTAS (Municipal Technical Advisory Service) and our city attorney is that if we appointed Mrs. Ball that due to the fact that her stepson Lane Ball is a police officer she would have to recuse herself anytime he prosecuted a case before her. That is a major factor in my decision. It does not make my decision any easier. As a result of that legal opinion from both MTAS and our city attorney, I vote for Ms Hendrix,” said Alderman Jacobs.

In a previous interview with WJLE, Hendrix gave her background.

“I was born and raised in DeKalb County. I graduated from DCHS and went on to college at MTSU where I earned a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree in education. From there I went to Tennessee Tech University where I earned an Education Specialist degree. I later earned a degree from the Nashville School of Law. I am an attorney and formerly served as an educator in the DeKalb County School System. I also owned my own small business right off of the courthouse square for a couple of years,” she said.

Hendrix was first elected alderman in 2011. She served one term but returned to the Board of Aldermen in 2014.

Her vacancy on the Board of Aldermen will soon by filled by appointment of Mayor Miller.

Meanwhile, Mayor Miller presented Judge Conger a plaque for his 29 years of service to the city.

“It has certainly been an honor to serve in the capacity of city judge. I would like to thank the Boards of Mayor and Aldermen who have supported me. I served with four different mayors and several police chiefs and I couldn’t ask for better support from the police we have had. We are so blessed to live in a community where we don’t have to worry about things we see on TV happening here. I am thankful for the support we have had and I appreciate the opportunity,” said Judge Conger.

September 4, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Smithville Aldermen-elect Jessica Higgins and Danny Washer were sworn into office during Friday evening’s city council meeting at city hall.

Smithville Alderman Elect Jessica Higgins takes oath of office from City Attorney Vester Parsley from dwayne page on Vimeo.

Alderman Shawn Jacobs, who was unable to attend in person, participated in the meeting via conference call, but he will be sworn in at a later meeting. City Attorney Vester Parsley administered the oath to both Higgins and Washer separately.

Smithville Alderman Elect Danny Washer Takes Oath of Office from City Attorney Vester Parsley from dwayne page on Vimeo.

Higgins is beginning her first term as Alderman. She has never held elective office before. Washer was first elected Alderman in 2011. Jacobs has served as Alderman since 2009.

The terms are for four years.

The aldermen then confirmed the appointments of Mayor Josh Miller to various city boards. The vote was 4 to 1. Alderman Danny Washer voted no.

The appointments are as follows:

Vice Mayor and Commissioner of the Water and Sewer Department: Alderman Danny Washer

Commissioner of the Streets and Safety Department: Alderman Brandon Cox

Commissioner of the Police and Fire Departments: Alderman Shawn Jacobs

Commissioner of the Sanitation Department: Alderman Jessica Higgins

Commissioner of Finance: Alderman Gayla Hendrix. (Note- this appointment was made before Hendrix resigned as Aldermen after being appointed city judge)

Smithville Planning Commission: Citizen members Brandon Miller and Glen Nichols, Jr.

Smithville Board of Zoning Appeals: Dwayne Snow and Janie Knowles

Smithville Electric System Board: Hilton Conger reappointed to 4 year term.

In other business, the aldermen voted on second and final reading to adopt an ordinance to change the zoning classification of the Mark Wallace property on Miller Road from R-1 low density residential to C-1 local commercial.

The property, formerly known as Mark’s Body Shop, is located adjacent to City owned property where the water tower is located. Although Wallace ran a business for several years on his property, it was not zoned commercial, but residential. The property has now been sold and will be used for other commercial purposes.

Mayor Miller said the Smithville Planning Commission recently voted to recommend that the alderman change the zoning from R-1 to C-1.
 

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