Proposed Bond Resolution for Judicial Center (If Adopted) May Include Funding for Fire Truck and Ambulances

May 17, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

If or when the county budget committee asks the county commission to adopt a bond resolution to build a judicial center the project description may be broadened to include expenditures for possibly a new fire truck and two new ambulances.

During its meeting on Tuesday night, the budget committee voted 4 to 2 against forwarding a recommendation to the commission to adopt a bond resolution not to exceed $65 million for the construction of a judicial center at this time. But before that vote, the budget committee voted unanimously to include in the bond resolution a total of $910,000 ($425,000 for a new fire truck and a total of $485,000 for two new ambulances) to be funded from any excess proceeds or interest income from the bonds.

The reason for the move was to keep from having to spend so much from the county’s capital projects budget in 2024-25. That fund is designated for capital outlay expenditures such as building improvements and purchases of county vehicles, etc.

Steve Bates, the county’s fiscal agent/financial advisor, warned the budget committee that if all the capital projects funding requests were left in the budget for 2024-25, the fund would be “going into cash” (reserves) by $1,087,873.

To avoid that, Bates suggested that the fire truck and ambulances be funded in the bond resolution along with construction of the judicial center. That would remove a total of $910,000 in spending from the capital projects fund along with cuts of $184,890 for EMS sleeping quarters and a generator for the new Liberty Fire Hall which are not being funded. That puts the total 2024-25 capital projects expenditures at $1,518,158 with revenues exceeding spending by $7,017 for the year and a projected fund balance of $1,660,974 by June 30, 2025.

“You might want to consider taking some of these expenditures out of capital projects and adding them within the bond resolution in the event you don’t need all the money you are going to borrow for this judicial center,” said Bates. “I think we will earn enough interest income and to the extent you have some monies left over you might be able to pick up these costs without taking this (capital projects fund) into cash. You would leave the project description in the bond resolution broad enough to capture anything you would have had to deplete your cash for just as a back-up. If there should not be enough money left over, we could always come back and amend the budget and put it back into capital projects. The bond resolution project description can be for construction of the judicial center, county buildings, and emergency response vehicles,” said Bates.

Again, the budget committee Tuesday night, voted 4 to 2 not to forward to the county commission a recommendation for adoption of a bond resolution for the judicial center and other projects at this time.

Other capital projects funding requests remaining in the proposed 2024-25 budget (yet to be approved) include the following:

*Another $100,000 in seed money for the future development of a new public safety building to house a fire truck in the Wolf Creek community putting the total amount of seed money set aside at $250,000

*$640,000 for 75 new county fire department portable radios under the new Tennessee Advanced Communications Network (TACN) system should the county’s regional application for funding through the FEMA Assistance to Firefighter Grant not be approved.

*Four new sheriff’s department patrol cars totaling $165,000.

*9,964 for the cost of purchasing and installing a new mobile radio for an ambulance being bid out this year.

*67,142 local grant match for an ambulance funded by a Community Development Block Grant

May 17, 2024
By: Bill Conger

DeKalb West School recognized the 8th grade class in a special ceremony Thursday morning in the gym. Named to the All A Honor Roll for the school year were Camille Barton, Andrew Cook, Autumn Crook, Carson Davis, Sophie Desimone, Katie Beth Swearinger, and Jaiden Tramel. Students who made the A & B Honor Roll for the year are Domminic Williamson, Zoe Webster, Mary Elizabeth Vaughn, Kawasi Troyer, Zoey Skeen, Khalia Shabazz, Ellie Ray, Bella Ramirez, Brayden Neal, Lucy Moore, Jackson Lattimore, William Johnson, Porter Hancock, and Mia Bell.

Academic awards were presented to the following students: English Language Arts (ELA)—Andrew Cook with a 97.25 average in Mrs. Bratten’s homeroom and Jaiden Tramel with a 96.75 in Mr. Blair’s homeroom; Katie Beth Swearinger had the highest grade in Algebra I with a 97.25; in Math from Bratten’s homeroom, Camille Barton earned a 94 and Sophie Desimone scored a 94 in Blair’s homeroom; Barton also had the highest grade in History from Bratten’s homeroom with a 97.25 and Swearinger with a 98.75 in Blair’s room; Autumn Crook won the Science award in Bratten’s class with a 97.25, and with a 95, Swearinger earned the Science award in Blair’s class.

Students who had the highest Grade Point Average (GPA) from 6th through 8th grade were honored. The Top 5 ranked in order are Autumn Crook with a 3.795, Katie Beth Swearinger with a 3.759, Jaiden Tramel with a 3.637, Drew Cook with a 3.598, and Millie Barton with a 3.550.

Earning the “Making Tracks (Most Improved)” were Jazmine Caraveo in Bratten’s homeroom and Atlas Hornsby from Mr. Blair’s homeroom. The Citizenship awards were presented to Aiden Alconcel-Harris and Autumn Crook in Bratten’s homeroom and from Blair’s homeroom, Cash Dotson and Sophie Desimone. The 4 Paws Award was presented to Carson Davis in Bratten’s homeroom and Katie Beth Swearinger in Blair’s homeroom.

The West School “Wags” awards from the activity teachers went to Pixi Willingham and Millie Barton for Computer, Porter Hancock and Mia Bell for PE, Atlas Hornsby and Mia Bell for Library, Ava Melton and Adin Hernandez for Music and Zoey Skeen and Bella Ramirez for Guidance.

The Mrs. Sabrina Farler Principal’s Award was presented to Jaiden Tramel for the most yearly Accelerated Reader points. She earned 519.1. Tramel along with Ava Melton and Kawasi Troyer were the Top 8th grade readers. Tramel received a $10 gift certificate for 800 AR points, the 1,000 point plaque too for AR points during her entire time at DWS, and a personalized duffle bag for 1,250 points. Sophie Desimone earned 600 points, Millie Barton and Jackson Lattimore were presented with an AR plague for earning 500 AR points.

Junior Beta students also were recognized for the service hours earned. Katie Beth Swearinger had the most hours in 8th grade with 55.75, and Lucy Moore had the most hours earned for an 8th grader since joining with 136.75. Junior Betas also recognized for earning at least the 10 required hours for this school year are Millie Barton, Drew Cook, Autumn Crook, Carson Davis, Sophie Desimone, Porter Hancock, Lucy Moore, Zoey Skeen, and Jaiden Tramel.

Students recognized from Mr. Blair’s homeroom are Treneisha Boykin, Sophie Desimone, Cashmon Dotson, Aleigha Doyle, Porter Hancock, Adin Hernandez, Katie Holland, Serenity Hooper, Atlas Hornsby, Jaylenn Marsh, Lucy Moore, Brayden Neal, Khalia Shabazz, Zoey Skeen, Joseph Smebak, Kaitlyn Swearinger, Jaiden Tramel, Wyatt Tyree, Akacia Walker, Domminic Williamson, and Pixi Willingham.

Students recognized from Mrs. Bratten’s homeroom are Aiden Alconcel-Harris, Camille Barton, Mia Bell, Alleigh Cantrelle, Jazmine Caraveo, Drew Cook, Autumn Crook, Carson Davis, Max Hendrixson, William Johnson, Jackson Lattimore, Lucas Light, Lance Martin, Ava Melton, Nautica Pegram, Izabella Ramirez, Ellie Ray, Kawasi Troyer, Mary Vaughn, and Zoe Webster.

May 17, 2024
By: Bill Conger

It’s an amazing accomplishment for a student to make it through the school year without missing a single day, but several DeKalb West School students can claim bragging rights for doing just that. In fact, DWS Principal Sabrina Farler announced 13 students on May 14 that were at school every single day on time and never left early.

8th grader Autumn Crook picked up her 7th Perfect Attendance Award. She only has missed two days due to sickness during her entire school career.

“My mom wouldn’t let me skip,” Autumn said. “That was a very adamant goal for her,” she added, laughing.

“I made sure she’s at school on time,” Jana Crook said. “It’s very important because you learn that work ethic early and that will take you far in life.”

7th grader Maddux Pyburn has earned the Perfect Attendance Award for 3 years. His mother Kelly Pyburn, a 20-year teaching veteran and DWS P.E. Teacher and Coach says she sets high expectations for her children. And Maddux listens, especially when the prize is $50 along with the certificate of accomplishment.

“Well, I’ve tried to play hooky,” Maddux admits, “but my momma won’t let me. She tells me to suck it up and go to school. It is what it is. Fifty bucks for fishing lures!”

His sister, Marley Pyburn, a 3rd grader, has never missed a day the last 3 years. 5th grader Karson Mullinax has earned Perfect Attendance for 5 years and his brother, Kaden, a 7th grader, has picked up the award for the last 4 years.

“I tried not to miss,” Kaden Mullinax said. “With all the make-up work that I would have to do from missing, I’d have to do two days’ work in one day.”

7th grader Adam Brown has earned the Perfect Attendance Award for 2 years while 4th grader Mary Moore and her brother, 1st grader Oliver were presented with the Perfect Attendance award for the first time. Sisters Karlee and Kylie Pierce earned the Perfect Attendance award this year as did Jude Sebolt, Bobby Smith, and Chael Willingham.

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