DeKalb Schools Get Grant to Beef Up Security

October 23, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County School District has been awarded $83,570 in grant funding from the state dedicated to school security.

Gov. Bill Haslam has announced all 147 school districts in Tennessee including DeKalb County have completed a first-ever statewide assessment of school facilities and safety procedures.

Haslam and Commissioner of Education Candice McQueen said that those schools will now receive allocations from a $35 million fund for school security.

The money will be used to fund security and safety needs identified by the schools in the assessment, including enhanced door locks, shatter-resistant glass and funding salaries for school counselors and child psychologists.

In DeKalb County the money will be used to purchase more surveillance cameras at all schools to monitor activity inside and outside the buildings; school staff will be provided with more walkie talkies for better communication; safety sphere bollards will be placed near entrances to the elementary schools as barriers to prevent anyone from using an automobile to crash into the front of the buildings; and at the high school a card swipe reader entry system will soon be installed.

Participating in the schools assessments locally were Director Patrick Cripps, Federal Programs Supervisor Dr. Danielle Collins, Attendance Supervisor Joey Reeder, Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins, Sheriff Patrick Ray, Smithville Fire Chief and Emergency Management Agency Director Charlie Parker, and Alexandria Police Chief Chris Russell.

All schools in the state were eligible to apply for two grants from the school security funding.

Separately, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security is currently working to develop a statewide school safety mobile app to allow students, faculty and others to anonymously report suspicious behavior.

October 23, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

The 911 Emergency Communications District has three new board members

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, County Mayor Tim Stribling announced to the county commission that he was appointing Sixth District Commissioner Jeff Barnes and Second District Commissioner Sabrina Farler to the board along with Smithville Alderman Brandon Cox, who is the city’s representative on the Board.

Fourth District Commissioner Scott Little moved that the commission support Stiblings appointments. First District member Julie Young offered a second to the motion. The commission signaled its approval on a voice vote.

In a letter to County Mayor Stribling, the 911 board had requested that former County Commissioner Wayne Cantrell be appointed as a citizen member along with Cox and Farler. But Stribling said he felt the county commission needed more representation on the board.

“In the past on the Emergency Communications District Board, we have had several commissioners on there. At one time we had four or five, which is probably too many, but I think with what we (county) contribute to the communications district including the building and the insurance, I would like to see us have another commissioner on the board. I would like to appoint, Brandon Cox, Sabrina Farler, and Jeff Barnes. Both Farler and Barnes will represent the county commission on the 911 board.

October 23, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss is going to get another  full time employee in his office.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the county commission voted 13-1 to approve the budget committee’s recommendation that Poss’ request for a budget amendment in the amount of $15,896 be adopted to make a part time position full time for the pay period October 29, 2018 to June 30, 2019. The funds will be taken from the county’s fund balance (cash reserves) to pay for it. This will give County Clerk Poss a total of four full time employees in his office in addition to himself.

Before the vote, Fifth District Commissioner Jerry Adcock, who is also a member of the Budget Committee moved that Poss’ request be delayed until at least next spring. He said funding requests for additional employees in county offices during the year, after the budget has been set,  is setting a bad precedent

“Mr Chairman I would like to make a motion that we delay this until the budget meetings we have in the spring. We do not know what we are going to have. We don’t know what the schools are going to offer or anybody else. We’re going to be setting a precedent that anybody from any department who walks in here anytime during the year and asks for something that we’re going to have to have a meeting,” said Adcock.

The motion died for the lack of a second.

Adcock then called out County Mayor Tim Stribling saying he did not give adequate public notice of last week’s budget committee meeting.

“I would also like to point out that you sent emails to us all on the budget committee, correct?. Was the newspaper and radio notified?, asked Adcock

“Yes”, responded Stribling.

“The consensus is according to Ben Rogers (County Technical Advisory Service) is 10 days (notice) before (meeting)

“It just says reasonable notice,” answered County Attorney Hilton Conger

First District Commissioner Dennis Slager moved that the new employee position and budget amendment be approved. Sixth District Commissioner Matt Adcock offered a second to the motion. All but Jerry Adcock voted in favor.

During last week’s budget committee meeting, County Clerk Poss said the workload in his office has increased over the last four years with more services added to better accommodate the public and the county has benefitted from the increased revenues those services have generated.

“For example in 2013 three thousand titles were produced in DeKalb County. As of December this year we’re expected to hit near 14,000 new titles produced in this county, creating a revenue difference going from $20,000 in 2013 to $120,000 in 2018. That is a substantial increase in title production and that is going to continue bringing in more money for the county,” he said.

Poss said overall his office has consistently collected more fees than budget projections each year.

“In four years since beginning 2014 to 2018 our office has been above projections every year. We’re just shy of $100,000 above projections of fees in a four year period and we have been up every year in total annual receipts since 2014. In just the last two years we have had an increase of $285,000 from the year 2014-15 to 2016-17. We are averaging $20,000 a month in excess fees to the Trustee. I would not be here if there was not a real need but my office needs the employee to do the amount of work we are doing,” said County Clerk Poss.

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