City Establishes New Beer Ordinance

September 6, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A new ordinance regulating the sale of beer for off-premises consumption in Smithville may be enacted by next month.

Ordinance (City of Smithville)

During Thursday night’s regular monthly meeting, the Aldermen adopted an ordinance on first reading, which rescinds all provisions of previously adopted regulations and establishes a new Smithville Beer Ordinance. Second and final reading action will be held following a public hearing at the next meeting of the Mayor and Aldermen Monday, October 3 at 6 p.m. at city hall.

Many provisions in the new ordinance mirror existing regulations such as the 400 feet distance requirement between a business permitted to sell beer and a place of public gathering. Perhaps the biggest change is the implementation of the Tennessee Responsible Vendors Act, which was adopted by the state in 2006 that municipalities may also enact as part of city regulations for vendors permitted to sell beer.

To become compliant with this Act each vendor employee must complete a Responsible Vendor-training program. Once a person, corporation, or other entity has been issued a permit to sell beer for off-premises consumption by the city and has received certification by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission under the Tennessee Responsible Vendor Act, penalties for violations would be less severe than for those who don’t obtain the training and certification.

According to the proposed new ordinance, the Smithville Beer Board may impose on a Responsible Vendor a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 for each offense of making or permitting to be made any sales to minors or for any other offense. Under state law, the beer board shall not revoke or suspend the permit of a Responsible Vendor for a store clerk’s illegal sale of beer to a minor if the clerk is properly certified and has attended annual meetings since the clerk’s original certification unless his Certified Responsible Vendor status has been revoked by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission. However, the city must report the violation to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

“If the beer board determines that a clerk of an off-premises beer permit holder certified by the state sold beer to a minor, the beer board shall report the name of the clerk to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission within 15 days of determination of the sale. The certification of the clerk shall be invalid, and the clerk may not reapply for a new certificate for a period of one year from the date of the beer board’s determination,” according to the proposed new ordinance.

Nonparticipating clerks and businesses as Responsible Vendors could face license suspension or revocation or a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 for illegal sales to minors.

Under the proposed new ordinance, “The beer board may, at the time it imposes a revocation or suspension, offer a permit holder that is not a Responsible Vendor the alternative of paying a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 for each offense of making or permitting to be made any sales to minors, or a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 for any other offense”.

“If a civil penalty is offered as an alternative to revocation or suspension, the holder shall have seven days within which to pay the civil penalty before the revocation or suspension shall be imposed. If the civil penalty is paid within that time, the revocation or suspension shall be deemed withdrawn”.

Ordinance (City of Smithville)

September 5, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The 2022 DeKalb County High School Golf Teams are approaching tournament time.

The Girls’ team, led by sophomore, Alison Poss, is 8-8 on the season. Poss, who qualified for the Region Tournament last year as a freshman, has performed strong all season. Her nine hole average this year is a little over 41, as she continues her outstanding career. She is joined by freshman Emily Anderson, to make a strong twosome. They have their sights on the District Tournament, which will be played at the Golden Eagle Golf Course in Cookeville on Monday, September 19.

“I feel like Alison and Emily have a great chance at qualifying for the Region Tournament as a team, which is something that has not happened since I started coaching in 2016, “said DCHS Golf Coach John Pryor. “I feel like Alison has a shot at qualifying for the State Tournament. She is just an awesome kid and I enjoy working with her.”

The Boys’ team is led by junior, Brayden Summers, whose nine-hole average is just slightly over 43. He has combined with senior captain, Adan Ramirez, sophomores Seth Fuson and Ayden Sprague, and freshmen Bradley Hale, William Blair, Cooper Goodwin, and Jamison Troncoso, for a record of 4-16.

“Our boys’ team is pretty young, but they have shown great improvement and their future is bright,” said Coach Pryor. “These guys are so much fun to be around and I am really proud of them.”

The Golf Team has three more matches, September 6 against Monterey, September 12 against White County, and September 13 against Cannon County. Those matches are all at home, The Smithville Golf Club. The District Tournament will be on September 19 and the Region will be on September 26, both at the Golden Eagle Golf Club.

Coach Pryor is in his 7th season as coach, and has a new assistant coach, Luke Dycus.

September 5, 2022
By:

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce DeKalb County’s tourism numbers show a 30% increase from the previous year.

“We are beyond excited to receive this great news from the State of Tennessee,” said Chamber Director Suzanne Williams. ” The economic impact of tourism on DeKalb County is huge. It shows tourism activity, including indirect and induced impacts, supported $51.2 million in business sales in DeKalb County. Visitors directly generated $2.5 Million in state and local taxes, which is equivalent to $322 in tax savings for every DeKalb County household,” she said.

“A 30% increase is rare for any county,” Williams continued. “We are so blessed to have Center Hill Lake, Edgar Evins State Park, Appalachian Center for Craft, Caney Fork River, Harmony Lane Farm, Evins Mill, The Retreat at Center Hill Lake, RiverWatch and Smithville Golf Courses, The Burlap Room, The Harvester, 9 commercial marinas, restaurants, shops, nurseries, and all kinds of watercraft rentals. All the many diverse businesses that fuel our tourism revenues made this happen including our annual events such as the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival, DeKalb County Fair, Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour, and other local music and art events. Our small-town charm, friendly people, and scenic beauty make DeKalb County a desirable place to live, work, play, and raise a family and all these factors attract new visitors and keep many visitors coming back year after year,” she said.

Key Highlights from 2021 DeKalb County Travel and Tourism Report:
• $32.Million Direct Spending in DeKalb County
• $51.2 Million Total Business Sales in DeKalb County
• 343 Number of Tourism Jobs in DeKalb County
• $6.77 Million Direct Labor Income in DeKalb County
• $1.40 Million State Sales Tax paid by overnight tourists to the State
• $1.10 Million Local Taxes paid by overnight tourists to DeKalb County
• $322 Tax Relief per household in DeKalb County due to tourism

According to the report, on an average day in DeKalb County, visitor spending generated:
• $87,672 in daily expenditures
• $18,541 in daily labor income
• $3,842 in daily state taxes
• $3,015 in daily local taxes

DeKalb County continues to have the third highest tourism dollars in the Upper Cumberland region. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Mark Ezell announced that Tennessee tourism generated $24.2 billion in domestic and international travel spending in 2021, according to recently released economic impact data from U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics. It also marks the largest visitor spending nationally in Tennessee’s history. Travelers in Tennessee spend an estimated $66 million per day. Travel in Tennessee generated $1.9 billion in state and local tax revenue. Travel and tourism is also the third largest employer in the state.

The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development works with the Tennessee Tourism Committee, local convention and visitors’ bureaus, chambers of commerce, city and county leaders, tourism attractions and the hospitality industry in all 95 counties to inspire travel to the state.

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