Board of Education to Meet Tonight (Thursday) at DeKalb West School

March 14, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Will they, or won’t they?

Last month the Board of Education had planned to discuss and possibly act on whether to grant the county’s request for $2 million from the school system’s fund balance reserves to help fund construction of a new 800 student Pre-K to 2nd grade school to replace the existing Smithville Elementary complex. But since not all seven members were in attendance at the meeting, the board voted to postpone any action until all seven members could be present. Board members absent were Jason Miller and Eric Ervin.

The issue is back on the agenda for Thursday night’s regular monthly meeting, March 14 at 7 p.m. to be held at DeKalb West School. A work session will be held prior to the meeting at 6 p.m.

The agenda is as follows:

Public Comments Period concerning issues on the agenda.

Consider and act on the County’s request for $2 million.

Consider and act on Board Policy 4.205-1st Reading.

Personnel report from Director of Schools

Any other business properly brought before the board by a board member.

Consent agenda items

Approval of General Purpose budget amendment- (ISM, SPARC, SPED High Cost)

Approval of budget amendment-142-ESSER, 3.0

Approval of DCHS Jr, Chef attending the TN State Farm Competition March 7& 8 at Nashville State Community College Campus. (Executive Action Taken)

Approval of DeKalb Middle School applying for a grant-Health Built Environment (Playground)

Approval of World Vision using DeKalb West Campus as start/end for a 6K Run.

March 14, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A former DeKalb County Landfill employee, charged with fraudulent use of a credit card for allegedly using a county government fuel card for personal use, was sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court Tuesday, March 12.

55-year-old Mark Randall (Truck) Robinson entered a plea to the charge and received a sentence of two years all suspended to supervised probation. He must make restitution to DeKalb County of $2,443.
The case was investigated by the Smithville Police Department.

According to the arrest warrant, “Mark Robinson did use the DeKalb County Government gas card to fill his personal vehicle with gasoline. Mr. Robinson was employed by the DeKalb County landfill. Mr Robinson used the card multiple times. The first offense was on June 21, 2021 to the last offense September 11, 2022. The total amount of gasoline taken was $2,962.66. Mr. Robinson did not have consent to use the gas card for personal use. This offense did occur in Smithville,” the warrant stated.

Robinson was terminated after the incident was discovered.

Meanwhile, 46 year old Robert Jason Francis entered a plea by criminal information to possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. He received an eight-year sentence but will be on supervised probation. He must forfeit his firearm. Francis was also fined $2,000. He was given jail credit of 80 days.

Francis was one of two people found with methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and weapons during a traffic stop Friday, December 22, 2023.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on December 22 a deputy pulled over a purple Ford Ranger for failing to maintain its lane of travel. Both Francis and 45-year-old Rachel Lynn Spurlock were in the vehicle. During a search, the officer found 8.52 grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine along with four glass pipes with residue, two straws with residue, a spoon, two scales, and 25 small baggies. Francis had in his possession two- 22 caliber revolvers and a 22-caliber long rifle. The officer also found seven white rectangular pills and a clear baggie believed to be Tramadol in Francis’ possession.

Spurlock’s case apparently remains pending in court.

March 13, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

The Smithville Mayor and Aldermen on Monday, April 1 will consider first reading action on proposed ordinance 523 to rezone 10.8 acres of property adjacent to Walmart from R-1 residential to C-1 commercial. The property belongs to Sullivan Walter Homes, LLC.

(Click PDF link below for larger view of plat)

https://wjle.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/SullivanPartialReZone.pdf

The site is located from West Broad Street by the entrance to Walmart on the north side extending to the southwest corner of the Walmart property on the south side. On the west side, the site is near other properties including a portion of Oakhaven Subdivision.

Tonya Sullivan explained that while Sullivan Walter Homes, LLC owns the entire 45-acre property in that area (zoned R-1 residential), the request is to only rezone a portion, 10.8 acres of the property to C-1 commercial. According to Sullivan, a portion at the front of the site (near West Broad Street) is already zoned C-1 commercial.

“We are trying to go back even with Walmart . The rest would remain for future housing development,” said Sullivan.

The mayor and aldermen will conduct a public hearing on the proposed 523 ordinance rezoning on Monday, April 1 at 6 p.m. at city hall.

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