Committee to Consider Pros and Cons of Implementing County Powers Act

September 8, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Is it time for the county to renew an effort considered last year to establish regulations under the “County Powers Act” for oversight in the development of certain land uses?

The Health Education and Public Welfare Committee of the County Commission will meet to discuss the pros and cons on Monday, September 16 at 6 p.m. in the lower courtroom of the courthouse.

Outside the four cities, the county currently has no zoning or other regulatory authority to prohibit, limit, or oversee development of any land uses including for quarries, cell towers, pallet yards, junk yards, chicken farms, etc.?

The issue was raised last summer when residents on Nikki Lane off Highway 70 east in the Midway Community came to the county commission complaining about having to put up with the stinky, unsightly and unsanitary condition of a neighbor’s unkempt property. The residents wanted something done about it but there was little the county could do without regulatory power. At the same meeting, the commission learned of a business on Highway 53 at Liberty which at that time had been conducting a regular burning of wooden pallets sending plumes of smoke into the air for hours. In one case, heat from the fire damaged utility lines and the thick smoke spread throughout the community affecting residents and livestock.

Because of those complaints, the county commission entertained the idea of adopting the “County Powers Act” but when it came time to act, the commission voted 8-6 to remove it from the agenda. That was in August, 2023.

To enact the “County Powers Act”, the county commission must adopt a resolution by two thirds vote as well as a resolution to establish and enforce regulatory standards regarding health and safety conditions of residential and non-residential properties within the confines of DeKalb County outside the boundaries of the municipalities which already have codes and ordinances.

The “County Powers Act” issue had not been addressed since last August until residents in the Snow Hill Community recently discovered that a rock quarry operation had moved into the neighborhood without their knowledge and came to the county commission last month to complain about it. Last week, residents in the Liberty and Alexandria area learned that another company is planning to develop a rock quarry in their neighborhood.

The idea behind the “County Powers Act” is to prevent or eliminate dangerous and or unsanitary conditions resulting from overgrown vegetation, accumulation of debris, trash, litter, and garbage, or the presence of vacant dilapidated buildings or structures. Although DeKalb County currently has no zoning regulations in place, the “County Powers Act” gives counties, without establishing zoning, the authority to set and enforce standards for county property owners with respect to nuisances and other practices deemed detrimental to their neighbors.

However, according to the County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS) website, there are limitations under the “County Powers Act”.

“The law exempts certain businesses and practices from regulation. The powers conferred upon counties by T.C.A. § 5-1-118(c) do not apply to the following activities which are regulated under other provisions of general law: sale of beer and alcoholic beverages; wholesale of beer; surface mining; production of oil and gas; activities covered by environmental protection laws and regulations dealing with air pollution, atomic energy, solid waste disposal and management, landfills, hazardous waste management, petroleum underground storage, oil spill cleanup, dry-cleaning, water, wastewater and sewerage; water management; wells; and dams. Additionally, T.C.A. § 5-1-118(b) provides that counties may not use these powers to prohibit or regulate normal agricultural activities”.

Still, residents with concerns want the county to do something.

“If county government doesn’t yet have the will to embrace zoning, I urge you to reconsider the County Powers Act as a means of establishing and enforcing standards to protect residents in this county and against exploitation and nuisances in the future,” said Michael Antoniak, a resident of the Snow Hill community during last month’s county commission meeting. “I believe adopting the County Powers Act would be a good and necessary first step and I urge you on behalf of all my neighbors to revisit this,” he said.

September 7, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

The 2024 Homecoming Queen at DeKalb County High School is Ansley Caroline Crook.

The announcement was made Friday at DCHS. Homecoming Spirit Week Activities will be September 9-13 including a Homecoming Parade on Friday, September 13 from the school to downtown and the DCHS Homecoming Football Game against Watertown Friday night, September 13 at 7 p.m.

A senior, Crook is the 17-year-old daughter of Jacob and Kim Crook.

Crook’s club participation and active memberships are as follows: HOSA, FBLA, BETA- Vice President, Service Society, SGA-Class Treasurer, Science Club, and Spanish Club.

Athletic Participation: Basketball-2 years, Football Cheer-3 years, Competitive Basketball Cheer-2 years, and Baseball Manager-4 years.

Accomplishments/Awards: Pin it Forward Award at NCA Cheer Camp, All American at UCA Cheer Camp in 2023

Other information (Church and Community Involvement): Member of the Upper Helton Baptist Church Youth Group and she attends the Memorial Baptist Church.

The Homecoming Attendants are:

*Senior Attendant –Sara Grace Moore, 17-year-old daughter of Chris and Holly Moore.

Moore’s club participation and active memberships are as follows: FBLA, Spanish, Service Society, Student Government Association, FCA, and HOSA Club.

Athletic Participation: Cheerleading and Competitive Cheer for Basketball for 4 years.

Accomplishments/Awards: Sara’s awards for cheer have been Best Attitude, Exceptional Flyer, Hardest Worker, Most Improved, Most Responsible, Best Stunts, and the Citizenship Award.

Other information (Church and Community Involvement): Sara attends the Smithville Church of God where her dad is pastor. She is actively involved with her youth group. Sara also is active with outreach programs for the community including at DCHS. She has her CNA certification and works at NHC. Sara plans to attend Tennessee Tech University to major as a registered nurse, working in labor and delivery.

*Senior Attendant – Laurie Rigsby, the 18-year-old daughter of Kevin and Bethany Rigsby.

Rigsby’s club participation and active memberships are as follows: BETA, FBLA, Science, and Service Society.

Athletic Participation: Basketball

Accomplishments/Awards: 4.0 grade point average/Honor Roll.

Other information (Church and Community Involvement): FBC Youth.

*Junior Attendant- Brooklynn Blaylock, 16-year-old daughter of Kortny Blaylock and the late Eric Blaylock.

Athletic Participation: Football Cheerleader for 3 years in high school and 3 years in middle school. She was involved with All-Star Cheerleading for 5 years.

Accomplishments/Awards: She received the Pin it Forward award this year at Cheer Camp for Leadership Skills.

Other information (Church and Community Involvement): She is a member of the Mount Hope The Baptist Church

*Sophomore Attendant- Jaycee Daley, the 15-year-old daughter of Megan Linder.

Daley’s club participation and active memberships are as follows: HOSA, Spanish, SGA, BETA, Science, and FBLA Clubs.

Athletic Participation: Basketball Cheerleader.

Accomplishments/Awards: Secretary of the Sophomore Class.

Other information (Church and Community Involvement): Smithville First Baptist Church volunteering at the FBC Cafe.

*Freshman Attendant- Summer Garrett, the 14-year-old daughter of Claire Garrett

Garrett is a member of the FBLA Club.

Athletic Participation: Football Manager.

She is part of the Refuge Church Youth Group, and she enjoys spending time with friends and family

Homecoming Events Friday, September 13, 2024

7:00-7:40 a.m.: All vehicles in parade are checked in and parked in the parking area.

7:45-9:00 a.m.: All students should be in HR at this time. Scavenger hunt videos will be shown.

8:15 a.m.: Bands perform for DeKalb Middle School at DCHS.

8:15-9:00 a.m.: All drivers will decorate cars and floats

9:05-9:50 a.m.: Students in Gymnasium for Mini Games

9:55-12:00 noon: Students in 4th block class.

10:00 a.m.: Band performs at Smithville Elementary.

10:10-12:00 noon: Lunch periods- 1st lunch 10:10 to 10:35 a.m., 2nd lunch 10:37 to 11:02 a.m., 3rd lunch

11:04 to 11:29 a.m., and 4th lunch 11:31 to 12:00 noon.

12:00 p.m.: Parade lines up.

12:30 p.m.: Parade leaves DCHS. Remaining students will line up in front of the cafeteria

12:30 p.m.: Band performs at Northside Elementary.

12:40-2:45 p.m. Remaining students remain in the cafeteria, teachers at school rotate duty watching students

1:00 p.m.: Parade arrives at Smithville Elementary School.

1:20 p.m.: Parade arrives at Northside Elementary School. Band leads parade from Northside Elementary.

1:40 p.m.: Parade arrives at the square. Pep rally and band performance on the square.

September 7, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Tigers won the region opener Friday night and extended their winning streak over Livingston Academy to five games with a 42-8 victory on the road.

Quarterback Jordan Parker threw for two touchdowns in the game to Ryan Lyons while scoring two himself and Cecil Ketchum rushed for a pair of TD’s. The Tiger defense also stood out giving up only one score.

With the win, the Tigers are now 5-0 over the Wildcats since 2020. The last LA victory over the Tigers was in 2019. It was the first Tiger win at Livingston since 1994.

The Wildcats took the lead with 6:34 left in the 1st period on a 3-yard touchdown run by Jaxon Boles, capping a 66-yard drive. Boles then scored on the 2-point conversion to give LA an 8-0 advantage.

It was all Tigers from that point on.

Quarterback Jordan Parker found Ryan Lyons on a pass that covered 27 yards for a touchdown with 2 minutes left in the opening period. Parker kept the ball for the 2-point conversion and the game was tied 8-8.

DeKalb County grabbed the lead with 9:55 left in the 2nd period on a 15-yard keeper by Parker. The 2-point conversion attempt was stopped but the Tigers were up 14-8.

Cecil Ketchum scored the first of his two TDs of the night on a 62-yard scamper with 6:28 left in the 2nd period. Kicker Adrian Prater booted the extra point through, and DC pulled ahead 21-8.

In the 3rd period, Parker hooked up with Lyons on a 66-yard touchdown pass play with 9:57 left and with Prater’s PAT the Tigers had built a 28-8 advantage.

Ketchum extended the DC lead on an 18-yard touchdown run with 2:17 left in the 3rd period. Prater added the extra point, and the Tigers were on top 35-8.

Parker tacked on the final touchdown of the night on a 13-yard run with 4:05 left in the 4th period and with Prater’s PAT the Tigers went on to win 42-8.

DeKalb County (3-0) will host Watertown (0-3) for homecoming next Friday night, September 13. Kick-off is at 7 p.m. and WJLE will have LIVE coverage.

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