Engineer Recommends City Prohibit Future Installation of Septic Tank Effluent Pump Systems

February 8, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Future installation of Septic Tank Effluent Pump Systems (STEP) by private developers may soon be prohibited in the City of Smithville.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, Daniel Tribble, Manager of Field Services for JR Wauford and Company of Nashville recommended that the city adopt an ordinance or resolution to prohibit future installation of STEPs based on a new state law which requires municipalities to maintain them. JR Wauford is the city’s engineering consultant.

For several years the city has serviced a development on Coconut Ridge Road with these type systems.

“In a typical sewer system, you have houses that discharge through plumbing to a gravity line which flow through manholes that go to pump stations which ultimately end up in your wastewater plant,” said Tribble. “Alternatively, you could have lines from a home that discharge into a tank which has a grinder pump that pumps into a low-pressure sewer line and then discharges to a gravity sewer line or another pumping station. We call that a STEP system (Septic Tank Effluent Pump System). These systems are not recommended for cities that have central wastewater collection systems like the City of Smithville does. You have manholes, gravity lines, and pump stations to take all this wastewater to your plant and treat it there,” Tribble continued.

“The State of Tennessee passed regulations in May 2022 that changed how cities and municipalities have to view the ownership and control of these STEP systems. It states low pressure pumps, low pressure tanks, septic tank effluent pumps, STEP tanks, and septic effluent gravity tanks are integral to the treatment and conveyance of sewer in a low-pressure system design and shall be owned or under control of the municipality, other body of government, public utility district, or a privately owned public utility demonstrating lawful jurisdiction over the service area. What that means is the city would be ultimately responsible for the maintenance of these low-pressure gravity sewer lines and pumps. Instead of pumps that you have to replace just at the pump stations everyone pumps to, effectively the city would be responsible for maintaining the pumps of every resident who had this type of (STEP) system. Some are already in the system on Coconut Ridge, but they are not desirable long term for the City of Smithville. Its our recommendation that you don’t allow these in the future,” said Tribble.

Meanwhile, Tribble updated the Mayor and Aldermen on the sewer line rehab project that has just begun on Carter Street.

“The gravity sewer repair job is being done by John Hall Construction. The notice to proceed was issued Monday. They are starting on Carter Street with an estimated completion date of May or June depending upon weather,” said Tribble.

Although Carter Street will be closed to through traffic during the project, residents who live there will have access.

The work is the beginning of an almost one-million-dollar project to rehab sewer lines and manholes in certain parts of town including Earl Avenue and West Main Street in addition to Carter Street.

Last September, the aldermen voted to award a bid to the John T. Hall Construction Company of Sparta in the amount of $939,620 which was the least expensive of the three bids submitted.

Tribble said the project will be done in phases.

“Phase one of this project includes the open cut sewer replacement of approximately 2,700 feet of sewer line along Earl Avenue, West Main Street, and Carter Street. The second part of phase one of this job is the CCTV or closed-circuit television inspection of approximately 7,400 feet of sewer lines mostly in cross country areas that flow along creeks and not in roadways. Our plan is to review the CCTV footage and make a recommendation to the city as to the appropriate rehabilitation methods for these areas,” Tribble said.

Tribble also gave a progress report on the two grants the city will be using to do further sewer system rehab work.

“The city was awarded a $300,000 Community Development Block Grant in November. We had the project kickoff meeting with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Deveopment representative on January 25. This grant will be married to American Rescue Plan grant funds which total just over $1.5 million. The intent is to use both of those funds totaling $1.8 million to design a sewer system rehabilitation project that will meet the needs and requirements of both these grants. Both grants will be administered by the Upper Cumberland Development District.

The aldermen awarded a bid to Southern Sales Company in the amount of $148,000 to replace pumps at the wastewater treatment plant as recommended by Tribble.

“We made a site visit to your wastewater plant in late 2022 and noticed some equipment that needed to be replaced. Four proposals were received by vendors for the replacement of subject pumps including installation, startup, and testing,” said Tribble.

Southern Sales will install new recirculation pumps in the systems sequencing batch reactors and implement reuse pumps for the plant.

February 7, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A man caught driving a stolen truck after a law enforcement pursuit last week will be in court next week on several charges.

23-year-old Jesse Glenn Ferrell of Walker Drive, Smithville is under a $56,000 bond on charges of evading arrest by a motor vehicle, tampering with evidence, reckless endangerment, and driving on a revoked license. He was further cited for possession of a Schedule VI drug (Marijuana) and possession of drug paraphernalia. His court date is February 16.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on January 30 a deputy spotted a 1994 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Ferrell that he knew had been reported stolen from a local car dealer. As the deputy activated his blue lights and sirens, Ferrell sped up trying to evade arrest and at times crossed over onto the wrong side of the road at a high rate of speed almost hitting oncoming vehicles. During the pursuit, which began on Short Mountain Road in DeKalb County and ended in Cannon County, the officer observed Ferrell throwing things out of the truck window. The deputy later recovered those items which included two plastic containers with a white residue believed to be narcotics. After taking Ferrell into custody, officers learned that his driver license was revoked due to a May 2020 DUI in Alabama. Ferrell was also found to be in possession of 0.37 grams of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana and a marijuana grinder.

A man who tried to avoid being arrested by hiding in a neighbor’s boat under a tarpaulin has a date with the judge.

36 year old Kenny Waymon Dyal of Floyd Drive, Smithville is charged with evading arrest. His bond is $6,000 and he will be in court February 9.

Sheriff Ray said that on January 25 as a deputy was trying to serve a warrant on him, Dyal came out of his home and ran to a neighbor’s residence, although he was repeatedly warned by the officer to stop. Dyal tried to evade arrest by hiding in a boat under a tarpaulin.

35 year old Joshua Lynne Batey of Parkway Drive, Smithville is charged with sale and delivery of a schedule VI drug (marijuana). His bond is $7,500 and he will make a court appearance February 16.

Sheriff Ray said that on January 25 detectives went to Batey’s home to assist others with a probation search of Batey. Inside the bathroom of the master bedroom, the detectives found two clear jars containing five baggies of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana which weighed a total of 4.65 ounces along with a marijuana grinder which was in the bathroom.

49 year old David Stewart Harris of Possum Hollow Road, Dowelltown is charged with burglary and theft of property. His bond totals $6,500 and he will be in court February 9.

Sheriff Ray said that on January 19 Harris broke into a storage unit on Nashville Highway and stole two air conditioners and several children toys with a total value of $770. Harris later turned in the stolen items to law enforcement officers.

54-year-old William Andy Cantrell of Adcock Cemetery Road is charged with driving on a revoked/suspended license.  He was further cited for simple possession of schedule II (methamphetamine) & VI (marijuana) drugs. His bond is $3,500 and he will make a court appearance on February 16. Sheriff Ray said that on January 31 a deputy spotted Cantrell operating a motor vehicle. Knowing Cantrell’s license were revoked the officer stopped him and confirmed his record of the offense through central dispatch and the National Crime Information Center.  Cantrell also gave the deputy consent to search the vehicle and found were 0.47 grams of a crystal-like substance in a pill bottle along with 7.04 grams of a green leafy substance.

Cantrell was arrested again three days later on February 3 for driving on a revoked license. His bond on that charge is $5,000 and he will be in court February 16. Sheriff Ray said that a deputy was traveling on Jacobs Pillar Road when he saw Cantrell driving a gray Ford vehicle. Knowing that Cantrell’s license were revoked the officer stopped him and confirmed through central dispatch and the National Crime Information Center that his license was revoked.

41-year-old Tommy Jerome Bates of Foster Road, Smithville is charged with misuse of the 911 phone system and resisting arrest. His bond totals $6,000 and he will make a court appearance February 9.

Sheriff Ray said that Bates called central dispatch by dialing 911 on January 30 to report that he had a problem, but he actually did not have an emergency. Bates continued to call 911 up to seven times even after being warned that he could be charged criminally for the offense if it continued. While trying to serve the warrant, officers entered Bates’ home and ordered him to put his hands behind his back. When he resisted, Bates was forcibly handcuffed and placed in custody.

40-year-old Carlos Edward Stiff of Nashville Highway, Dowelltown is charged with a 2nd offense of driving under the influence. His bond is $6,000 and he will make a court appearance February 16.

Sheriff Ray said that on February 5 a deputy was summoned to the Dollar General Store on Cookeville Highway where a man was passed out in a vehicle. Upon arrival the officer found the man, Stiff passed out in the driver’s seat. After he was awakened, Stiff was asked to submit to field sobriety tasks. He complied but performed poorly. Stiff, who was convicted of a 2022 DUI in Putman County, smelled of alcohol and was unaware of his whereabouts.

February 7, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Should DeKalb County adopt a property tax freeze for eligible senior citizens?

County Mayor Matt Adcock wants to make that happen and will propose that the county commission adopt a resolution authorizing it at the next regular monthly meeting on February 27.

“I want to give senior citizens that are at the poverty level the opportunity to keep paying the property tax rate they are paying now because I know going forward DeKalb County is growing and we have talked about building a school and a jail so with that possibly forthcoming I wanted to do something to ease the property tax burden on senior citizens with fixed incomes even if we have to increase the property tax rate at some point in the future,” County Mayor Adcock told WJLE.

In November 2006, Tennessee voters approved an amendment to Article II, Section 28 of the Tennessee Constitution giving the General Assembly the authority by general law to authorize counties and/or municipalities to implement a local option property tax freeze for taxpayers 65 years of age or older.

In its 2007 session, the 105th General Assembly enacted the Property Tax Freeze Act which establishes the tax freeze and authorizes the legislative body of any county and/or municipality to adopt the property tax freeze program. The Act became effective on July 1, 2007.

Under the program, homeowners qualifying for the program would have the property taxes on their principal residence (up to five acres) frozen at a base tax amount, which is the amount of taxes owed in the year they first qualify for the program. Thereafter, as long as the owner continues to qualify for the program, the amount of property taxes owed for that property generally would not change, even if there is a property tax rate increase or county-wide reappraisal.

In order to qualify, the homeowner must file an application annually and must:

·Own their principal place of residence in a participating county and/or city

·Be 65 years of age or older by the end of the year in which the application is filed

·Have an income from all sources that does not exceed the county income limit established for that tax year which for DeKalb County is $33,460 for tax year 2023.

In counties or municipalities participating in the Tax Freeze Program, an application may be made annually to the County Trustee or city collecting official.

The state Comptroller’s Office will calculate the income limit for each county annually using a formula outlined in state law.

Situations, where the base tax amount would change for a homeowner, are:

·When improvements are made to the property resulting in an increase in its value

·When the homeowner sells their home and purchases another residence

The tax freeze is available only on the principal place of residence of the qualifying homeowner located in a participating county or city.

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