Budget Committee Member says his vote on ousting Chairman was Misinterpreted

February 21, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Who is the chairman of the DeKalb County Budget Committee?

First district county commissioner Dennis Slager has served in the position since taking office in 2018 but on Wednesday night three of his fellow members on the committee voted to oust him as chairman and have County Mayor Tim Stribling take over as ex officio chairman of the budget committee.

Now, one of the members who voted in the majority to remove Slager, says he never intended to do that.

During a county commission workshop of the whole Thursday night, fifth district commissioner and member of the budget committee Jerry Adcock said his vote was in support of the county following existing state law/private acts pertaining to DeKalb County in the makeup and procedures governing the budget committee. Adcock said it was not a vote against Slager.

“I did not vote against Dennis. I was voting for the TCA (state law) and for what I believe is the law. Dennis and I have worked together on this committee for a little over a year now. I don’t think we could have a better person sitting up here,” said Adcock.

Adcock went on to apologize for any misinterpretation others may have perceived by his vote.

The vote Adcock and others cast was on a motion made by fifth district county commissioner and budget committee member Anita  Puckett to remove Slager as chairman. Puckett was frustrated with Slager over a recent meeting between the budget committee and the Board of Education concerning its request for funding to build new schools.

“In our meeting with the budget committee and the board of education, in my opinion Mr. Slager you dominated that meeting. You tried to control and manipulate the entire meeting. You shared your opinion as speaking for the whole committee,” said Puckett during Wednesday night’s latest budget committee meeting.

Slager countered that he did not deny anyone the opportunity to speak.

“I would hope that everybody at that meeting had the proper opportunity to speak. That opportunity was given many times and if you didn’t take that opportunity that is your fault,” he said.

Citing (TCA 5-12-104) regarding a 1957 county budget law and the makeup of the county budget committee, Puckett moved to remove Slager as chairman and to make County Mayor Stribling the ex officio chairman of the committee.

“The committee (according to the 1957 state law) shall consist of five members, one of whom shall be the county mayor and the other four shall be appointed by the county mayor with the approval of the county governing body at its regular January session each year or at any subsequent session. The county mayor shall be the ex officio chair of the budget committee and the director of accounts and budget shall be the ex officio secretary of the budget committee. I would like to make a motion that Dennis Slager be dismissed as chairperson of the budget committee and that Tim Stribling take the role of chairman,” said Puckett.

The vote was 3 to 2 in favor. Puckett and Adcock voted yes along with second district county commissioner and budget committee member Sabrina Farler.  Sixth district commissioner and budget committee member Jeff Barnes joined Slager in voting no.

Again Adcock said his intent in voting yes on Puckett’s motion was not to remove Slager as she stated in her motion, but in support of the county’s budgeting law procedures.

County Mayor Stribling said he plans to contact the County Technical Advisory Service (CTAS) on whether the move by the committee was proper since DeKalb County does not operate under the 1957 budgeting law but the Local Option Budgeting Law of 1993 which provides optional budgeting procedures for the county. Although it does not specifically address the makeup of the budget committee, the 1993 ACT states that it can work in conjunction with the 1957 law.

Some contend that since the 1993 Act is not specific as to the makeup of the budget committee, the county can decide for itself the policy and procedures of the committee and how many members may serve, not limiting it to five.

The budget committee is comprised of five members, all county commissioners appointed by the county mayor with the approval of the county commission, and one of the five commissioners has historically served as chairman. And while the county mayor has had input in budget committee discussions he has not served as a chair or a voting member of the budget committee.

Slager told Puckett Wednesday night that since the County Mayor appointed him to serve as a member and Chairman of the Budget Committee, he can only be removed by the County Mayor.

“You did not appoint me to this position and you are not taking it from me. If Mr. Stribling wants to dismiss me from this position then he has the authority to do that and not you. I am still your chairman of this committee until he dismisses me,” said Slager.

February 21, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The featured guest on today’s edition of WJLE’s “Jammin’ at the 428” is singer/songwriter Brad Howard.

The program will air at 8:30 a.m. following the “Old Time Country Community Radio Show”.

Jim Hicks, the host of the show, will interview Howard and feature some of his music.

“Brad is our first Facebook guest. This gentleman’s music and sound reminds me of Hank Williams, Sr. I am proud of this gentleman. He has served this country in the military with 26 years of his life so that we are able to enjoy the freedoms and live in this great country we call America. Brad is a talented singer and songwriter and we had a great time doing the show with him. I hope the listeners enjoy the program,” said Hicks.

(To hear this show click the link below or click the dropdown box under the “Community” section of the WJLE homepage near the top and look for “Jammin’ at the 428”)

Jammin at the 428 February 21

Meanwhile, if you are a local artist, Hicks would like to possibly schedule you on the show.

“We are always looking for people who have recorded their own music to come and do a show with us. Please call at 615-215-9090 or stop by the studio on East Broad Street and talk with Rick Scruggs. We would love to have you on the show,” said Hicks.

February 21, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The DCHS Tigers were within a bucket of possibly advancing in the District 8AA basketball tournament Thursday night but fell short losing to Cannon County at Watertown 41 to 39.

The season comes to a close for the Tigers with an overall record of 7-22.

The Lions led 18 to 10 after the 1st period and 25 to 19 at halftime. The game was tied at 30 by the end of the 3rd period but Cannon County outscored the Tigers in the 4th and won 41 to 39.

Dallas Cook scored 14. Jordan Young 10. Elishah Ramos and Luke Jenkins each with 4. Dakota White 3 and Evan Jones and Brayden Antoniak each with 2.

The Lady Tigers will meet Macon County, the top seed and number one team in the state, in the district tournament tonight (Friday night, February 21) at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. In the previous two meetings this season, the Lady Tigers lost to Macon County 78 to 54 in Smithville on January 17 and 67 to 33 at Lafayette on February 11.

WJLE will have LIVE coverage with the Voice of the Lady Tigers John Pryor

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