DeKalb Local Option Sales Tax Collections Down in February but Up in Three Municipalities

March 25, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County’s share of local option sales tax collections for February 2022 were down by almost $6,000 compared to the same month in 2021 according to the Tennessee Department of Revenue but for the county and the four cities therein, combined collections were up by around $10,000.

DeKalb County brought in $110,300 in February 2022 compared to $116,027 for February 2021.

Unlike the county, three of the four cities within DeKalb County actually took in more local option sales tax revenue. Dowelltown was the exception.

The comparisons between the two months for each municipality are as follows:

Smithville: $309,293 (February 2022), $299,506 (February 2021)

Alexandria: $31,189 (February 2022), $26,072 (February 2021)

Dowelltown: $2,626 (February 2022), $3,027 (February 2021)

Liberty: $9,430 (February 2022), $8,208 (February 2021)

NET COLLECTIONS (LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX): $462,840 (February 2022), $452,842 (February 2021)

February sales tax collections reflect previous month activity.

March 24, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The City of Smithville is partnering with Water Leak Relief, LLC of Crossville to ease the cost burden on city water customers due to a water leak.

During a special called meeting Wednesday evening, the aldermen voted to enter into a contract with the company after hearing from Casey York, a representative of Water Leak Relief who addressed the mayor and aldermen.

For a monthly fee of $1.65 for residential customers, the Water Leak Relief program would help City of Smithville water customers pay for the high bills incurred when water leaks occur from the meter to the home on their property up $1,500 per occurrence. Only two claims would be allowed within a 12-month period. The fee would be included as a part of customers’ monthly bill. Notices will soon be sent to water customers about this protection program and those who don’t want to participate may opt out. Customers who opt out won’t be assessed the monthly fee on their water bill but also won’t be entitled to an adjustment in their water bill should they have a leak. The monthly fees could be assessed as early as May for coverage to begin in June.

“They (water customers) get two claims per year up to $1,500 each time,” said York. “If you have a water leak (meter to the house) inside the house, if a pipe bursts inside your house, it covers that. If your toilet is leaking, it covers that, but it’s got to be a leak. You can’t fill up your pool. That doesn’t count because that is not a leak. If it’s a leak, we cover the cost of the high-water bill. We don’t cover repairs. This also counts on sewer. For your customers who have sewer that price ($1.65 per month) is for both (water and sewer). If your average water bill is $50 and your average sewer bill is $50 you just pay the $1.65 per month and it covers the high-water bill on both of those. They (customers) pay their average bill. If over 12 months your average bill is $50 and you have a leak causing your water and sewer bill to be high, we cover everything twice a year up to $1,500 for each claim,” York said.

The protection program also provides coverage for commercial single occupancy customers ($4.21 per month) and commercial multi-occupancy customers ($7.70 per month) under the same terms and conditions as residential customers. Relief is also available to residential and commercial customers for water and sewer line repairs on their property up to a $10,000 limit per year. Added monthly fees for this coverage is $4.65 for residential water line and $6.45 for residential sewer line relief. The added monthly costs for commercial single occupancy customers would be $13.45 for each water and sewer line relief and $26.96 for commercial multi-occupancy customers for each water and sewer line relief.

“We also offer water line and sewer line relief,” York continued. “All your customers are opted into the water line relief, but they can out opt of that at any moment. They will get a letter 30 days before it goes on their first bill, and they can opt out and back in at any time. The water line and sewer line relief cover your repairs, commercial or not. It’s a main water line repair up to $10,000 once a year. For residents the monthly fee is $4.65 or $13.45 for commercial customers but it’s worth it especially if you have ever had to dig up concrete to repair a line because it’s very expensive,” added York.

The basic protection for residential customers who pay the extra $1.65 per month on their water bill would cover excess water charges resulting from a plumbing leak including interior frozen water line/plumbing, for which the customer has sole responsibility, that supports their residence or business.

In order for a customer to qualify, the leak must meet the city’s current leak policy, occur on the customer’s side of the meter, must be accidental in nature, must be repaired within a period of 10 days from discovery with proof of repair to the city.

To be eligible to receive a benefit, the customer’s water bill must be for an amount that is 200% or greater than the customer’s average monthly water bill as defined in the terms and conditions. Normal monthly water bill means the average dollar amount of the 12 previous months’ bills. A customer may only receive two benefit claims during any 12-month period. Benefit claims will be made for up to two months for a single leak occurrence.

If a customer was notified by the city of a leak and did not make the needed repairs within 10 days, no benefit claim would be granted.

Water Leak Relief, through an insurance policy with Plateau Casualty Insurance Company of Crossville, will take the amount of a customer’s current water bill with the leak and subtract the average of the last 12 water bills. The city will be paid the difference up to the benefit limit of $1,500.

For example, if the customer’s water bill with the leak is $1,000 and the average water bills for the last 12 months is $50, the customer would pay the city $50, and Water Leak Relief would pay the city $950. Any charges above the $1,500 limit would be the customer’s responsibility.

The program does not cover the following:

*Any cost associated with repairing the customer’s water service line

*Customers with multiple living units on a single meter such as a campground, trailer park, motel, etc. are not eligible for a benefit claim, except as included in multiple occupancy commercial service customers.

*Routine dripping faucets

*Premises left vacant or abandoned without reasonable care for the plumbing system

*More than two occurrences per 12-month period

*Filling of swimming pools

*Watering of lawns or gardens

*If a customer becomes aware of a potential problem with the plumbing which could cause a leak and that problem is not resolved by turning off water flow to the leak source within five days.

*If a customer has been notified of a suspected leak and does not repair the leak within 10 days of becoming aware

*Faulty water meter

*Improper meter reading

*Natural acts or disasters

*Pressure washing or other external cleaning products

*Sprinkler system leaks

*New construction buildings that are unoccupied.

In other business the aldermen adopted on second and final reading a $40,000 budget amendment to resurface the city tennis courts and awarded a bid to Competition Athletic Services, Inc. of Chattanooga for $33,700 to do the work. The funds for the project will come from the city’s share of federal American Rescue Plan Act money.

The board also adopted a resolution authorizing the Upper Cumberland Development District to apply for a $300,000 Community Development Block Grant for sewer rehab. If approved the city’s local match will be $21,000.

March 24, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Let the construction begin!

A groundbreaking was held Wednesday at Green Brook Park for the new 2,400 square foot splash pad which should be completed and up and running by May. The mayor, aldermen, and other city officials and friends were on hand for the occasion including Jason Stewart and Adam Walton of Recreational Concepts of Cookeville, the company that will be building the splash pad.

In November, the aldermen awarded the bid and adopted a budget amendment authorizing an expenditure of up to $173,000 for the splash pad. The money for the project will be taken from the city’s unreserved fund balance.

“We are looking forward to getting this splash pad completed. I think it is going to be a great asset to Green Brook Park,” said Mayor Josh Miller.

“The splash pad is about 2,400 square feet and it has a lot of beautiful above ground features for kids to run through and things that spray and splash along with in-ground features that spray out of the ground. It’s a nice mix for all age groups and abilities. It will fill up the space really well especially with the playground and gazebos. It’s going to be a nice addition to the park. We’re looking forward to getting started,” said Walton.

“Like Adam said It’s about 2,400 square feet and has a five-foot apron around the pad that is essentially a dry deck where no water flows and on the inside on the splash pad itself there are above grade and embedded features that spray upward providing an experience for different age groups and ability levels. There are about 28 different features on the pad itself,” said Stewart.

Construction is expected to begin within the next two weeks.

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