Election Commission Expects Record Number of Absentee-By-Mail Votes for Presidential Election

September 25, 2020
By:

A record number of absentee-by-mail votes are expected locally for the November Presidential Election, according to Dennis Stanley, Administrator of Elections.

“As of mid-morning Friday, our office had already mailed out 247 absentee ballots,” he said. “In August, 245 absentee ballots were counted and in November four years ago, only 205 absentee ballots were counted. Obviously, we are on pace to set a record for November elections.”

The last day to request an absentee ballot is October 27, but Stanley said it would be wise to make the request as early as possible.

“Once you make receive your ballot, vote it and mail it back in as soon as possible so it is ready to be counted on Election Day,” he said.

Absentee ballots Must be returned by mail. This includes the U.S. Postal Service and services like FedEx and UPS. Each state is different when it comes to election law. Tennessee law does not permit voters to turn in their ballots in-person or for the use of drop boxes.

Also in Tennessee, voters must have a legal reason listed in the law to be eligible to vote absentee by mail. Call the election office for more information or log onto www.dekalbelections.com or https://sos.tn.gov/elections for more information.

Stanley also said early voting is a convenient way to vote in the upcoming election.

The early voting period in Tennessee begins October 14 and lasts until October 29. In DeKalb County the voting hours during that period are—Mondays 1 to 5 p.m.; Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Thursdays 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Fridays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to Noon. On two days during that time—Friday Oct. 23 and Thursday Oct. 29—the time will be expanded and start one hour earlier.

To avoid a potential delay in voting early or on election day, voters also need to make sure the election office has their current address.

“If you have moved since you last voted, you may have to vote at a different location on November 3,” Stanley said. “Keep in mind, if you have moved and did not notify our office, you will have paperwork to fill out on election day and you may have to go to a different place to vote.”

Voters are also reminded that a registration does not transfer from one county to another.

“If you have moved from another county into DeKalb, you must register in DeKalb County by the registration deadline” he continued. “You may register at the local election office or online by October 5.”

September 25, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The county commission Monday night will consider appointing two of the three judicial commissioners to serve for the next year.

A budget amendment will also be up for consideration to increase the monthly pay of each judicial commissioner by $75 per month. If approved their pay would go from $973 to $1,048 per month.

The commission will meet in regular monthly session September 28 at 6:30 p.m. in the Mike Foster Multipurpose center in the auditorium.

The judicial committee recently met and recommended two persons for reappointment to a one year term as judicial commissioners, Tammy Ashburn and Joy Whitman but also recommended that the third judicial commissioner position be advertised and resumes accepted. The committee will consider resumes received and make a recommendation on the that appointment at the October County Commission meeting. That position is currently held by Harvey Barnes and he may apply for reappointment.

The judicial committee is made up of Sheriff Patrick Ray, County Mayor Tim Stribling, Circuit Court Clerk Susan Martin, General Sessions/Juvenile Court Judge Bratten Cook, II, and Assistant District Attorney General Greg Strong.

Judicial commissioners are responsible for the issuance of criminal arrest warrants upon finding probable cause. They are subject to call at all hours of the day and night. Judicial commissioners serve at the pleasure of the county commission and their terms of office can be one year to four years. Judicial commissioners serve one year terms. Each of them are on call 24 hours a day for one week and then are off for two weeks.

Meanwhile, the County Commission will name a chairman and a chairman pro temp during Monday night’s monthly meeting.

County Mayor Tim Stribling currently serves as Chairman of the County Commission and 6th district member Jeff Barnes, the longest serving member of the commission at 18 years, is the chairman pro temp.

The County Commission reorganizes each September naming a chairman and chairman pro temp to serve for the ensuing 12 months.

Although the County Mayor is typically selected to serve as chairman, the commission could opt to name one of its own for that role.

September 25, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County is currently served by 12 community fire stations, many of them with fire trucks that are aging. Some are more than 20 years old and one, a reserve fire truck, is a 1979 model.

During Thursday night’s committee of the whole meeting of the county commission, Matt Adcock, 6th district commissioner and member of the fire department, requested that the county consider purchasing a new fire truck to replace an older one in the fleet. Adcock said its important that the county implement a replacement schedule on these trucks so they all don’t wear out at the same time.

Adcock said he made this request during meetings of the budget committee over the summer but funds for a new fire truck were not included in this year’s budget.

County Fire Chief Donny Green added that now would be a good time to make such a purchase without spending local tax dollars since the county has received a one-time local government grant from the state. The county is getting $822,841 from that grant but half the money has already been allocated for other projects. The rest $411,421 is in a general fund reserve account which could be spent by the county commission as it deems necessary.

Adcock said he has obtained a quote for a new demo truck and based on that the starting base price would be $249,000.

Second district commissioner Myron Rhody questioned why the county should buy a new fire truck for an existing fire station when other communities needing a fire station don’t have one.

“I can’t justify spending a quarter of a million dollars to replace one when there are other fire halls with no engines,” said Rhody.

Rhody added that a fire truck doesn’t necessarily have to be replaced based just on age if it still serves needs and passes inspection.

“We do not have certified class-a pumpers in every station and those that are not class-a pumpers won’t pass certification. We can’t get insurance (ISO) credit on them. We have two stations right now that have the old homemade trucks that we built. They are not class-a. Also our reserve truck did not pass the pump test, ” said Chief Green .

“Then why do we have them (if they don’t pass certification),” asked Rhody.

“Because that’s all we have (to work with). We have to use them but we don’t get ISO insurance credit on them,” answered Chief Green.

The county is getting the opportunity to purchase a new tanker truck for the fire department thanks to a Community Development Block Grant which has been awarded through the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. The county’s local grant match is $70,000 making the total project $349,518.

First district commissioner Dennis Slager said while he is glad the department is getting a new tanker truck (the 2nd one in the fleet) perhaps the county should have applied for a new fire engine instead.

Chief Green explained that the county’s chances for getting a grant funded fire truck were not as good as for a tanker under this CDBG program. Unlike a pumper, a tanker can only be used to transport water to a fire scene.

“The priority of the grant was the more communities you impact the higher you score on the application so we sought a tanker because it would benefit the whole county. We really didn’t stand a chance applying for a pumper that serves a single community. That’s not my opinion that was from people in the grant office,” said Chief Green.

Slager suggested that the county commission postpone any action on purchasing a new fire truck until the department proposes a detailed replacement schedule.

“Its very obvious this needs further discussion before we start voting to buy a fire truck. I think we need to let Chief Green come up with a plan of what needs to be replaced and a sequence. I’m glad they got a second tanker but it looks like the money should have been spent for engines instead of a second tanker. He (Chief Green) could tell us what desperately needs to be replaced and come up with a sequence in the next few years of trying to replace engines. Its obvious a 1979 reserve truck is probably not too good but without a detailed plan, it may be too premature in voting for a fire truck,” said Commissioner Slager.

Chief Green said the Fire Department has been calling on county commissions to implement a replacement schedule on aging fire equipment for several years.

In a WJLE news article posted in April, 2012 Chief Green said the following in addressing the county commission. “ If we’re not careful, we’re going to wind up with a bunch of trucks all the same age. We’ve been fortunate to get in on some of these grants over the years. If we can keep this rolling to where we can get those updated we won’t get behind”.

During Thursday night’s meeting, Chief Green said “I can’t think of how many years I have done this but for years I have brought the commission a worksheet showing the fleet age and what should be replaced as it gets old. I have expressed this time after time. We are going to have all our fleet to replace at one time if we don’t blend in some new equipment. I’m good with buying old but I don’t want you to ask me when I have to present a budget request later that we need five fire trucks in one year why I didn’t phase in some new trucks over time. We have an opportunity with this COVID-19 grant money but if you don’t want to spend it for this we will make do with what we have. I’ll be glad to meet with the emergency services committee to discuss this further and let you look at our trucks if you want to,” added Chief Green.

The issue is on the agenda for discussion during Monday night’s regular monthly meeting of the county commission which will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Mike Foster Multi-Purpose Center in the auditorium.

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