Local Disability Event Creates Momentum for Change

January 29, 2020
By:

Community leaders, people with disabilities and their family members, educators, and professionals in the disability field packed a room at the DeKalb County Complex last Friday, January 24. They were there to talk about how to grow opportunities for people with disabilities in Smithville.

The event was hosted by State Senator Mark Pody and the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities. It began with welcoming remarks from the Senator and a brief overview of the Council and how to find state disability resources.

The event then moved to smaller-group discussions about resources and concrete actions to support inclusion for people with disabilities in community life.

“It was amazing to watch people start connecting with each other,” Council Public Policy Director Lauren Pearcy said. “The open discussion created so much energy and so many ideas about how to start change with resources that were right there in the room.”

Attendees committed to action on several ideas, including:

• Organizing a support group for families impacted by disability.
• Developing programs for people with disabilities at the local recreation center.
• Sharing information about disability resources at public locations, including the Justin Potter Library.

Tecia Puckett Pryor is a local attorney and chair of the Council on Developmental Disabilities. She helped with the event and is planning to begin organizing a local support group.

“I’m a lifelong resident of Smithville,” Pryor said. “It was so exciting to see leaders and citizens getting together, and to see how much we all cared about creating more opportunities for people with disabilities right here in our town.

“I think we will see real change come out of this event,” Pryor said. “I’m grateful to Senator Pody and the Council for hosting the opportunity.”

Senator Pody said, “I was thrilled to see what a success this event was. I know the community is going to do great things with the information and ideas that were generated. The Council and I will be here to support Smithville as it takes new steps to build a more inclusive city.”

For more information about the event, contact Lauren Pearcy at lauren.j.pearcy@tn.gov, or 615-741-5019.

About the Council on Developmental Disabilities
The Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities is a state agency established to improve disability policies and practice, educate policymakers and the public, and build collaboration to create lasting, positive change for Tennesseans with disabilities and their families. The Council is the only state agency tasked with looking at how all the pieces of our disability system work together, identifying areas of need, and bringing different parts of government and outside groups together to tackle challenges and improve state services. For more information, visit www.tn.gov/cdd or follow us on Twitter (@TNCouncilDD) or Facebook.

January 29, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

A Smithville man was airlifted after a one car crash Tuesday night on Big Rock Road.

According to Trooper Troy Withers of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 63 year old Danny W. Hale was driving a 1999 Toyota Solara when he ran off the right side of the road in a curve and snapped a utility pole. The car came to rest on its side against the pole. Hale was taken by EMS to a helicopter landing zone near the crash scene where he was airlifted to a medical facility.

January 29, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The Trustee’s Office will be a busy place for the next month as taxpayers rush to beat the February 29 deadline to pay their 2019 county property taxes.

Because 2020 is leap year, taxpayers have an extra day to pay without penalty. The Trustee’s office is open Monday-Friday and will be open on Saturday, February 29 from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

As of Monday, Trustee Sean Driver said collections were at 49% of almost $10.7 million in DeKalb County property taxes to be collected by February 29, 2020 which includes property, residential, commercial, personal, and public utility taxes. Collections to date are up by one percent compared to the same day (January 27) last year.

For budgeting purposes, the county expects tax collections each year to be at least 94.75% with a 5.25% delinquency.

Property taxes are now due and payable through February 29, 2020 before any interest becomes due on March 1, 2020.

The Trustee’s office offers up to 6 different options to pay your property taxes:

*Come in person to the office to pay

*Mail in your payment

* Pay online @ www.tennesseetrustee.org, then select DeKalb and follow the instructions to the next screens. The Vendor BIS (Business Information Systems) accepts Discover, MasterCard, or American Express-The Vendor convenience fee of 2.75% on the total tax bill will apply and fees are subject to change for using credit/debit cards. Also, a $2.75 fee will be assessed on an e-check payment of any amount.

* A QR (Quick Response Code) is also your means of accessing the website www.tennesseetrustee.org with your smart phone.

* Dropbox located on the outside of the building at the County Complex (County Offices Section) for your convenience after hours or on weekends. “If on the last day you can’t make it to the post office to postmark your payment, you can use the dropbox and when we gather the mail on Monday, March 2 in the office, if your payment is in there no interest will be applied to your 2019 tax,” said Driver.

*Partial Payments are accepted and you the taxpayer sets the amount to pay until full payment is made.

The Trustee’s office is accepting applications for the Property Tax Relief Program through April 6, 2020. If you would like to inquire more about a possible tax relief for property taxes, come by the Trustee’s office in the County Complex at 732 S Congress Boulevard-Room 103, Smithville or call 615-597-5176.

Eligibility for Property Tax Relief:

*The State of Tennessee offers qualified property owners tax relief on property taxes. This program was implemented in 1973 and has a few changes every year. At this time, DeKalb County has 406 applicants on the program for 2019. As a property owner for 2019, you can qualify for Tax Relief if: ( A.) Your DeKalb County home is your primary residence, ( B.) You are 65 years old (or older) on or before December 31, 2019, (C.) Under 65 years of age with a total and permanent disability per the SSA or another qualifying agency, and (D.) The 2018 Annual Income of all living owners on the deed and their spouses DID NOT exceed $29,860.00. If the State of Tennessee qualifies you for Tax Relief, then you can receive a rebate up to $140.00 for 2019. You must pay your 2019 tax bill IN FULL to start the application.

* Also, the State of Tennessee offers TAX RELIEF to Disabled Veterans and the surviving spouses of a disabled veteran. You must provide proof from the Veteran’s Administration that you have a total and permanent disability rating that was service connected. You and your spouse will NOT have to report any income to apply as a disabled veteran or the widow or widower of a disabled veteran. If the State of Tennessee qualifies you as a disabled veteran or the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran, then you can receive a rebate up to $863.00.

If you would like to inquire more about a possible tax relief, come by the County Complex in the Trustee’s office at 732 S Congress Blvd-Room 103, Smithville, TN 37166 or call us at 615-597-5176,” Trustee Driver concluded.

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