City Reaches Settlement with Landowner on Purchase of Property Near Airport

October 20, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

The City of Smithville has reached a settlement with a landowner in its efforts to acquire property for the development of a parallel taxiway at the airport.

According to Mayor Josh Miller and Airport Manager Joe Johnson, a property owner the city previously could not come to terms with, Eugene Minnear has now agreed to sell his land to the city for $40,755. Minnear had earlier been offered $35,150 (appraised value) for his property, 4.37 acres but Minnear rejected it at that time and made a counter offer of $152,950. Minnear’s property is an overgrowth area that only has an old barn on it. Two other landowners with which the city was in negotiations, Aaron Tippin and Ronnie Mack Davis had already agreed to accept the city’s initial offers; $38,025 for the Tippin property ( parts of four lots) and $1,050 for Davis’ land (part of one lot).

During the last city council meeting on Monday, October 1, the aldermen voted to have Johnson and City Attorney Vester Parsley visit with Minnear again to renew negotiations, but they also voted for the city to begin eminent domain (land condemnation) proceedings if the negotiations broke down.

Now that the city has paid for and taken ownership of all the properties involved with recorded deeds, it can now apply for a 100% federally funded grant of up to $4.6 million to pay for construction of the taxiway project.

The city had already secured grants with a 5% local match for appraisals, survey, and environmental work and to purchase the properties but in order to receive the federal grant to build the parallel taxiway, the city was required to have ownership of all the properties where it is to be located. If all the land were not acquired soon, the city might have missed deadlines for obtaining the grant and could have had to wait another year before making application.

Although Minnear would have been compensated for his property at an amount ordered by the court had the city chosen to proceed with eminent domain, Mayor Miller and Airport Manager Johnson said the city did not want to take that route and they are grateful to Mr. Minnear for his cooperation.

“We were able to get this land without going through eminent domain. Mr. Minnear met with us and was very agreeable with helping the city. We came to a good agreement giving him the maximum amount allowed under terms of the grant for land  purchase. I also want to thank the city council, city attorney, and mayor who all cooperated with me in this effort. I think Mr. Minnear is happy with the settlement and I know the city is happy,” said Johnson.

Mayor Miller said the city made the right call in renewing negotiations with Minnear instead of proceeding with eminent domain right away.

“I want to praise the city council for voting the way that they voted in the last meeting. Our airport manager Joe Johnson has done a great job. I have probably met with Joe ten times over this. I want to give a lot of credit to our city attorney Vester Parsley. I also want to thank Mr. Minnear for coming to the agreement and helping the city. I think everyone is going to prosper from this,” said Mayor Miller.

Johnson said if the city were to receive the $4.6 million federal grant there would be no local match other than 5% of the engineering costs which should not be more than $20,000 to the city. The city must now work on a design of the project to determine the actual costs.

“We have two or three more steps to go through. I have to present the plans at a Tennessee Aeronautics Commission staff review meeting followed by a power point before the TAC commission. We have to do a 30% design on the taxiway. Then we are eligible to apply for the federal grant to build the taxiway,” said Johnson.

Should the city get the federal grant, it will likely be 2020 before construction begins on the project.

The FAA awards airport improvement program discretionary grant funds across the country to primary and non-primary airports for infrastructure projects such as runways, taxiways, aprons and terminals.

Johnson said a parallel taxiway will make the airport much safer and enhance economic opportunity for the city making it more appealing to potential new industry.

October 19, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

Who makes the best chili in DeKalb County?  Find out on Friday, October 26^th when Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County hosts its 15^th annual Chili Cook-off and Bake Sale.

Chili will be served from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the DeKalb Courthouse Lawn.  In case of bad weather, the event will be moved to the DeKalb County Complex.  For a cash donation, eat all the chili you want and vote for your favorite chili and the best decorated booth.  Ceramic chili mugs with the event’s logo are available for $20.00.  Delicious baked goods prepared by members of local churches will also be for sale.  Take out is also available.

“We are looking forward to another great day of good food and fellowship at the chili cook-off,” said Alex Woodward, president of Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County.  “The proceeds from the Chili Cook-off will be used towards building our current house for the Nokes family, so we hope everyone will come out and eat lots of chili for a great cause!”

There are 12 teams competing in the Chili Cook-off this year:  “Cheese Wagon Chili” from DeKalb Transportation Department; “The Bean Counters” from Janney & Associates; “Hot Checks Chili” from Wilson Bank and Trust; “The Courthouse Gang” from the DeKalb County Officials; “DC Health Dept. Heartburn Defenders” from the DeKalb County Health Department; “Brake for Chili” from Federal Mogul Motorparts; “First Bank’s First Chili” from First Bank; “Loan Rangers” from Liberty State Bank; “MTNG Clubhouse Chili” from Middle Tennessee Natural Gas; “Power House Chili” from Smithville Electric System; Smithville Police Department; and “Just Good Chili” from The Inn at Evins Mill.

Last year, “Cheese Wagon Chili” from the DeKalb County Department of Transportation took Top Chili Honors, with “Liberty and Chili For All” from Liberty State Bank coming in second place.  Third place chili honors went to “The Courthouse Gang” from the DeKalb County Officials.  The Best Decorated Booth Award also went to “Cheese Wagon Chili” from the DeKalb County Department of Transportation, with “Team MTNG – Cooking with Gas” from Middle Tennessee Natural Gas coming in second place and “The Bean Counters” from Janney and Associates, CPA’s placing third.

The 2017 event raised $5,300 for Habitat for Humanity.  A “Golden Spoon” award again be given for the team that collects the most extra cash for Habitat at their booth.  Last year, the Golden Spoon Award went to the team “Bobby Ray Detachment 1377” from the Marine Corps League, who raised $143.00 for Habitat in cash donations at their booth.

Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization. Habitat for Humanity builds and renovates houses in partnership with volunteers and families in need, regardless of their ethnic or religious background. The houses then are sold to those in need at no profit and with no interest charged.

For more information on the Chili Cook-off and Bake Sale, contact Tecia Pryor at 615-597-7370.  To contact Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County, call 615-215-8181.

October 19, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

A man found wearing a pair of boots stolen from a local business last month has been charged with theft of property.

35 year old Jackie Blake Sanders of 318 Bell Street Apartment 124 is also charged with simple possession after police recovered some methamphetamine from Sanders while placing him in custody.

After receiving a complaint about a possible shoplifting, Smithville Police stopped Sanders on Monday, October 1 as he was leaving Fluty’s Shoe Store.  While speaking with him, the investigating officer discovered that Sanders was wearing a pair of boots and had on him a bottle of shoe shine that had been stolen from the store on September 20.

During a search of his person, police also  found a blue container in the right front pocket of his pants that contained a blue capsule found to be morphine and a small bag with approximately 1 gram of a white crystal substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine. Bond for Sanders is $6,000.

32 year old Crystal Myers and 33 year old Tisha Cantrell both of McMinnville were cited for shoplifting on Monday, October 1. Police responded to Wal-Mart where Myers and Cantrell  were seen concealing items before leaving the store without paying for them.  The merchandise was recovered and returned to the store.

31 year old Shawn Evans of 231 Jennings Lane was arrested on Tuesday, October 2 for domestic assault.  Police responded to a physical domestic and discovered that Evans had grabbed his victim by the throat, pushed her against a wall, and punched her leaving a cut on the left side of her face.  Bond for Evans is $3,500

46 year old Billie Joe Morris of Holmes Creek Road was cited for theft of property on Tuesday, October 2. Morris  is accused of taking a popup tent from a residence  and not returning it to the victim.  Her court date is October 25. Five days later on Sunday, October 7 Morris was cited for criminal trespassing. According to police, Morris was on the property of Bridgeway Motel where she had previously been warned by the manager and owner to stay away from. Her court date is October 25.

Three people were cited for possession of drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine during a traffic stop on Monday, October 8. According to police, 47 year old Marcus John Peregoy of Liberty was found to have in his possession a clear pipe typically used for smoking meth. 26 year old Aaron Edward Hines  of 506 Hurricane Ridge Road had in his possession approximately 0.3 grams of a clear crystal substance believed to be meth and 23 year old Crystal May Smith of McMinnville was found to have a hypodermic needle filled with approximately 10 milliters of a clear substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine.  All three will make a court appearance on October 24.

44 year old Stephanie Ann Bly Murphy of 848 Foster Road was cited on Wednesday, October 10 for shoplifting and two counts of simple possession.  Police responded to Wal-Mart where Murphy had altered prices on items worth $29.59 that she bought for $9.01.  Upon a search of her purse, police found in a prescription bottle a round white pill believed to be a Percocet, two oblong white shaped pills thought to be Hydrocodone, and 2- 1/3 green rectangular pills believed to be Xanax.  The pill bottle apparently did not belong to Murphy. Her court date is Ocober 25.

21 year old Braxton Kain Bennett of 1199 Smith Road was arrested on Thursday, October 4 for filing a false report and manufacture, delivery, sale, or possession of methamphetamine. He was also cited for unlawful possession without a prescription. According to police Bennett said that he had been driving a white Lexus the night when an officer was attempting to make a traffic stop on the vehicle at Gentry Avenue. Bennett further stated that he was the only occupant of the vehicle. However witness accounts and video evidence proved that Bennett’s account was false. The video showed Bennett in the back seat behind the driver with three other persons inside the vehicle.  After learning that the vehicle held illegal substances, police conducted a search and found approximately 0.5 grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine, two scales, glass pipe, needles, spoons and multiple baggies. Also found were two-half white pills.  Bond for Bennett is $35,000 and his court date is October 25.

53 year old Cynthia Lynn Herman of Liberty was arrested for public intoxication on Saturday, October 6.  Police responded to Wal-Mart in reference to a possible intoxicated person.  Upon arrival the investigating officer spoke with the suspect, Herman and noticed that her speech was slow and slurred. She was somewhat unsteady on her feet and had trouble staying awake. Police discovered that Herman had taken her prescribed medication earlier in the day.  Bond for Herman is $1,000 and her court date is October 25

37 year old Kristopher Hale of 319 Jennings Lane was arrested on Wednesday, October 10 for violation of a protection order. Hale was served with an ex-parte order of protection at 1:51 a.m. that day preventing him from being around the victim or the victim’s residence.  Several hours later at 12:51 pm Hale violated the protection order by going to the victim’s home at Jennings Lane  where he gained entry by climbing through a window.  The victim was home at the time, ran out the front door, and called police.  Bond for Hale is $3,500 and his court date is October 25.

41 year old Micheal Brandon Laster of Kingsport and a previous resident of Sober Living was arrested on Saturday, October 13 for public intoxication and assault. According to police, Laster showed up under the influence  in the parking lot of Walmart annoying others in the area. He then got in a fight with two people after pursuing them across the parking lot. Because he posed a danger to the public, Laster was taken to jail for his safety and that of the public. Bond for Laster is $4,000 and his court date is November 8.

49 year old William Andrew Cantrell of 299 Redmon Road and 34 year old Rhonda Joy Goff of 2264 Students Home Road were cited for shoplifting on Sunday, October 14.  Police were called to Wal-Mart in reference to people inside the store who had active warrants against them.  As police approached them, Cantrell ran down the aisle trying to evade arrest.  The officer deployed his taser on Cantrell and then placed him in custody.  Upon a search incident to arrest, police found on Cantrell 4 packs of NFL cards while Goff had 4 packs of MC cards and 2 boxes of batting all belonging to Wal-Mart. Both will make a court appearance on November 8.

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