County Clerk Closer to Getting More Help In His Office

October 17, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss is a step closer to getting extra help in his office.

During a meeting Tuesday night at the courthouse, the county budget committee voted 4-1 to recommend to the county commission that Poss’ request for a budget amendment in the amount of $15,896 be adopted to make a part time position full time for the pay period October 29, 2018 to June 30, 2019. The funds would be drawn from the county’s fund balance (cash reserves) to pay for it. That would give County Clerk Poss a total of four full time employees in his office.

Members of the new Budget Committee are Chairman Dennis Slager and Jerry Adcock, Anita Puckett, Sabrina Farler, and Jeff Barnes.

Barnes made a motion to recommend approval of Poss’ request. Slager offered a second. Farler and Puckett joined them in voting in favor. Adcock, the only returning budget committee member since the election, voted no.

County Clerk Poss said the workload in his office has increased over the last four years with more services added to better accommodate the public and the county has benefitted from the increased revenues those services have generated.

“For example in 2013 three thousand titles were produced in DeKalb County. As of December this year we’re expected to hit near 14,000 new titles produced in this county, creating a revenue difference going from $20,000 in 2013 to $120,000 in 2018. That is a substantial increase in title production and that is going to continue bringing in more money for the county,” he said.

Poss said overall his office has consistently collected more fees than budget projections each year.

“In four years since beginning 2014 to 2018 our office has been above projections every year. We’re just shy of $100,000 above projections of fees in a four year period and we have been up every year in total annual receipts since 2014. In just the last two years we have had an increase of $285,000 from the year 2014-15 to 2016-17. We are averaging $20,000 a month in excess fees to the Trustee. I would not be here if there was not a real need but my office needs the employee to do the amount of work we are doing,” said County Clerk Poss.

“Based on the figures I have seen of the increase in fees that this office has generated over the last two or three years, I understand why his request is being made. He is sort of wanting to tap in on what he has been generating to get another half-time employee to make it a full time position to better service the office. Its very obvious the increase in business and the increase in fees. I understand this is not a fee office and the fees go into the general budget and the more fees he takes in its good for the general budget but this is my justification for what he is trying to do,” said Slager.

Adcock opposes funding the position and takes exception to using money from the fund balance to pay for it.

“If we start playing with fund balance, We’re going to start depleting it and our bond rating is going to go down. We are also going to start talking about schools here in the next few months and this is not going to help schools. We have to make up our minds what we are going to do,” said Adcock.

County Mayor Tim Stribling explained that the money to fund the position could possibly be taken from other areas of the budget instead of the fund balance but its too early in the budget year to make that call.

“The budget impact for this year would be $15,896. We have to take it from somewhere else in the budget or from the fund balance. We’re just four months into the budget. If we were nine months in we could probably go through the budget and see where we could (find the money) so that is why we’re saying fund balance. It’s too early to pick apart the budget to find the money. There is money in fund balance and that is the best place right now to draw the funds if you do fund it,” said County Mayor Stribling.

“The impact of a new full time salary is $26,786 but you also have to figure insurance, retirement, social security, etc. so the total impact on the budget of a first year employee is $34,332. In this case we have broken it down to the period Jim is requesting from October 29, 2018 to June 30, 2019. That salary would be $17,513. Then you add insurance, retirement, social security, etc which would make it $22,496. He (Jimmy) already has in his part time (budgeted) money that he has not spent, $6,600. We budgeted him $10,400 (for a part time employee) and he has $6,600 in his part time money that has not been spent. We can deduct $6,600 from the $22,496 which would make the final amount needed for this year to fund the request $15,896,” said Stribling.

The county commission is expected to consider the budget committee’s recommendation at the next monthly meeting Monday night, October 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the courthouse.

October 16, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

Early voting for the November 6 election begins Wednesday, Oct. 17.

Early voting runs Mondays through Saturdays and ends Thursday, Nov. 1. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6. The voter registration deadline ahead of this election was Tuesday, Oct. 9.

In DeKalb County early voting will be on the first floor of the DeKalb County Courthouse.

Voters will elect a Governor, U.S. Senator, Congressman in the 6th District, State Senator in District 17, and State Representatives in Districts 40 & 46.

Candidates for Governor are Republican Bill Lee and Democrat Karl Dean. Twenty six independents are also in the race for Governor.

U.S. Senate candidates are Republican Marsha Blackburn and Democrat Phil Bredesen. Six independents are also running for the U.S. Senate.

Republican John Rose and Democrat Dawn Barlow are in the race for the U.S. House of Representatives from the 6th Congressional District along with two independents.

Candidates for the State Senate in District 17 are Republican Mark Pody and Democrat Mary Alice Carfi. There are no independents

Republican Terri Lynn Weaver is unopposed for State Representative in District 40

In District 46, Republican Clark Boyd and Democrat Mark Cagle are in the race for State Representative. There are no independents.

The early voting times are as follows:

Mondays—1 p.m. 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.

Saturdays—9 a.m. to noon.

Election day voting is 8:00 a.m. until 7 p.m. at all 15 precincts in the county.

The deadline for receiving an application for a by-mail ballot is October 30.

“Tennesseans broke August early voting records as they selected nominees and elected county officials, and I know interest remains high as voters prepare to select leaders across all levels of government on the November ballot,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “Early voting offers voters more opportunities to find a convenient time to cast their ballots.”

Voters can download the GoVoteTN app, available in the App Store or Google Play, to view voter-specific information. Voters can find early voting and Election Day polling locations, view and mark sample ballots and much more. The platform is also available at GoVoteTN.com.

“Each county election commission sets their own locations and hours for early voting, and voters can check information for their county before they head to the polls by using our app,” Secretary Hargett said.

State law requires polling locations and the area within a 100-foot boundary surrounding each entrance remain campaign-free zones. Tennessee law prohibits the display or distribution of campaign materials and the solicitation of votes for or against any person, party or question on the ballot in these areas.

Tennesseans voting early or on Election Day should remember to bring valid photo identification with them to the polls. A driver’s license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security as well as photo IDs issued by Tennessee state government or the federal government are acceptable even if they are expired. College student IDs are not acceptable.

More information about what types of ID are acceptable can be found here: What ID is required when voting? or by calling toll free 1-877-850-4959.

Nov 6 Ballot

October 16, 2018
By: Marsha Darrah

Historical Town Cemetery will be the site of the prestigious Cemetery Preservation Workshop presented by Middle Tennessee State University Center for Historic Preservation this Saturday, October 20th.

Dr. Stacey Graham, cemetery preservation specialist, who directs the project, will be assisted by MTSU grad students.  Jeff Milstead, a noted World War II tombstone preservationist, who was featured in a piece by WSMV TV, will also be joining Dr. Graham. The workshop will consist of a morning classroom session where participants will learn about preservation techniques.  At the cemetery in the afternoon session, participants will receive individual, hands-on instruction in cleaning, caring for, and preserving gravestones using information they learned in the morning session.

The Beautification and Restoration Committee of the Smithville Town Cemetery Association
with the help of the Girl Scouts is making a valiant effort to restore the cemetery to its once-beautiful state.  The  Preservation Workshop is the first step In their campaign.

Bethel Thomas, Jr., formerly of Smithville, now of Memphis and Chairperson of the Committee, states, “We are appreciative and honored that the Center for Historic Preservation has selected Smithville to present its fall Cemetery Preservation Workshop and help us kick off our campaign.” He goes on to say that this presents an opportunity for all community members to learn preservation techniques and to take that knowledge back to their own cemeteries.

County Historian, Tommy Webb, declared that the old cemetery is a Smithville landmark, dating back to I838, the year that DeKalb became a county and Smithville was declared the county seat. By the I880’s the cemetery had attained park-like status. It was eventually enclosed by a stately iron fence and became a prominent feature of downtown Smithville.  He commented that folks would take beautiful, home grown flowers and buckets of water and decorate the graves .  Then they would stroll through the cemetery, admire other gravesites, and enjoy the afternoon visiting with friends.  Benches provided a place to rest when the strolling and visiting became too arduous. People were known to have picnics there and it was even used as a lovers’ lane by the teenagers.

Don’t forget  Rain or Shine
Morning Workshop: 9-11:30 a.m. Community Room, Smithville City Hall, 104 East Main Street, Smithville
Afternoon:  Smithville Town Cemetery:  1-3:30 p.m.

For the afternoon session everyone will need to bring a bucket, a soft, natural bristle brush, and
a pump spray bottle.  Nitrile Gloves and chemicals for use on the historic stones will be furnished by the Cemetery Association. If you decide to do some cleaning and grounds work, please bring rakes, clippers, a trash bag, and possibly rain gear.

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