Smithville to use State Grant Funds to Purchase Tornado Warning Sirens

April 29, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The City of Smithville has found a way to fund the purchase and installation of tornado warning sirens.

During Tuesday night’s special meeting of the Mayor and Aldermen, the council adopted a resolution requesting funding which has already been allocated through a state grant in the amount of $135,774. It’s a one time grant with no local match.

Mayor Josh Miller said the city will use $70,000 of the grant for tornado warning sirens. The remaining money will be spent as follows: $43,000 for 16 air bottles and 10 sets of turnout gear for the city fire department, $14,000 for city hall roof repairs, $2,000 for two in car radios for the police department, and $5,500 for office computers at city hall.

Every city and county in the state is getting a share of the $200 million total grant allocation according to Governor Bill Lee who recently made the announcement.

DeKalb County’s share will be $656,166. In addition to Smithville, the other cities within the county will get the following amounts: Alexandria $52,091; Dowelltown-$38,717; and Liberty $37,238.

The grant funds may be used for road projects, I.T. upgrades, capital maintenance, utility system upgrades, and public safety projects. Certain disaster related expenses are also eligible for funding.

April 29, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be Tuesday, May 5 from 1:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. by appointment only at the Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall. Contact www.redcross.org to schedule your appointment.

Meanwhile a Blood Assurance Drive will be Thursday, May 7 from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital in the parking lot at the bloodmobile. To schedule an appointment go to www.bloodassurance.org/dekalbhospital or contact Barbara Jacobs at 615-215-5302 or Barbara.jacobs@ascension.org. Remember to eat a good meal, drink additional water and AVOID energy drinks and bring a photo ID. All donors will be given a “Happy Camper Southern Blood Donor” tee shirt and entered into a drawing for a: “Echo Dot”.

A Blood Assurance Neighbors Helping Neighbors drive will be Monday, May 18 from 12 noon until 5:00 p.m. at the County Complex Senior Citizens Center location in the parking lot inside the bloodmobile. To schedule an appointment go to www.bloodassurance.org/dekalb or contact Jimmy Poss at 615-464-7426 or jimposs@yahoo.com. Remember to eat a good meal, drink additional water and AVOID energy drinks and bring a photo ID. All donors will be given a “Dairy Queen Gift Card and a “Happy Camper Southern Blood Donor” tee shirt.

April 29, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Don’t count on the Smithville Municipal Swimming Pool to open on Memorial Day weekend as it normally does.

Under the Governor’s latest executive order, all swimming pools in the state must remain closed due to COVID-19.

During a special meeting Tuesday evening, the Smithville Mayor and Aldermen were to make a decision on whether the pool should be opened this summer and if so when. But due to the Governor’s order, that decision has been put on hold. The aldermen voted to table the issue for at least a month.

Alderman Danny Washer said he isn’t convinced that the public would come to the pool even if it were opened because of the pandemic concerns.

“I contacted some parents that I knew have used the pool at least two to three times a week in the past and asked them their feelings about the city opening the pool at least on the weekends. They said I don’t care when you open it I am not going,” said Washer.

“But there’s a lot of people on social media who are very upset with us who think we may not open,” said Alderman Gayla Hendrix.

“Of course we have to follow the Governor’s orders but I did some research and found an article from the World Health Organization which says the virus does not live in chlorinated water with the correct ph balance. But the other safety concern is handling door knobs, going to the restroom and that sort of thing. I still think this is a lot safer environment than going to Walmart but I am not the Governor,” added Hendrix.

“If things change by June we could discuss later opening the pool for limited numbers of people like the senior adults exercise class, adult swim time, private birthday parties, etc. and if we did open it to the public only allow a certain number of people who could show up at a time,” she said.

Having an adequate number of available life guards at the pool is another concern. Currently the city has only five life guard commitments.

“There is the possibility we could keep the pool open later in the year if we open late. I know the pool is expensive to run but its parks and recreation. Its not a money making venue. It is a service to our community. If we could open the pool by the end of June and keep it open until Labor Day it would be worth it if everything changes to where we can,” said Alderman Hendrix.

According to the city’s financial advisor Janice Plemmons Jackson, the city lost $60,000 last year on the pool comparing total revenues collected versus total operating expenses for the year.

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