Funding for New Firefighter Position and Police Department Building Included with Passage of City Budget

June 2, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Funding for construction of a new police department building and the creation of another paid firefighter position are among the extras included in the new 2020-21 fiscal year budget which was adopted on first reading Monday night by the Smithville Board of Aldermen.

The vote was 4 to 1 in favor. Alderman Brandon Cox voted no. Second and final reading on the budget will be held at the next meeting.

After a 25 cent property tax increase a year ago, the city apparently has ample funds in the general budget to operate for the next year. The city ended the fiscal year in June 2019 at $38,235 in the red. By the close of the 2020 fiscal year on June 30, the city is projected to finish in the black by $413,141 and by almost that much again in June 2021.

Alderman Cox expressed several concerns about the budget Monday night and questioned whether the city might be overly optimistic in the revenue projections for the coming year without taking into account the economic impact of COVID 19 on tax revenues, particularly sales taxes.

Cox said other cities are anticipating up to a 10% reduction in revenues because of the pandemic effects and questioned if the Smithville should not do the same and adjust the budget accordingly. Janice Plemmons Jackson, the city’s financial advisor, said its difficult to forecast the impact COVID 19 may have but even if Cox is correct, the city is expected to still generate a surplus of more than $300,000 by the end of June, 2021.

Although the city general fund is in good financial condition, the water and sewer fund, at least on paper, is a different story.

Water and sewer rates were last increased in 2017 yet the city is about to finish its second year operating in the red which may force the mayor and aldermen to take another look at rates again next year (2021-22) .

According to the budget, the city’s water and sewer fund finished in the hole by $72,748 in 2019 and is projected to be in the red by $162,371 come June 30, 2020. Next year the problem is expected to be even worse finishing at a deficit of $246,821 But those numbers are somewhat deceiving in that revenues are projected to actually exceed cash expenditures next year by more than $548,000 not counting depreciation. However the state requires a utility to account for depreciation even though it is a non cash expense. When the city’s water and sewer depreciation expense totaling $795,000 is figured into the equation, the department is then expected to show a loss of $246,821.

Under state law, if a utility continues to operate at a loss for more than two years and doesn’t address it, the state has the authority to force rate increases to make it solvent. The mayor and aldermen may soon commission a rate analysis to essentially give the basis for a plan of action to address the concern should the state’s water and wastewater financing board become involved.

The proposed budget keeps the property tax rate at 89.9 cents per $100 of assessed value. Current water and sewer rates will be kept at the same level. City water customers currently pay $7.25 per thousand gallons of usage. Rates for customers outside the city limits are $10.88 per thousand. City sewer customers pay $6.75 per thousand gallons.

The largest city spending project is construction of a new police department building. The Boyce Ballard Construction Company of Murfreesboro had the lowest bid at over $2.6 million for a total roofed area of 12,800 square feet which includes a 1,400 square foot sally port. Although the cost may still be trimmed somewhat the city has budgeted the full amount to be funded by a bond issue yet to be authorized with a payout schedule over 20 years at a debt service payment the first year (2020-21) at $172,310 or less.

The new budget also includes funding for:

* A 2% cost of living pay raise for city employees except for police officers stepping to a higher level on the department’s five tier wage scale

*Another paid firefighter position at $40,876 (salary and benefits)

*2 new Dodge Charger police cars: $62,000

*New chipper truck with bed for the street department: $60,000

*New pickup truck for the fire department: $35,000

*$150,000 for street paving

* State COVID-19 grant: $135,774 to be spent as follows :$70,000 for tornado warning sirens, $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.

* Airport: $527,725 grant for obstruction clearing and $30,000 Airport CARES grant

* $35,000 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for cost of repairs being made at Center Hill Dam. Under federal law, water utilities permitted by the Corps to draw water from lakes, including Center Hill are required to share in the costs for making repairs. Smithville is authorized to draw from the lake approximately two million gallons of water a day.

Although E911 director Brad Mullinax had requested the city up its annual contribution to the DeKalb County Emergency Communications District by $45,000 to fund another dispatcher position, the city will keep its contribution at the same level of $120,000 this coming year with no increase.

June 2, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County’s confirmed number of COVID-19 cases has climbed to 40.

As of Monday , June 1 the Tennessee Department of Health reported that 1,307 people had been tested with 1,267 negative results and 40 positive. There have been no deaths in DeKalb County from the virus and 28 of the 40 persons tested positive have recovered.

The DeKalb County Health Department conducts free drive through assessments for COVID-19 Mondays through Fridays from 9am- 11 am.

At 40 cases, DeKalb County ranks 4th highest in the Upper Cumberland region behind Putnam with 496 (5 deaths), Cumberland 116 (1 death), and Macon 152 (3 deaths). Other counties in the region with COVID-19 cases are Smith 35 (1 death), White 34, Cannon 31, Overton 29, Warren 26, Jackson 17, Fentress 12, Clay 7, Van Buren 4, and Pickett 3.

June 2, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The Smithville Municipal Swimming Pool may open soon but with some restrictions due to COVID 19.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the Aldermen voted 3 to 2 to open the pool once leak repairs are completed and the pool is refilled and treated with chemicals. No specific date has been set but the targeted opening is around June 15.

Aldermen Gayla Hendrix, Shawn Jacobs, and Brandon Cox voted in favor of opening the pool. Aldermen Donnie Crook and Danny Washer voted against it.

The pool usually opens on Memorial Day weekend but the city has kept it closed this year due to COVID 19 restrictions. Attracting enough certified lifeguards has also been a problem.

Pool manager Jeania Cawthorn has been seeking lifeguards for months and continues to do so. Due to the size of the pool, the city must have at least 4 certified lifeguards on duty per shift (2 shifts per day) in order to operate. With 8 certified lifeguards now in place, the pool could open but only on weekends, Friday through Sunday. Cawthorn informed the mayor and aldermen Monday night that up to 4 more potential lifeguards will be available if they complete their certification class in McMinnville this week. At least 15 lifeguards total are needed to keep the pool open 7 days a week.

The other issue keeping the pool closed is a leak problem, which is a yearly concern due to structural defects. Public Works Director Kevin Robinson said repairs are set to begin today (Tuesday) but he isn’t sure how long it will take to complete the work.

“This pool was built in 1974 and it wasn’t constructed very good especially in the corners. We found one corner leaking last year and we injected (repaired) it but over time it has become a problem again with the pool settling every year. The whole corner of the pool is torn out. When we went in there a big chunk came out of it (corner of the pool). Whether it takes a week or two weeks to repair it I don’t know,” said Robinson.

When the pool opens, social distancing guidelines will be observed and no more than 50 people at a time will be allowed in the pool area. Before being admitted, patrons must fill out a form and someone will take their temperature. Anyone age 17 and younger must have a parent or guardian with them to sign the form. Children younger than age 13 must remain in the company of a parent or guardian while at the pool.

The pool will have no chairs, picnic tables, or umbrellas this year. Anyone who wants a chair will have to bring their own. The diving board will be open but the slides will be closed. Patrons may wear masks if they wish but the lifeguards and pool staff will not be wearing masks. Rails and other surfaces will be kept sanitized and 6 foot social distancing will be practiced as much as possible. Pool restrooms will be open and concessions will be available at the pro shop.

Once the pool opens, plans are to keep it open at least part of each week from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. based upon the number of available lifeguards until school re-opens. Admission to the pool will remain at $2.00 per person.

Anyone who would like to become a certified lifeguard and work at the pool may sign up for the class in McMinnville which starts Wednesday, June 3.

“You must pay a fee of $150 up front and pass the test. The city will then reimburse your cost,” said Cawthorn.

“I would like to have at least 6 or 7 more lifeguards at the pool this year. Normally I have about 25 and I usually need that many because some have to quit early due to summer camps, vacations, and other jobs. The year since we may not be open as long I may not need as many lifeguards,” Cawthorn continued.

Report Card Day will not be observed in its usual form this year but Cawthorn said something similar may be held as a special Back to School celebration.

Swimming lessons, which are normally offered the first two weeks of the pool season, will not be available this year but water aerobic classes are planned this summer although there may be limits on enrollment due to the availability of lifeguards. Before the pool opens to the public, Cawthorn wants to set aside an hour for people of any age with disabilities to have access to the pool.

Contact Jeania at the Pro-shop at 615-597-6648 for more information or follow on facebook for the latest updates on the pool and golf course at Smithville Golf Course and Swimming Pool.

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