Jail Committee Recommends County Build Judicial Center (View Funding Proposals in PDF Link Here)

November 15, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A judicial center it is!

Judicial Center PDF

By a vote of 8-2-1 the county’s jail committee Tuesday night voted to recommend to the full county commission that a new judicial center be built rather than a jail once a suitable site has been selected for the project. No decision has been made on a funding option or when the county should move forward.

After spending months weighing both options, the committee has come to the conclusion that a judicial center would better meet the county’s needs than a new jail and perhaps be less costly in the long run.

Although the jail committee’s vote is only a recommendation, the county commission’s final decision on the option is predictable since the entire county commission makes up the jail committee.

Those opting for a judicial center over a jail in the vote Tuesday night included commissioners Tom Chandler, Daniel Cripps, Larry Green, Glynn Merriman, Justin Adcock, Jeff Barnes, Greg Matthews, and Tim Reynolds. Commissioners Beth Pafford and Tony (Cully) Culwell voted no and Commissioner Sabrina Farler abstained saying she preferred to wait until property is acquired before casting her vote. Commissioners Tony Luna, Myron Rhody, and Susannah Cripps Daughtry were unable to attend the meeting.

Previously, County Mayor Matt Adcock and others referred to the “judicial center” as a “criminal justice center” but Adcock said he preferred to call it “judicial center” going forward because the complex would serve the entire judicial system locally not just criminal justice.

Unless a new jail is built in close proximity to the courthouse, County Mayor Adcock said the sheriff’s department would have to transport prisoners back and forth from the jail to the courthouse every time court is in session and that could have an impact over time on the county budget in terms of fuel, personnel, vehicles, and other costs. That would not necessarily be the case if a judicial center is built, according to Adcock because the entire operation of the sheriff’s department, jail, and judicial system (courtrooms and clerks offices) would be in the same complex. And while a jail can be built outside the city, a judicial center, by law, must be inside the city limits of Smithville.

Steve Bates, the county’s fiscal agent/financial advisor said that the cost difference in building a jail versus judicial center initially is $10 million ($50 million for a Judicial Center or $40 million for a Jail). In either case, County Mayor Adcock said a new revenue stream would be required to fund it whether it be a higher property tax rate, the implementation of a wheel tax, or a combination of the two.

Before the vote Tuesday night, Bates outlined options for the jail committee to consider. Again, no decision has been made on a funding option or when the county should move forward.

JAIL ONLY
“What we are talking about is spending $40 million on the building and jail only. We are talking about doing 30-year fixed rate bonds and coming up with a funding source to raise enough money to amortize the debt. If its funded by property tax it would take about 33 cents on the property tax to debt service and 9 cents to the general fund (42 cents total) because of the additional operating expense of the jail”, said Bates.

Judicial Center PDF
JUDICIAL CENTER
“We’re talking about doing 30-year fixed rate bonds with another $10 million to build the courtrooms ($50 million total). The amortization to build the judicial center is 43 cents if you do just a property tax. So, you’re looking at 42 cents to build just the jail or 43 cents to build a judicial center. The thing about building a judicial center is the cost is fixed and once its paid off you’re done. You don’t have that with building a jail only because operating costs are more and will continue to go up,” said Bates.

Bates advised the jail committee to start thinking about how the county should fund the project and the sooner the better.

“You will need a full year’s collection if we issue bonds in fiscal 2024-25. You must have money start coming in to put in debt service. Your debt management policy says at a minimum you must have 80% of debt service requirement in your debt service fund. We only have about $2 million in debt service right now, so we will need more money,” said Bates.

“You don’t want to find yourself with a payment when you’re not going to get any new revenue for months later. That puts you behind the eight ball,” he added.

County Mayor Adcock and Bates said to fund the project without any property tax increase would require a $120 wheel tax, but no one is advocating that option in this amount.

Adcock explained to the jail committee that the county has several options if it were to seek implementation of a wheel tax in some amount for this project. The county commission could seek a private act for DeKalb County through the Tennessee General Assembly, which is not likely. The commission could authorize a public referendum to let the voters give a straight up or down vote on a wheel tax in a county general election, or the commission could adopt by a two thirds majority a resolution establishing a wheel tax on separate readings at two consecutive meetings and even then 10% of the local electorate casting votes in the last governor’s election could sign a petition (515 signatures needed) forcing the county’s hand to have a referendum on a wheel tax. In that case, the county could choose to repeal the wheel tax option altogether and vote the needed property tax increase to fund the project.

According to County Mayor Adcock, the county’s justice committee has already recommended an architect and construction management company should the county move forward but no contracts have been signed.

Aside from deciding how to fund the judicial center, is where to build it. County Mayor Adcock said the Peggy Hayes property (38 acres) on West Broad Street in Smithville seems to no longer be an option for the county because the parties can’t come to terms on a price. Adcock said the county is also looking at property in the Smithville Industrial Park off Highway 70 east but hasn’t heard yet if the industrial board is willing to consider selling it. Adcock has a meeting with the board this week. Other possible locations have also been considered but so far, County Mayor Adcock said no one else has been willing to sell or commit to a deal with the county. Adcock also had County Attorney Hilton Conger at the meeting Tuesday night to explain what the procedures are for imminent domain (condemnation) if the county were to choose that option on a particular piece of property.

Officials said that even when the property is identified and acquired, plans approved, and bonds issued, it could take up to three years before construction of a judicial center is completed.

Judicial Center PDF

November 14, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

With the qualifying deadline only one month away, two more people have obtained petitions for the March 5th DeKalb County Republican Primary including Jason Brown for Constable-District 6, and Jason Miller, Incumbent School Board Member-District 6.

Brown, an incumbent constable, was elected to the office in 2020 as a Democrat and Miller won the 6th district school board seat in 2020 as a non-partisan or independent candidate.

Recently governor appointed judge Shawn Fry of Cookeville has also filed his petition in the six counties including DeKalb that make up the 13th Judicial District to seek a full eight-year term to the newly created criminal court judgeship.

Six others had already obtained petitions for the GOP Primary. Two of them plan to be in the race for Property Assessor including incumbent Shannon Cantrell and challenger Amy Clare Lockhart. Fourth district constable Lane Ball will be seeking a full four-year term as constable and Incumbent Fifth district constable Mark Milam has picked up and returned his petition for re-election with the required number of signatures to be a qualified constable candidate for the primary. Incumbent Third district constable Travis Bryant will be seeking re-election as constable and newcomer Danny Adamson has picked up and returned his petition with the required number of signatures to be a qualified candidate for constable in District-2.

Both the DeKalb County Republican and Democratic Parties will be holding primaries simultaneously on Tuesday, March 5th for the offices of Property Assessor, Constable (districts 1-7), and Board of Education (5th & 6th) districts along with the newly created position of criminal court judge-Part III in the 13th judicial district. The primaries will be held in conjunction with the Tennessee Presidential Preference Primary.

The qualifying deadline is Thursday, December 14 at 12 noon. The voter registration deadline for the March 5th primaries is February 5 and the early voting period will be Wednesday, February 14 through Tuesday, February 27. The Absentee ballot request deadline is Tuesday, February 27, 2024.

Independents wishing to run for Assessor of Property or Constable (districts 1-7), Board of Education (5th & 6th) districts, or for criminal court judge-Part III in the August 2024 County General Elections must also qualify by noon on Thursday, December 14.

Party nominees and independents for these offices will run in the DeKalb County General Election on Thursday, August 1, 2024 and those elected will take office September 1, 2024.

The incumbents in these offices are Assessor of Property Shannon Cantrell and Constables- 1st District: Waylon Kyle, 2nd District: Darrell Johnson, 3rd District: Travis Bryant, 4th District: Lane Ball, 5th District: Mark Milam, 6th District: Jason Brown, and 7th District: Johnny King.

The school board seats up for election in 2024 are currently held by Jamie Cripps in the 5th district and Jason Miller in the 6th district.

November 14, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A man picked up by the Sheriff’s Department on an active warrant against him was found with drugs during the arrest.

28-year-old Cody Lane Lawrence Bogle of Students Home Road, Smithville is charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. He is under a $25,000 bond and will appear in court November 23.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on November 7 a deputy spotted Bogle on West Broad Street and placed him under arrest knowing that Bogle had an active warrant against him. During the arrest, Bogle emptied his pockets and produced a black container with a piece of tin foil which held a powdery substance believed to be Heroin that weighed 0.28 grams. According to Sheriff Ray, Bogle admitted that the substance was Heroin. Bogle also had on him a glass container which held five white round pills believed to be Carisoprodol and a baggy, which he produced from the black container which held a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine that weighed 1.5 grams.

26-year-old Tanisha Danielle Bandy of East Main Street, Smithville is charged with driving on a revoked license. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court November 30. Sheriff Ray said that on November 10 while patrolling East Broad Street, a deputy saw Bandy driving a maroon Dodge Durango. Knowing that her license was revoked, the officer pulled her over and placed her under arrest. This same officer had cited Bandy for the same offense on November 2.

48-year-old Chadwick Foster Sherrod of Tenaha, Texas is charged with possession of a firearm during a felony, reckless endangerment, evading arrest, and a 5th offense of driving under the influence. His bond is $40,000 and he will be in court November 30. Sheriff Ray said that a deputy was summoned to Nashville Highway due to a possible DUI driver and when he approached the area the officer spotted a black Chevrolet Silverado traveling all over the road. The deputy activated his emergency equipment and tried to pull over the vehicle, but the truck failed to stop almost hitting several other automobiles. The vehicle subsequently stopped after a pursuit and the officer spoke with the driver, Sherrod who had a strong odor of alcohol on him. Sherrod’s speech was slurred, and he was unsteady on his feet. A Winchester model 1200 12-gauge shotgun was found behind the truck seat and several open containers of alcohol were in plain view. Sherrod refused to submit to field sobriety tasks.

41-year-old Willie Ray Murphy of West Bryant Street, Smithville is charged with a second offense of driving on a revoked license. His bond is $7,500 and he will make a court appearance November 30. Sheriff Ray said that on November 6 a deputy was patrolling Four Seasons Road when he spotted Murphy driving a white Lincoln car. Knowing that Murphy’s license was revoked, the deputy pulled him over and confirmed the revocation through central dispatch.

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