City Approves Certificate of Compliance for Potential New Liquor Store Owners

May 13, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

A local liquor store is undergoing a change in ownership and the Smithville Mayor and Aldermen during a special meeting Tuesday night approved a certificate of compliance by the new owners.

Smithville Discount Wine and Spirits at 413 East Broad Street opened in 2015. The owner is Jim Smith but he is selling the business to Nita and Sherrod Patel pending approval of city and state conditions for the new owners’ liquor license. The Patels will be leasing the property from the landowner Randy Paris.

Under city and state laws, the aldermen must adopt a new liquor store owner’s certificate of compliance before he or she can make application to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission. The agency which has the sole authority to grant a liquor license. The certificate of compliance signifies the store owner has met all the city’s requirements for an application to the state.

City Administrator Hunter Hendrixson and City Attorney Vester Parsley said the applicants have met conditions for approval of a certificate of compliance under the city’s liquor ordinance. One requirement is that the new owners, like the current one, must keep at least a $150,000 inventory of liquor at all times.

May 13, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The City of Smithville and the DeKalb Utility District have amended a mutual aid agreement between the two utilities to sell water to each other during times of need.

Under the agreement, as amended, each utility will sell water to each other at the DUD’s established wholesale rate at the time of purchase since Smithville does not have a wholesale rate.  City officials say the DUD wholesale rate currently is $3.20 per 1,000 gallons but that could change over the life of the new five year agreement.

The Smithville Aldermen approved the new agreement as amended Tuesday night during a special meeting. The DUD board of commissioners have already adopted it.

The original agreement, approved in 2017, called for the city and DUD to sell water to each other at a rate of $2.67 per 1,000 gallons. The rate was later increased.

Last month attorneys for both sides proposed an amendment to the agreement which called for each utility to sell water to the other at a wholesale price but didn’t define an actual cost or how the wholesale rate was to be determined. The aldermen, though not opposed to the concept, asked for more specifics at that time before taking action.

For decades, the DeKalb Utility District had purchased water from the city to serve its customers but in 2017 the DUD opened its own water treatment plant. Since then the two utilities have operated independently of each other.

May 13, 2020
By:

In the DeKalb county community, many typical events have been postponed or canceled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the graduating class of 2020 feels an intense sense of loss. Graduates and those who have supported their efforts have grappled with the disappointments,
knowing things could be much worse.

In challenging times such as these, art can heal the hearts of the many affected. Thus, a mural project has begun as a community tribute to the graduating class of 2020.

Jessica Higgins and her graduating daughter, Karleigh Atnip, considered many ideas leading up to the
selection of a commemorative mural. This enduring display has the support of local graphics designer
Mary Ann Puckett, TN native artist Jody Johnson, and local Judge Bratten Cook. It will, however, need
the help of many more. Mary Ann, a former art teacher at DCHS, agreed to layout the design work (as
seen in the photo), artist Jody Johnson has agreed to bring much of the artwork to life, and Judge Cook
has lovingly (and without hesitation) donated the back of his building at 106 N 3rd St for the mural.

“This mural is history in the making. It recognizes one of life’s many milestones for those up and coming
in our community. This mural is about our community being the family that it is, especially in times like
these.” said Jessica Higgins.

“We need community members to help with the painting of all our seniors’ names. Each graduating
student will have their name painted on the mural as it would be read at a traditional graduation
ceremony.” Higgins adds, “We want these students to feel our respect for them through this mural. If
you enjoy painting and desire to be a part of this historical display, we want you to contact us!”
Please contact Higgins at jesshiggins2014@gmail.com for questions or to sign up to paint.

In addition to volunteers, monetary donations to cover costs and expenses are needed and most
appreciated. There will be an account set up at a local bank for such contributions. Once again, contact
Higgins at jesshiggins2014@gmail.com for more information on how to donate.

Lastly, there is a call to our community members that can donate materials. There will be a need for
paint, and paint related items (brushes, rollers, etc.). “We also want to do a small amount of landscaping
above the toe wall, with possibly a bench for families to sit with their graduates for pictures, ” said Higgins.

This will likely include some landscape gravel, and perhaps some potted plants. If you have the ability
and desire to help with materials contact Higgins at jesshiggins2014@gmail.com.

“I have been so anxious to tell the community about this project! The amount of excitement that I feel knowing that we have a great group of people already working behind the scenes makes me overly happy. Now, knowing that the community will be a part of this takes it to a new level of excitement! It’s high-five worthy,” said Higgins.

Congratulations to the DCHS graduating class of 2020!

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