2017 property tax collections have exceeded projections.

As of March 26, the county had collected 94.30% of the $9.06 million in 2017 DeKalb County property taxes to be collected which includes property, residential, commercial, personal, and public utility taxes, according to Trustee Sean Driver, who addressed the county commission Monday night. That’s better than the 93.77% collection rate the county had budgeted as the anticipated percentage for the year 2017-18.

“I am glad to report tonight we have met budget. This is the first time it (collections) has been this high since 2007. I looked back today and in 2007 it was at 93.20% for this day in March in 2007. The 2017 property tax collections right now are at 94.30%. When I started in office September 1, 2006 we were at around 92% at that time. This time last year the 2016 property tax collections were at 91.35% and that was consistent all the way back to 2007,” said Trustee Driver.

Any 2017 unpaid property taxes may now be paid with interest and penalty. Meanwhile any 2016 unpaid property taxes may be paid with interest and penalty through March 31. However any 2016 unpaid taxes after March 31 will be turned over to the Chancery Court for collection.

Meanwhile there is still time for you to qualify for the State of Tennessee Property Tax Relief Program. If you would like to check on a possible tax relief for 2017, visit the Trustee’s Office at 732 South Congress Boulevard, Room 103, or call 615-597-5176. The last day to sign up for tax relief is April 5.

The Trustee’s Office is open regular hours from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday- Friday.

The 2nd Annual DeKalb Community Health Adventure is back for 2018 featuring additional FREE healthy activities for all ages and skill levels.

“The DeKalb Community Health Adventure focuses on physical and emotional health, while breaking down potential financial or mental barriers to try something new. Oftentimes, when making a decision to try a new healthy activity, sign up for an exercise class, or learn a new skill; we make excuses. Time, money, lack of energy, or even lack of opportunity are at the top of that list. This program, available through a partnership with Tennessee Three Star, Saint Thomas DeKalb, and the DeKalb Prevention Coalition, help to make many of those reasons obsolete.” said Shan Burklow, Regional Community Relations for Saint Thomas Health, “The Community Health Adventure has created programs for children to senior adults that are offered completely free of charge to anyone living in DeKalb County. We urge anyone interested in trying any of these classes to sign up quickly, as limited space is available. Our goal is to improve the health of our community, one person at a time.”

The following FREE classes will be offered at no cost NOW until May 31st: Gentle Yoga, Level 1 & 2 Yoga, Family Style Karate, Watercolor Classes, Zentangle Classes, and Center Hill CrossFit for Beginners. Special needs children & adult classes are available upon reservation.

FREE Classes Now through May 31st:

Every Monday:
Gentle Yoga 9:00 am – no reservation needed
(located at 2580 Nashville Hwy, Smithville, TN)

Family Style Karate Class: 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm – Call Doug Ross: (915) 841-6765
(located at 2580 Nashville Hwy, Smithville, TN)

Level 1-2 yoga: 6:45 pm – 7:45 pm – no reservations needed
(located at 2580 Nashville Hwy, Smithville, TN)

Every Wednesday:
Watercolor Classes at DeKalb County Complex Art Room 10:00am – (Call Justin Potter Library for reservation 615-597-4359)

Gentle Yoga: 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm – no reservation needed
(located at 2580 Nashville Hwy, Smithville, TN)

Family Style Karate Class: 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm – Call Doug Ross: (915) 841-6765

(located at 2580 Nashville Hwy, Smithville, TN)

Level 1-2 yoga: 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm – no reservation needed
(located at 2580 Nashville Hwy, Smithville, TN)

Every Thursday:
Level 2-3 Advanced Yoga Class: 8:30 am – no reservation needed / must have advanced training
(located at 2580 Nashville Hwy, Smithville, TN)

Every Friday:
Family Style Karate Class: 5:00pm-6:30pm
(located at 2580 Nashville Hwy, Smithville, TN)

Special Needs Yoga for children and adults with disabilities –
Call for schedule times – Amy Schwartz: (615) 418-6220

Special Needs Karate for children and adults with disabilities –
Call for schedule times – Doug Ross: (931) 418-6220

CENTER HILL CROSSFIT FOR BEGINNERS
(located at 2580 Nashville Hwy, Smithville, TN)
Classes start April 2nd – Call Center Hill CrossFit at 931-239-5948 now to reserve your spot.

“What our athletes gain through their training at Center Hill CrossFit goes beyond what can be measured by a weight on a bar or a mile time; it’s not just physical improvement…it’s growth on the inside, as well.” said co-owner Caroline Cantrell, “We have three words that are proudly represented at our gym: faith, strength, and community. Our faith-based community sets us apart from other realms of the fitness world. For many, it is an outlet, a home away from home. The CrossFit community includes people committed to a common goal of continual self-improvement while simultaneously bringing out the best in others. There many ways to explain what CrossFit is, but only one way to understand it: experience it. We urge anyone interested in trying CrossFit for the first time, to come out and see what it is all about!”

ABOUT CENTER HILL MARTIAL ARTS CLUB
Center Hill Martial and Healing arts club provides an inclusive martial arts and yoga experience with a focus on citizenship, leadership, and self-discipline. Building confidence and assertiveness skills, our programs will address bullying and introduce peer mediation skills. The focus will be not only on training physical attributes (the techniques of martial arts and yoga), but also in training the mental and emotional attributes of courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and respect.

Martial Arts Contact: Doug Ross: (931) 418-6220
Yoga Contact: Amy Schwartz: (615) 418-6220

For more information on yoga and martial arts classes, go to: www.centerhillmartialartsclub.com

Center Hill CrossFit Contact: Tyler & Caroline Cantrell: 931-239-5948
For more information on Center Hill CrossFit, go to: www.centerhillcrossfit.com

Art Classes Contact: Justin Potter Library for reservation 615-597-4359

A new pay plan will soon be put in place for employees of the DeKalb County Ambulance Service.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the county commission voted 12-1 to adopt the proposal recommended by the budget committee which seeks to reduce overall EMS overtime hours but to raise each employee’s hourly pay. The EMS schedule will change to 24/72 (24 hours on duty/72 hours off duty). EMS employees will also get a 3% bonus retroactive to January 1, 2018 thru to the effective date of the raises in addition to the pay raises which will not be retroactive.

Third District Commissioner Jack Barton moved to adopt the plan. Fifth District member Jerry Adcock seconded the motion.

Commissioners Barton, Adcock, Mason Carter, Kevin Robinson, Joe Johnson, Jonathan Norris, Betty Atnip, Larry Summers, Bradley Hendrix, Julie Young, Wayne Cantrell, and Jimmy Midgett voted in favor. Jeff Barnes voted against it.

Before the vote, First District Commissioner Julie Young moved to amend Barton’s motion. She wanted to approve the new pay scale as proposed but to allow the EMS Director Hoyte Hale to make his own employee schedule instead of implementing the 24/72 plan. Her motion to amend failed to get a second.

After the vote, EMS Director Hale requested more time to implement the new schedule. The commission voted to make it effective with the first pay period in May.

(CLICK PDF LINK BELOW TO VIEW PAY PLAN FOR DEKALB AMBULANCE SERVICE EMPLOYEES AS APPROVED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSION)

510 PAYSCALE LOCKED March 22,2018

(CLICK PDF LINK BELOW TO VIEW 24/72 SHIFT SCHEDULE FOR DEKALB AMBULANCE SERVICE EMPLOYEES AS APPROVED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSION )

24 HOUR Proposed EMS Schedule

According to Commissioner Norris, the plan will cut down on overall EMS overtime hours but will raise each employee’s hourly pay by double digit percentage increases.

“The current pay plan does not have a baseline. Meaning a defined starting point based on Certification and years of service. It also does not have a defined starting and yearly wage chart,” said Commissioner Norris.

“The plan approved by the county commission works like this:

•It will establish a baseline and structure for recognizing certifications and years of service as pay enhancements.

•It will schedule as a 24/72 (24 hours on duty/72 hours off duty) with the first pay period consisting of (2) 48 hour weeks and the second pay period consisting of one 48-hour week and one 24-hour week.

•It will give a double-digit percentage hourly pay raise to each current employee of the EMS.

•It reduces the amount of overtime hours employees must work each year from 824 to 312. It reduces the number of regular hours an employee has to work each year from 2080 to 1872

•It will give 10 days off the first two week pay period and 11 days off the second two week pay period, or roughly 21 days per month off.

•Each employee will have off (3) Fridays, (3) Saturdays (3) Sundays per month

•There will also be a pay increase each year for every employee.

•Years 1-4 is a 2% increase each year

•Year 5 is a 6% longevity increase

•Years 6-9 is a 2% increase each year

•Year 10 is a 5% longevity increase.

•Years 11-15 is a 1.5% increase each year

•Year 16+ is a 1% increase each year

•Current employees will automatically get the increase on their scale for service and certification.

•.50 cent increases on the hour are included for shift supervisors

•.25 cent increases on the hour are included for the designated Quality person and trainer

“In order to establish this baseline and pay scale the schedule must change and while all employees will have double digit percentage increases hourly, some employees would not make as much annually as they did in the previous year 2017. This is due to reduction in hours from 2904 hours per year scheduled to 2184 scheduled. But their pay would continue to increase every year of service with fewer hours required.” explained Commissioner Norris.

“Other employees would receive significant increases annually versus 2017 (the current pay scale) and their pay would continue to grow each year while others would stay roughly the same for one year and then increase each year thereafter according to the established scale,” said Norris.

“The idea is to put in a system that balances the pay scale and increases the hourly wages for the EMS personnel. This is something that allows them to increase and make more money by getting increases on years of service and certifications and not having to rely solely on extra overtime to make their living. One that will allow more home and family time for those that want that and the ability to work in conjunction with other places if that is what they prefer. I believe it will also aid in the attraction of new employees and help with the retention of existing employees. It also has to be fiscally smart and not place a huge burden on the citizens of DeKalb county with huge budget jumps. This is something that we can plan for and budget for each year. It is a measurable scale that allows us to realize its true impact and still continue to increase wages that are more than deserved and needed to provide for the citizens of the county and all the Emergency services personnel. Like anything, this may not be perfect, but it does give us the chance to be financially responsible and do more for those that deserve it.” Norris continued.