Former Mayor and Son To Stand Trial Next Summer

December 11, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

Former Smithville Mayor Jimmy Poss and his son Tony have decided to take their cases of official misconduct and theft over $2,500 to trial rather than accept a plea deal with prosecutors.

Both made a brief appearance Tuesday in DeKalb County Criminal Court before Judge David Patterson.

The jury trial is scheduled for July 23 and 24, 2019. Both Jimmy and Tony remain on bond. Jimmy is represented by attorney Brandon Bellar of Carthage. Tony’s lawyer is Jamie Winkler of Carthage

The charges stem from a move by the former mayor to put his son on the city payroll last fall without the approval of the aldermen.

In July the DeKalb County Grand Jury returned a sealed indictment against former Mayor Poss for Official Misconduct and Theft of Property over $2,500. Tony Poss was also named in the sealed indictment for Theft of Property over $2,500.

The following month, Jimmy Poss lost his re-election bid for mayor.

The first count of the indictment alleged that “between the dates of September 1, 2017 and March 2, 2018 Jimmy Wayne Poss did unlawfully and knowingly, while acting as a public servant, commit an offense with intent to obtain a benefit by authorizing the unlawful payment of wages to Anthony Wayne Poss in violation of (state law).”

The second count of the indictment alleged that “between the dates of September 1, 2017 and March 2, 2018 Jimmy Wayne Poss and Anthony Wayne Poss did unlawfully and knowingly obtain or exercise control over property, including but not limited to: cash valued at over $2,500, belonging to the City of Smithville with the intent to deprive the owner thereof and without the owner’s effective consent, in violation of (state law)”.

The cases were presented to the grand jury by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation who began a probe after the issue surfaced in March.

Last September, Tony Poss was put on the city payroll to work at the golf course and swimming pool but the aldermen said Mayor Poss violated the city’s hiring and nepotism policies in hiring Tony without their approval.

City records show that from September 1, 2017 to March 2, 2018 Tony earned $300 per week (gross) for a total of $8,100. When the issue came to light on March 5, Tony’s employment with the city ended.

Although Tony was supposedly hired to mow the grass at the golf course, Mayor Poss admitted at the March 5 city council meeting that he (Tony) actually did other things.

“We had a problem and what he (Tony) has done, he has taken care of that golf course with what Riverwatch wasn’t doing. He (Tony) has protected us from freezing up. The pool was running low with no water being put in it. It wasn’t being maintained by the city and that wasn’t Ken’s deal (Ken Lacy of Riverwatch). This is what Tony did. He took care of the city’s property. Now it wasn’t mowing. That’s an error there,” explained Mayor Poss.

The aldermen were not satisfied with the mayor’s explanation and questioned whether Tony actually did any work to earn his salary.

Later during a special meeting in March, the aldermen formally censured the mayor for his actions. The move was basically a reprimand or expression of disapproval. The vote was 5-0.

In a separate move the aldermen considered asking the mayor to reimburse the city for the salary paid to Tony during the six month period he was a part time employee but voted 3 to 2 against it. Aldermen Gayla Hendrix and Shawn Jacobs voted in favor but Aldermen Jason Murphy, Josh Miller, and Danny Washer voted no. Had it been approved, the aldermen admitted that a reimbursement request probably could not have been enforced.

Prior to the censure vote, Vice Mayor Jason Murphy, who presided over the meeting in the absence of Mayor Poss, recognized City Attorney Vester Parsley who read a prepared statement from the mayor explaining his actions in putting Tony to work at the golf course and swimming pool during the fall and winter.

“My hiring of my son to maintain the pool and equipment at the golf course has become an issue because of our charter and city ordinances. I want the council and the public to understand that my only goal was to safeguard and maintain the equipment located at the golf course. I want to assure you that it wasn’t a waste of the city’s funds because the equipment must be maintained and my son was the most logical choice. In hindsight, his hiring without council approving may have been a mistake. I have, however, hired other part time employees without the approval of the council in the past and at the time felt it was not necessary to seek the council’s approval,” wrote Mayor Poss.

Tony Poss had a ten year lease of the city’s golf course and swimming pool but he surrendered his lease of the facilities in August, 2017. The following month, the city entered into a one year contract with Riverwatch Golf & Resort to upgrade and maintain the golf course at a cost to the city of $74,115. It was also in September that Tony Poss became a part time city employee.

“We hired Riverwatch to repair and maintain the golf course at a substantial amount of money. Tony Poss had terminated his lease with the city. I don’t think his services were needed and we have no proof that anything had actually been done (by Tony) to earn the money that was paid out,” said Alderman Hendrix prior to the censure vote in March.

December 11, 2018
By:

Congressman-Elect John Rose (TN-6) has tapped former Congressman Van Hilleary as his chief of staff. Hilleary was asked to lead the new Congressman’s staff as Rose aims to make timely, effective constituent services the cornerstone of his service to the people of Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District.

Van Hilleary knows about connecting with constituents; he served as the congressman for Tennessee’s 4th Congressional District from 1995 to 2003. He built a solid conservative record in support of a strong national defense, balanced budgets, tax cuts, business deregulation, the Second Amendment, and rights of the unborn. He left office to run for Governor of Tennessee in 2002 on an education reform and anti-income tax platform, but fell just short in a close race to now former Governor Phil Bredesen.

Congressman-elect Rose, a small businessman and farmer, was a first-time candidate for elective office in 2018. Rose stated, “Having an experienced person like Van Hilleary agree to serve as my chief of staff will greatly benefit me and my constituents from day one. He will bring the Washington know-how to our team, but is not a Washington insider. He is my friend and I could not be more proud to have him on board. Together, we will work to bring the highest level of service to this office so the people I serve are represented in the fullest manner possible.”

State Representative and House Republican Caucus Chairman Cameron Sexton of Crossville added, “As a member of his campaign staff in 2002, I was an up-close witness to then-Congressman Hilleary’s renowned work ethic, knowledge of public policy, and respect for the people of Tennessee. I believe Congressman-elect Rose’s inspired selection of such an experienced and accomplished public servant as his chief of staff will pay dividends for him and the people of Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District.”

Also commenting on the selection, State Senator Paul Bailey of Sparta said, “Van Hilleary was a popular and respected congressman in his old congressional district, and a number of those counties are now included in our 6th district. I think he will be a great right hand to Congressman-elect Rose as he seeks to hit the ground running in Washington, while at the same time making sure his constituents’ needs are addressed in an effective and timely manner.”

December 10, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

More than 1,200 toys were collected for DeKalb County Foster Children during last week’s 1^st Annual Festival of Trees held at the County Complex.

Outreach Baptist Church took top honors for DeKalb County Tree of the Year and the tree with the Most Touching Theme. To be named Tree of the Year, it had to have the most gifts placed under it for foster children. The 50+ Club collected over 50 toys including the 4-H Club, the office of Dr. Cliff Duke, DDS; Town & Lake Realty;  Smithville Assembly of God;  Middle Tennessee Tae Kwon Do; Creations By Donna; and Coordinated School Help .

Patrons to the event last Monday came bearing gifts which they placed under their favorite tree along Holly Hall, Candy Cane Lane, Cookies Café, and Stocking Theatre.

Last Monday night’s event also featured FREE pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus on the North Pole Stage, refreshments in the Cookies Café, and the Christmas Shopping Court where more than 20 vendor booths displayed delightful Christmas gift ideas for sale.

Other award winners:

*Prettiest Tree: Creations By Donna

*Most Christmas Spirit: Liberty State Bank

*Most Unique Tree: Justin Potter Library

*Best Themed Tree: The Office of Dr. Cliff Duke, DDS

*Most Touching theme: Outreach Baptist Church

*The Tree you want in your Living Room: Smithville Assembly of God

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