County Commission Reappoints Three Beer Board Members

April 25, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Commission Monday night reappointed three members on the Beer Board.

(Click link below to view WJLE facebook video post of meeting)

https://www.facebook.com/wjleradiosmithville

Current members of the Beer Board are Jim Stagi in the 1st District, Myron Rhody in the 2nd District, Bobby Johnson in the 3rd District, Robert Rowe in the 4th District, John Hummer in the 5th District, Leonard Dickens in the 6th District, and Johnny King in the 7th District.

All seven members serve as appointees and the two-year terms are staggered with the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th district positions being appointed in odd years. The 2nd, 4th, and 6th district seats are filled in even years.

Rhody, Rowe, and Dickens were all up for reappointment this year and were approved to serve new terms by the county commission Monday night.

April 25, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Drive through car wash took on a different meaning last Wednesday afternoon as an elderly motorist crashed into the Soft Touch Express Wash on Broad Street in Smithville.

According to Trooper Tony Myers of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 84-year-old Wilma Jo Motley of Smithville was traveling east in a 1997 Mercedes 4 door sedan when she ran off the roadway, collided with a curb, and then continued east off the roadway striking a highway sign. After impact with the sign the vehicle continued east through the parking lot and hit the car wash and payment kiosk before coming to a final rest against the building. Motley, who was wearing a seatbelt, was believed to have been seriously injured in the crash. Also on the scene along with the THP were DeKalb EMS and members of the Smithville Police and Fire Departments.

April 24, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

City of Smithville budget preparations have begun for the 2022-23 fiscal year.

The Mayor and Aldermen held their first budget workshop Thursday evening at city hall in which they and city department heads outlined needed or desired initiatives for the new budget year which begins July 1 but no action has yet been taken on any of them.

The requests range from pay raises to a new garbage truck, fire engine, 4 police cars, the addition of a third paid firefighter, a new roof for the city hall building, and the refurbishment of the playground and benches at Green Brook Park.

Although he could not attend the meeting, Public Works Director Kevin Robinson has requested a new but smaller garbage truck for the sanitation department. The cost is estimated at $115,000. Mayor Josh Miller and City Administrator Hunter Hendrixson spoke on Robinson’s behalf.

“Kevin is asking for a garbage truck. One that is a lot smaller (than others in the fleet). No commercial driver licenses (CDLs) are required for this truck,” said Mayor Miller.

“One of the garbage trucks we have is a 1997 and the other is a 2007 model. Those are our two oldest ones. We are due a newer one. He (Kevin) wants to get a smaller garbage truck to do the town pickups. This would not affect the residential town pickups but would be more for businesses,” said Hendrixson.

Robinson is also requesting that the city budget $15,000 for a tire changer and balancer.

Mayor Miller said replacing the roof at city hall and refurbishing the playground and benches at Green Brook Park are long overdue and need to be funded in the new budget. Although the city would have to replace the broken and splintered wood, a professional company could be contracted to refurbish and stain the playground equipment.

Across the board pay raises may also be budgeted for city employees. Mayor Miller is asking that an 11% cost of living pay hike be funded to help meet the cost of inflation. The mayor is also requesting that the part-time airport manager position, held by Katelyn Sanders, be made full time and that the manager of the Smithville Municipal Swimming Pool and Golf Pro Shop, Jeania Cawthorn, be given a pay raise.

Janice Plemmons-Jackson, the city’s financial advisor, said an 11% across the board pay raise for employees would add close to $260,000 in new spending to the budget putting wages for the 2022-23 year at around $2,616,563 compared to $2,357,000 this year (2021-22).

Mayor Miller is asking that the pay for the aldermen be increased from $50 to $100 per meeting (regular and special meetings) and that this pay include workshop meetings.

Although the mayor has not requested it, Alderman Danny Washer asked that the mayor’s pay be increased from $1,000 to perhaps $2,000 per month.

Mayor Miller is further requesting that the city set aside in capital outlay funds $10,000 to help promote and support downtown events held during the year that bring people in and help local businesses.

Police Chief Mark Collins said he needs two new Dodge Charger patrol cars this year but is asking that funding be budgeted over the next two years to pay for four of them. Because of supply chain issues, Chief Collins said it makes more sense to order them now because of the expected long delay in delivery.

“I would be asking for two cars (this year) but I called Chrysler and there are no 2022 models available. If I order 2023 cars, I have to place an order in July and Dodge will not start producing emergency vehicles until December with a projected end of May or early June, 2023 delivery date. I would rather order four cars now rather than two so that all four could arrive at the same time next summer. We could use this year’s budget to pay for two and next year’s budget to pay for two,” said Chief Collins.

The cost of the new cars is $29,419 per vehicle plus another $10,981 each to equip them. The cars would replace the four 2014 Dodge Chargers the city bought used from Missouri a few years ago.

Fire Chief Charlie Parker is asking the city to fund a third firefighter position and to make plans toward the purchase of a new rescue/pumper fire truck to replace a 21 year old engine.

The first paid firefighter position was created by the city in 2012 held by Chief Parker and the second paid firefighter was added in 2020. Dalton Roberts has that job.

Chief Parker said his long range goal is for the city to one day have at least two paid firefighters on duty in shifts around the clock but for now he is asking for just one additional position. In addition to the two current paid positions, the city has 25 volunteers on the roster but Chief Parker said the volunteers are not always available when needed because of other jobs and commitments.

“We have a shortage of personnel during daytime hours and if there is a fire call we can’t use him (Roberts) at his full potential if I am out of town. He has to wait for somebody else (volunteer) to get here because we don’t allow him to go on a fire call by himself for safety reasons. If I am in town I can go with him on a call. We have 25 people (volunteers) but during the daytime weekdays we are extremely short and sometimes during the weekends too,” said Chief Parker.

Mayor Miller said he is supportive of adding a third paid firefighter position because the city’s population is growing which will increase the probability of more fires.

“Since July 31, 2021 to March 1, 2022, there has been 65 new home permits pulled in the city. I think if everything goes through that I hear people are talking about building plus those already approved there may be as many as 200 homes possibly built, maybe not all of them next year, but its going to happen if the economy stays the way its going. Just to see all these new homes and people coming in, I really think this is not a bad idea (adding third paid firefighter) and we really need to take a look at it,” said Mayor Miller.

Chief Parker is also asking that the 25 volunteer firefighters, who are given $25 per fire call, be budgeted a $10 increase to $35 per call starting with the new fiscal year. Parker has further included increases for training, travel, and uniform allowance expense in his budget request.

According to Chief Parker, the time has come for the city to replace the department’s 2001 fire engine with a new one. The city also has in its fleet a 2018 rescue pumper and a 2012 ladder truck.

“I am asking for the replacement of engine 2 which has reached its 21-year mark. When they (fire trucks) hit 20 years of service we can count them as a reserve unit until they are 25 years old,” said Chief Parker.

“You have taken such good care of these fire trucks, I couldn’t go over there and tell you which is the 2001 and 2018 model,” said Mayor Miller, who apparently has some reservations about committing to the purchase of a new fire truck at this time.

A new truck would be similar but smaller than the department’s 2018 rescue pumper, according to Chief Parker but it would be more expensive with a price tag of possibly up to $975,000. Since it would take up to two years for delivery if ordered this year, Chief Parker suggested that the city consider trying to lock in a price on a new truck if possible and make financial arrangements to pay for it. When the 2001 fire truck is replaced, Chief Parker said the city could sell it.

“My concern is if a new fire truck is needed and we know we are going to do it (purchase) and can save two, three, or four hundred thousand dollars because you are doing it now versus two or three years from now, that is something to look at especially if you can lock the price in with options,” said Alderman Brandon Cox.

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