Smithville Aldermen Establish Regulations for Billboards

October 8, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

 When the Smithville Aldermen updated the city’s zoning ordinance earlier this year they did not include regulations for billboard signs.

The ordinance merely defined what a Billboard is “Any sign over 120 square feet in size, generally used for off-premises advertising”.

Since then no new billboards have been erected in the city.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, Mayor Josh Miller, acting on a request from an interested party, asked the aldermen to adopt an ordinance regulating the use of billboards in Smithville. Applicants would have to obtain a building permit and meet with the approval of the city’s building codes inspector.

The proposed ordinance reads as follows:

“Billboards shall only be permitted on Broad Street (US-70) and Congress Boulevard (State Route 56). All Billboards must be located at least 25 feet from all rights-of-ways. The maximum size for a billboard shall be 400 square feet and the maximum height shall be 25 feet. No billboard shall be located within 1,500 linear feet of another billboard on the same side of the street or within 500 feet radius of any other billboard. Digital billboards will only be allowed if displayed messages have no flashing or twinkling lights and if all messages remain displayed for at least six seconds”.

The aldermen gave first reading approval to the new ordinance Monday night and will act on second and final reading at a later meeting.

In other business, the aldermen also accepted a bid from Copeland DRP, LLC of Cookeville for street paving at $89.85 per ton. It was the lowest of the three bids submitted. The other bids were from Tinsley Asphalt, LLC of Tullahoma at $89.96 per ton and Rogers Group, Incorporated of Cookeville for $99.50 per ton.

October 8, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The City of Smithville is embarking on a plan to eventually build new sidewalks and improve pedestrian crossings and is hoping to obtain a grant of up to almost $1 million to help make it happen.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the aldermen adopted a resolution to authorize the submission of an application to the Tennessee Department of Transportation for a Multi-Modal Access Grant.

This program is a 95/5% match for construction of up to $1 million. If fully funded, the city would receive $950,000 in grant funding with a $50,000 local match requirement for construction of new sidewalk and crosswalk improvements along the State Route 26 (Highway 70) and State Route 56 (Congress Boulevard) corridors and intersections.

Ragan-Smith Associates of Nashville will design the project at a cost of up to $5,000.

The grant application will be filed and if approved be administered on behalf of the City by the Upper Cumberland Development District.

UCDD representative Virginia Alexander addressed the mayor and aldermen Monday night.

“In June we applied for the letter of intent for the Multi- Modal Access Grant for a project that would be on Highway 70 for intersections at Highway 70 & 56 and Highway 70 and Short Mountain Road and for sidewalks up to the Industrial Park on Highway 70. TDOT asked that we put in a full application so that is what this resolution is addressing and we can request up to $950,000 with a $50,000 match. It’s a 95/5% project which is very rare to find especially with road projects,” said Alexander.

“We are working with Ragan-Smith to come up with the design for this project and we will have to do a request for qualifications for engineers when the grant is awarded. For their services they  (Ragan-Smith)are asking for no more than $5,000 depending on the scope of work. They will be coming up to look at the project and drawing some preliminary sketches and work on the budget for us,” Alexander continued.

It may be at least January before its known if the City will be awarded the grant.

“They will take the winter time to review the applications and probably announce in January. Contracting takes from four to six months depending on TDOT’s schedule. You probably would not have to spend any funds until the 2020-21 fiscal year,” added Alexander.

October 8, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A woman caught driving erratically by a county deputy last week also had a variety of drugs and paraphernalia

42 year old Stephanie Lee Vanatta of Blue Springs Road, Smithville is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver; sale and delivery of schedule I, IV & VI drugs, driving under the influence, and failure to appear. Her bond totals $83,500 and she will be in court on these charges October 17.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Thursday, October 3 a deputy was patrolling on Keltonburg Road when he noticed a car failing to maintain its lane of travel. He pulled it over and spoke with the driver, Vanatta and learned that she has active warrants against her. Vanatta told the officer that she was on probation. Her driver license is also suspended. The officer observed that Vanatta was unsteady on her feet and she admitted to having taken methamphetamine earlier in the day. Vanatta submitted to field sobriety tasks but performed poorly. Although she agreed to give blood for a test, a search warrant was secured for a blood sample

During a search of Vanatta’s vehicle, the officer found three baggies with a total of 15 xanax pills, four baggies of a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine totaling 1.40 ounces, 0.4 grams of a powdery substance  thought  to be heroin wrapped in tin foil, five bags of marijuana totaling 11 grams, along with drug paraphernalia including scales, extra baggies, and cash

Vanatta had failed to appear in General Sessions Court on September 26 for previous charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a prohibited weapon and another failure to appear charge.

47 year old Mark Anthony Mason, Jr. of Dearman Street, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. He was also cited for violation of the open container law. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court October 17.

Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, October 3 a deputy and Smithville Police Officer spotted a gray Dodge pickup truck on Midway Road matching the description of vehicle given by a complainant concerning a reckless driver. Officers pulled over the truck and spoke with the driver, Mason. He had a strong odor of alcohol on him and he was unsteady on his feet. His speech was also slurred. Mason submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He admitted to having consumed Vodka while driving and an open container of Vodka was found in the truck.

27 year old Richard James Horst of Edgewood Street, Alexandria is charged with driving under the influence. He was also cited for violation of the light law. His bond is $2,500 and he will make a court appearance October 17.

Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, October 4 a deputy spotted a black BMW SUV traveling north on Brush Creek Highway with a passenger side headlight out. He pulled over the vehicle and spoke with the driver, Horst. He had a strong odor of alcohol on him. Horst’s speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet. He submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks.

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