Smithville Police Department Gets New Officer

January 30, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The Smithville Police Department has a new officer.

Colt Stewart was hired by the aldermen to fill a vacancy in the police department during a special meeting held Tuesday night at city hall.

Chief Mark Collins, who made the recommendation, said Stewart is a five year law enforcement veteran who comes to the city after working at the sheriff’s department. “ I think he will be a valuable asset and great help to the police department,” said Chief Collins.

Meanwhile, the aldermen also voted to promote officer Lance Dillard to the rank of sergeant in the police department upon the recommendation of Chief Collins.

After the meeting, Officer Stewart was sworn in by City Attorney Vester Parsley. Two other recent additions to the police department, Officers Kendall Parker and Eric Ervin were also sworn in.

In other business, the aldermen voted to hire David Ward to fill a vacancy in the sanitation department. Ward has a commercial drivers license.

January 30, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Would you like to lease the Smithville Golf Course?

After a year of city management, the mayor and aldermen have decided to once again lease the operation of the golf course to a new tenant for a nominal fee, possibly as low as a dollar a year.

During a special meeting held Tuesday night at city hall, the aldermen voted to advertise that the city will be seeking a response or bids from persons or entities, preferably with golf course/management experience, who are interested in leasing the golf course and managing the swimming pool.

The aldermen have also given City Administrator Hunter Hendrixson and City Attorney Vester Parsley the authority to establish terms of the lease subject to their review and final approval.

As for the swimming pool and tennis courts, the city will maintain control and pay all expenses and collect fees but the new golf course tenant will be expected to oversee the operation of the pool as manager.

During the last year the city has invested in the purchase of golf course maintenance equipment, entered into a four year lease for the use of golf carts at $1,095 per month, and hired co-managers who have since resigned, plus other expenses.

The bottom line is the operation of the golf course has been costly to the city.

“After spending all that money I know we were trying to keep it for ourselves (city) but I really think we need to consider putting it out for lease at this time. I know we have to work out the details but we definitely don’t need to do another lease like we had the last time,” said Mayor Josh Miller.

Plans are to include terms giving the new tenant options of leasing or purchasing the city’s golf course maintenance equipment and assuming the city’s golf cart lease, if transferrable or reimbursing the city for its costs of leasing the golf carts.

“I think if they (tenant) will pick up the lease or terms on the carts that puts us (city) at zero on that and if they will do something with the equipment, buy or lease, that gets us somewhere close to zero on that. I think anything negative over $450,000 is fine with me because we have lost about a quarter of a million dollars over the last few years,” said Alderman Brandon Cox.

City officials admit that while the pool is not a money maker either, it provides a service to families, especially youngsters. By not including the pool in with the golf course lease, the city does not forfeit its eligibility to apply for parks and recreational grants for the pool.

“Operating that pool is a service. There are a lot of people who take advantage of that pool. There is a smaller number who take advantage of the golf course. We don’t have a lot to do here for kids. That’s something for them to do. I’m okay with going in the hole to provide a service to kids but the golf course is a different story. If we get the pool fixed and minimize our costs I’m okay with spending $15 to 20, or $30 thousand dollars a year to provide that service,” added Alderman Cox.

Mayor Miller said the city last year spent $30,000 just in life guard salaries. The pool is also leaking badly and will have to be repaired before it re-opens in May.

The golf course remains open for now as long as the daily high temperature is over 45 degrees. Its currently under the supervision of city part time employees.

The mayor and aldermen will schedule another workshop and special meeting within a couple of weeks to review all bids/resumes received and possibly enter into a lease with a new golf course tenant.

January 29, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The Trustee’s Office will be a busy place for the next month as taxpayers rush to beat the February 28 deadline to pay their 2018 county property taxes.

As of Monday, Trustee Sean Driver said 48.92% has been collected of the $9,127,983 in 2018 DeKalb County property taxes to be collected by February 28, 2019 which includes property, residential, commercial, personal, and public utility taxes.

In a report to the County Commission Monday night, Driver said collections are lagging behind last year’s collection rate of 54.21% but that is most likely because people are holding on to their money longer due to changes in the tax laws on standard deductions.

Although the tax base aggregate generated through county assessments is up from $9.06 million last year, Trustee Driver said the county saw a drop of $29,000 in the public utility taxes derived through the state. He also reported that assets and liabilities are in balance at $25,240, 983 on all departments.

Property taxes are now due and payable through February 28, 2019 before any interest becomes due on March 1, 2019.

The Trustee’s office offers up to 6 different options to pay your property tax:

( 1.) Come in person to the office to pay. The Trustee’s office is open from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

( 2.) Mail in your payment

( 3.) Pay online at www.tennesseetrustee.org, then select DeKalb and follow the instructions to the next screens. The Vendor (Business Information Systems) accepts Discover, MasterCard, Visa, or American Express. The Vendor convenience fee of 2.75% on the total tax bill will apply and fees are subject to change for using credit/debit cards. Also, a $2.75 fee will be assessed on an e-check payment of any amount. Business Information Systems collects the fees, not DeKalb County.

(5.) A dropbox is located on the outside of the building at the County Complex (County Offices Section) for your convenience after hours or on weekends. Remember on the last day, February 28 if you can’t make it to the post office to postmark your payment, the dropbox is available. If you choose to make use of the dropbox on February 28, the mail will be gathered on Friday, March 1 and no interest will be applied your 2018 tax bill.

(6.) Partial Payments are accepted in any amount but portions unpaid after the February 28 deadline will accrue a 1.5% interest per month starting March 1, 2019.

Driver further explained that any 2017 property taxes still owed after February 28 will be turned over to the Chancery Court on April 1, 2019 for collection. The Trustee’s office can still accept partial payments on 2017 delinquent taxes through March 31, 2019. The Trustee will make one more notice on the unpaid 2017 delinquent property taxes on February 1, 2019.

Eligible taxpayers may also qualify for the Tennessee State Tax Relief Program.

This program was implemented in 1973 and it has a few changes every year. For the 2018 tax year, you can qualify for Tax Relief if:

(a.) Your DeKalb County home is your primary residence,

(b.) You are 65 years old (or older) as of December 31, 2018, or totally and permanently disabled as by the SSA or another qualifying agency, and

(c.) Your 2017 Annual Income of all persons on the deed and their spouses did not exceed $29,270.00.

“If the State of Tennessee qualifies you for a Tax Relief, then you can receive a rebate up to $118.00 for 2018. You must pay your 2018 tax bill IN FULL to start the application,” Trustee Driver explained.

The State of Tennessee also offers Tax Relief for Disabled Veterans and the surviving spouses of a disabled veteran.

“You must provide proof from the Veteran’s Administration that you have a 100% service-connected disability. You or your spouse will NOT have to report any income to apply as a disabled veteran or the widow or widower of a disabled veteran. If the State of Tennessee qualifies you as a disabled veteran or the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran, then you can receive a rebate up to $745.00”

“The Trustee’s office is accepting applications for the Tax Relief Program through April 5, 2019. If you would like to inquire more about a possible tax relief, come by the County Complex in the Trustee’s office at 732 S Congress Blvd-Room 103, Smithville, TN 37166 or call us at 615-597-5176,” Trustee Driver concluded.

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