Commodity loans available for producers of corn, wheat, and soybeans

January 27, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Commodity loans are currently available for producers of corn, wheat, and soybeans who have crop year 2020 commodities in storage. Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements before receiving these USDA benefits. To be eligible, a producer must maintain continual beneficial interest in the crop from harvest through the earlier of the date the loan is repaid or CCC takes title to the commodity. Beneficial interest means retaining the ability to make decisions about the commodity; responsibility for loss or damage to the commodity; and title to the commodity. Once beneficial interest in a commodity is lost, the commodity is ineligible for loan – even if the producer regains beneficial interest.

These loans provide producers with immediate financing on their stored commodities held as loan collateral. Instead of selling the crop immediately after harvest, these loans allow the producer to store the crop for a maximum of 9 months to allow for market gains in the event of a depressed market at the time of harvest. Applicants should allow 3-4 workdays for processing and disbursing the loan proceeds.

Loans can be approved beginning at harvest and until March 31 for wheat and, until May 31 for corn and soybeans. The 2020 crop year commodity loans rates for DeKalb and Cannon Counties are as follows:

Corn—$2.31 / bu.
Soybeans—$6.36/ bu.
Wheat—$3.24/ bu.

The CCC interest rate for marketing assistance loans changes each month. For January 2021,
the interest rate is 1.125%.

Violating provisions of a marketing assistance loan may trigger administrative actions, such as assessing liquidated damages, calling the loan and denial of future farm-stored loans.

For more information, call the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency at 615-597-8225, extension 2.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

January 26, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The deadline to pay your 2020 DeKalb County property taxes is Sunday, February 28 but you need to act sooner if you want to pay in person.

The Trustees office is open Monday-Friday each week from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. This year’s deadline falls on a weekend and while the Trustee’s Office will be closed Saturday and Sunday, February 27 & 28 due to the weekend (when the office is typically closed) and COVID-19 concerns there are other options to pay your property taxes including by mail, online, and at the dropbox located on the outside of the building at the County Complex (County Offices Section) on South Congress Boulevard.

“Remember if the last day comes and you can’t make it to the Post Office to postmark your payment you can drop the payment in our dropbox. If you choose to use our dropbox on February 27 or February 28 we will gather the mail in the office on Monday morning, March 1 and no interest will be applied to your 2020 tax bill,” said Trustee Sean Driver.

“If you do place your payment in our dropbox that weekend (February 27 or February 28) make sure it is by check or money order. If you make a cash payment be sure it is in the exact amount because if you overpay we cannot make a refund,” added Driver.

Property taxes are now due and payable through February 28, 2021 before any interest becomes due on March 1, 2021.

As of Monday, January 25, Trustee Driver said collections were at 52.13% of almost $10.8 million in DeKalb County property taxes to be collected by February 28, 2021 which includes property, residential, commercial, personal, and public utility taxes. That is 4.5% better than collections last year by the same date, January 25, 2020.

For budgeting purposes, the county expects tax collections each year to be at least 94.75% with a 5.25% delinquency.

The Trustee’s office offers up to 6 different options to pay your property taxes prior to February 28, 2021:

*Come in person to the office to pay (Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.)

*Mail in your payment (a receipt can be sent to you upon request)

* Pay online @ www.tennesseetrustee.org, then select DeKalb and follow the instructions to the next screens. The Vendor BIS (Business Information Systems) accepts Discover, MasterCard, 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.

* A QR (Quick Response Code) is also your means of accessing the website www.tennesseetrustee.org with your smart phone.

* Dropbox located on the outside of the building at the County Complex (County Offices Section) for your convenience after hours or on weekends.

*Partial Payments are accepted and you the taxpayer sets the amount to pay until full payment is made.

The Trustee’s office is accepting applications for the Tennessee Property Tax Relief Program through April 5, 2021.

If you would like to inquire more about a possible tax relief for property taxes, come by the Trustee’s office in the County Complex at 732 S Congress Boulevard-Room 103, Smithville or call 615-597-5176.

Meanwhile any 2019 property taxes still unpaid will be turned over by the Trustee to the Chancery Court for collection the week of April 1, 2021. Full or partial payments are being accepted with interest and penalty on unpaid 2019 property taxes through April 1, 2021.

January 25, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The county commission has a new member.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, Shaee Flatt of Alexandria was appointed by the commission to fill the unexpired term of Dennis Slager who resigned in November. Flatt edged out Tom Chandler by a vote of 7 to 6 for the position. A third candidate, Waylon Kyle received no support from the commission.

Flatt is a former Mt. Juliet resident and former managing editor of the Chronicle of Mt Juliet. He now serves as a special education teacher and football coach at Mt Juliet High School. Flatt and his wife and children have lived in Alexandria for three years.

Each of the three men, Flatt, Chandler, and Kyle was given an opportunity to address the county commission prior to the vote to express his desire to serve.

The commission then adopted a procedure for the selection of the appointee. Commissioners could place a name in nomination. First district member Julie Young nominated Chandler. Seventh district Commissioner Beth Pafford nominated Flatt. No one nominated Kyle. During the roll call each of the commissioners voted by calling out the name of either Flatt or Chandler.

Commissioners voting for Flatt were Myron Rhody, Bobby Johnson, Jenny Trapp, Janice Fish Stewart, Dr. Scott Little, Jeff Barnes, and Beth Pafford. Those voting for Chandler were Julie Young, Sabrina Farler, Anita Puckett, Jerry Adcock, Matt Adcock, and Bruce Malone.

Flatt will serve out Slager’s term which ends August 31, 2022.

Near the end of the meeting, Flatt was sworn into office by County Mayor Tim Stribling.

The county commission is made up of two members from each of the seven districts including Shaee Flatt and Julie Young from the 1st district; Sabrina Farler and Myron Rhody from the 2nd district, Bobby Johnson and Jenny Trapp from the 3rd district, Janice Fish Stewart and Dr. Scott Little from the 4th district, Jerry Adcock and Anita Puckett from the 5th district, Jeff Barnes and Matt Adcock from the 6th district, and Bruce Malone and Beth Pafford from the 7th district.

In a letter to the County Mayor and Commission expressing his interest in the position, Flatt wrote “This month marks three years since my wife and I decided to move from Mt. Juliet to Alexandria. We have two small children who have made friends here and have known no other home. My wife and I agree that we want to make Alexandria and DeKalb County our permanent home. After talking with family, friends, and other members of the community, I decided to seek the office of Commissioner”.

“As someone who went to school for journalism and ended up working three years as the Managing Editor of the Chronicle of Mt. Juliet, I spent many nights at county commission and city council meetings as well as numerous other similar meetings. I developed an appreciation and fondness for local government as the institution most committed to solving the problems and issues that emerge in the community whether that is education, emergency services, safety and security, or whatever the people themselves think will be important in enhancing the quality of life for them and the County”.

“After leaving the Chronicle, I worked a few years at Wilson Bank and Trust before finally settling into a career as a Special Education teacher and football coach at my alma mater, Mt. Juliet High School. I have always placed a great emphasis on investing in the youth in any community and being able to mentor, lead, and shepherd teenagers through such a critical time in their lives, This is something I deeply value. I feel extremely blessed to be in the position I am in and would love to be able to pursue those interests in DeKalb County”.

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