DeKalb Early Voting Turnout Stands at 1,695 with Two Days Left

October 30, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A total of 1,695 people has cast ballots in DeKalb County to date with two more days left of early voting for the State and Federal November 8 elections.

Times for early voting at the courthouse through November 3 are as follows: Wednesday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Thursday 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The hours for voting at the 12 precincts on Election Day, November 8th are 8 a.m. until 7 p.m.

The daily breakdown of early voting for this election in DeKalb County is as follows:

Wednesday, October 19- 149 (113 in person and 36 by absentee)
Thursday, October 20- 142 (140 in person and 2 by absentee)
Friday, October 21- 140 (138 in person and 2 by absentee)
Saturday, October 22- 91 (90 in person and 1 by absentee)
Monday, October 24- 122 (110 in person and 12 by absentee)
Tuesday, October 25- 148 (146 in person and 2 by absentee)
Wednesday, October 26- 116 (100 in person and 16 by absentee or assisted living centers)
Thursday, October 27- 215 (152 in person and 12 by absentee in Smithville and 51 in person at the fairgrounds in Alexandria)
Friday, October 28- 160 (152 in person and 8 by absentee)
Saturday, October 29-139 (119 in person and 29 by absentee or NHC Healthcare Center)

Monday, October 31-129 (114 in person and 15 by absentee

Tuesday, November 1-144 (139 in person and 6 by absentee)

Voters will be making their selections for Governor, Congressman and State Representative and voters in the 4th district only will have a candidate for Constable to fill an unexpired term. In addition, voters will be making their choices on four constitutional amendments.

October 29, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The auditorium stage at the Mike Foster Multi-Purpose Center has been upgraded with the addition of a new LED digital video wall thanks in part to a Tennessee Tourism Enhancement Grant.

Suzanne Williams, Director of the Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce, who wrote the grant for the project, and Jeff Nokes, local contractor and owner of Nokes Technical Services Group (NTSG) who spearheaded the installation, unveiled the LED video wall for the county mayor and county commission Monday night.

(View demonstration of the new LED video wall by Suzanne Williams and Jeff Nokes starting 37 minutes into the video below)

Through computer technology, the video wall will enhance all future stage productions using digital videos and animations rather than conventional props and backdrops to enrich the audience entertainment experience. During Monday night’s meeting, the commissioners were treated to you tube video views of scenic places around the world shot in 4K (HD Video) along with animations of a winter snow fall and the American flag waving in the breeze all with a music background.

In addition to enhancing play productions, the video wall can be used during a variety of other special occasion, religious and holiday related events along with banquets, concerts, and meetings. The possibilities are almost limitless.

“The Chamber wrote two Tourism Enhancement Grants. The first one was for the Smithville Jamboree, and it was for $75,000. We were needing a new stage, backdrop, skirting, and all the fixings for the Jamboree stage and then we wrote another Tourism Enhancement Grant the same year for the county complex for a digital backdrop,” said Williams.

The match was $7,500 for each grant funded by the county along with cost overruns.

“It’s a 34’ x 8’ LED wall with a 16-inch hip wall above the floor. The LED wall consists of 400 panels. The way it works is that the computer goes to a processor which sends a signal over an Ethernet cable to the screen. Anything a computer can generate it can be displayed on this LED wall, ” said Nokes.

For anyone who wishes to rent the auditorium and make use of the LED screen a trained technician must be on site scheduled by the county complex staff to operate the system to coordinate the sound system, lighting, and the screen,” added Nokes.

October 29, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Plans are in the works to eventually install a new irrigation system for the fairways and greens at the Smithville Golf Course replacing the 55-year-old infrastructure.

During a special called meeting Thursday night, the Aldermen adopted a budget amendment ordinance on first reading in the amount of $375,000 to purchase materials for the project. The labor costs will be addressed later estimated to be around $215,000. Bids were advertised recently but none were received.

“On the golf course irrigation, we put it out for bids and never got any bids because everybody (contractors) is too busy to put it in right now during the fall and wintertime because they have too much work right now,” said City Public Works Director Kevin Robinson.

“My suggestion is to find the materials (based on the state bid contract) and then bid it out in two or three months. That way they will have time to put it on their books for next year in October,” added Robinson.

The city’s financial advisor Janice Plemmons Jackson said that the funds are available for this project in the city budget thanks in part to golf course generated fees over the years.

“We have a separate checking account that all golf course monies come into and currently we have $414, 750 in the golf course checking account. I would add that not only did the golf course bring in that kind of revenue but two years ago from last week $300,000 was transferred out of that checking account into the general fund so the golf course does bring in revenue to help cover its costs. In the last several years it has brought in over $700,000 in revenues. Looking at material costs only based on Kevin’s quotes its $375,000 so with $400,000 in the bank we could write a check out of the golf course account and pay for the materials and then in operations going forward we are only looking at the labor costs in a few months and that would probably hit in the following year’s budget,” said Jackson.

The Aldermen also adopted a budget amendment ordinance on first reading in the amount of $15,832 toward the purchase of a new garbage truck and $112,541 to do street paving. These are funds needed to meet costs above what was budgeted for these projects.

“I talked to Ford and to get a truck its probably going to be 2023 before we could get one from Ford so I have contacted Municipal Equipment where we are getting the garbage truck bed and they partner with International. It’s the same as a GM Duramax and they told me they could probably have one ready by May, the complete truck and everything but its about $15,000 more. I got these quotes about six or seven months ago and prices have gone up. I think $115,000 was put in the budget for the truck and the cost is now $130, 832 and that is for the truck, bed and all,” said Robinson.

“The total bid price on the paving is $447,540 and that is to pave all of Miller Road, North Mountain Street, and Atwell Street. Part of that paving is also to be funded partly from a grant,” added Robinson.

“This paving project does not have anything to do with our ARP money fixing our sewer system on Carter Street, West Main Street, and Earl Avenue so don’t get confused with that paving versus this,” said Mayor Josh Miller.

The Aldermen also approved the hiring of Victor Roller to fill a vacancy in the sanitation department.

The Mayor and Aldermen will have a workshop on November 17 at 6 p.m. at city hall.

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