City Closer to Naming New Airport Manager

April 20, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The city is closer to naming a successor to Mike Carpenter as airport manager.

During a special called city council meeting Monday night, Mayor Josh Miller informed the aldermen that three people have applied but the city’s airport advisory board has not yet made a recommendation.

Although the airport manager position is part-time, two of the three applicants would like to serve in the role full time. The third applicant would work part-time.

The new airport manager is expected to be hired at the next regular city council meeting on May 3.

Carpenter, who has served as airport manager since August, 2019, recently announced his resignation but is still at the airport for a few more days.

Jimmy Lewis will continue to serve as the city golf course maintenance caretaker for the next three years.

The city advertised and received bids through April 15.

Lewis, who has been the caretaker of the golf course grounds for the last couple of years, submitted a bid of $33,000 for the year which is the same price the city paid him last year. Another company, Williams & Sons Lawn Care sent in a bid of $42,000.

Lewis added in his bid that if the city were willing to let him have the contract for three years he would keep the price at $33,000 per year. The aldermen Monday night voted to award Lewis the contract for three years at $33,000 per year.

The aldermen hired Phillip Young as a seasonal employee to mow and bushhog this spring and summer. Young previously spent 23 years doing the same kind of work for the state.

The aldermen also authorized city public works director Kevin Robinson to place an order for a new backhoe, a cost to the city at the state bid price of $98,589. It may be October before the city gets the new backhoe.

A new backhoe will replace a 2017 model which was recently damaged and totaled after it struck a manhole. The city filed an insurance claim and is expected to receive $80,000. But the city can also buy back the damaged backhoe and sell it through govdeals.com for possibly up to $10,000. The city plans to include almost $22,000 in the 2021-22 budget to put toward the purchase of the new backhoe.

April 19, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Its time to clean out your medicine cabinet!

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is set for Saturday, April 24. As part of this major health and safety initiative, the DeKalb Prevention Coalition will host this take-back event at Smithville City Hall and the Alexandria City Hall from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m..

Community members are encouraged to stop by these local take-back locations to drop off their unused or expired medications, especially pain relievers and other prescription drugs. Health Care and law enforcement officers will be on hand to accept the medications and safely dispose of them, no questions asked.

Two-thirds of Tennesseans said the main sources of prescription pain pills for those who abuse them are family members or friends. Take-back days are a safe and easy way to get these drugs out of your home.

For more information please email DeKalb Prevention Coalition at dekalbtnprevention@gmail.com or call 615-580-9290.

April 19, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Another informational meeting will be held tonight (Monday) for local families interested in making application for grant funding to help with home repairs.

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the DeKalb County Complex on South Congress Boulevard in the auditorium. Other meetings will be April 26 at the Austin Bottom Community Fire Hall and May 3 and the Keltonburg Community Center. Please wear a mask and maintain social distancing during these events.

DeKalb County has been approved for a $500,000 HOME program grant from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) to be administered by the Upper Cumberland Development District

County Mayor Tim Stribling said HOME program funding is intended to help families of low income, senior citizens and individuals with disabilities who cannot afford to rehabilitate their homes. If approved, up to 10 homeowners could get help with issues such as leaking plumbing, unsafe flooring, faulty wiring, damaged roofs and more to bring their houses up to code.

Matt Billings of the UCDD said in some cases, families might qualify for a reconstruct if their home is in a condition to where reconstruct is more beneficial.

“It is not based on first come, first served. There is an application process and UCDD will be scoring the applications according to federal guidelines and awarding the grant funds to those most qualified until the grant runs out. No one from DeKalb County will be scoring the applicants,” said County Mayor Stribling.

During the informational meetings, interested persons can get more details about the program and pick up an application. “We will be giving out applications and explaining what documents applicants need to provide. When completed applications should be taken to Mayor Stribling’s Office in the courthouse and we (UCDD) will take it from there. There is a scoring process through the Tennessee Housing Development Agency to determine who the beneficiaries will be,” said Billings.

Grant applications must be filed by the end of May.

The HOME program is funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and administered in Tennessee by THDA. HOME grants must be used for the production, preservation or rehabilitation of affordable housing for low and very low income families and individuals.

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