DeKalb Commission to Consider Passage of Resolution in Support of Second Amendment

June 19, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Supporting second amendment rights may be up for discussion by the county commission Monday night.

A symbolic resolution will be considered for passage by the commission declaring the county’s support of the second amendment of the United States Constitution.

Sixth district commissioner Matt Adcock is asking that the resolution be approved by the commission. Local resident James Bond is also backing the move.

The resolution basically says that the county opposes any state or federal legislation that would infringe upon second amendment gun ownership rights. But it has no legal effect on changing laws because the county commission has no authority to enact legislation concerning firearms.

“We could not stop the federal government from banning anything. All we would be saying is we are in opposition to and disagree with any state or federal legislation that would infringe on our rights to keep and bear arms protected under the US Constitution by the second amendment,” said Matt Adcock during Thursday night’s all committees work session of the county commission.

“This is not saying DeKalb County is going to defy the federal government. What this says is DeKalb County is pro second amendment and pro me legally defending myself with legal firearms or for hunting,” said Bond.

“Will this resolution be used as propaganda? I am very uncomfortable with this and to me it reads like we as a body, if we approve it, are saying that we oppose any kind of legislation that would put restrictions on gun ownership. There are lots of things, common sense gun laws, I might support,” said seventh district commissioner Beth Pafford.

The county commission will meet Monday, June 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the downstairs courtroom of the courthouse.

June 19, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County is getting a $500,000 HOME program grant from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) to help local families with home repairs.

County Mayor Tim Stribling made the announcement during Thursday night’s all committees meeting of the county commission. The grant will be administered by the Upper Cumberland Development District.

HOME program funding is intended to help families of low income, senior citizens and individuals with disabilities who cannot afford to rehabilitate their homes. At least 10 or more homeowners will get help with issues such as leaking plumbing, unsafe flooring, faulty wiring, damaged roofs and more. The $500,000 HOME program grant is the largest amount that can be issued to a single organization.

“They will set apart $50,000 each for ten homes and if the entire $500,000 in grant money is not used then the rest could be spent on other homes,” said County Mayor Stribling.

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.

June 19, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Motorists on Johnsons Chapel Road may want to watch their speed.

During Monday night’s monthly meeting, the county commission may consider establishing a 35 mile per hour speed limit on the road.

Under state law, the speed limit on any county road is 55 miles per hour unless the county commission acts to change it.

A concerned resident on Johnson’s Chapel Road recently contacted both fifth district commissioners, Jerry Adcock and Anita Puckett to make the request.

“This guy called me a couple of days ago and said he had a petition. When he called me the first time, I told him we don’t like doing this (establishing speed limits) but I said you need to get a petition and get a majority of the people on the road to sign it. He had told me that he had been mowing on the edge of the yard and that cars had almost hit him including some with boats,” said Adcock during Thursday night’s all committees meeting of the county commission.

The county commission has set speed limits on other county roads before but some say it is difficult to enforce with limited manpower from law enforcement agencies.

The county commission will meet Monday night, June 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the downstairs courtroom of the courthouse.

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