City of Smithville in Desperate Need of Life Guards for Work at Swimming Pool

February 22, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The City of Smithville is in desperate need of life guards if the Municipal Swimming Pool is to open on time in May.

Currently only a few lifeguards have applied to work this year, but too few for the pool to open.

Manager Jeania Cawthorn is asking anyone who is interested and qualified to apply as soon as possible. She will schedule you for work at the pool around your schedule. The pay is $8.00 an hour with flexible hours.

Requirements include the following but are not limited to:
*Must be 15 years of age by May 1st
*Must pass American Red Cross Life Guard Course and CPR Class
*Must be a strong swimmer
*Must be able to pass drug test and back ground check

Benefits of being a life guard:
*You could save a life.
*Life saving skills
*Self-confidence
*Developing leadership skills
*Being a role model
*Looks good on resumes
*Developing new friendships

The classes are offered in Murfreesboro at Sports Com indoors February 27 through March 1st. Classes will also be offered May 8-10 in Smithville. The cost of the 30 hour class is $175.00 and the city of Smithville will reimburse you once the course is completed.

Contact Jeania at the Pro-shop at 615-597-6648 for more information especially before you sign up for class.

February 21, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Get to know your DeKalb Animal Shelter!

Director Megan Moore and shelter employee Emmaly Bennett Friday morning took WJLE on a video tour of the shelter for the public to view.

Although many have come to know and taken advantage of the services offered by the shelter, others are still uninformed or have misconceptions.

Moore said she hopes this video will help enlighten the community and inspire greater support.

The shelter, located on Transfer Station Road behind Tenneco Automotive off Highway 70 east in Smithville, has been in operation since November, 2017 under the DeKalb Animal Coalition, a 501 c 3 non profit organization.

In addition to Director Moore, the shelter is staffed by Bennett and Laura Parsley. Volunteers are also desired to help through the shelter’s volunteer program.

Stop by the animal shelter, call 615-597-3647 (DOGS), or visit facebook. The shelter is currently open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 12-4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 to 12 noon. Closed Wednesday.

Upcoming DeKalb Animal Shelter Events

March 7th: Volunteer Orientation 12-1
March 14th: Tractor Supply Company Adoption Event 10-1
March 21st: Easter Egg Hunt Fundraiser 1-3
March 22nd: Happy Trails Brewing Co. Adoption Event 2-4
March 30th: Smithville Golf Course Adoption Event 11-3

April 4th: Volunteer Orientation 12-1
April 11th: Yappy Hour-A Wine and Wags event
2-5pm adoption event, 5-7pm Wine tasting with Stonehaus Winery, 8pm Live music

April 25th: Earth Day adoption event at the Burlap Room & Beer Garden (times TBA)

February 21, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Who is the chairman of the DeKalb County Budget Committee?

First district county commissioner Dennis Slager has served in the position since taking office in 2018 but on Wednesday night three of his fellow members on the committee voted to oust him as chairman and have County Mayor Tim Stribling take over as ex officio chairman of the budget committee.

Now, one of the members who voted in the majority to remove Slager, says he never intended to do that.

During a county commission workshop of the whole Thursday night, fifth district commissioner and member of the budget committee Jerry Adcock said his vote was in support of the county following existing state law/private acts pertaining to DeKalb County in the makeup and procedures governing the budget committee. Adcock said it was not a vote against Slager.

“I did not vote against Dennis. I was voting for the TCA (state law) and for what I believe is the law. Dennis and I have worked together on this committee for a little over a year now. I don’t think we could have a better person sitting up here,” said Adcock.

Adcock went on to apologize for any misinterpretation others may have perceived by his vote.

The vote Adcock and others cast was on a motion made by fifth district county commissioner and budget committee member Anita  Puckett to remove Slager as chairman. Puckett was frustrated with Slager over a recent meeting between the budget committee and the Board of Education concerning its request for funding to build new schools.

“In our meeting with the budget committee and the board of education, in my opinion Mr. Slager you dominated that meeting. You tried to control and manipulate the entire meeting. You shared your opinion as speaking for the whole committee,” said Puckett during Wednesday night’s latest budget committee meeting.

Slager countered that he did not deny anyone the opportunity to speak.

“I would hope that everybody at that meeting had the proper opportunity to speak. That opportunity was given many times and if you didn’t take that opportunity that is your fault,” he said.

Citing (TCA 5-12-104) regarding a 1957 county budget law and the makeup of the county budget committee, Puckett moved to remove Slager as chairman and to make County Mayor Stribling the ex officio chairman of the committee.

“The committee (according to the 1957 state law) shall consist of five members, one of whom shall be the county mayor and the other four shall be appointed by the county mayor with the approval of the county governing body at its regular January session each year or at any subsequent session. The county mayor shall be the ex officio chair of the budget committee and the director of accounts and budget shall be the ex officio secretary of the budget committee. I would like to make a motion that Dennis Slager be dismissed as chairperson of the budget committee and that Tim Stribling take the role of chairman,” said Puckett.

The vote was 3 to 2 in favor. Puckett and Adcock voted yes along with second district county commissioner and budget committee member Sabrina Farler.  Sixth district commissioner and budget committee member Jeff Barnes joined Slager in voting no.

Again Adcock said his intent in voting yes on Puckett’s motion was not to remove Slager as she stated in her motion, but in support of the county’s budgeting law procedures.

County Mayor Stribling said he plans to contact the County Technical Advisory Service (CTAS) on whether the move by the committee was proper since DeKalb County does not operate under the 1957 budgeting law but the Local Option Budgeting Law of 1993 which provides optional budgeting procedures for the county. Although it does not specifically address the makeup of the budget committee, the 1993 ACT states that it can work in conjunction with the 1957 law.

Some contend that since the 1993 Act is not specific as to the makeup of the budget committee, the county can decide for itself the policy and procedures of the committee and how many members may serve, not limiting it to five.

The budget committee is comprised of five members, all county commissioners appointed by the county mayor with the approval of the county commission, and one of the five commissioners has historically served as chairman. And while the county mayor has had input in budget committee discussions he has not served as a chair or a voting member of the budget committee.

Slager told Puckett Wednesday night that since the County Mayor appointed him to serve as a member and Chairman of the Budget Committee, he can only be removed by the County Mayor.

“You did not appoint me to this position and you are not taking it from me. If Mr. Stribling wants to dismiss me from this position then he has the authority to do that and not you. I am still your chairman of this committee until he dismisses me,” said Slager.

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