Election Commission Certifies Protest Petition on Issuance of General Obligation Bonds

July 22, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Will the county commission now call for a public referendum on the bond resolution?

During a special called meeting today (Monday) the DeKalb County Election Commission certified a petition, signed by more than 10% of registered voters protesting and seeking a public referendum on the issuance of General Obligation Bonds in DeKalb County to borrow up to $65 million for a jail/ judicial center.

Administrator of Elections Dustin Estes said of the 2,500 signatures on the petition, 1,500 were checked and verified which exceeded the 1,361 needed to trigger a referendum subject to action by the county commission calling for a public vote. The notice of certification now goes to the county clerk, as required by law, who is to notify the county mayor and commission and it will be up to them whether or not to honor the petitioners’ wishes and request a public referendum in time for the November General Election.

“The letter of official certification from the county election commission has been turned over to County Clerk Jimmy Poss who will then give it to the county mayor and the county commissioners and anyone else required to have it,” explained Estes. “Then it is up to the county commission to decide if they want this referendum pertaining to the petition to be on the election ballot. If they decide not to push forward with an election resolution, then essentially the bond dies. It is to no effect. If they (county commission) pass an election resolution instructing the election commission to place the referendum on the ballot, they have up through the August monthly (county commission) meeting to put that on the November ballot. Anything after August would take some clarification to determine whether it could be on the November ballot or if it would have to be on a special election ballot later which would cost the county around $20,000,” said Estes.

Last month a successful grassroots petition drive was launched seeking to file a protest and request a public referendum after the county commission and county mayor approved an initial resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds to borrow up to $65 million for the development and construction of a judicial center/jail and a 51-cent property tax increase to pay for it through the county’s debt service fund putting the overall tax levy at $2.51 per $100 of assessed value. While a referendum would gauge the public’s approval or disapproval of the issuance of bonds, it would not force a repeal of the 51-cent tax increase. The petition bearing over 2,500 names was submitted to County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss as required by law who then turned the signatures over to the election commission last week for the 15-day signature verification process, which was completed in four days

The notice as adopted by the election commission states as follows:

“In accordance with TCA 9-21-207, on July 15, 2024, the DeKalb County Election Commission received from the county clerk, as required by law, a petition protesting the issuance of General Obligation Bonds in the county”.

“To call for a referendum on the issuance of general obligation bonds, TCA 9-21-207 requires a petition to be signed by ten percent (10%) or more of the registered voters of DeKalb County on the date DeKalb County published in the newspaper of general circulation the notice of the initial resolution adopted by the DeKalb County Commission. On June 26, 2024, the initial resolution appeared in the newspaper, and on that date, there were 13,607 registered voters in DeKalb County ten percent (10%) of such number is 1,361”.

“Upon examination of the petition, the election commission staff has verified 1,500 valid signatures, a number which exceeds the minimum number of signatures needed to call for a county referendum on the question of whether general obligation bonds may be issued in DeKalb County”.

“Therefore, on the 22nd day of July 2024, we the undersigned members of the DeKalb County Election Commission  (Chairman Brandon Gay and Commissioners Kim Luton, Yvette Carver, Loree Hall, and Ron Sifford) certify to the DeKalb County Commission that the petition filed on July 15, 2024 contains a sufficient number of valid signatures of registered voters to authorize the DeKalb County Commission to call for referendum on the question of whether the general obligation bonds may be issued in DeKalb County”.

“Before calling and setting an election date on the question of approving the issuance of the general obligations bond, the DeKalb County Election Commission will await the adoption of an election resolution under TCA 9-21-209 by the DeKalb County Commission,” the letter concluded.

Taking questions from WJLE after the election commission meeting today (Monday), Administrator of Elections Estes explained how the petition process was handled.

“We certified the petition today (Monday) protesting the issuance of general obligation bonds for DeKalb County”

“On June 26 the initial bond resolution (adopted by the county commission) appeared in the newspaper and on that date, there were 13,607 registered voters in DeKalb County and 10% of that number was required to validate the petition. That’s what we did today (Monday). We received the petition last Monday, July 15 from County Clerk Jimmy Poss. Basically from that date we had 15 calendar days to certify the petition which is what we did today (Monday) and we did it in half the time,” explained Estes.

“As of Thursday, last week, we reached the required number of 1,361 signatures verified”.

“I would like to explain our verification process. First, we checked to make sure that the person who signed the petition was a registered voter. Secondly, we made sure that their address matched or if it was different that they remained (resided) within the same precinct. Thirdly was the signature verification. Being able to match the signature we have on file and the signature that was placed on the petition itself. Lastly, we also recognized if there were any duplicates so anyone who signed the petition multiple times, those were caught and not counted”.

“We had roughly 2,500 signatures and we checked 1,500 which was well more than what was required. There were plenty more signatures and honestly at the rate we were going we could probably have passed 2,000. We just didn’t find it necessary. We have other things to tend to and we had what was required of us,” said Estes.

“I want to give special thanks to my deputy administrator Tina Gee and election worker Gloria Pinegar for helping support this activity in verifying signatures. It was an enormous task to do especially during early voting. The time allotted was 15 days for us to verify the signatures on the petition and we were able to do it in four days minus the certification process,” added Estes.

July 22, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Families in DeKalb County can get a helping hand with their back-to-school needs thanks to the annual Back to School Education Celebration hosted again this year by the Smithville First Baptist Church (FBC).

This Back-to-School Bash event will be held Thursday, August 1 starting at 6 p.m. at the church’s Life Enrichment Center downtown.

Pastor Chad Ramsey said other churches, businesses, etc. will be joining in the effort to provide free school supplies to families. Tables or booths will be set up inside the Life Enrichment Center gym and to help prevent duplication of services, they will each offer different types of supplies from pencils, paper, back packs, etc. Participants will line up at the door and enter after being handed information describing what they will find at each table. Families will walk through and get what they need from each booth. Most of the activity will be held inside.

“For many years the education celebration was an event that was held on the public square but for the last three years our church has hosted it at our gym which we call the Life Enrichment Center (LEC) which is right across from our main building so that rain or shine we get to pass out school supplies. Although we host and put it together this is a community event,” said Ramsey.

“This year we again have asked the teachers and principals what the main things are needed and from that we have updated the list in order that each child can walk out of there with things they need, and the amount needed,” he added.

If your business or group wants to host a table, contact the church at 615-597-4275.

July 21, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A Smithville man was found with drugs and a stolen weed eater during a Smithville Police Department traffic stop on Tuesday, July 16.

39-year-old Bryan Christopher Tate of Arnold Road, Smithville is charged with theft of property and possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. He was also cited for no insurance and violation of the light law.

Police Chief Mark Collins said that an officer pulled over a BMW for violation of the light law when he spotted a Stihl Weed eater in the passenger front seat. After checking the serial number, the officer learned that the weed eater had been stolen in West Virginia. Tate was then asked to step out of the vehicle. He told the officer that he had dope in his left sock. Four grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine was recovered. Tate was taken into custody. His bond is $16,000 and he will be in court August 1.

56-year-old Christopher Joseph Cantrell of Dearman Street is cited for simple possession of a schedule III drug, no registration, and a violation of the light law. Chief Collins said that during a recent late-night traffic stop for a light law violation, police observed the driver, Cantrell throw a container on the ground which contained a Subutex pill that he admitted belonged to him. Cantrell’s court date is July 31.

50-year-old Erick Mauricio-Choreno is charged with driving under the influence and cited for speeding and violation of the implied consent law. Chief Collins said that on July 2 police conducted a traffic stop after clocking a vehicle traveling 59 miles per hour in a 40 mile per hour speed zone on Sparta Highway. The driver, Choreno was found to have red and watery eyes. His speech was slurred, and he smelled of alcohol. Choreno submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He admitted to having consumed alcohol earlier. An open container was visible in a cup holder inside the automobile. After refusing to submit to a blood draw, a warrant was obtained for a blood sample from him. Choreno’s bond is $2,000.

39-year-old Jana Nicole Witcher is cited for trespassing and theft of property. Chief Collins said that on July 1 police responded to Save A Lot due to a complaint of a trespasser. Upon arrival, the officer confronted the suspect, Witcher and found in her possession several items that she had taken from the store. Her court date is July 18.

44-year-old Nathan Joseph Wilbert is charged with public indecency and simple possession. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court July 25. Chief Collins said that on July 11 police responded to Hardees due to an activated panic alarm and found Wilbert near the drive thru exposing himself. After placing him in custody the officer found Wilbert with a container that held a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana.

43-year-old Christie Dawn Bouldin is charged with public intoxication. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court July 25. Chief Collins said that on July 12 police were summoned to 310 Wade Street where Bouldin was spotted trying to get into a car. Upon arrival the officer confronted Bouldin. She appeared to be very euphoric, and her pupils were constricted consistent with narcotic use. She was placed in custody.

59-year-old Richard Clifton Warner of Coconut Ridge Road, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court August 1. Chief Collins said that on July 13 police responded to a vehicle accident at 600 East Broad Street and upon arrival found one of the drivers involved in the crash, Warner sitting on the sidewalk. He was very unstable on his feet; his speech was slurred, and he smelled of alcohol. Warner refused to submit to a blood draw and field sobriety tasks. A warrant was obtained for a blood sample from him. No one was seriously injured in the accident.

62-year-old Benny Close of 708 West Main Street is charged with aggravated assault. Chief Collins said that on July 6 police were dispatched to 717 West Main Street due to an aggravated assault complaint. Upon arrival the officer spoke with a woman who had visible injuries on her face and neck. The woman said Close, a neighbor, attacked her when she went to his home to check on him. When Close came the door, he allegedly struck the woman in the face and tried to choke her. Close’s court date is July 25. He is under a $6,500 bond.

42-year-old Gilberto Juarez of Kendra Drive is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court July 25. Chief Collins said that on July 7 police were summoned to the parking lot of Dollar Tree where a man was observed stumbling while getting out of his car. Juarez was backing out of his parking spot as the officer arrived. Juarez was pulled over and found to be unsteady on his feet. His eyes were red and watery, and he smelled of alcohol. Juarez admitted to having consumed several beers earlier.

47-year-old Jimmy Estes is charged with criminal trespassing, resisting arrest, possession of legend drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond is $11,000 and he will be in court July 25. Chief Collins said that on July 7 police were called to Highland Avenue due to a trespasser. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the homeowner who reported that Estes was on the property and would not leave even though he had previously been ordered to stay away. The officer confronted an irate Estes and while placing him in custody, Estes refused to cooperate with commands and tried to pull away. A search of his person turned up a bottle containing prescription pills, but the label had been torn off the bottle. A pipe with residue was also found.

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