Should speed limits be posted on county roads?

November 24, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Should speed limits be posted on county roads?

During Thursday night’s committee of the whole meeting of the county commission, County Mayor Tim Stribling said he had received a request from a citizen for the county to post a 25 mile per hour speed limit on Tramel Branch Road in the 1^st district and that he had informed both commissioners there by email.

Under state law, the speed limit on any county road is 55 miles per hour unless the county designates a reduced speed limit posting.

The law states that “The legislative body of any county, except the legislative bodies of any counties having a commission form of government, has the power to prescribe such lower speed limits as it may deem appropriate on any road being maintained by the county and shall erect appropriate signs and traffic signals. In those counties having a commission form of government, the board of commissioners has the power prescribed in this section”.

County Mayor Stribling said while posted speed limits could be a deterrent to speeding, enforcement is difficult.

The sheriff gets a lot of calls and you as commissioners get a lot of phone calls from people requesting speed limits to be posted on their road. Some roads are posted and some are not. If its not posted then the speed limit is 55 miles per hour. There are roads that do need a reduction in speed and you can set speed limits but who is going to monitor it? The sheriff’s department does not have the manpower to monitor every county road and we don’t have radar in every county patrol car,” he said.

The county commission may discuss the issue further during Monday night’s regular monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the downstairs courtroom of the courthouse.

November 23, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County and other local governments across the state that operate ambulance services are concerned that today’s TennCare reimbursements are not adequate to help meet costs.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the county commission is expected to adopt a resolution asking the Tennessee General Assembly to take action directing TennCare to reimburse ground ambulance providers at a rate not less than the current Medicare fee schedule and to add funding to the 2020-21 state budget for that purpose.

The resolution states “ Whereas, with the growth of our great state and the need for more and more services of all kinds, especially emergency medical services and the continuing rising costs of medical care, our agencies are constantly searching for more resources; and

Whereas, more rural hospitals are being closed and community clinics are being downsized, requiring great needs for ambulance services as the first line of care providers and transportation from remote areas; and

Whereas, Medicaid (TennCare) reimbursement has not increased since the inception of the TN Medicaid managed care system; and

Whereas, Medicare rates do not reflect the actual cost to operate ambulance services and TennCare rates are, in most cases, half of what Medicare provides, forcing limitations of services and placing a greater burden on local agencies and citizens; and

Whereas, ambulance services throughout the State, in order to meet growing emergency needs and reduce the burden on the local governments and taxpayers need assistance in improving funding for these lifesaving services.

Therefore, be it resolved by the DeKalb County Board of County Commissioners that this body does hereby ask that we show our support for legislation which directs TennCare to reimburse ground ambulance providers at a rate not less than the current Medicare fee schedule; and

Be it further resolved that this body does hereby pray that our State Representatives and Senators be contacted and encouraged to support legislation which directs TennCare to reimburse ground ambulance providers at a rate not less than the current Medicare fee schedule; and

Be it further resolved that our delegates also request that the funding for this much needed change be provided within the Governor’s fiscal year 20-21 budget; and

Be it further resolved, that though this increased funding does not cover the full cost of services, it will begin an effort to aid our communities as demand continues to increase for EMS system resources across the state including the costs of maintaining staff, equipment and training for pre-hospital emergency medical services, and filling the gap of the reduction in hospitals throughout Tennessee that is rendering EMS systems as the first line of care for many counties.

Be it further resolved that the County Clerk send copies of this resolution to the members of the General Assembly representing DeKalb County”.

November 23, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The historic season for the DeKalb County High School Tiger football team has come to an end with a 42 to 6 loss at Nolensville Friday night in the quarterfinals of the TSSAA Class 4A Playoffs.

The Tigers conclude the season at 8-5 overall and 2-1 in the playoffs while Nolensville improves to 11-2 and will face Elizabethton next Friday night in the state semi-finals.

The season was historic for the Tigers in that it was the first time in school history that the football program had advanced to the 3rd round of the state playoffs.

Tiger Talk November 21

The Knights got on the board with 8:03 left in the 1^st period on a touchdown run by Ryan Pistulka capping a 72 yard drive. Luke Jenkins added the extra point and Nolensville led 7-0.

Samson Johnson extended the Knights lead on a 5 yard touchdown run with 4:49 left in the 1^st period. Jenkins converted the extra point and Nolensville had a 14-0 lead.

Ryder Galardi threw a touchdown pass to Tim Coutras good for 28 yards giving the Knights a 21-0 lead after the Jenkins PAT with 3:04 left in the 1^st period.

Galardi scored on a 30 yard quarterback keeper with 1:25 left in the 2^nd period to put Nolensville out front 28-0 after the Jenkins extra point.

Pistulka stretched the Knights’ lead with 10:58 left in the 3^rd period on a 36 yard touchdown run. Jenkins booted the extra point and Nolensville led 35-0.

The only score of the night for the Tigers came on a 5 yard touchdown run by Nathaniel Crook with 9:35 left in the 4^th period. The PAT try by Alan Munoz was blocked and DeKalb County trailed 35-6.

The Knights added one more score with 3:15 left in the game on another 36 yard touchdown run by Pistulka. Jenkins added the PAT and Nolensville won 42-6.

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