City Bridge Replacement Almost Completed

October 3, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A city bridge replacement project is nearing completion.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, Mayor Josh Miller informed the Aldermen that the Dry Creek Road bridge over Fall Creek is expected to re-open by the end of the month.

“I just talked to Kyle Hazel, the engineer and he said the projected date is the end of this month. It will be back open. I know that has been a major inconvenience to the people who live over there in that area,” he said.

In April the Smithville Mayor and Aldermen awarded a bid for the replacement of the bridge. Most of the funds for the project came from the city’s share of American Rescue Plan Act money. Twin K. Construction of Helenwood, Tennessee was the only bidder and the aldermen accepted their bid of $630,605. In addition to the construction bid, other added costs including engineering have been or will be incurred that will possibly put the total project at more than $700,000.

The street at the site of construction has been closed since the work began forcing motorists needing to travel the street to take an alternate route.

Meanwhile, the city is moving forward with a project starting next month to install a new irrigation system for the fairways and greens at the Smithville Golf Course replacing the 56-year-old infrastructure.

In May the aldermen voted to award a bid to Oasis Irrigation of Nashville in the amount of $191,400 to provide materials, labor, and equipment to install the irrigation system for the golf course. The work includes all labor and equipment, pump installation, and gravel backfill for the cart paths. Last fall, the aldermen adopted a budget amendment ordinance in the amount of $375,000 to purchase materials for the project.

Should the city have an ordinance restricting how many dogs one may have on their property?

No such ordinance is being entertained by the city and isn’t likely to be but a concerned citizen on Kendra Drive believes there should be restrictions.

Tammy Harris of 657 Kendra Drive addressed the mayor and aldermen during the public comment period of the regular monthly meeting Monday night complaining about her neighbor having too many dogs.

“The guy next door to me has seven dogs and I am not the only one in the neighborhood that has had issues with him. I don’t understand why there cannot be an ordinance for three or four. He has seven dogs and I have to live next to that and it affects me when it’s a constant fight with him and these dogs are going off. I have called the police and they come out and he doesn’t answer the door and they say there is nothing they can do. I have to live next to that and when you have seven dogs crapping in the summer, the smell is not the best and I can’t even enjoy my back yard. I don’t understand why we can have ordinances for how many garage sales somebody can have a year but not dogs,” she said.

Mayor Miller explained that enforcement of such an ordinance would be difficult.

“You must have a way to enforce ordinances. You can put together any ordinance you want but being able to enforce it is a totally different situation”.

Harris also asked about property maintenance.

“Is there an ordinance for broken down vehicles and garbage,” asked Harris.

“Today I was walking my dogs and a group of rats the size of small cats came running out from around a truck that has been in a lady’s yard since I moved there two years ago,” she said.

“The city has a property maintenance hotline, and you can anonymously text messages with addresses and pictures of the violation,” said Mayor Miller. “That number is 615-684-4852 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for text messaging only. No one will answer that line. It is only to text a picture and address of the property you consider to be in violation. We do not have a full-time codes enforcement department to monitor this problem so we must rely on the public to report to us. When a violation has been identified, we will send out a certified letter to the landowner and once we get it back after they have signed for it, they have 10 days to get their property cleaned up or 30 days if it pertains to junked cars. After 10 days or 30 days for junked cars we will send a police officer out to look at it to make sure the property has been cleaned. If not, further action will be taken,” said Mayor Miller.

Complainants will remain anonymous, and all complaints will be investigated.

In other matters, Mayor Miller mentioned that several events are planned for downtown this month.

“Friday night, October 6 from 5-7 p.m. the local merchants are having a lot of family contests and activities, and different things will be going on at the Arts Garage”.

“This Saturday, October 7 is the Pumpkin Festival from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.”

“Next Friday, October 13 is the Habitat Chili Cook-Off and Bake Sale from 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.”

“October 14 is the mobile food pantry at the Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church at 9 a.m.”

“A Haunted History Walking Tour will be held October 26 & 28 at 6:30 p.m. each night starting at the First United Methodist Church Christian Fellowship Center.”

“We will end the month with our annual Boo Bash October 31 from noon until 5 p.m.,” said Mayor Miller.

October 2, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Smithville Elementary would like to recognize Students of the Month for September. These students were selected for their outstanding character, academics, and other traits that make them an all-around excellent student. Selected as Students of the Month for September are:

PreK- Serenity Tiner, Jahlia Cantrell
Kindergarten – Roz Prichard, Wyatt Shaff
1st Grade – Weston Jones, Elliott Wilmoth
2nd Grade – Aubrey Watts, Laylah Hale

The students are pictured with SES Principal Anita Puckett and SES Assistant Principal Karen France.

October 2, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A Hunter Safety Education Course will be held Saturday, October 14 at the DeKalb County Fire Department’s Main Station at 782 King Ridge Road, Dowelltown.

TWRA Officer Tony Cross said the class will be held from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The course is offered free of charge. Participants must Pre-register on-line at www.tnwildlife.org and follow the prompts.

Participants must be at least 9 years old to take the class and must attend for the entire eight-hour course.

For more information call Cross at 931-287-8427.

Under state law, every person born on or after January 1, 1969, before hunting, shall possess, in addition to all other licenses and permits required, proof of satisfactory completion of an agency approved hunter education course.

Those under 10 years of age do not need a Hunter Education certificate, but must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years of age, who must remain in a position to take immediate control of the hunting device.

The basic Hunter Education Course provides firearms safety training and introduces students to their responsibilities in the fields of hunter ethics and wildlife management. The main objective of the Hunter Education Program is to reduce the potential for hunting accidents and ultimately reduce the number of hunting injuries. The course is taught according to standards established by the International Hunter Education Association. By meeting these standards the Tennessee Hunter Education program is recognized by all states, Canada, and Mexico.

The basic course is free of charge and consists of a minimum of ten (10) hours of classroom participation. Most classes generally last 12-16 hours. Students must successfully pass a written test consisting of 100 multiple choice questions. All students are required to participate in a live fire exercise. Students must attend all classes. Students need to bring their Social Security Number and a #2 pencil to the class.

Course content includes:
*Hunter ethics
•Hunter responsibility toward wildlife, the environment, landowners and the general public
•Archery and the history of modern day bowhunting
•Tree stand safety
•History of firearms
•Blackpowder and muzzleloading firearms
•Knowledge of modern firearms and ammunition
•Proper gun handling and storage
•Marksmanship fundamentals
•Hunt preparation: specific laws and various equipment
•Principles of wildlife management and wildlife identification
•Survival
•Hypothermia
•First aid

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