June 24, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
The Smithville Municipal Judgeship is a step closer to becoming a four year rather than a two-year position.
During a special called meeting Thursday evening the Mayor and Board of Aldermen adopted on first reading an ordinance to change the term of the appointed city judge position from two years to four years to be appointed by the mayor and aldermen. If approved on second and final reading following a public hearing at the next meeting, July 11 the new four-year term will begin September 1, 2022.
Other provisions of the ordinance are that the person holding the city judgeship must be at least 30 years of age, licensed by the State of Tennessee to practice law, and must be a resident of DeKalb County. If the appointee should ever move his or her location outside of DeKalb County, he or she must vacate the judgeship. The salary of the city judge must be set by the mayor and aldermen prior to the term and cannot be changed during the term of office. During the absence or disability of the city judge, the governing body may appoint a city judge pro temp to serve until the city judge returns to his or her duties. The city judge must take an oath of office and be bonded.
Since 2006, the municipal judgeship has been a two-year term position with the judge being appointed by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen. The salary is $1,000 per month. Prior to 2006 the city judge was elected by the voters of Smithville to an eight-year term.
The incumbent City Judge Gayla Hendrix was appointed to her first two-year term in 2020 and it expires August 31.
The municipal judge primarily hears city ordinance violations.
In other business, the aldermen voted to reapply for a $1.25 million Tennessee Department of Transportation Multi-Modal Access Grant for a sidewalk project on Highway 70 East in the city limits. If approved the city would have to meet a 10% grant match or $125,000. The city has applied for and been denied the grant previously.
The aldermen also updated the city’s personnel policy to include the observance of Juneteenth which is now a federal holiday every June 19. The city observed the holiday this past Monday.