Resident Told City Can’t Stop County’s Proposed Jail Project on Smith Road (View Video Here)
by: Dwayne PageJul 01, 2025
A resident of Smith Road, opposed to new jail construction near his property, attended Tuesday night’s meeting of the Smithville Board of Mayor and Aldermen looking for some help from the city. He didn’t get it.
Paul Miranda, during the public comments period, asked the mayor and aldermen to adopt an ordinance to prohibit a correctional facility within one mile of a public or private school anywhere in the city limits or to put the question to the public for a vote apparently in the form of a referendum. This would not apply to facilities lawfully established and operational (current jail location).
“I come here to appeal to the city government to stand up not only in voice but in action to help stop this from occurring and use whatever methods of power available to you limited or otherwise,” said Miranda. “This is not an anti-jail issue. Its that specific location and its proximity to a school, future school and residences. I request an ordinance prohibiting the location of any correctional facility within one mile of a public or private school in the city limits because it would pose safety risks and undermine the educational environment. I know there is a process for this but this is an urgent and time sensitive matter. I have an alternate resolution which is to submit this to the voters prohibiting a correctional facility within one mile of a school,” said Miranda.
City Attorney Vester Parsley said the city cannot legally prohibit the county from building a jail.
“We cannot impose a restriction on the county in building a new jail. There is case law dating back as far as 1956 and a 1985 attorney general’s opinion regarding counties not being subject to restrictions or zonings inside city limits. I also contacted MTAS (Municipal Technical Advisory Service) and their attorneys responded to me the same way,” said Parsley
The mayor and aldermen took no action.
Last week the county commission voted to purchase 71.5 acres of property on Smith Road not to exceed $1.8 million except for closing costs subject to favorable core drilling for the future home of a new jail. The commission also voted to issue a 12-year capital outlay note to buy the property to be repaid from the county’s debt service fund. The commission further voted to issue a 12 year note for new jail construction not to exceed $35 million. Treanor will be the architect of the project although specifics are yet to be determined, as to the number of beds, etc.
The county budget committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday, July 8 at 6 p.m. at the courthouse to recommend to the full county commission a property tax rate to fund the new budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year and the jail project.
Meanwhile, upon a recommendation by the planning commission, the aldermen adopted an ordinance on second and final reading to rezone a parcel of property (0.6 acres) belonging to Josh Hawkins at 885 Foster Road across from Calvary Baptist Church from R-1 (Low Density Residential) to R-2 (High Density Residential). Hawkins wants to build a duplex on the property, part of which is in the county. A public hearing was held prior to second and final reading passage Tuesday night. No one spoke in opposition.
The aldermen further adopted an ordinance on second and final reading, upon the recommendation of the planning commission to rezone a parcel of property (behind Wilson Bank & Trust and Tractor Supply) located on West Main Street from R-1 (Low Density Residential) to C-1 (General Commercial) at the request of owner Mark Hart who wants to build a salon for his daughter. While land around the Hart location is currently zoned R-1, city officials said the property across the street is all zoned C-1. A public hearing was held prior to second and final reading passage Tuesday night.
Although he does not oppose this particular land use, Steve Cantrell said during the public hearing that in the future the city should consider when approving a zoning change making it contingent on future uses being the same or similar.
“Right now this individual wants to change the property from residential to commercial between two houses. He is going to build a beauty salon for his daughter which I have no issue with. But using his property as an example the city when approving them should make zoning changes contingent that the individual uses that property only for what the zoning change was made for. In theory after the zoning change is made and someone else inherits that property and its commercial then they could put there what they wanted that’s commercial,” said Cantrell.
First reading approval was given to Ordinance number 536 rezoning property of Holmes Creek Rd from R-1 to R-2 owned by the Hollingheads Land, LLC upon the recommendation of the planning commission Second reading action will follow a public hearing at the next meeting in August.
A public hearing was held on the proposed annexation of 640 East Broad Street at the request of the property owner Lou Ann White. No one spoke in opposition.
DeKalb Schools to Re-Open for Registration August 1
by: Dwayne PageJul 01, 2025
DeKalb County Schools will re-open Friday, August 1 for registration.
Students will attend for 90 minutes (abbreviated day from 7:45 a.m. until 9:15 a.m.). to sign up at their schools.
The first full day of school will be Tuesday, August 5.
Professional Development at the individual schools will be July 29-31.
Monday, August 4 will be an administrative day for teachers only. Students will not attend on Monday, August 4.
The 2025-26 DeKalb County School Calendar is as follows:
DeKalb County students and teachers will have a full week off for fall break October 13-17, Thanksgiving November 24-28, and spring break March 23-27, and a two-week winter break for Christmas December 22 to January 2. December 19 will be an abbreviated day (7:45 a.m.-9:15 a.m.). Students will return to school after the Christmas holiday on January 5, 2026. Schools will also be closed for Labor Day September 1, Dr. Martin Luther King Day January 19, President’s Day February 16, Good Friday. April 3, and Monday, April 6. The last day of school will be May 22, 2026 (abbreviated 7:45 a.m.-9:15 a.m.). May 26 will be an administrative day. No school on Memorial Day, May 25
Report cards will be issued at all schools on October 9, January 8, March 17, and May 22.
Parent teacher conferences will be held at all schools from 3-6 p.m. on October 9 and March 19.
Deputies Make Same Day Drug Arrests After Finding Six Bags of Meth in Two Separate Cases
by: Dwayne PageJul 01, 2025
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department in one day made arrests in two separate drug cases after finding a total of six bags of suspected methamphetamine
46-year-old Jason Richard Skaroupka of South College Street, Smithville is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. His bond is $52,500 and he will be in court July 10.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on June 26 at 1:42 a.m. a deputy was on South Congress Boulevard attempting to serve a warrant and made contact with Skaroupka who gave verbal consent for the officer to search his house. Upon a search of the residence the deputy found a clear bag of a crystal-like substance believed to be meth that weighed 11.10 grams. The clear bag was in a brown bag on top of a pile of clothes. He also found another clear bag of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine that weighed 0.81 grams. It was found under a mattress.
The same day, 26-year-old Kelsey Elizabeth Steinbach of Keltonburg Road, Smithville was charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. Her bond is $20,000 and she will make a court appearance on July 10.
Sheriff Ray said that on June 26 a deputy arrested Steinbach on several active warrants and while searching her belongings, the officer found on the floor a clear bag with a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine that weighed 0.56 grams. Steinbach admitted that the substance belonged to her and stated more was in her purse. The deputy searched the purse and found three clear bags with crystal-like substances believed to be meth that weighed 0.27 grams, 0.61 grams, and 2.41 grams.
55-year-old Clarence Edward Sexton, Jr. of Cripps Lane, Smithville is charged with a second offense of driving on a revoked license. He is under a $4,500 bond and his court date is July 17. Sheriff Ray said that on June 27 while patrolling West Broad Street a deputy spotted Sexton driving a black Chevy Avalanche. Knowing that Sexton’s license was revoked, the officer pulled him over and confirmed through central dispatch that Sexton’s license was still revoked.
55-year-old David Allen Coats of Hidden Hollow Road, Smithville is charged with public intoxication, assault on a first responder, and resisting arrest. His bond totals $13,500 and he will be in court July 10. Sheriff Ray said that on June 27 deputies were summoned to Helm Hollow Road due to an unwanted guest complaint. Upon arrival they met the complainant near the intersection of Wolf Creek Road and Helm Hollow Road. The woman said that while on her property and in her camper, Coats became intoxicated and out of control. The deputies then went to Coats’ residence and spoke with him outside in the yard. According to the officers, Coats smelled of alcohol, his speech was slurred, and he became angry and made threats as he approached them. Coats tensed up and looked as if he were ready to fight after being ordered to step back. Coats resisted being placed under arrest and was taken the ground by officers. While deputies were trying to gain control of Coats, he tried to pull from the holster of an officer a taser. As Coats continued to resist, two taser deployments were used to gain control of him. Hand restraints were then placed on Coats before he was seated in the patrol car. Coats admitted to having consumed three alcoholic beverages.
32-year-old Kayla Marie Miller of Woodbury is charged with violating an order of protection. Her bond is $2,500 and she will be in court July 10. Sheriff Ray said that on June 25 a deputy was summoned to the sheriff’s department where he spoke with a man who said that his wife, Miller had been making phone calls and sending him harassing messages in violation of an order of protection against her. Officers confirmed through NCIC that the full order of protection was still active.