Davey Horton Hired as County’s First Certified Part Time Building Codes Inspector
by: Dwayne PageJun 24, 2025
The county has its first certified building codes inspector.
During Monday night’s monthly meeting, the county commission approved the hiring of Davey Horton by the county mayor to fill the newly created part-time position. He will serve as a 1099 employee and receive no county benefits.
Horton has experience in the job. He currently serves as a certified building inspector for the City of McMinnville
Earlier this year the county commission adopted a resolution establishing the current state building codes for the county to go by in issuing its own building permits. With Horton’s hiring, the county commission voted to enter into a contract with him and his salary will be derived from 65% of fee collections from building permits and all inspections except for electrical which are done by the state. The county must submit to the state a completed 14-page survey which is to be followed by an audit to ensure local compliance. Audits are done every three years.
Funds for the program are included in the proposed 2025-26 fiscal year budget.
Milligan Crowned Fairest of Fair
by: Dwayne PageJun 24, 2025
18-year-old Keara McKinsey Milligan is the 2025 DeKalb County Fairest of the Fair. She was crowned queen Monday evening on the opening night of the Fair.
Milligan is the daughter of Josh and Cyndi Milligan of Smithville.
She succeeds the retiring queen, Allyson Roxanne Fuller, daughter of Anthony and Amanda Fuller of Smithville.
First runner-up in the Fairest of the Fair event was Cali Beth Agee, 17 year old daughter of Kevin and Jennifer Agee of Smithville. Agee was selected as Most Photogenic
Second runner-up was Caroline Butler, 17 year old daughter of Dennis and Gina Butler of Sparta. Butler was also named Miss Congeniality.
Six contestants competed for the crown.
Meanwhile, the 2025 Junior Fair Princess of the DeKalb County Fair is Brileigh Nicole Bullard of Smithville . She was also judged to be Most Photogenic
The 15 year old daughter of Nikki and Jimmy Martin and Riley and Kayla Bullard, Brileigh was among six contestants in the pageant Monday evening.
She succeeds the retiring Junior Fair Princess, Ellie Caroline Ray, daughter of Shayne and Kandi Ray
The first runner-up was Karah Jo Ford of Smithville, 15 year old daughter of Steven and Amanda Ferrell
Second runner-up was Callen Alizabeth Tramel, 13 year old daughter of Hillary and Caleb Tramel of Smithville. Tramel was also named Miss Congeniality.
Meanwhile, 29-year-old Amber Renee Bain of Smithville was crowned the 2025 Miss Fair Queen of the DeKalb County Fair for contestants ages 21-54 on Monday night. Bain was also Most Photogenic. She succeeds the retiring queen, Brandi Liggett of Smithville
First runner-up was 22-year-old Isabel Morales- Cantu of Smithville
Attractions at the Fair tonight (Tuesday) include the following:
Lions Club Pavilion
6:00 pm Little Miss (4-6 years) Following: Mrs. Fair Queen (up to 54 years)
Following: Miss Senior Fair Queen ( 55 & up)
Following: Hot Sauce Challenge
9:30 pm Cash Drawings
TC McMillen Arena and Ag Center:
7:00 pm Corn Hole Tournament- Ag Center
7:00 pm ATV/Moto Racing- TC McMillen Arena
LIVE Sourdough Bread Demonstrations at the Kenneth Sandlin Center by Suzanne Slager:
6 p.m. Sourdough Bread
7 p.m. Sweet Rolls
8 p.m. Dinner Rolls
For information visit https://www.dekalbcountyfairtn.com/
County Votes to Purchase More than 70 Acres on Smith Road for Future New Jail Construction (View Video Here)
by: Dwayne PageJun 24, 2025
After years of planning, the county commission Monday night finally settled on a course of action on new jail construction.
Not only did the commission vote 10-2 to uphold the jail committee’s recommendation last week to eliminate the existing site downtown as an option for a new jail but voted 9-3 to purchase 71. 5 acres on Smith Road belonging to Tim Staley not to exceed $1.8 million with closing costs as the future home of the new jail subject to favorable core drill testing. The commission also voted 9-3 to issue a 12-year capital outlay note for the purchase of the property to be repaid with funds generated from debt service. But the commission went even further, voting 8-4 to issue a 12 year note not to exceed $35 million to build the jail. Treanor will be the architect of the project although specifics are yet to be determined, as to the number of beds, etc.
“Once the architect, Tennessee Corrections Institute, the sheriff, and county commission agree on the final drawings, they will be drawn up and sent out for bids. We will not turn a shovel until we open the bids. Everything in this whole project will be bid out,” said Commissioner and Jail Committee Chairman Larry Green.
Last year’s 51 cent tax increase for debt service to fund construction of a proposed judicial center project remains in place, even though that plan was defeated in a public referendum last November. With the new fiscal year soon to begin, the budget committee will apparently have to determine how much of that 51-cent tax increase will be needed to fund a new jail project not to exceed $35 million and make a recommendation to the full county commission accordingly. And this time, because the commission voted to issue a 12 year note instead of general obligation bonds, the public will apparently not be able to contest it through another referendum.
One commissioner, Greg Matthews, accused the commission of taking action on matters not even on the agenda.
“This was not on tonight’s agenda and two other commissioners are not here tonight (Tony “Cully” Culwell and Brandon Donnell)”, said Matthews.
Before the meeting ended, Commissioner Matthews again expressed his frustration with the commission.
“The 51 cents that was raised last year was for a $65 million bond. That bond failed and that 51 cents should have gone back (taxpayers). Instead, we are keeping part of that money. Everybody who just said (voted) yes just lied to everybody (public) you had spoken to prior,” said Matthews
At the beginning of the meeting before the agenda was adopted, Commissioner Beth Pafford made a motion to amend it to omit action on the “capital outlay note” intended for land purchase. Commissioner Myron Rhody offered a second to the motion, but it was defeated 8 to 4. While Commissioners Pafford, Rhody, Matthews and Sabrina Farler voted for it, Commissioners Jeff Barnes, Tom Chandler, Mathias Anderson, Andy Pack, Daniel Cripps, Tony Luna, Larry Green, and Glynn Merriman voted against.
Some complained that County Mayor Matt Adcock had added the “capital outlay note” discussion to the agenda Monday afternoon which was not on the original agenda sent out Friday. Adcock explained that this issue and others including a “paramedic school compensation agreement” were discussed during last Thursday night’s county commission workshop and that he had been asked by commissioners to add them to the agenda. The agenda also provided for “any other business properly presented”.
Later in the meeting the vote was 10-2 to eliminate the current site as an option for new jail construction. Commissioners voting to move the jail were Chandler, Luna, Green, Matthews, Pack, Anderson, Merriman, Cripps, Barnes, and Farler. Only Pafford and Rhody voted to keep the jail downtown.
Commissioner Pafford then made a motion to post an RFP (request for proposals) seeking more options from other property owners interested in selling at least 15 acres to the county for jail construction. Her motion was defeated 8 to 4 with Pafford, Anderson, Rhody, and Matthews voting for it and Green, Luna, Chandler, Pack, Merriman, Cripps, Barnes, and Farler voting against.
Commissioner Chandler later made a motion to purchase the Smith Road property for jail construction not to exceed $1.8 million plus closing costs and subject to favorable core drilling. The motion passed 9 to 3 with Commissioners Chandler, Luna, Green, Pack, Anderson, Merriman, Cripps, Barnes, and Farler voting for it and Commissioners Pafford, Rhody, and Matthews opposed.
A subsequent motion by Chandler to issue a 12-year capital outlay note to fund the purchase of the Smith Road property was also adopted 9 to 3 with Commissioners Pack, Anderson, Merriman, Cripps, Barnes, Farler, Green, Luna, and Chandler voting for it. Commissioners Matthews, Rhody, and Pafford voted against it.
Finally, Commissioner Chandler made a motion to issue a 12 year note on a jail project not to exceed $35 million.
“We received multiple quotes on sizes of a jail, 152 beds, 200 beds and the (cost) variations were like $28 million to $35 million depending upon the location. Since we have a location (Smith Road), I’ll make a motion that we issue a note not to exceed $35 million for whatever that will build whether its 152 beds, 157, 143, 190, 200 beds etc. Whatever that $35 million will pay for” he said.
Chandler’s motion was adopted 8 to 4 with Commissioners Pack, Anderson, Merriman, Cripps, Barnes, Luna, Green and Chandler voting in favor and Commissioners Rhody, Pafford, Matthews, and Farler voting against. Farler said the budget committee should have considered it first.