Financially Strong! (View Video Here)

January 7, 2025
By: Dwayne Page

Financially Strong!

Although the City of Smithville spent more than it took in due to onetime general fund expenditures for the year ended June 30, 2024, it remains on sound financial footing according to the latest audit report

John Poole, Hendersonville CPA, who performed the annual audit for the city, addressed the mayor and aldermen Monday night.

Poole said the audit showed no major deficiencies.

“In doing the state audit we are really trying to do three things,” said Poole. “One is to make sure we provide the state the financial information that they require in their oversight. Another thing we do that is most important to this board is to look to make sure the city is receiving the monies it should be getting whether that’s from the annual property tax, monthly utility billings, police fines, fees from the pool and golf course, etc. Also to make sure the city is getting the monies it is supposed to be getting from the state and from the county. Once we receive these monies, we are to make sure we are handling those monies in accordance with city policies and state guidelines,” explained Poole. “The city is also involved in several grant programs so we look to make sure that the grant monies we receive are handled correctly. I do believe the city is getting the money due it. Of course you will have some folks that are delinquent in payment of property taxes but the city does a good job of tracking that. It’s the same with utilities. We have some people who don’t pay from time to time but the utility department does a good job of monitoring them and making cutoffs when appropriate. As an auditor I really feel like the city is getting the monies it is supposed to be getting,” said Poole.

“The third thing we look at is making sure the monies this board authorizes the department heads to spend is done for city business and that they are following purchasing guidelines, procedures, and the way grant funds are spent. We didn’t find anything to cause a concern as to how the monies are being spent. In our opinion as auditors, we didn’t see anything that gave us any concern,” said Poole.

According to Poole, the water and sewer fund showed a surplus for the year which meets the state’s requirement that the utility be financially self-supporting.

“The change in net position for the year is $536,142 related to water and sewer (not counting grants) so we had a surplus and you certainly met the state’s threshold. When it comes to the utility fund (water & sewer) we are required by state law to show a profit. The city can’t lose money two years in a row. That is not a concern in Smithville. From a financial standpoint your utility system is in good shape,” said Poole.

As for the general fund, Poole said the net change in position showed expenditures exceeding revenues by $722,264 for the year due primarily to large one time capital outlay investments including new emergency communication radio systems for the police and fire departments along with installation of a new irrigation system at the golf course, major swimming pool repairs, as well as replacement of the Dry Creek Bridge and paving projects. Unlike the water and sewer fund, Poole said the general fund does not have to show a profit at year’s end but in this case, the city had ample funds to cover the overage. “If you hadn’t had those significant expenditures, there would have been a huge surplus but those are things we will not be doing every year,” said Poole.

As for the financial strength of the city, Poole explained that in the checking and savings accounts the city has in the general fund $5 million and CDs of over $528,000 which totals more than $5.5 million,” he said.

In the water and sewer fund, Poole said the city has a total of $6.5 million including almost $700,000 in certificates of deposit.

January 7, 2025
By: Dwayne Page

Less than a month after being indicted, Warren County District Attorney General 43-year-old Christopher Robert Stanford of McMinnville was due in DeKalb County Criminal Court for arraignment Tuesday, January 7 but his attorney, Jeff Cherry of Lebanon entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Stanford himself did not make an appearance before Judge Wesley Bray. Cherry had filed and was granted a waiver of appearance and arraignment on behalf of his client.

Stanford’s next scheduled court date is April 7

The DeKalb County Grand Jury met Monday, December 16 in a special session and returned a sealed indictment against Stanford charging him with reckless endangerment and discharging a firearm into an occupied habitation stemming from a shots fired incident near Bell Street Apartments in Smithville during the apprehension of three suspects in a Warren County triple homicide in November.

In earlier media reports, Cherry said Stanford acted in the moment after witnessing a triple murder suspect injuring an officer with a vehicle while trying to evade arrest.

Prosecutors said there was no imminent threat, and that Stanford put other lives at risk.

January 7, 2025
By: Dwayne Page

Reconsider?

Four months ago the Smithville Aldermen narrowly defeated (3-2) a proposal to amend the city beer ordinance to eliminate the 400-foot distance requirement between a church or school and businesses seeking an on-premises consumption permit. Had it been approved the ordinance amendment would have only applied to the C-2 zone which is the downtown business district and none of the other existing regulations in the ordinance would have been changed.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, Bert Driver, owner of the Harvester Event Center downtown, addressed the mayor and aldermen during the public comments period asking them to reconsider the issue. Driver, who already has a city issued beer permit, said changing the ordinance regarding the distance restrictions would not only level the playing field for downtown businesses who might otherwise qualify for a permit but it would bring in more tax revenue at a time when the county is needing more funding with plans to build a new school.

The mayor and aldermen listened to Driver but took no action since it was not on the agenda, nor did they discuss it during the meeting.

Driver also provided budgeted city tax revenues from the sales of wholesale liquor, beer, and mixed drinks over a seven-year period from the fiscal year ending in 2018 to 2024 which showed a jump from total collections of $297,025 in 2018 to $363,996 in 2024. The seven-year total came to more than $2.3 million in tax revenue.

In 2014, Smithville voters approved a referendum allowing retail package stores to sell liquor within the city limits. Two years later in 2016, city voters said yes to a referendum for the legal sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in City of Smithville (Liquor By the Drink).

“I am here to request this board to reconsider the motion put forth on September 9, 2024 to amend the city beer ordinance and eliminate the 400 foot distance requirement between a church and businesses seeking an on-premises consumption permit for local beer sales, which would only apply to the C-2 Central Business District and none of the other existing regulations in the ordinance,” said Driver.

“That motion failed 3-2 but new information has emerged I would like to share. On October 15, 2024, the DeKalb County Budget Committee voted 5-0 to recommend the county commission approve a $55 million 30 year bond resolution for a new school”.

“Its contingent on Smithville, Liberty, Alexandria, and Dowelltown extending their existing sales tax agreements for the life of the bond. Smithville will provide 2/3 of its sales tax revenue for that school,” Driver explained.

“I have an issue with this council’s decision to shoot down the proposal to allow sales of beer by the drink in downtown; there are two establishments already serving beer and alcohol in the district”.

“Beer is an important source of sales tax. In 2024 alone, roughtly $364,000 was collected in Smithville from beer and alcohol sales”.

“That figure will grow if you do what the people want. You represent all of Smithville, not just those who are opposed to beer sales downtown. At present, the situation is unfair. Businesses on the west side of the square, Walnut, Market, and Main cannot sell beer while those on the east side can because of the location of churches”.

“All the business owners have invested time and money to revitalize downtown but they don’t all enjoy the same opportunity to prosper. Beer sales by the drink will help all businesses and it will even the playing field”.

“I am a man of faith and fully support our churches in all their efforts. I am also protective of our community and want to see it thrive. Beer is legal and there is a process and procedure to obtain a license,” Driver continued.

“Most establishments that sell beer are family friendly. In fact, I own two of them. We are all in business together and we want to see Smithville prosper. A thriving downtown with restaurants that attract people is important to downtown revitalization. Beer sales are one part of that and an important source of tax revenue”.

“I urge you to reconsider the ordinance you defeated in September and pass it so the community can move forward with commerce and success. When one boat rises, we’ll all rise together,” said Driver.

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