Emergency Services Committee to Consider County Fire Truck Needs (View Video Here)

October 4, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Members of the DeKalb County Fire Department, who recently requested that the county commission spend $250,000 from available grant funds to purchase of a new fire pumper truck, have now revised their proposal.

(The video below begins with address to county commission by Administrator of Elections Dennis Stanley and then county commission discussion of the awarding of a CDBG grant for the county to purchase a tanker truck for the fire department followed by discussion of a request to purchase fire pumper trucks)

County Commission Discussion on proposed purchase of Fire Department Truck and a grant to help fund a Tanker from dwayne page on Vimeo.

During the regular monthly meeting of the commission last Monday, September 28, Matt Adcock, 6th District Commissioner and member of the fire department asked that the county buy two good used fire trucks instead of one new demonstration truck and to appropriate up to $250,000 from the capital projects fund to make the purchase. Fourth district member Dr. Scott Little offered a second to the motion. But the motion was later tabled until the county’s emergency services committee can meet to discuss the issue. That meeting will be Monday night, October 5 at 6:30 p.m. in the downstairs courtroom of the courthouse.

DeKalb County is currently served by 12 community fire stations, many of them with fire trucks that are aging. Some are more than 20 years old and one, a reserve fire truck, is a 1979 model.
Adcock had initially asked during a committee of the whole meeting of the county commission on Thursday, September 24 that the county consider purchasing one new fire truck to replace an older one in the fleet. He said its important that the county implement a replacement schedule on these trucks so they all don’t wear out at the same time. Adcock said he made this request during meetings of the budget committee over the summer but funds for a new fire truck were not included in this year’s budget.

During Monday night’s meeting, Adcock said he decided to revise his request of buying one new truck to purchasing two used ones after hearing of a suggestion made by 2nd District Commissioner Myron Rhody following the earlier meeting on Thursday night.

“I recommended buying one demo truck for $250,000 but Myron suggested we could get two good used trucks. With the critical situation we are in that is a really good idea,” said Adcock.

Rhody later said he is not in favor of spending $250,000 for a fire truck when two used ones could be bought much cheaper.

“We do not have certified class-a pumpers in every station and those that are not class-a pumpers won’t pass certification. We can’t get insurance (ISO) credit on them. We have two stations right now that have the old homemade trucks that we built. They are not class-a. Also our reserve truck did not pass the pump test, ” said Chief Donny Green at the Thursday night meeting.

Adcock essentially made the same arguments for fire truck replacements Monday night.

“We have two trucks in critical need of being replaced. Those two engines are not class- a pumpers and don’t pas inspections. They are being used as a pumper. They don’t hold enough water to be a tanker and they didn’t quite pass inspection for pumping either,” he said.

“You are saying they didn’t pass the pump inspection but they are still functioning. Lets don’t let the public believe that these two are down and are not functioning. They are functioning. They are useable,” said Commissioner Rhody.

“I understand there is a need but we are getting ahead of the hound here. $250,000 is a lot of money and we are in uncertain times with our budget. On the other hand I believe the emergency services committee should do a proper study and listen to the recommendations of the fire chief. I know in the past he has bought several used engines at a very good price and much less than $125,000 per engine. I think we need a little more study before we vote to spend $250,000. I would ask that we get the plan, the study, and a recommendation from the fire chief on how to go forth in a reasonable financial way,” said 1st District Commissioner Dennis Slager.

“ I agree with Mr. Slager a quarter of a million dollars is a lot of money. I am not a bit opposed to replacing units as they need to be replaced. We need a schedule. I am willing to meet with Mr. Green anytime with the committee but no one has brought me information on used engines or leased engines that could be bought at half price or less than a new one. There are several ways to go about it but we could replace both of these for much less than a quarter of a million dollars and get two units to replace the old ones that is being discussed here. That’s is what I am looking at. I’d like Chief Green to do a little more background on some used engines and present us an estimate on what the cost is going to be. I don’t like signing a check for $250,000 and say here you go,”said Commissioner Rhody.

Commissioner Little pointed out that the county’s capital projects fund is already strong and projected to have a surplus of around $1.6 million by June 30, 2021, more than enough to cover the $250,000 costs for fire trucks.

“I move to table (Adcock’s motion) until the (emergency services) committee can meet with Chief Green and report back at a later date with some figures and a plan which they may also need to present to the budget committee at a future date,” said Commissioner Slager.

Rhody offered a second to the motion to table which was adopted by a vote of 11-2-1. Voting in favor were Commissioners Dennis Slager, Myron Rhody, Jenny Trapp, Anita Puckett, Beth Pafford, Janice Fish Stewart, Bruce Malone, Bobby Johnson, Julie Young, Jeff Barnes, and Sabrina Farler. Commissioners Matt Adcock and Scott Little voted against the motion to table and Commissioner Jerry Adcock passed.

Commissioner Matt Adcock suggested that the emergency services committee has been reluctant to schedule a meeting.

“I have tried three or four times to get the committee together but have been unsuccessful. I was told basically no. I just want you to know we have two engines that are responsible for saving your citizens lives that did not pass inspection. It’s not only civilians lives but firefighters who have to go into burning buildings hoping that fire trucks on the scene work because if they don’t and no water comes out they are inside a burning building with no water. This equipment is expensive but are you willing to risk lives and property,” asked Adcock.

Following the vote to table, 7th District Commissioner Pafford asked if a date could be set for a meeting of the emergency services committee to discuss the issue. That meeting has now been scheduled.

There will be an Emergency Services Committee meeting of the DeKalb County Commission on Monday, October 5 at 6:30 pm in the lower courtroom of the DeKalb County Courthouse. The purchase of a fire truck for the DeKalb County Fire Dept. will be discussed along with any other business properly presented.

October 3, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Fiddle Dee Dee on Broad again presents Fiddle Dee Dee on Broad Gospel Hour Sunday night, October 4 from 5-6 p.m.

The program airs once a month on WJLE, on the first Sunday night of each month, from 5-6 p.m. featuring recorded local talent performing gospel music.

Sunday night’s program will showcase the music of the Dessa Ray and Right On Time.

Tune in the first Sunday night of each month for the Fiddle Dee Dee on Broad Gospel Hour from 5-6 p.m. on WJLE AM 1480/FM 101.7

WJLE is proud of our partner sponsors of religious programs each week and hopes you will tune in often and let them know you listen.

•Got A Minute?: 60 second message presented by the Smithville Church of Christ with Dan Gulley-Twice a day Monday-Friday each week (various times morning and around noon).

•Cross Connection sponsored by the Upper Helton Baptist Church featuring Jimmy Arms: Monday-Friday at 11:55 a.m. each week

•Morning Devotion: A 5 minute daily devotional by a different minister each week Monday-Saturday at 7:25 a.m.

The following are weekly sponsored Sunday programs:

•7:30 a.m.: Royce Moore of the New West Point Freewill Baptist Church (The Way of Life Ministry)

•8:00 a.m. Elders Joseph and Ricky Arnold for the New Bildad and Mount View Primitive Baptist Churches (The Firm Foundation)

•8:30 a.m. Outreach Baptist Church with Nathan Thomason (The Outreach Pulpit)

•9:00 a.m. The Keltonburg Missionary Baptist Church (Only Through the Blood)

•9:30 a.m. LOCAL NEWS

•9:35 a.m. Trent Colwell of the Smithville Church of the Nazarene (The Living Word)

•10:30 a.m. Bobby Thomason of the Covenant Baptist Church (Fountain of Faith Ministries)

•11:00 a.m. Worship Services from either the Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian (Isaac Gray) or Smithville First United Methodist (David Lunsford) Churches

•12:00 NOON: LOCAL NEWS

12:30 p.m.: House of Prayer with Zach Murphy

1:00 p.m.: Truth that Transforms with Aaron Wright

•1:30 p.m. The Preaching Ministry of Toy Lawson of the People’s Pentecostal Church

•2:30 p.m. Billy Hale of the Christ Pentecostal Church of Brush Creek (The King is Coming)

•3:00 p.m. Prophet James Ferrell of the Church of Jesus Christ (The Word of the Lord)

•4:00 p.m. LOCAL NEWS

•4:15 p.m. Royce Curtis of the People’s Missionary Baptist Church

•5:00 p.m. Fiddle Dee Dee on Broad Gospel Hour (1st Sunday)

•6:05 p.m. Gospel music sponsored by Cantrell’s Furniture and Appliances

•9:05 p.m. LOCAL NEWS

Listen each week on WJLE AM 1480 and WJLE FM 101.7.

October 3, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

“Nola” is a cute little critter anyone could love and she is the WJLE/DeKalb Animal Shelter featured “Pet of the Week”.

“Nola is one year old and has already been spayed. She is great with everyone and other cats. Nola is a little shy at first but she is super playful once she warms up to you. Lets get her adopted,” said Shelter employee Emmaly Bennett.

“Nola would probably do best in a home with older children just because they tend to know boundaries a little better but she is a really good cat,” added Shelter Director Megan Moore.

“To learn more about Nola call 615- 597- 3647 or send us a message on our facebook page and we will get you set up with an appointment,” said Moore.

DeKalb Animal Shelter Staff with Nola from dwayne page on Vimeo.

“We are still doing adoptions by appointment only. You can go online to our website  and fill out an application at https://www.dekalbanimalcoalition.org/directly for the pet you are interested in. It sends it right to us. We will then give you a call to get you out here to meet the pet you want,” she said.

“We want to say thanks to everyone who has been adopting recently. We’ve been working with fosters and have had quite a few adoptions and turning them over pretty quickly to help the community more,” said Megan.

Meanwhile the “Hogs for Dogs” fundraising event is Saturday, October 10 at Twisted Oaks on Highway 70 across from Bert Driver Nursery starting at 11 a.m. If you haven’t signed up for the motorcycle ride you can sign up even on Saturday. While everybody is out riding there will be a silent auction going on. We’d like to invite everybody to come out and bid on our silent auction items including a pontoon rental, chalet rental, zoo passes, and passes for Canoe the Caney, merchandise baskets from local businesses around town, passes for the Smithville Golf Course, and more. Come by and see what’s new,” said shelter volunteer Cathy Bader.