Smithville Mayor and Aldermen to Amend City Personnel Policy on Vacation Time

August 4, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

The Smithville Mayor and aldermen are expected to adopt on 2nd and final reading an ordinance amending the city personnel policy regarding vacation time during Monday night’s regular monthly meeting which will be at 6 p.m. at city hall.

The only other issue on the agenda is the Smithville Police Department request for a grant to purchase a utility vehicle plus any other business properly brought before the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.

City attorney Vester Parsley said the intent of the amendment to the personnel policy is to clarify the language as to vacation time for city employees.

“The previous policy was unclear about whether you (city employee) had to wait until your (hiring) anniversary date (for a designated period of vacation time). We clarified that to say you don’t have to wait until your anniversary date,” said Parsley.

“The intent of the board was also that after the first six months of employment, you could get 40 hours (5 days) of vacation. In the original ordinance it talked about “weeks” but really, we were taking not about “seven” day but “five” day weeks or 40 hours so what we did was put in (specify) that after the first six months you get 40 hours (5 days) of vacation time. When you work a full year, you get an additional 40 hours (5 days) for a total of 80 hours (10 days),” said Parsley.

According to the policy, city employees who work at least 6 months from their hiring date earn 40 hours (5 days) of vacation.

Employees who serve for as long as a year (1-3 years) qualify for an additional 40 hours (5 days) of vacation for a total of 80 hours (10 days)

Employees who serve 4 years earn an additional 40 hours (5 days) of vacation time for a total of 120 hours (15 days)

Those employed 15 years or longer can take an additional 40 hours (5 days) for a total of 160 hours (20 days).

Vacation time cannot be carried over from year to year.

August 4, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb Prevention Coalition hopes to light up Greenbrook Park Friday, September 1 to honor and remember loved ones lost to overdose death.

A Purple Glow Stick Vigil and LED Paper Glow Bag Walk for International Overdose Awareness Day will be held at Greenbrook Park from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

The observance will also feature guest speakers, hot dogs and chips and free overdose reversal training for all.

If you have a loved one who has passed due to an overdose please come and write your loved one’s name or a positive message on a paper glow bag.

For more information email dekalbtnprevention@gmail.com or follow on Facebook.
This project is funded under a grant contract with the State of Tennessee and Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

August 3, 2023
By:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District is holding a public meeting 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, at the Smith County Agricultural Center in Carthage, Tennessee, to discuss a draft Environmental Assessment and unsigned Finding of No Significant Impact for the revision of the 1998 Center Hill Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual.

The Environmental Assessment evaluates proposed operational changes, resource categories, and alternatives to assess potential effects of proposed water control manual updates.

In addition to the public meeting, there is a 30-day comment period ending on Sept. 1, 2023. The Nashville District is soliciting feedback on proposed changes to hydropower ramp rates, sluice gate operations, and minimum flow requirements at Center Hill Dam. Comments may be sent via email to corpsLRNPlanningPublicCom@usace.army.mil.

“This comment period and public meeting are an opportunity for stakeholders and the public to provide
feedback on the agency’s tentatively selected plan,” said Patrick Garner, project planning branch
environmental section biologist.

The Draft Environmental Assessment is prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) (42 U.S.C. §§ 4321-4370h), Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 C.F.R. §§ 1500-1508),
and the Corps’ implementing regulation, ER 200-2-2, 1988 (33 C.F.R. § 230), The Draft Finding of No
Significant Impact can be viewed at https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getfile/collection/p16021coll7/id/24361.

The Draft Environmental Assessment 1998 Water Control Manual Revision can be viewed at
https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getfile/collection/p16021coll7/id/24362.

The Smith County Agricultural Center is located at 159 Agricultural Center Lane in Carthage, Tennessee.