City Annexes Property in Smith Road Area

December 6, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Property on Smith Road is being annexed into the City of Smithville.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the aldermen adopted a resolution to annex a large portion of property belonging to the Smith Road Properties Group Partners. The site is located on Smith Road between Estes Street, and Shay Street and across from Creekside Drive.

City Administrator Hunter Hendrixson said the Smithville Planning Commission recently met and voted to recommend to the city council that the property be annexed with a Plan of Services. “At some point they (owners) are probably looking at developing that, but I don’t know when. It’s near the county garage (county highway department) on what is known as the old Colvert farm,” said Hendrixson. A portion of the site belonging to the landowners is already in the city.

State law requires that all annexations include a Plan of Services (POS). The POS outlines those services, such as sewer, that will be made available to the land being annexed and the timeframe within which services and/or amenities will be provided.

The annexation resolution was adopted following a public hearing, but no one showed up to speak out either for or against.

In other business, the aldermen adopted a rezoning ordinance on first reading changing from residential to commercial property belonging to Jerry Hutchins at the corner of South College Street and East Bryant Street. Second and final reading will follow a public hearing at the next city council meeting on January 2.

City Administrator Hunter Hendrixson said the Smithville Planning Commission recently met and voted to recommend approval of the rezoning to the city council. “This property has been subdivided into two parcels and meets all the criteria to be commercial. What is going in there if anything, I have no idea but as far as the city is concerned it meets everything,” said Hendrixson.

The aldermen adopted on second and final reading budget amendments.

In the general fund, the city needs an extra $31,783 to cover costs of replacing the city hall roof for which the aldermen had budgeted $100,000; $14,000 for repairs or reconstruction of a used backhoe; and $27,151 to repair or replace an arm on a city sanitation truck. The total amount of the budget amendment for these projects comes to $72,934 to be taken from the unreserved general fund balance.

In the water and sewer fund, the budget amendment ordinance includes $50,000 needed for a sewer pump station upgrade on Jennings Lane. The money will be taken from the water and sewer funds retained earnings or reserves.

The aldermen postponed action until next month on the purchase of surveillance cameras at Green Brook Park.

Mayor Josh Miller said Green Brook Park has come under attack by vandals in recent years and surveillance cameras are needed there to monitor activity of that kind. He also commended Smithville Electric System for adding more streetlights in the park.

“A lot of people use that park especially in the spring and summer and people need to feel safe when they are there. I know the park needed more lighting and I thank Smithville Electric for doing that at my request,” said Mayor Miller.

Quotes have been obtained from two companies interested in selling a surveillance camera package to the city.

The aldermen also appointed Josh Williams, a pilot and airport hangar tenant, to fill a vacancy on the city’s airport advisory board.

December 6, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A female inmate at the DeKalb County Jail found with drugs hidden in her body cavity is facing several charges.

30-year-old Natalie Gail Barrett of Cookeville is charged with bringing contraband into a penal institution (jail); possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; and three counts of possession for sale or delivery of a controlled substance. Her bond totals $167,500 and she will be in court December 15.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on November 28 a cell search was conducted in the female pod of the jail and when a female correctional officer began strip searching the women inmates Barrett admitted to having drugs on her person (body cavity). After being unable to produce them at the jail, Barrett was transported to the emergency room of the hospital where a doctor retrieved from Barrett two clear baggies containing 20 grams of a crystal-like substance (methamphetamine), 5 grams of a brown powdery substance (heroin), 18 grams of a green leafy substance (marijuana), and one whole pill and two other half pills (6 grams of Fentanyl).

47-year-old George Edward Taylor of Eckles Heights, Liberty is charged with driving on a revoked license. His bond is$3,500 and he will be in court December 15.

Sheriff Ray said that on December 1 a deputy spotted Taylor driving on Nashville Highway knowing that his driver license was revoked. The officer pulled over Taylor and confirmed that his license was still revoked. Taylor had been cited for the same offense on November 26.

34-year-old Randall Christopher Evans of Highland Drive, Smithville is charged with being a fugitive from justice. His bond is $75,000 and he will make a court appearance on December 15.

Sheriff Ray said after he was arrested here authorities in Simpson County, Kentucky placed a hold on Evans stating they planned to extradite him to face charges there.

December 5, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A Goodlettsville woman driving a stolen car led a DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department deputy on a pursuit into Smith County Thursday before being arrested.

28-year-old Megan Leigh Wilson is charged with evading arrest, theft of property, driving on a revoked or suspended license, and reckless endangerment. Her bond totals $36,000 and she will be in court December 15.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on December 1 a deputy was summoned to Hall Road due to a report of a possible stolen Toyota Avalon which had been spray painted black. The officer spotted a vehicle matching the description on Lower Helton Road in Alexandria and obtained tag information through central dispatch which confirmed that the car had been stolen as reported by the Lebanon Police Department. The driver of the car, Wilson, sped away and the deputy initiated a pursuit into Smith County. Although the Smith County Sheriff’s Department had put down spike strips, Wilson went around them. During the pursuit, Wilson crossed into the oncoming lane of traffic almost hitting other vehicles and before stopping, crashed through several private property gates on Ben Gentry Lane. Wilson then bailed out of the car and unsuccessfully tried to flee on foot. The deputy learned that in addition to being in possession of a stolen vehicle, Wilson was driving on a suspended license. The estimated value of the stolen car was $2,025.

In addition to the Smith County Sheriff’s Department, the Gordonsville Police Department assisted the DeKalb County officer in apprehending Wilson.

According to Sheriff Ray, Wilson thought she could elude authorities because she had successfully done it before in other counties that have a no pursuit policy in certain cases.