Auditor Gives City Good Marks for Financial Performance

February 9, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The City of Smithville gets good marks in its latest financial 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. One is to make sure we provide the state the financial information that they require in their oversight but the ladies in the office at city hall do such a terrific job that we as auditors really didn’t have to spend a lot of time on that,” said Poole.

“ Another thing we do that is most important to this board is to look to make sure we are getting the monies we are supposed to be getting, whether that’s from annual property taxes, monthly utility billing and monies from the county and the state such as gasoline taxes, sales taxes, etc. and then once we receive those monies at city hall we have to make sure our employees are following city policy and handling those monies appropriately and to see that those monies get to the designated banks. In our opinion as auditors, we didn’t see anything that gave us any concern. Of course, when you have as many property taxpayers and utility customers as the city does you are going to have some folks that may not pay on a timely basis, but the city does a really good job especially with property taxes tracking that and getting it over to the county. The city also does a good job with the utilities (water and sewer) managing that risk and doing cutoffs as needed so as for the city getting the monies it is supposed to get, we think the city is doing that very well,” Poole said.

“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 we didn’t find anything to cause a concern as to how the monies are being spent. As auditors we are looking to make sure the city is following its purchasing procedures especially when there are grant or loan funds involved and again, we didn’t find anything that gave us a concern,” Poole continued.

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.

“With utility funds it’s a state law that you must have at least a one-dollar surplus at least every other year. The change in net position is $469,000 so from the state’s standpoint we had a surplus of $469,000 but the capital contributions or one time grant monies make up a large portion of that but even when you back that out and you are still at $140,000 in profit. As for the balance sheet, what we own and what we owe, the amount in checking, savings, and CDs altogether is almost $4.7 million dollars. If I wanted to compare cities in the middle Tennessee area serving the number of customers, you do having this amount of money and with the low amount of debt you have this city is well above average which gives you the opportunity to do the things you need to do. Running a water and sewer business is very expensive but it’s nice to know that you have money set aside in case you ever need it,” said Poole.

Although expenditures in the general fund exceeded revenues for the year, Poole said most of that was due to large one-time purchases and he isn’t concerned.

“In the general fund we spent $885,000 more than we took in but there were some big capital outlay numbers for purchases made during the year so without those big expenditures there would have been a surplus. In fact, from the state’s standpoint officially we show a surplus of over one million dollars for the year so again in my opinion from a financial standpoint the city is doing very well with the $6.3 million that the city has to do the things it needs to so,” added Poole.

In other business, the aldermen voted to hire Braxton Atnip to fill a vacancy in the sanitation department.

The aldermen also voted to take bids for the resurfacing of the city tennis courts.

The aldermen also approved a budget amendment on first reading to make a contribution of $20,000 to the DeKalb County Youth Baseball League for the repair and rehabilitation of the city owned Joe L. Evins Ballpark. The funds will come from the city’s share of federal American Rescue Plan Act money.

The council further approved the list of Smithville Fire Department members for 2022 including the following:

Chief Charles Parker- 42 years of service, Hoyte Hale-Deputy Chief-37 years, Captain Jeff Wright-37 years, Lieutenant Danny Poss-42 years, Lieutenant John Poss-30 years, Lieutenant Donnie Cantrell-42 years and Firefighters: William Brown-24 years, Gary Johnson-17 years, James R. Hunt-17 years, Stephanee Wright-16 years, Glen Lattimore-14 years, Cory Killian-11 years, Greg Bess-photographer/auxiliary member 27 years, Becky Atnip-9 years, Shawn Jacobs-auxiliary 9 years, Bradley Johnson-8 years, Dalton Roberts-8 years, Kim Johnson-6 years, Seth Wright-6 years, Dillon Hicks-4 years, Jeff Prisock-3 years, Andrew Cooper-3 years, Kayla Johnson-auxiliary 3 years, Dakota Nokes-2 years, Cole Wright-1 year, Mark Riggsbee-auxiliary 1 year, and Tyler Cantrell- 1 year.

February 9, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The DCHS Tigers grounded the Cumberland County Jets 71 to 66 but the Lady Tigers fell short losing 52 to 48 on Senior night Tuesday evening in Smithville.

https://www.wjle.com/tiger-talk/

The Tigers improve to 13-12 overall and 5-6 in the district while the Lady Tigers slip to 15-12 on the season and 4-7 in district play. In the previous meeting on January 14 at Crossville, the Lady Tigers lost 59 to 36 and the Tigers were defeated 76 to 70.

DeKalb County will close out the regular season at Upperman Friday night, February 11 starting with the girls game at 6 p.m. followed by the boys game. WJLE will have LIVE coverage.

Seniors who make up the boys and girls basketball program were recognized Tuesday night including Cheerleaders Keirstine Robinson, Addi Roller, Addison Puckett, Evie Day, and Kyleigh Hill, Manager Aidan Whitman, basketball players Nathaniel Crook, Natalie Snipes, Isaac Knowles, Brayden Antoniak, Kadee Ferrell, Jordan Young, and Manager Elizabeth Seber.

The Lady Tigers opened their game trailing 15 to 4 after the 1st period and found themselves behind 26 to 14 at halftime and 39 to 31 after the 3rd period before falling 52 to 48.

Ella VanVranken scored 17, Kadee Ferrell 16, Avery Agee 11, and Ella Hendrixson and Madison Martin each with 2.

The Tigers trailed the Jets 22 to 17 after the 1st period but took a 36 to 34 halftime lead. The Jets rallied for a 54 to 49 lead after the 3rd period but the Tigers regained their momentum and came from behind to claim a 71 to 66 victory.

Jordan Young and Elishah Ramos each scored 17, Conner Close 14, Stetson Agee 11, Robert Wheeler 6, and Nathaniel Crook with 4.

February 8, 2022
By: Bill Conger

Community leaders John and Kay Quintero who served at the helm of the Haven of Hope mental health counseling service and ministry recently were honored at a retirement reception and board meeting. Kay Quintero retired from counseling at the end of 2021, and John Quintero stepped down from his official business duties with the Haven near the end of 2020.

“Mr. John really has a heart for serving people,” says Haven of Hope Executive Director Samanthia Curtis. “I’ve known him my entire life, but working at the Haven, I’ve seen a completely different side to Mr. John. In church I always thought he looked a little stern. When I started working with him, I loved to watch him laugh with the people that came in. He relates so well to all the people that come through our doors.”

“Mrs. Kay is at the top of the list for a lot of us,” Curtis adds. “She has worked tirelessly to help build the Haven through her own counseling with the people that she sees. She has overseen a lot of counselor’s required professional supervision. If we get off track, I go ask Mrs. Kay again so I’m glad she’s still going to be around for me to be able to ask. I just want to say thank you Lord for sending John and Kay here to us all those years ago for them to move to Smithville and to start the Haven. They both have servant hearts and are such a good example for all of us.”

“John and Kay were some of the first people I met after moving here with my family almost 8 years ago,” recalls Haven Bookkeeper Susan Gray. “I knew then they would be a blessing to have in my life, and it was through Gods great providence that I was able to come work with them 7 years ago. Working at the Haven of Hope under their care has had its ups and downs as is the case when working with the public. There have been great blessings as well as hard situations through the years that I have been able to witness God moving through Ms. Kay and Mr. John. The way they love and care for each individual who comes through our doors is truly a testament to the love they have in Christ. Through our lives it is rare to find people who have servants’ hearts the way the Quintero’s do and they have been and continue to be a shining example of how God loves and cares for us. I am better today because of their guidance and example, and they will always hold a special place in my heart as well as those who they have served.”

Haven Board President and Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian pastor Isaac Gray says John and Kay have a heart to serve people and love people.

“We saw that with many folks who were addicted to a substance as well as people that are not addicted but needed a hand up or a little push to get them where they want to go,” Gray said.

“Kay is a true example of a Godly servant,” says Rita Bell, friend and former Office Manager. “Watching her in her walk has been an inspiration and a blessing to me. I wish there were more “Mrs. Kays” in the world.”

“They have meant so much to our program that I don’t know how we could have ever functioned without them,” says Kate Arnold, Coordinator of DeKalb County Recovery Court. “They have provided so many services to our participants that have been life lessons that these participants are still carrying with them today. We appreciate them. They mean a lot to our team members and to each participant that’s been through the DeKalb County Recovery Court over the years.”

Haven Board member and retired lawyer Sue Puckett-Jernigan says the Quinteros’ work has been “superior.”

“They are fine people,” says Puckett-Jernigan. “They understand people. They’re caring. I was so excited when they opened this Haven of Hope because it’s met the needs of our community.”

A professionally commissioned portrait of the Quintero’s will hang on the wall at the Haven of Hope. Kay and John will continue to work on the ministerial side.