County Budget Committee to Resume Meetings

June 15, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County budget committee will resume work on the 2021-22 budget Wednesday and Thursday night, June 16 & 17 at the courthouse now that the new certified property tax rate is known.

The latest reappraisal cycle is completed and the state has set the certified tax rates for each of the cities and the county according to overall changes in assessments.

The new certified property tax rate for DeKalb County is $1.7308 per $100 of assessed value, down from the current rate of $2.12350. One cent of the new county certified tax rate is to generate $61,970 at full value.

Typically, when overall appraisals for a county go up, the certified tax rate comes down. Of course its up to the county commission whether to adopt the new lower certified property tax rate or raise it. However public hearings are required by the state before any effort is made by the county to increase the rate above the certified rate.

The Budget Committee meetings Wednesday and Thursday will begin at 6 p.m. in the lower courtroom of the courthouse.

Half of the 14 member county commission now makes up the budget committee including 1st district commissioner Julie Young, 2nd district commissioner Sabrina Farler, 3rd district commissioner Jenny Trapp, 4th district commissioner Dr. Scott Little, 5th district commissioner Jerry Adcock, 6th district commissioner Jeff Barnes who serves as chairman of the budget committee, and 7th district commissioner Beth Pafford.

Five department heads including Sheriff Patrick Ray, Fire Chief Donny Green, Assessor of Property Shannon Cantrell, and DeKalb Emergency Management Agency Director Charlie Parker appeared before the committee in April to present their budgets with few requests for new spending and Dusty Johnson, Captain of the Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad asked for more funding. The DeKalb County Emergency Communications District (E911) wants the county to fund another dispatcher position and leaders of the DeKalb County Farmers Market want the county to pay for a digital or electronic sign to bring more attention to weekly venue. No action has yet been taken on any request.

The budget committee has also reviewed proposed budgets sent in from other departments which had no significant changes including the Register of Deeds, County Clerk, Circuit Court Clerk, Recovery Court, Health Department, Clerk and Master, Senior Citizens Centers, DeKalb Prevention Coalition, Libraries, UT/TSU Extension Service, and membership dues. No action has been taken.
The budget committee still has to hear from several other departments including the school board, Road Supervisor, DeKalb EMS as to their budget proposals for 2021-22.

2021-22 Budget requests submitted to date:

DeKalb Fire Department:
*Funds for 5% grant match to purchase 70 new sets of turnout gear. If the grant is not awarded then the local grant match funding would not be spent.

* Funds for 5% grant match to purchase a new Quint fire truck pumper equipped with a short aerial. If the grant is not awarded then the local grant match funding would not be spent.

*Another $25,000 in seed money to eventually build a fire department station in the Wolf Creek Community. The county set aside $25,000 in seed money for the project in this year’s budget (2020-21).

*Funding of $10,000 to add unisex restrooms at two fire stations. Rooms would be enclosed within the existing fire stations consisting of a toilet and pumping system to an outside tank. There would be no septic system.

*Funding for a 45% grant match ($112,500) to purchase a new or used fire truck under the USDA Rural Development Facility Grant Program. If the grant is not awarded then the local grant match funding would not be spent.

*Carryover funding of $75,000 already allocated but not spent from this year’s budget (2020-21) as a local grant match for the purchase of a new tanker under the Community Development Block Grant Program. The grant has already been awarded the county but the pumper has not yet been delivered.

DeKalb Sheriff’s Department:
*Funding for the purchase of four new patrol cars with equipment package.

DeKalb Assessor of Property:

*Funding for purchase of new pickup truck to replace 2006 model with 180,000 miles

Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad:
*Additional contribution of $8,821 for fuel reimbursement to rescue squad member volunteers. (County already budgets $3,179 for fuel reimbursement)

*Additional funding of $3,500 to replace swift water rescue equipment as it wears out. (County has already appropriated $18,000 to equip and train 15 volunteers for a new swift water rescue task force.

The Rescue Squad, a non-profit organization, is not an entity of county government. The county appropriates $26,000 each year as a contribution to the volunteer group.

DeKalb County Farmers Market:
Leaders of the DeKalb County Farmers Market are seeking funding from the county for a new outdoor digital sign to promote events there and at the county complex. Farmers Market President Eddie Ray and Treasurer Connie Tjarks addressed the county budget committee in April.

Last summer the budget committee had recommended appropriating $40,000 from the capital projects fund of the budget for a new outdoor LED sign for the county complex and Farmers Market to advertise events there but it was stripped out of the budget by the county commission. The Farmers Market is located on East Bryant Street right beside DeKalb Ace Hardware and the county complex Building but Tjarks said many people can’t find it because it’s not visible from South Congress Boulevard.

DeKalb County Emergency Communications District (E-911)
Due to increased call volume over the last 16 years, the DeKalb County Emergency Communications District (E-911) is looking to hire two more dispatchers with extra help from the City of Smithville and DeKalb County governments.

During a budget work session in April, 911 Director Brad Mullinax met with the Smithville Mayor and Aldermen at city hall to ask that the city increase its annual contribution to $160,000, up from $119,595. Last week (June 7th) the aldermen honored Mullinax’s request by including funding of $40,405 (salary and benefits) for another paid E911 dispatcher position.

Mullinax has made a similar request to the County Commission’s Health, Education & Public Welfare Committee which is recommending approval by the DeKalb County Budget Committee. Mullinax also wants the county to make repairs and improvements to the 911 center building on Mountain Street in Smithville with COVID-19 relief funds or American Rescue Plan Act money and to repave and seal the parking lot.

Mullinax first approached both the city and county to make an appeal for more dispatchers last year but his requests were not funded.

The DCECD (E-911) central dispatch center currently employs ten dispatchers, two per shift.

“The city and county each currently fund three dispatch positions and the Town of Alexandria funds us about $25,000 a year and then DeKalb County 911 picks up the other piece of that (those costs). We (911) are also responsible for all the operational costs, radio repairs, tower repairs, etc.,” said Mullinax.
The request is to add two more dispatchers (funded one each by the city and county) in order to have three dispatchers per shift (four shifts).

June 14, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The 50th annual Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival is coming Friday and Saturday, July 2 & 3 and the Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce invites all county businesses to again use their changeable signs or marquees to post welcome greetings for our Jamboree visitors.

“This marks the 20th year for the Chamber of Commerce “Jamboree Project Welcome Mat” for the 50th Annual Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival. Businesses having changeable signs or marquees are asked to post welcome greetings for our Jamboree visitors. The wording may be only a simple “Welcome to the Jamboree” or as elaborate as you choose. Chamber Director Suzanne Williams says, “With thousands of visitors coming into town for our special 50th celebration, every effort should be made by the local merchants to show our guests that we appreciate them and welcome their business. Let’s keep on showing folks how friendly the DeKalb County / Smithville area can be!”

All businesses may participate in “Project Welcome Mat.” There will be recognition awards in 4 categories: “Best Worded,” “Most Original,” “Most Creative,” and the “People’s Choice Award.”
Plaques will be presented to winners along with media recognition. If your business would like to participate in the contest, email the Chamber at swilliams@dekalbcountychamber.org, call 615-597-4163, or text 615-464-7760. Wording should be in place no later than Thursday, June 17th at 2 PM.

June 14, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Ten employees of the DeKalb County School System have announced their retirement or resignation.

During Thursday night’s Board of Education meeting, Director of Schools Patrick Cripps announced the following retirements or resignations:

Nadina Martel, Teacher at DeKalb West School

Robbie Joan Frazier, Educational Assistant at DeKalb West School

Andrew Dixon, Teacher at DCHS

David Gash, Assistant Principal at DCHS

Randy Jennings, Principal at DCHS

Rhonda Pelham, Secretary at Smithville Elementary School

Mary Sanders, Educational Assistant at DeKalb Middle School

Kristen Malone, Teacher at Smithville Elementary School

LeeAnne Frasier, Educational Assistant at Smithville Elementary and Northside Elementary Schools

Gates Craighead, Teacher at Northside Elementary and Smithville Elementary Schools.

Meanwhile, Jessica Prichard has been granted a leave of absence as requested.

“To those who have retired I appreciate everything you have done for the DeKalb County School System, our kids, and the community and for all the time you have spent and dedication given. I just want to say thank you,” said Director Cripps.