The county emergency services committee may be having second thoughts about bringing the ambulance service back under the county’s control.
County Mayor Mike Foster says running the ambulance service could be a costly endeavor for the county and more study is needed before any action is taken by the county commission. But time is running short because Sumner Regional Medical Center will officially cease operation of the DeKalb County Ambulance Service within a few weeks.
Foster, during Monday night’s county commission meeting, said cost estimates are still being compiled. “I got information from eleven counties. We based our budget on numbers that we got from them as well as some that I got from Sumner County General. The guy that helps us with budgets also did a budget. We all came up with some pretty scary numbers. We’re seeing that the number of (ambulance) runs was around 2,600. We’ve averaged other counties revenues and we have estimates from ambulance directors in other counties, and they estimate that we should average $260 per run. If we do that, we come up with revenues of about $676,000. When we run (cost) numbers for the staff, secretary, director, benefits, materials, fuel, and repairs, we come up with a number in excess of $1-million,031-thousand dollars. The first year we would have to buy three heart monitors for approximately $41,000 and we would continue to buy an ambulance, so that’s another $136,000. There is an EMS software program that’s about $12,000 per year, or if we contract with someone to collect it (billing), they charge seven percent, which would be about $47,000, but the EMS consultants would furnish the software. It’s one of those things that we’ve got to look at and we’ve got to do it fairly quickly. This is a very important thing and we’re probably taking a little more time than some people would like to see, but we’re concerned about this. If we take the money that we’re currently contributing ($163,00 per year) away from the numbers we’re talking about, we still show losing somewhere between $328,000 and $400,000 and we’re not comfortable with that.”
Foster says he and members of the commission will hold an informal workshop on the issue again Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. at the courthouse.

18 year old Courtney Curtis of Smithville, daughter of Brett and Sherree Curtis, is the 2007 DeKalb County Fairest of the Fair.
She succeeds the retiring Fairest of the Fair, 19 year old Whitney Nicole Rice of Smithville, daughter of Brenda and the late Bobby Rice.
First runner-up in the pageant was 19 year old Christen Ashley Hale, daughter of Craig and Evelyn Hale of Dowelltown.
Second runner-up was 20 year old Tara Joan Griffin, daughter of Mike and Tammy Griffin of Alexandria.
18 year old Wendy Michelle Scott of Smithville was named Miss Congeniality. She is the daughter of Kathy Scott and the late Billy Ray Scott.
The pageant was held Monday night at the DeKalb County Fair in Alexandria.

The 2007 Junior Fair Princess of the DeKalb County Fair is 15 year old Whitney LaRay Moss, daughter of Greg and Wendy Moss of Alexandria.
She succeeds the retiring 2006 Junior Fair Princess, 16 year old Rosemary Apple of Smithville, daughter of Nick and Claire Apple.
The first runner-up was 13 year old Cora Beth Rhody, daughter of Kenny and Beth Rhody of Smithville.
Second runner-up was 13 year old Kristen Smartt, daughter of Aaron and Paula Taylor of Dowelltown.
13 year old Heather Marie Hughes was named Miss Congeniality. She is the daughter of Shawn McGowan and Mike Hughes of Smithville.
14 year old Martha Alan Webb was named Miss Photogenic. She is the daughter of Alan and Lora Webb of Smithville.
The pageant was held Monday night at the DeKalb County Fair.
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DeKalb County residents, who normally dump their household garbage at the convenience center on Highway 56 south, will soon have to find somewhere else to go.
County Mayor Mike Foster says the state has purchased that property in preparation for the widening and improvement of Highway 56 south and the convenience site there will be closing by July 30th.
Efforts are underway to find another location in the area for a new garbage collection site. County officials thought they had found a spot, but Foster says those plans fell through.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has charged four women in the investigation of a stolen check and driver’s license, which they allegedly used to obtain cash from the victim’s bank account.
25 year old Elizabeth “Beth” Chalfant of Hurricane Ridge Road is charged with theft of property under $500 and theft of property over $1,000; 23 year old Ashley Owen of Twilla Lane, Smithville is charged with theft of property over $1,000; 43 year old Denise Jauregui of Bell Street, Smithville is charged with theft of property over $1,000, criminal impersonation, and forgery; and 25 year old Sabina Solano of Bell Street, Smithville is charged with theft of property over $1,000.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says Chalfant allegedly took a check and driver’s license from a relative, then all four women went to a local bank, in the same vehicle, where they presented the drivers license and forged check in the amount of $1,900.
According to Sheriff Ray, Owen pulled up to the drive-through window at the bank and presented the stolen check and drivers license, but since the check was not endorsed, the cashier did not accept it and asked the women if the check belonged to one of them.
Sheriff Ray says Jauregui raised her hand, indicated that the check belonged to her, and endorsed it. The cashier then cashed the check and gave the money to the women, who then divided the cash among themselves
Bond for each is as follows, $6,000 for Chalfant, $3,500 for Owen, $9,500 for Jauregui, and $3,500 for Solano.
All four women will appear in General Sessions Court on August 9th.

Tom Stufano is the Smithville Police Chief again.
Mayor Taft Hendrixson has vetoed the city council’s 3 to 1 vote Monday night to place Chief Stufano on administrative leave with pay, pending an investigation of allegations of wrong doing in a pending lawsuit, filed by an attorney for Roy Ray.
In a letter to City Attorney John Pryor dated Wednesday, July 18th , Mayor Hendrixson wrote ” I believe the action taken by this Board could be potential exposure to future litigation and I think any action of administrative leave for Chief Stufano is premature.”
“I hereby veto the action by the Smithville Board of Mayor and Aldermen made on July 16th placing Chief Thomas J. Stufano on administrative leave.”
“Therefore, Chief Stufano is still Chief of the Smithville Police Department until such time as my veto is overridden by a two thirds majority vote of the entire Board, at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Smithville Board of Mayor and Aldermen.”
Smithville Alderman Tonya Sullivan, in a prepared response to the mayor’s veto, wrote ” I received a notification of a veto from Mayor Taft Hendrixson on Friday regarding Chief Stufano’s administrative leave. I felt that it was necessary for Chief Stufano to be on paid administrative leave in order to protect him and clear his name and to be fair to Mr. Roy Ray. The allegations were taken serious Monday at the council meeting and so was protecting our city employee. A TBI investigation I felt was the quickest way to get this matter resolved.”
Sullivan further stated “The veto by the Mayor doesn’t suggest that this was not an appropriate way to handle this. The Mayor’s reasons for the veto were ‘out of fear of future litigation’. I respect the Mayor’s position and I know that myself as well as the other aldermen are willing to work together to resolve tough isses as they happen. I want what is in the best interest of our city employees and the citizens of Smithville.”
In order to override a mayoral veto, at least four members of the five member board would have to vote for the override, otherwise, the mayor’s veto is sustained.
Mayor Hendrixson met with members of the local media Friday afternoon in his office to publicly announce his decision.
Hendrixson, when asked if he has received any public response from Monday night’s vote by the council, stated that he has received numerous comments, both in person and on the phone, expressing support for Stufano.
Mayor Hendrixson says he believes Stufano has done a good job as Police Chief and that he and the department have been active in making drug arrests and addressing other crime concerns.
Alderman Jerry Hutchins’ Sr. made the motion Monday night to place Chief Stufano on administrative leave with pay, pending the outcome of an independent investigation, based on complaints made by Roy Ray filed in a federal court lawsuit against Chief Stufano, the Smithville Police Department, and the City of Smithville.
Ray claims he suffered injuries and that his civil and constitutional rights were violated during a misdemeanor traffic stop in February.
Ray’s attorney in the lawsuit, Adam Wilding Parrish of Lebanon, came before the Mayor and Aldermen Monday night requesting the investigation of Stufano.
Aldermen Willie Thomas and Tonya Sullivan joined Hutchins in voting for the suspension, however Alderman Steve White voted against it, until City Attorney John Pryor had more time to research the city’s options in dealing with the issue. Alderman Cecil Burger was out of town and could not attend the meeting.
The senior ranking officer, Richard Jennings, became acting chief, until the mayor’s veto.
Section 6, paragraph 3 of the City Charter states that “He (Mayor) shall have veto power over any action of the Board, except as hereinafter provided, giving his reasons therefore in writing, with the exception of the hiring policy as set out in SECTION 5, Paragraph 2; but the Board may, by a two thirds vote of the entire membership of said Board, pass the same over his veto; or if he fails to return the same on or before the next meeting of said Board, he shall be deemed to have approved the same and the same shall become a law without such approval; and each and every law, ordinance, resolution or vote, except on the question of adjournment, shall require the approval of the Mayor before it shall become effective, except as herein before provided.”
Section 5, Paragraph 2 of the City Charter states that “All employees or appointed officials of the City, including, but not limited to, the Chief of Police, the City Bookkeeper, the City Attorney, the Judicial Commissioner of the City, and the Secretary-Treasurer of the City shall be employed by a majority vote of the Aldermen of said City, and in case of a tie vote of said Aldermen in this and any other question voted on by said Aldermen, the Mayor shall have the power and it is hereby declared to be his duty to cast the deciding vote in such election. It shall also become the duty of said Board to fix by ordinance the salaries of all employees and officials employed by the City. No employees or official can be discharged except for “cause”. The Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Smithville, shall enact such ordinance or ordinances as are necessary in order to define “cause”, and distribute same to all employees and officials of the City. Said ordinance or ordinances shall comply with the due process requirements of both the federal and state constitutions. All employees and appointed officials of the City shall be rehired and or reappointed each year absent their discharge for “cause” as referred to herein.”