Since 1968, the City of Smithville, by agreement with the county, has given two thirds of it’s local option sales tax collections to the county’s education local purpose tax fund to help pay for construction and other school capital outlay projects. But with the sales tax set to increase from 1.5% to 2.75% effective July 1st, city officials are balking at a request from the county to extend that agreement for another thirty years.
County Mayor Mike Foster and members of the county commission met with Mayor Taft Hendrixson and all five city aldermen Monday night during an informal workshop meeting at city hall to discuss the issue.
The city is legally obligated to turn over to the county 50% of it’s local option sales tax collections for education purposes, but for almost 40 years, the city has been contributing more than it’s share at 66 and 2/3%.
County officials want to keep it that way, but city leaders say they are opposed to signing any extended long term agreement giving the county two thirds of the city’s sales tax collections, because Smithville, in spite of a large general fund surplus now, might need that extra money in years to come for needs that are, as of now, unforeseen.
Last summer, before the first sales tax referendum, the city council adopted a resolution pledging a continuation of the agreement to turn over to the county two thirds of it’s sales tax collections if the county voters approved an increase in the sales tax from 1.5% to 2.75%. But the first referendum, held last August, failed at the polls.
Since the resolution agreement had no termination date, County officials assumed that it would be valid for the second referendum, held last month, which was approved by county voters
However, city officials insist that the first resolution pertained only to the first referendum, and since county officials did not seek approval of a new resolution for the second referendum, they are no longer obligated to honor it.
Since the sales tax referendum was adopted in May, city leaders have given serious consideration to keeping fifty percent of the local option sales tax collections for city government, rather than turning over two thirds of the revenue to the county government.
County Mayor Foster told the Mayor and Aldermen Monday night that if they do that, then the county commissioners will not be able to cut the property tax rate to county tax payers by 19.5 to 20 cents as they have pledged to do, now that the sales tax referendum has been adopted by the voters.
City leaders now say they may continue the agreement turning over two thirds of the sales tax collections to the county, but they do not support signing a 30 year agreement, as the county has proposed.
Alderman Aaron Meeks suggested that the city act on the agreement on a year to year basis.
Steve Bates, the county’s financial advisor, warned that the county could not do any long range planning with only a yearly commitment from the city. He says new schools will have to be built in the coming years and the county must count on that extra sales tax revenue coming in from the city to support such projects. Plus, he says, the county must meet state maintenance of effort requirements, meaning that schools have to be funded by the county, at least with the same amount of local dollars from year to year. In other words, the county may increase funding each year for schools, but it cannot cut funding.
Bates says the county is considering reducing the local property tax rate for schools by 16 cents from 73 cents to 57 cents in the new budget, but giving them back the same of amount of dollars from the increase in the local option sales tax funds.
County Mayor Foster said, even by turning over two thirds of it’s sales tax collections to the county, the city would still gain about $361,000 every year, plus growth, whereas the county, during the first three or four years, would not gain because of the reduction in the property tax rate, as promised to the voters.
Concerned because city leaders wouldn’t commit to a thirty year agreement, Foster told the mayor and aldermen that “without an agreement, in hind sight, we would have been better off it (referendum) had failed.”
The mayor and alderman could take no action on the issue Monday night, because it was not scheduled for the regular city council meeting.

Three new Aldermen were elected Tuesday during the Smithville Municipal Election.
Willie Thomas, Tonya Sullivan, and Jerry Hutchins Sr., unseated Incumbent Aldermen Aaron Meeks, W.J. (Dub) White, and Paul Young.
Thomas led the ticket with 317 votes (17.5%) followed by Sullivan with 283 votes (15.6%), and Hutchins had 280 votes (15.5%)
The other candidates and their vote totals are as follows: Shawn Jacobs- 266 (14.7%),W.J. (Dub) White- 190 (10.5%) Aaron Meeks- 168 (9.3%) Paul Young-167 (9.2%)and Todd Van Dyne- 134 (7.4%)
A total of 738 people voted in the city election, including 555 early voters (533 by personal appearance and 22 by mail) and 183 voters on election day.
The following are the results for each candidate during early voting and election day:
Willie Thomas- 238 (early votes), 79 (election day)
Tonya Sullivan- 200 (early votes), 83 (election day)
Jerry Hutchins, Sr.- 208 (early votes), 72 (election day)
Shawn Jacobs- 189 (early votes), 77 (election day)
W.J. (Dub) White- 158 (early votes), 32 (election day)
Aaron Meeks- 124 (early votes), 44 (election day)
Paul Young- 140 (early votes), 27 (election day)
Todd Van Dyne- 99 (early votes), 35 (election day)
Thomas, Sullivan, and Hutchins will each serve a two year term, beginning July 1st.
The new Board of Mayor and Aldermen will consist of Mayor Taft Hendrixson and Aldermen, Thomas, Sullivan, Hutchins, Cecil Burger, and Steve White.

Smithville Police have made an arrest in last Monday morning’s burglary of Jewel’s Market on South Congress Boulevard in which a case of lottery tickets were stolen.
Chief Thomas J. Stufano says detectives, working a series of burglaries and thefts, have arrested 37 year old Anthony Colwell of 614 Hurricane Ridge Road, Smithville.
Stufano says police received numerous tips from media coverage last week of a burglary and theft at Jewel’s Market on South Congress Boulevard. Detectives were also able to link the Jewel’s Market theft with a crime that occurred at Walmart in Smithville.
Chief Stufano says “Video surveillance captured Colwell’s appearance at two different locations during the commission of his crimes. Contact was made with the Tennessee Lottery Commission who also helped in the investigation.” The stolen lottery tickets have been invalidated.
Colwell was paroled in February for similar crimes.
Officers from the Smithville Police Department and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department went to Colwell’s address last week but he evaded arrest by running through some woods at the rear of his residence.
Smithville Police and DeKalb County deputies again responded to the residence on Sunday and found Colwell hiding under a couch that had been altered in the living room. Colwell was subsequently arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $40,000 bond. He was charged with Burglary, Theft, Vandalism, Evading Arrest, and two counts of Theft over $1,000. The Tennessee Parole Board has also been notified and is following up with a violation.
The offense report in the Jewel’s Market case states that “On or about Monday, June 11th at approximately 1:19 a.m., Officer Leilani Defore was dispatched to an alarm at 1226 South Congress Boulevard. Upon arrival, Officer Defore observed that the front door glass had been shattered to gain entry into Jewel’s Market. There were lottery tickets strewn in the parking lot between the store and the car wash, south of the store. There was no sign of anyone on the premises at that time. Store owner Jewel Redmon then arrived and stated that the only thing that he could tell was missing was a case of lottery tickets. There were also pry marks on the side door where someone had attempted to gain entry and failed due to a wooden brace being across the door.”
Chief Stufano says “The overwhelming support of the community and media during this investigation made a significant impact on the recovery and arrest of this individual.”
In another incident Smithville Police arrested 24 year old David Teachout of 558 East main Street, Smithville for Domestic Assault. Officers responded to a reported fight in progress at the address and found a female victim crying from a reported hurt arm. The incident started when Teachout and the victim’s 11 year old son began fighting. The female was pushed by Teachout and fell backwards over a washing machine. Teachout was arrested and charged with Domestic Assault and transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $2,500 bond.
Buddy Certain of 907 West Main Street, Smithville was also arrested for Domestic Assault. Officers responding to a complaint arrived to see Certain on the floor holding down a female victim by her neck. Further investigation noted that the two had been arguing and Certain slammed the victim against a wall numerous times. He was arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $2,500 bond.
Chief Stufano says “Smithville Police thank the residents and community for their continued participation in the Neighborhood Crime Watch Program which in recent months has provided a wealth of investigative information. Citizens are more vigilant now with the introduction of the program in watching out for their neighbors. As always your confidentiality will be maintained.”

A 49 year old man, believed to have been illegally selling beer and liquor from his home after hours and to underage customers was arrested after midnight Sunday morning following an undercover investigation by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says Jose Santos Acuna of 3925 McMinnville Highway is charged with unlawful sale of alcoholic beverages, transportation of alcoholic beverages by a common carrier, and no drivers license.
His bond is set at $15,000 and he will be in General Sessions Court on the charges June 21st
Sheriff Ray says his department, after receiving complaints that Acuna was illegally selling beer from his home, conducted an investigation. He says an informant and an undercover officer were sent to the Acuna residence after midnight Sunday morning to make a beer buy. After the purchase, officers prepared and executed a search warrant and returned to the home. As they arrived, Acuna drove up and he was placed under arrest.
Officers confiscated $10,961 in cash, 123-six packs of beer, 219-twelve packs of beer, 78 bottles of liquor, and a 40 caliber semi-automatic handgun. Acuna’s 2002 F-150 Ford Super Cab pickup truck, which had some beer in the back of it, was also seized.
Sheriff Ray says authorities believe Acuna had been conducting his operation for up to two years, selling beer and liquor at inflated prices primarily after hours and on Sundays to other Hispanics, under age customers, and to persons with no identification.
Sheriff Ray says further charges are pending. The Alcoholic Beverage Commission has also been contacted about Acuna’s crimes.
If you know of any illegal activities, Sheriff Ray urges you to contact the Sheriff’s Department at 597-4935.

Senior citizens are urged to beware of a recent scam which was perpetrated on a local elderly person.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says a white male, with a large frame build and a close cut beard, went to the home of a senior citizen in the Cherry Hill area of DeKalb County and asked if he could come into the home and check the house for properly insulated walls.
While the man was in the residence, he told the victim that measurements would have to be made of the interior walls. He then asked the victim to take the end of a tape measure and go into another room. With the victim out of sight, the man began prowling through the senior citizen’s belongings.
After the victim realized what was going on, he asked the man to leave.
The man was last seen driving a newer model maroon or Burgundy colored 4 door mid-size car possibly a Toyota Camry.
According to the victim, the man said he represented a company that goes door to door to senior citizen’s homes making inspections for proper insulation. However, the man would not reveal his company’s name nor his own name.
Sheriff Ray asks anyone who has been a victim of this or any scams to contact the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office at 597-4935.

Many DeKalb County residents, elected officials, churches and business people helped make home ownership a reality for one local family Friday with pledges and donations totaling over $21,000 during a three hour Radiothon on WJLE for Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County.
Nolan Turner, president of the local affiliate chapter of Habitat for Humanity says a special thanks goes to all those who supported the radiothon. “We want to thank the people of DeKalb County who have always been so generous and for the $21,140 they have given today to this worthy cause.”
Tecia Puckett Pryor, Vice President and Chair of the Development Committee says she is pleased with the response. “We’re so thankful for the support of our whole community. These funds will be used toward the building of our second house in Smithville for partner family Felicia Gibbs and her children. We’ve got more money to raise. It will probably cost around $40,000 to build this house, so if you would like to continue making donations to us either in memory or in honor of someone, you may write to us at Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County, P.O. Box 750, Smithville, Tennessee 37166.”
You may also drop off your donation with Turner or any other board member at DeKalb Community Bank, or with Pryor at the law office of Sue Puckett Jernigan in Smithville.
The Adams Street home will be built for Felicia Gibbs, a divorced single mother, and her children 4 year old Dasia and 9 month old Trystan Seth. Felicia grew up in Alexandria, attended DeKalb West Elementary School, and graduated from DeKalb County High School in 2001. The family met criteria used by Habitat to identify the best candidates for successful home ownership: demonstration of need, ability to pay, and willingness to partner with Habitat.
Recipients of Habitat-built homes are required to come up with a down payment, and put in many hours of “sweat equity” before construction can begin. After the house is built, they must pay off an interest- free mortgage, with that money going toward construction of additional Habitat-built houses.

A total of 544 people voted early in the Smithville Municipal Election from May 30th through June 14th.
DeKalb County Election Commission officials report that 526 voted by personal appearance and 18 voted by mail.
Election Day is Tuesday, June 19th from 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
All voting will be in the basement courtroom of the DeKalb County Courthouse.
Three aldermen will be elected, each to serve a two year term, beginning July 1st.
Incumbents Aaron Meeks, W. J. “Dub” White, and Paul Young are being challenged by Jerry Hutchins’ Sr., Shawn Jacobs, Tonya Sullivan, Willie Thomas, and Todd Van Dyne.

A Warren County woman was injured in a one car accident Thursday morning on Highway 56 at the DeKalb-Warren County line.
Trooper Allen England of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says 34 year old Kimberly Stembridge of Smartt, Tennessee was driving south in a 2005 Saturn Ion when she failed to maintain the lane of travel, entered a ditch on the west side of the road, struck a driveway culvert, and overturned. The car then slid on it’s top several feet back into the highway.
Trooper England says Stembridge, who was wearing her seatbelt, was taken by DeKalb EMS to River Park Hospital in McMinnville to be treated for minor injuries.
He says both lanes of the highway were shut down for approximately 45 minutes during the investigation and cleanup.
Trooper England was assisted by Trooper Dewaine Jennings and Sergeant Billy Prater of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Others on the scene were officers of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, DeKalb EMS, and members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department.