County Mayor Tim Stribling was re-elected Chairman of the county commission Monday night.
All fourteen members voted in favor.
Seventh District member Larry Summers was returned as Chairman Pro Tempore.
The county commission must annually elect a chairman and a chairman pro tempore. The commission may elect the county mayor or a member of the body to be the chairman, although the county mayor may refuse to serve. If the county mayor is chairman, he or she may vote only to break a tie vote. If a member is chairman, the member votes as a member, but cannot vote again to break a tie. If the county mayor is not chairman, he or she may veto most resolutions of the county legislative body, but this veto may be overridden by a majority vote. The majority vote that is required for this and the passage of resolutions or other measures is a majority of the entire actual membership of the county legislative body, and not a majority of the quorum, nor a majority of the authorized membership.
The county commission consists of fourteen members, two from each of the seven districts in the county.
The make-up of the county commission is as follows:
Julie Williams Young and Mason Carter from the first district; Jimmy Midgett and Joe Johnson from the second district; Jack Barton and Bradley Hendrix from the third district; Wayne Cantrell and Jonathon Norris from the fourth district; Jerry Adcock and Anita Puckett from the fifth district; Jeff Barnes and Betty Atnip from the sixth district; and Larry Summers and Kevin Robinson from the seventh district. Their terms are for four years and will expire August 31, 2018.

DeKalb County has been approved for a grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to help fund extension of water lines to a portion of the county.
The Community Development Block Grant is in the amount of $500,000 with a local match of $120,000 to be funded by the DeKalb Utility District.
County Mayor Tim Stribling told WJLE Wednesday that the project is to serve around 40 households on Tramel Branch, Oakley Road, Carter Lane, Old Givens Hollow, and the Dismal to Alexandria Road. Many of these residents have poor quality water or little or no water. “When we applied for it there were about 43 houses that it would serve including 135 to 140 people,” he said.
“Tuesday morning I received a phone call from State Representative Terri Lynn Weaver saying that our application for a Community Development Block Grant for the water line extension project had been funded. On Wednesday morning, I received a letter from Commissioner Randy Boyd of the Department of Economic and Community Development saying that Governor Haslam has approved our 2016 CDBG application in the amount of $500,000 for this water line extension project,” said County Mayor Stribling.
The county mayor has sent a letter to each affected household informing them of the grant and also letting them know that it will be next spring at least before any work is done. “As you are aware, this is a long and tedious grant process, and we must follow the State and Federal guidelines to be successful. It will be late spring before construction will begin so please be patient with us as we work through the grant process. I will be working with the DeKalb Utility District to send out information regarding water taps in the spring,” wrote County Mayor Stribling.
The DeKalb County Commission adopted a resolution in January authorizing the filing of the grant application.
The county had applied for and been denied the grant twice within the previous two years. But this time in order to improve its chances, the county asked for a little less grant money while the DeKalb Utility District committed to ante up more in its local match commitment. The total project cost is the same.
Amanda Mainord of Grassroots Planning & Consulting, is the grant administrator for the project.

“Get out the Vote,” a special program sponsored by the DeKalb County Election Commission is coming up Monday on WJLE.
Designed to be both informative and entertaining, the program will air from 5 to 6 p.m. Monday October 3rd. Dennis Stanley and Shawn Jacobs, both former WJLE announcers, will host the one-hour special event.
“This program will be used to remind voters about the importance of keeping their address up to date with the election office, the voter registration deadline, and about the dates of early voting,” said Stanley, who is also the local Administrator of Elections. “We will also be playing popular music from the 60s and 70s to keep the listeners entertained.”
“We thought this would be a unique, fun, but effective way to get important information out to the voters,” Stanley and Jacobs said. “So many times people put things off and then realize by election day they are not registered or can’t make it to the polls and missed taking advantage of early voting. This program will constantly remind the listeners of the registration deadline, the early voting dates, and the importance of keeping your address up-to-date with the election office.”
Again, the program will air Monday, October 3 from 5 to 6 p.m. on WJLE.

The county is taking the next step toward the eventual development of a fire hall in the Four Seasons Community.
During Monday night’s meeting, the county commission voted to begin site preparation. “We have some site work that needs to be done. There’s a building or barn on the property and a small pond. I think its time to start doing some work in clearing the property,” said County Mayor Tim Stribling.
Fifth District Commissioner Anita Puckett said she would like to have a community meeting to get the public’s input on the plans. “ County Fire Chief Donny Green and I are going to try to set up a community meeting, maybe at the Bright Hill Methodist Church, and see what the community wants, whether it be strictly a fire hall or a community center/fire hall and to see if people in the community would want to help build this to be more invested in it,” said Puckett.
“There are some people in the community who have expressed an interest in doing some sweat equity in helping out with what needs to be done,” said County Mayor Stribling.
Two years ago the county commission voted to acquire property, a little more than an acre in size, near the intersection of Four Seasons Road and Young Green Road for the future home of the fire station. Last year the county commission set aside $25,000 as seed money and $50,000 was included in this year’s budget for a total of $75,000 toward the project.

Since the election commission closed the Cherry Hill precinct some members of the county commission have expressed an interest in selling the building.
The community apparently rarely uses it anymore and the building needs repairs. Although the county owns it, federal funds were used to build it some forty years ago and county attorney Hilton Conger wants to make sure there are no strings attached before the county takes any action to sell it.
“I would recommend that we get a definitive answer. It was built with federal money. My understanding is that it came with no strings attached but I would just like to have some definitive answer from Congress or whoever has to tell us. If there is still something out there (stipulations) that Congressman Diane Black can shed some light on I would respectfully ask the commission to wait on making a decision about selling the building until we have something that says we can do that,” said Conger during Monday night’s county commission meeting.
County Mayor Tim Stribling said he has been in contact with a representative of Congressman Black’s Office about this issue. “I talked again Friday with Mike Detwiler, field representative for Diane Black. He said he is checking with Washington. I don’t see any reason why we can’t (sell the building). It belongs to the county but I had rather get a clarification,” he said.
Stribling said he hopes to have an answer from Congressman Black’s Office by next month’s county commission meeting.

DeKalb County property owners will soon be receiving their tax notices for the year 2016 and while the format will be the same as last year, the color will be DeKalb Middle School Blue instead of DCHS Black and Gold.
“You will see a new color this year as we go from black and gold in 2015 to Middle School ‘Blue’ in 2016. I will change to a different color each tax year using a color from a different school. So, as you receive 2016 bill, which again will be on an 8-1/2” X 11” sheet of paper front and back, you will see the blue color representing our DeKalb County Middle School,” said Trustee Sean Driver.
The 2016 property tax bills will have basically the same information as 2015, but this year they will show some number changes in appraisals values and an added option for payment.
Taxes are due and payable on October 3, 2016 through February 28, 2017 without penalties. The Trustee’s office offers several options to pay your property tax bill for 2016 including a new alternative.
*You may come into the office to pay.
*You may mail in your payment.
*You may pay online by visiting www.tennesseetrustee.com and selecting “DeKalb”. Remember, the vendor accepts Discover, MasterCard, Visa, or American Express and the vendor convenience fee is 2.75% applied on the total tax bill. Fees are subject to change for using credit/debit cards.
*You may pay by e-check in any amount but a $2.75 fee will be assessed.
* New for 2016 is a QR Code (Quick Response Code) that will be accessible to use which will link to www.tennesseetrustee.com
“Remember we do have a dropbox located on the outside of the building at the County Complex (County Offices Section) for your convenience after hours or on weekends and we also offer and accept partial payments in which you, the taxpayer, sets the amount to pay,” said Trustee Driver.
Eligible taxpayers may also qualify for the Tennessee State Tax Relief Program.
This program was implemented in 1973 and changes somewhat every year. For the 2016 tax year, you may qualify for Tax Relief if:
*Your DeKalb County home is your primary residence
*You are 65 years old (or older) as of December 31, 2016
*You are totally and permanently disabled as rated by the Social Security Administration or another qualifying agency.
*Your 2015 annual income of all persons on the deed and their spouses did not exceed $29,180.00. If the State of Tennessee qualifies you for Tax Relief, then you can receive a rebate up to $108.00.
“Also, new for the 2016 Tax Relief is the requirements for Disabled Veterans and the surviving spouses of a disabled veteran. In 2015, the state required new applicants as a disabled veteran to report his or her annual income. In 2016, new disabled veteran applicants will no longer have to report his or her annual income. You must have proof from the Veteran’s Administration that you have a 100% service-connected disability. If the State of Tennessee qualifies you as a disabled veteran or the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran, then you can receive a rebate up to $458.00. The office will start accepting applications for the Tax Relief Program on October 3, 2016 through April 5, 2017. If you would like to inquire more about a possible tax relief, come by the County Complex in the Trustee’s office at 732 S. Congress Blvd-Room 103, Smithville, TN 37166 or call us at 615-597-5176,” said Trustee Driver.

An investigation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has resulted in the arrest of a Cannon County man for the July murder of his brother.
At the request of 16th District Attorney General Jennings Jones, TBI Special Agents, with the assistance of the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Cannon County Sheriff’s Office, began investigating the July 10th death of 38-year-old Carl “Floyd” Young. During the course of the investigation, Agents developed information that on that day, Carl had been involved in a verbal and physical altercation with his brother Chad on Gunter Hollow Road in Woodbury. The investigation revealed that during that altercation, Chad fired a handgun at his brother while Carl was driving. The bullet struck Carl, killing him, and his vehicle wrecked in a field.
On Friday, the Cannon County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Chad Young, 32, with one count of Second Degree Murder and two counts of Tampering with Evidence. Young was arrested Friday afternoon and booked into the Cannon County Jail, where he is being held on a $250,000 bond.

One man was seriously injured after being ejected in a one vehicle crash this morning (Tuesday) on Banks Pisgah Road. Two others who were passengers with him were not hurt.
Central dispatch received the call at 2:32 a.m.
Trooper Bobby Johnson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE that 26 year old Isidro Reyes of McMinnville was traveling south in a 2001 Kia Sportage when he failed to negotiate a curve, ran off the left side of the road, and struck a large tree. Reyes was ejected onto the road way.
32 year old Brandon Colwell and 34 year old Lisa Lambert both of McMinnville were passengers.
Reyes was transported by DeKalb EMS to St Thomas DeKalb Hospital.
According to Trooper Johnson, alcohol was a factor in the crash and charges are pending against Reyes.
Members of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department were also on the scene.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department recently received a Certificate of Appreciation for its close association with the Board of Probation and Parole and for providing its officers a place at the jail for their meetings.
The plaque reads:
“Certificate of Appreciation
This certificate is awarded to the Administrator and staff of the DeKalb County Jail.
In recognition of valuable contributions to the Board of Parole Hearing Staff and the Hearing Process.”
Presenting the plaque (picture) is Probation and Parole Officers Don Fox, Sherilyn Walls, (not pictured Sherry Delaney) to Jail Sergeant Anthony Boyd and Sheriff Patrick Ray

It’ll soon be chili time and time for you to again support a great cause and decide who makes the best chili in DeKalb County! Come out and cast your vote on Friday, October 28 on the Courthouse Square when Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County hosts its 13th Annual Chili Cook-off and Bake Sale.
Chili will be served from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the north side of the Courthouse on the Smithville Town Square. In case of rain, the Chili Cook-off will be held at the County Complex.
(CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW RULES)
2016 Chili flyer and form FINAL.pdf (813.03 KB)
Make a donation to Habitat and eat all the chili you want from all the teams and vote for your favorite. Enjoy delicious baked goods too! Volunteers needed to provide baked goods. Take out available.
All proceeds will go to Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County, a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization.
Habitat for Humanity builds and renovates houses in partnership with volunteers and families in need, regardless of their ethnic or religious background. The houses then are sold to those in need at no profit and with no interest charged.
For more information on the Chili Cook-off and Bake Sale, contact Tecia Puckett Pryor at 615- 597-7370.